Growth Equity from Tech Equity Research?
I am very passionate about tech and have been doing equity research for around 5 years.
I am really interested in moving towards growth equity (late stage VC or buy out), but don't seem to be having much luck with headhunters, where they just ignore me.
I was wondering if someone here could lend me some advice on how to approach this, given my background? Networking is a possibility but definitely a lot more difficult.
I am not picky so would be open to smaller / new firms as well, but just dont where to start?
I've seen ppl have done it. Do a year/6 mo in IB and you will have lots of opportunities.
What..? This is bad advice.
I know you don't like it but it is honest. What is your advice then?
Why is this a bad idea? I was considering this option seriously
i know a girl who did it, mary meeker or something?
Lol
Yea Bill Gurley comes to mind??? Not too familiar but if he can so can you?
At five years of ER, you're probably best off going back to business school and networking in from there.
Although some of the skillset with ER overlaps with Growth Equity, there are just too many better qualified candidates for the role. Plus, in Growth you'll be mainly dealing with things like sourcing, relationship building, private company modeling, market research, E2E diligence process etc.
I've spoken to a few ER people and unfortunately you just won't have enough experience from your day to day to convince people that you know how to do all of the above. Following a few public companies and writing research reports is different than running a diligence process, especially if you're trying to come it at anything above analyst/associate. even if you could draw some correlations, if I was hiring, why wouldn't I just take a tech banker or just pull someone from another similar type of fund who is looking to make the move.
Headhunters will rightfully ignore you because they know you have a slim to none chance at being someone the firm is going to want. Your only slim chance would be to network in by finding a startup fund, developing a relationship with the guy/gal running it, and trying to get a foot in the door there. Even then, you won't have much value to offer because you've never done the job before.
I think your best shot is to start filling out B school apps and/or finding some startup funds.
Going to MBA school is not a realistic scenario because of economic commitments, even though I would absolutely love to do that.
I was seriously considering moving to a banking role, and do that for 1-2 years. Do you think that would help me make the move to the promised land?
Still probably a tough path, but it will get you closer. Banking into PE/VC/GE is tough to do after the analyst years. In general after 2 years or so, you start to lose optionality.
If you could start as an Associate in a good tech practice at a bank that would be a better launching point than ER. There are some good MM banks that have solid deal flow in tech. You would get a lot of exposure to all the growth buyers working with them, but again, it's tough for even banking associates to make the move.
Good luck with it.
I know many ppl who have done it. This girl i know was in ER for 2-3 years and did 4-8 mos in banking and jumped again to the buyside.
Know a guy that moved from Tech ER to VC/GE but it was after 2~ years. Happy to put you in touch to discuss his move. Shoot me a PM
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