Best Path to VC
I'm looking for insight regarding breaking into venture capital. I’m particularly drawn to the opportunity to work closely with startups beyond just providing capital, and I want to take the best path to position myself for a successful transition into VC.
Right now, I’m considering investment banking and consulting as potential starting points, but I’m open to other paths. From what I’ve read, going directly into VC out of undergrad isn’t ideal, as an undergrad skill set at that stage is often limited, making it harder to add value or advance beyond entry-level roles.
For context, I come from a non-target school and will be doing a sophomore summer internship at one of the following: Vanguard, BlackRock, or State Street.
Given this, what would be the best early-career path to develop the skills, experience, and network necessary for a long-term career in VC?
Thank you in advance for your time and any advice you all could give.
if u want to be a kick ass VC; go down the path of startups/entrepreneurship first
Thanks for your insight
Ah, the classic “best path” question. Look, venture isn’t med school—there’s no MCAT, no residency, no neat conveyor belt into the promised land of partner meetings and cap tables.
You could do banking or consulting, sure. That gives you some solid analytical chops and a pedigree stamp. But if you’re gunning for VC long-term, your biggest leverage isn’t a perfectly optimized resume—it’s network, signal, and a deep understanding of startups.
A few things will matter more than your first job:
1. Get in the mix. Start writing online, meet founders, join or launch an angel syndicate, work at a startup. VCs hire people who already seem like VCs.
2. Develop a POV. Have something to say about where the world is going. If you can’t explain why a market is exciting in a compelling way, start practicing.
3. Leverage your early roles. Banking/consulting can open doors, but so can product roles, ops at a fast-scaling startup, or even just being the person who always has the most interesting deal flow.
4. Be useful. Get good at helping founders—introductions, research, feedback, anything that makes you valuable before you even have a checkbook.
TL;DR -- Pick a path that builds real startup exposure. The best way to break into VC is to already be acting like a VC before you ever get the title.
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