Tier 1 BB vs VC fund
I’m an IBD associate at a tiny boutique. As a student it was always my goal to join a BB but unfortunately i was rejected everywhere and only landed an analyst position at a tiny boutique where i’ve now worked for a while and moved up the ranks to associate.
I’m now in final rounds with (GS/MS/JPM) for a top group let’s call this option A, and a start up VC fund targeting $150m for their first fund with some serious high profilers (ex-mega funds seniors) let’s call this option B.
thinking out loud:
A: much higher pay, always wanted to work for a BB, will lead to amazing exit ops in future, great learning opportunity
B: much more interesting work, my long term / end goal was always to move to VC so feel it would be strange to decline a VC offer, sadly pay isn’t great (i’ll take a pay cut), start up fund could be good to move up the ranks if it succeeds but it could also fail, job risk (could easily get fired where as IBD is more secure at the junior levels)
You can always go back to banking
Option A. Get the branding and then recruit for VC
I wouldn't even consider the VC fund unless you are also getting the rewards for the risk of first fundraising-- i.e. meaningful carry, junior partner status or clear expedited partner track. Then, I would think about whether the fund's strategy or sector focus is something you see yourself doing long-term. Wouldn't go if you'd get pushed out/stuck after a few years.
BB IBD would keep the doors open for better VC options later down the line.
Decision depends on taking the safe option vs. shooting for a home run. If you believe in the senior leadership at the VC firm and they can communicate a light at the end of the tunnel for you if things go well, I'd dive in to the opp.
A few questions to think about or to prompt discussion:
Q 1-3 are to just better understand the fund and whether it’s aligned with your interests. Depending on who the partners are, and if they have great networks, it could be a really exciting thing to join. Quality of their network is important. In VC, the brand + rep built can relatively center more around the individual investors than just the fund name vs banking. So if the partners have historically led and brought big deals to their firms, that could be a good sign.
Stage is also something to consider. Early stage investing (pre-seed, seed, A) is different from growth (B, C, D). Typically you’ll see more ex-bankers or ex-PE folks at later stages (C, D, pre-IPO…) because the later you go, the more quantitative the role vs earlier stages where it’s more qualitative (you’ll see more ex-operators, startup people here). At $150mm first time fund and your mention of ex-mega funds (I’m assuming mega fund VC? Or is it MF PE?) I’m guessing maybe they’re focused on series A-C? If so that’s sort of a happy medium place to be for someone that has a IB background but also wants to be “closer” to a company in its early days.
Stage consideration (what you are interested in) is important cause it’s harder to go from IB —> early (seed) if that’s what you’re interested in. Even in VC, it can be tricky for someone to make big shifts in stage focus from one fund to another (but possible, depending on your exposure and skill set). So if you have any interest in early stages and this fund provides that, it’s something to think about.
Do you know what your role will be like and how you can get promoted at the fund? Is this going to be a lean team (with only 1-2 associates, and 1-2 principals)? If it’s a lean team where you’ll get to see the deal from start to finish, and there’s a path to partner, this can be interesting. The way that I would assess the fund opp is quality of the partners, and also what kind of experience you’ll get there (and if you’ll be able to build your own network and sector expertise). If the fund doesn’t do well, you could always try and move into a different fund provided you built up a good rep + network. VC is a tough space to get into, but once you’re in, you can better navigate the ecosystem.
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