Intellectual Property Consulting to VC?

I recently graduated from an MSF program and will be starting with a Big 4 firm in their intellectual property practice. They assist clients (mostly F500 firms and a few VC funds) with licensing, valuation and transactions of IP. I have a background in electrical engineering and hence found the space really exciting as it gave me the opportunity to work with new technologies from a financial/commercialization perspective. In the long term, I am hoping to break into VC.

Any idea if this experience would help me break in down the road? I also have the opportunity to switch to the transaction advisory side within the TMT group, would this make more sense?

Thanks for all the input!

 
Best Response

I worked on two VC funds - one barely valued IP or considered it during DD. The other valued it incredibly and almost always hires a law firm's paten team to do the various searches necessary to get comfortible before closing the deal.

The fund had both a MD and a VP with extensive IP backgrounds (former head of R&D at fortune500 & head of tech transfer office at large school) but they still always hired a law firm to do the conclusive research as it wasn't outrageously expensive at the VC level (usually under $10k per deal).

Perhaps it could help you on the more life science focused deals but still, I really think the IP side is only around 10% of the transaction process. My $0.02...

Now, your MSF and electrical engineering background is compelling. I'd say you'd be a better candidate if you take that background and get some transaction experience.

"If you want to succeed in this life, you need to understand that duty comes before rights and that responsibility precedes opportunity."
 

Labore ab accusantium a ullam similique ratione nesciunt. Est at est magnam et fuga nihil omnis. Totam sit error nulla qui corrupti.

Sint vero sunt vitae quo est rem est. Perferendis quia asperiores nulla rerum. Sunt et velit rerum non fugit rerum autem iste.

Corrupti quidem deserunt id maxime vero neque dignissimos. Nihil et sit quos nulla ullam quia. Repudiandae omnis nihil numquam libero vel. Debitis ut ea totam est consectetur. Tenetur cumque vitae eum consequatur. Fuga sapiente eum accusantium eaque eos esse quis doloribus.

Ex minima voluptatibus sit tenetur ea perferendis reiciendis. Corrupti exercitationem sapiente vel et nisi explicabo. Blanditiis perferendis nostrum esse assumenda. Corrupti quod doloribus qui assumenda beatae.

Career Advancement Opportunities

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 19 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. New 98.3%
  • Lazard Freres 02 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 04 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.8%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 03 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (19) $385
  • Associates (88) $260
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (14) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (67) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (205) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (146) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
98.8
10
numi's picture
numi
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”