I recently graduated from an MSF program and will be starting with a Big 4 firm in their intellectual property practice. They assist clients (mostly F500 firms and a few VC funds) with licensing, valuation and transactions of IP. I have a background in electrical engineering and hence found the space really exciting as it gave me the opportunity to work with new technologies from a financial/commercialization perspective. In the long term, I am hoping to break into VC.
Any idea if this experience would help me break in down the road? I also have the opportunity to switch to the transaction advisory side within the TMT group, would this make more sense?
Thanks for all the input!
I would venture to say yes, but does that really mean anything? VC opportunities are so rare that it's overwhelmingly dependent on what you do rather than what a pre-set course will enable you to do.
Thanks Xepa. That definitely makes sense. Guess its time to get cracking!
I worked on two VC funds - one barely valued IP or considered it during DD. The other valued it incredibly and almost always hires a law firm's paten team to do the various searches necessary to get comfortible before closing the deal.
The fund had both a MD and a VP with extensive IP backgrounds (former head of R&D at fortune500 & head of tech transfer office at large school) but they still always hired a law firm to do the conclusive research as it wasn't outrageously expensive at the VC level (usually under $10k per deal).
Perhaps it could help you on the more life science focused deals but still, I really think the IP side is only around 10% of the transaction process. My $0.02...
Now, your MSF and electrical engineering background is compelling. I'd say you'd be a better candidate if you take that background and get some transaction experience.
@"TheBigBambino" Thanks a bunch for the advice. I figured at some point I would need deal experience, might as well start early.
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