Just graduated in 2016 from a top CS school, currently an Associate Product Manager at a large startup that's doing quite well on a great trajectory (think Zuora or Okta). I'm thinking about next steps (for 2018), and VC seems like a great fit for me; my career goals long term involve starting a company, and VC would give me insight into several industry long-term trends/strategy, connections, and a look into the struggles of several different companies. My operational skills/technical expertise/talented connections would be valued at Early-Stage VC firms.
From a look on LinkedIn, it that background is somewhat common on the West Coast (APM -> VC Associate), but not as much on the East Coast (perhaps because there are just less APMs there). I'd like to be on the East Coast for various reasons.
Please comment on 1) what VC firms on the East Coast are most accepting of that background for VC Associates and 2) whether what I wrote seems realistic.
Thank you!
bump, similar situation
FWIW since I posted this I actually made the jump sort of successfully (I went to a firm that was bicoastal, and ended up moving to SF). Answering my own questions above - 1) generally earlier stage firms, and particularly firms that focus on similar areas to the company you've been a PM at, and look for operator-founded firms. Off the top of my head Firstmark and ff VC are ones that would probably consider that background 2) definitely realistic but you've got to hustle, nobody recruits for PMs on the east coast precisely because there aren't many and people here, even VCs, don't know what the job entails and so they pick the finance analyst over you, vs. west coast VCs who know.
The key is networking, definitely harder now with covid but Twitter is still going strong. Give a lot, do things for free for founders and people will pay you back.
holy crap thank you so much for this comment, if you don't mind could you answer a few questions I have? I'm on the west coast and I really would love to go to the east coast. Do you think its smart to go to a top west coast vc* as an associate, then get an mba or lateral to an east coast vc?
Also, you said do things for free for founders, what does that entail? helping them with due diligence/giving them guidance+advice on product related stuff?
*I'm 1 year into a solid apm program (think uber or twitter level), should I just start networking with VC's like I networked with bankers and applying to vc associate positions? How hard is it to get an associate position at a place like kp, accel, or benchmark?
Sorry to be a downer, but you’re not getting into those firms with an MBB/IB background, or multiple years of PM experience + top MBA.
Those are literally some of the top VCs on earth.
Know a few people who've made the jump from top APM programs to these seats.. it's definitely possible. Certainly more possible for the other commenter (Twitter / Uber APM is as good as it gets) vs the other mastercard guy who keeps bombarding this forum.
? There are numerous associates with a couple of pm backgrounds
Could you highlight how you moved from ib to apm?.
RE doing things for free for founders, more like connections - make the market between VCs looking for good investments and founders looking for funding. Or connect founders to good potential customers.
And networking with VCs is a bit different than with bankers, I've had a few people approach me like that and it comes off weird (or maybe they were just bad at it idk). The goal is to befriend or impress MDs *organically* (associates are ok but use them to get to the MDs) so that when their next associate slot opens up they think of you first. Most people don't hire off of the open applications (yes some do but it's very improbable). RE KP Accel and Benchmark - super hard not going to lie. You'll need to be the best of the best of all APMs out there and have a nice hook they want to make it.
Yes would say much easier to go west coast VC -> east coast VC rather than vice versa
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