Moving From HF to VC
Hey all - was just curious on your thoughts about how hard it is to move from a tech-focused HF into VC. Long term I’d prefer to do VC, but a HF ($2bn+ AUM) opportunity was recently put in front of me and I’ve been contemplating whether to go for it.
Pros
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My current role isn’t tech focused, so this would allow me to gain experience in the industry (might make the move to VC easier)
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I have a personal portfolio and have been investing for several years > I enjoy analyzing business models and coming up with theses
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Allows me to get out of my current job which I’ve found fairly dry over the last few months (+ likely some type of make whole on my bonus)
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While theres more pressure to perform at a HF, a pure investing role allows me to actually use my brain which IB hasn’t for a while
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Pay upgrade I think (would be nice to get some ballpark figures as I’m not sure what to expect)
Cons
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Would likely need to commit for at least 2 years (most VCs want at least 2-3yrs experience so this isn’t that big of a downside) so I would need to put my VC search on hold for a while
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HF experience isn’t super relevant to VC
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Tech-focus might put me out of a job if multiples contract at all over the next year (last in, first out) + overall turnover of the HF industry is higher
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Remote start so getting up to speed will likely be difficult > would need to figure out the details for moving after normal life resumes
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Start or join an early stage startup if you want more practical experience for the VC track. But I don't think working at a tech HF is going to hurt your chances if that's what you're asking...
If you know you definitely want to do VC then my suggestion would be try to go for VC. I can definitely see the appeal of VC and to me it doesn’t seem like you need HF experience to get into VC. A lot of Associates have an IB background plus have some entrepreneurial experience and / or angel investing etc and just love working with founders.
I suspect the cultures are pretty different between HF and VC as well.
Yeah my thoughts we’re more along the lines of a HF being a fun 2 year detour before moving into VC (could probably get into VC right now from my position with enough effort). I totally get what you mean though
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