What am I doing wrong?
Hi, if you know who I am from this description, please don't share in this thread.
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I am looking for Series A-D roles at top VC firms. At this point I'd even take Seed/A firms.
I am now at H/S and previously worked in tech growth buyouts.
I have a year of experience as an early business hire at one of the major AI model vendors (e.g., OpenAI, Anthropic, Midjourney).
I've written investment theses online that gained traction and I was able to angel invest behind them.
I've sent private theses to computer science PhDs and have emerging deal flow from that.
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I'm reaching out to VCs to ask if they're hiring, at top VCs (e.g., Accel, GGV, Bond, Redpoint, NEA etc.).
For many of them, this was a year-later follow up email to a thesis + deals I sent them, which I invested behind.
I'm getting a 50% response rate but so far all but one have said "hey, thanks for your interest, but not hiring right now, but will keep you in mind".
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I'm not sure what else to do. I've got A+ investing and operating experience, have showed proprietary deal flow, etc.
Have you gone on Linkedin and looked at the backgrounds of others who have joined those firms recently?
You're recruiting for one of the hardest investment roles to recruit for in one of the worst recruiting environments in recent history. Par for the course man. Would recommend maybe taking a role at a startup in the meantime
Oh wow if you don't have a chance I don't know who has! Are you reaching out to the right people? Partners? Mid-level folks don't always know or have the ability to move the needle. Or maybe lower the bar a bit - those funds are a stretch even in a good market
Not enough experience...?
Do more of this and try again in a year or two would be my suggestion.
Try to get former coworkers to refer you to any VCs they know. You said you made some investments, so target firms that you've co-invested with.
VCs are very network driven. If you can't network your way into their office, it's going to be hard to differentiate yourself.
Sorry to hear this - it's the worst hiring market now. A few questions to help calibrate:
- Are you in your first or second year - can you do an internship?
- Is your "tech growth buyouts" fund well known/respected?
- What is your area of expertise?
- What has your traction been like at second tier VCs or are you only experiencing difficulty with top ones? If so how many are you targetting?
- Are your classmates having better luck with the same firms? Could point to an individual vs market wide issue...
- Would you be open to later stage / growth equity instead of VC given your background? If not, why not?
- Have you been through any processes? Some should recruit on campus each year. If so, any feedback on why you were not taken through?
Honestly, I think you're doing all the right things and it sounds like you have the perfect background, besides being in VC beforehand, but in a very unlucky market. I would tap into your H/S network for a sense check on why they won't hire. It is probably not a you issue but likely they just cannot afford to hire right now...
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