PE -> VC -> Startup -> HF (TMT)

Hi fellow monkeys!

I'm looking for advice. I have 5 years of experience in PE & VC. 4 years PE, 1 year VC (which shut down due to the partners breakup). Now, I am thinking of starting a small e-commerce business selling my own products using ads on social media platforms, SEO etc to drive traffic to my own site (shopify/wix etc). It started as a hobby but thought about monetizing it and once it's up and running, I can run it on the side easily, while working on a full time job. It's print on demand business model which is not as time consuming as other business models. After that is launched in the next few months, I was thinking of applying to a HF (TMT role)

Just wondering how much do HF (TMT role) value such experience? Whether I should kill the idea of e-commerce and focus on the job hunt or do it anyway and then start the job hunt after?

A few things I thought about pros and cons of carrying this e-commerce side business out:

Pros
1. Great opportunity to show that I can think like an investor in terms of capital allocation & general business analysis
2. Developing an understanding of best practice & scale practice - applying what I learn in running the e-commerce to a far larger company in terms of scale: thinking about why the platform is picked (Wix, Shopify), who the target customer is, issues dealing with bidding for customer traffic through different traction channels (managing ads campaigns, revenue channels)
3. Having hands-on knowledge on e-commerce from running it

Cons
1. I may be able to develop a more knowledge than the average TMT analyst but from an investment perspective, the edge may not be as valuable?
2. People from biotech background goes into biotech investing, gives them a lot of edge as the sectors are difficult to model and understand. However e-commerce may conceptually not be as hard to understand / model hence the experience will not be as useful for investing
3. May drag the timeline (preparing a few good pitches takes time too) & delay the job hunt for getting a role in HF (TMT)

Thanks!

 
Most Helpful

Et nihil animi a atque quis enim. Ut porro tenetur quia omnis saepe. Aut impedit rerum eligendi et est eos. Quo labore non dolor vel ut. Accusamus voluptatem reprehenderit distinctio quas adipisci atque iste.

Ut commodi vero quae qui pariatur reprehenderit. Repellendus modi libero quae sed veniam rerum. Enim aspernatur nesciunt pariatur voluptas. Eveniet consequatur voluptas velit quo architecto est. Accusantium minima labore quo laborum.

Corrupti laborum consequatur blanditiis sed cum quibusdam. Facilis et ratione omnis et nobis autem. Sequi impedit non perspiciatis ut molestiae magni.

Minima autem accusamus veniam ad perspiciatis officiis dolorem. Eius autem exercitationem doloremque recusandae. Modi rerum doloribus impedit alias ut aut tenetur.

Career Advancement Opportunities

April 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 03 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

April 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

April 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

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (19) $385
  • Associates (86) $261
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (14) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (66) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (205) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (145) $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
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
numi's picture
numi
98.8
10
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
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...”