Very basic VC question

So, I'm getting the opportnity to talk to the MD of a small VC firm soon regarding a pre-mba associate position.  I'm very interested in VC, but admit its mostly curiousity and I don't know a whole lot about it.  My main question is, do VC firms use leverage in there funding of companies?  I'm talking about seed VC.

I am not a college student, so i don't have access to vaul (for free at least).  An recomendations for resources to use to familiarize myself with the industry and type of questions I may be asked?

4 Comments
 

While I can't say for sure, I can't imagine leverage would make sense for the kinds of deals VCs make.

When you're investing in companies that lose 99% of their value most of the time, and only rarely do you make 1000% on your investment, you'd end up defaulting on your debt a lot I'd think. The returns are just too unpredictable.

- Capt K - "Prestige is like a powerful magnet that warps even your beliefs about what you enjoy. If you want to make ambitious people waste their time on errands, bait the hook with prestige." - Paul Graham
 

I don't have experience in VC, but even in growth equity (clearly later stage investments than VC), many investments are not meaningfully leveraged given the nascent stage of the companies and the absence of positive earnings/cash flows, for the reasons captk mentioned above.

​* http://www.linkedin.com/in/numicareerconsulting
 

is that it's not your money going out, but when it's coming in you can grab some.

VC's will usually raise money for a fund with certain specifications (target company stage/industry, fund size goal, etc). Money is raised from LPs (limited partners) ranging from HNWIs to institutions such as retirement funds. The VC firm then charges a management fee, as well as a percentage of profits.

VC firms don't need to take out loans because there are enough people/institutions who will pay them for the chance to invest (via management fees). Why would you take out a 10 million dollar loan at 7% interest when CALPERS will pay you 2% to take 10 million from them?

 

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