Trending Content - Venture Capital Forum
| +49 | Getting the VP Promote at the "Wrong" Firm | 15 | 26m |
| +22 | How to rank growth equity shops | 3 | 1w |
| +16 | Biotech VC path from Patent Law | 4 | 1w |
| +5 | New Growth Equity Firms | 2 | 3h |
| +3 | Insight Partners WLB and deal flow in 2026 | 3 | 3w |
| +2 | Classic Turnaround VC cases? | 3 | 3w |
Career Resources
I think the signal is stronger if you have experience leading rounds. It means you set a price in conjunction with the founder and stick your neck out for others to follow.
However, depends on the firm you are looking to join. There are firms that have a strategy to rely on investors that can lead but still be “helpful” by getting on the cap table.
Short answer - yes. Generally the lead investor will negotiate the terms and structure the deal, lead the due diligence, and will work with the company on allocation in the round. It’s an involved, tactical, and highly competitive process to get into pole position. Ultimately, as an investor you need to be able to build significant conviction, rather than herding into a round.
Whereas some investors that almost never lead - like most Family Offices (read ‘dumb money’) often rely almost entirely on the DD done by the lead VC and are attracted to the brand of the lead, like moths to a flame. Therefore, it’s much stronger to have a body of experience that includes leading deals.
Thank you both for the above, very helpful.
What about if we do our own independent DD, but are not able to lead the round (especially for larger tickets). Would this largely discount my experience?
I don’t think it will be viewed quite as favourably, but if you’re able to talk intelligently about your investment thesis and the DD process you went through to corroborate it - then it should be fine. No-one is going to discount genuine deal experience to zero just because you’re following.
Tempora consequatur eos quia dolor expedita accusantium corrupti suscipit. Natus ut eveniet nobis in nemo. Eum ab in id dolores earum vel sed.
Quos non sed nisi qui placeat. Aliquid aut sapiente doloribus.
Porro recusandae quia sit laudantium cupiditate. Consequatur aperiam enim iusto. Enim est at doloribus nostrum praesentium iure voluptate. Debitis explicabo ut et deleniti sequi maiores quo. Repudiandae sapiente corporis architecto aliquam et explicabo sequi enim.
Harum dolor accusamus voluptatibus hic consequatur nihil reiciendis. Deleniti reprehenderit sit odio quo incidunt.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...