How useful is experience at a startup backed by top VC (Accel, Sequoia, KP) for transitioning to said top VC?
How easy/hard is it to go from VC's portfolio company to being an investor at the VC without an exit?
Any thoughts on specific roles at the startup that might make the transition more likely - other than founder? (e.g. Product, bizdev, strategy)
relevance to a VC IMO
1) founder - very relevant, especially if in industry that matches VC focus and if serial entrepreneur
2) co-founder - relevant if significant contribution to the subsequent funding rounds of company, they often cover key skills the founding team don't have. These are the people with a good network in the valley and even VCs may call them as SMEs for a second opinion.
3) key employee - staff who lead significant tech areas, drive IP pipeline, launch unique products, etc
4) early employee - with enough time under their belt, they are relevant enough to matter, but often not enough to be hired into a VC. Unless they are the Head of IR or something
Thanks for this, I definitely agree.
Would you say that a Key Employee mostly refers to someone in Product? Would strategy, corpdev, bizdev, ops roles still count for something?
it would depend on the industry/area the startup is in.
The lead researcher in a biotech startup is super-relevant. The head of AI development for a social media company also.
Both startups and VCs are quite restrictive when it comes to "key employee". most people in a company are not that important.
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