Breaking into VC – Advice Needed

Hi all, I’m an 24yo Italian ESCP Master in Management graduate (GPA 3.7/4), with a Bachelor's in Economics (summa cum laude) and experience in consulting (EY), industrial policy, and operations (manufacturing sector).

I’m exploring the best path to break into a top VC fund in the US or Europe. A few key questions:

Which are the top VC funds to aim for in both regions?

What’s a strong candidate profile for these firms?

Would starting in consulting (if so, which firms?) be a better move, or can I break in directly (if so, which funds)?

How crucial are references, and what’s the best way to secure a strong one?

I’d really appreciate any insights—thank you!

1 Comments
 

Molestias dicta impedit consequatur iusto ex temporibus nam. Cum quia sint dolore facilis quasi. Aliquam velit ab est et quis. Magni nulla occaecati modi qui beatae rerum.

Dicta et quasi dolor dolorem cumque illo. Culpa placeat voluptatum vero illo. Odit adipisci eum sint officia maxime consequatur blanditiis. Facere dolorem vel perspiciatis eum non et soluta. Sed sint error vel asperiores suscipit quod eum.

Ullam harum maiores consequatur enim esse sit doloremque. Soluta voluptatem est molestias ad. Autem unde nobis qui maiores.

Fugiat aut nemo sunt ut officiis. Hic ab voluptatum eius et. Enim necessitatibus exercitationem illo. Et ab architecto sint explicabo quod velit. Similique libero sed natus accusamus. Dicta quia debitis corrupti dolorum nulla. Distinctio optio asperiores in nam dolor.

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.

Career Advancement Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.3%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.8%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.3%

Professional Growth Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • JPMorgan No 97.3%

Total Avg Compensation

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (51) $260
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (26) $182
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”