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Venture Capital Jobs Blog

Curated by John Gannon and Team

Venture Capital Jobs and Career Resources (2020 edition)

with 84 comments

Below you’ll see a detailed, comprehensive collection of venture capital (VC) jobs and information about how to get a venture capital job.

Many of the posts and pages below are the same ones that I read during my own successful venture capital job searches.

If you want to get an edge in your venture capital job search, you should join the 15,000+ subscribers on my VC careers email list.

to be alerted

Many already work in venture capital – at top firms like Bessemer, Greylock, and NEA.

The content I send to the list is 100% focused on venture capital jobs and tips to help you in your venture capital job search. Plus that list is where I share exclusive, subscriber-only opportunities that I don’t publish on this site.

How to get a venture capital job

Venture Capital Career Paths

to be alerted

Venture Capital Interview Tips

Click here to post your job on the blog

Venture Capital Salary and Compensation

I recently published the results of a venture capital salary and compensation survey that received over 350 responses.

If you are looking to understand what is a fair salary and compensation for a venture capital analyst, associate, senior associate, principal, or vice president then you should read the results of the venture capital salary and compensation survey.

Venture Capital Jobs and Internships

Venture Capital Jobs and Internships in US hub cities

to be alerted

Venture Capital Jobs and Internships in London

Venture Capital Jobs and Internship in Europe

Venture Capital Jobs in India

All Venture Capital Jobs and Internships (US and Globally)

Venture Capital Books

All of the books I link in this section are books that I’ve personally read (or wrote!) and recommend to any aspiring VC.

You’ll see that some of these are focused on company building instead of VC investing.

That’s exactly the point!  Because you really need to have both of those perspectives to be a good VC.

Here are the links:

Other books that Amazon recommends to people who bought my book:

to be alerted

Venture Capital Podcasts

Check out some of these popular venture capital podcasts to learn about the industry.

And make sure you give a listen to our partner podcast, Intangibles.

Intangibles is a podcast about the traits, behaviors, and qualities that entrepreneurs can cultivate to help them become more successful. (Website, iTunes, Soundcloud)

Venture Capital Blogs

Other Venture Capital Resources

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Written by John Gannon

January 12, 2020 at 12:52 am

84 Responses

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  1. […] a feed based on that tag.  I could also create a drop.io drop similar to the one I set up for my VC Careers page for jobs that come in via email.   This method would allow my social network to view jobs that […]

    Friends helping friends find jobs « Yet Another VC Blog

    December 8, 2008 at 10:32 pm

    Reply

  2. […] Venture Capital Career Resources (glad to see people are finding this useful, but wish there were more people commenting!) […]

    My top five posts for 2008 « Yet Another VC Blog

    December 31, 2008 at 7:28 pm

    Reply

  3. […] » I’ve been toying with the idea of writing a short (< 50 page) e-Book about how to get a job in venture capital.  All proceeds from the eBook would go to charity.  To gauge interest, I’ve created a […]

    Any interest in an eBook on “How to get a job in venture capital” ? « Yet Another VC Blog

    March 26, 2009 at 10:10 pm

    Reply

  4. Hi, I´ve read a lot of posts both in your B-school blog and your VC blog. I am planning on applying to the J-Term starting Jan 2010. I was interested on your thoughts about it, especially from the job search perspective, compared with a two year program.
    I have a finance background and a job in VC would be ideal. Having said that, I am realistic and would like to keep my options open, especially bearing in mind that I am an international (Spain) and it will not be easy to stay in the US post MBA.
    Will the lack of a summer internship be a handicap? Have you seen your classmates hindered by this? Thanks in advance!

    Inigo

    April 3, 2009 at 8:31 am

    Reply

  5. @inigo

    Thanks for reading.

    I don’t think lack of summer internship will be a problem as long as you gain some experience during the school year by interning part-time with a venture firm or a startup. This will position you well to go either route (VC or startup) when you finish school.

    Regardless of 2 year / J-term, the VC job hunt is very hard. The only edge I perceived is that firms who were looking for a class of 2008 intern in Fall of 2006 would have not been an option for me. However, there were still plenty of opportunities available for those who ferreted them out.

    One thing you might consider if you can get some time off before starting school is to do a pre-internship with a VC or startup. Mark Davis (www.markpeterdavis.com) (CBS 2008 and now VC at DFJ Gotham) took this approach and it led to him working w/DFJ during b-school and now full-time employment.

    I hope this helps. Let me know if you have additional questions.

    Thanks again for reading.

    -John

    jgannonwp

    April 3, 2009 at 2:48 pm

    Reply

  6. […] As a junior staffer at a VC firm, I think its important to understand where and how you can be helpful to portfolio companies.  The advice I received from my venture capital teachers Stuart Ellman and Will Porteous of RRE Ventures (blog) has stuck with me, and I’ve tried to operate using that advice since starting my VC career. […]

    New kid on the block: How a junior VC can contribute to portfolio companies « Yet Another VC Blog

    April 24, 2009 at 2:54 pm

    Reply

  7. John-

    Your blog is anything but “Another VC Blog.” The content has been quite helpful.

    May I request some advice? Currently I am a practicing heart surgeon (Northwestern-MD; General Surgery Residency-Stanford; Cardiovascular Physiology Fellowship- Stanford; Cardiothoracic Surgery Fellowship-UVA). I have always been interested in medical device commercialization and IP related to devices and healthcare. I recently completed a JD at Syracuse University in patent law and technology commercialization. I had such a great experience that I am starting Cornell Exec. MBA in the Fall. Planning to transition my career to VC at some point after two years- I’m currently 40.

    Are there any opportunities out there in VC (in any capacity) for a person such as myself as I complete business school? I will be in NYC area every other week. I am from SF and so will also be speaking to friends in VC out there for the same type of opportunity.

    Any thoughts would certainly be appreciated.

    Randy

    Randy Green

    May 17, 2009 at 6:39 pm

    Reply

    • Hi Randy – thanks for the note and I am glad you are enjoying the blog. I appreciate that you left a comment as well – it’s good to know someone is out there! :)

      Regarding opportunities to get involved with firms, here are some thoughts:

      – Firms will often hire subject matter experts to assist them with due diligence on potential investments. If you fit that description, I’d try to identify firms who are thinking of investing in that subsector of medicine, and approach them to learn more about their firm.

      – Approach firms with an idea for a structured project. You could propose a study of the cardiothoracic surgery widget market (substitute ‘widget’ for a real technology – as you know I’m not a healthcare guy :) and outline why you think it’s an attractive area in which to invest. And, you could point out potential companies in which to invest. As part of such a project, you’d need to spend alot of time talking to these companies as well, so you’d have the opportunity to do some sourcing as well.

      – If you’re unable to get involved with a VC firm, I’m sure there are some startups who would benefit from your services. In the same way you could propose a project to a VC firm, why not approach an interesting startup that’s addressing an area you find compelling?

      jgannonwp

      May 18, 2009 at 9:24 pm

      Reply

      • Great insights. I appreciate your time.

        Randy Green

        May 18, 2009 at 11:07 pm

  8. Hi John thanks for this it is an incredible list and I thoroughly enjoy your blog.

    I would love to join a VC firm. I have an offer to join a Venture Debt/Lending firm as an Investment Associate in London UK. Do you thinking working at the Venture Debt fund for a couple years might be a reasonable stepping stone to become a VC? How might a VC view this transition? If not what might my career options be after that?

    Any thoughts would help a lot!

    Jamie Hamilton

    November 23, 2009 at 7:42 pm

    Reply

    • Hi Jamie —

      Thanks for reading, and I am glad you find the content useful.

      I do not personally know anyone who has jumped from venture debt to pure VC, but that does not mean it isn’t possible.

      If your ultimate goal is VC, then think about how the venture debt job can help get you there, and make sure you put yourself in situations where you build up skills that are transferable to VC.

      One thought that comes to mind is that venture debt is typically given to companies entering their growth phase or that are very close to profitability. If you are looking to work in growth equity/later stage VC then I think there might be a good deal of overlap in the types of companies you’d be looking for.

      I have a friend from my business school class who just entered the venture debt world, you may want to contact him and ask about his experience (feel free to say I referred you). His LinkedIn URL is: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/shahriq-sheikh/2/a87/718

      If you have trouble getting in touch with him, let me know and I will see if I can help.

      John Gannon

      November 23, 2009 at 8:15 pm

      Reply

  9. […] out John Gannon’s VC Career Resource page for more […]

    VC Career Advice « BioPharma Deals

    December 24, 2009 at 1:20 pm

    Reply

  10. For a top specialist site for private equity jobs and venture capital jobs see http://www.vc-jobs.com The site is the leading online jobboard for private equity recruitment (www.vc-jobs.com) and venture capital recruitment

    Richard

    January 11, 2010 at 4:25 pm

    Reply

  11. Good p[osts for VC oppertunities. I did not realise there was so much to it!

    hgvlgv training

    March 21, 2010 at 11:50 am

    Reply

  12. […] careers info is just the cherry on top.  I’ve also added a link to his VC careers page from my VC careers page. Share […]

    A VC careers page from a smart junior VC « Yet Another (ex-)VC Blog

    August 24, 2010 at 9:44 pm

    Reply

  13. […] luck if you decide to apply! But make sure you check out my VC careers page for a primer on getting a job in VC, first […]

    VC Analyst Roles at GRP in LA « Yet Another (ex-)VC Blog

    November 6, 2010 at 2:36 pm

    Reply

  14. Many thanks for making the sincere effort to explain this. This was actually what I was looking for and I am glad to come here! Thanks for sharing such a valuable information with us.

    Career

    Career

    January 6, 2012 at 11:56 pm

    Reply

  15. Is an entrepreneur a good candidate for a VC analyst/associate position?…

    At first blush you would seem to be a good candidate, MBA or not. You should also be targeting post-MBA roles with the kind of background that you have. I think you’d have a good shot at positions in early stage firms given your entrepreneurial experi…

    Quora

    February 28, 2012 at 12:01 am

    Reply

  16. […] or are simply interested in the world of venture capital, I’d encourage you to check out my venture capital careers page – lots of tips and information related to the role of a junior VC plus tips for […]

    Bessemer is hiring a pre-MBA Associate « Yet Another (ex-)VC Blog

    March 24, 2012 at 7:08 pm

    Reply

  17. […] you are interested in this role, or careers in venture capital, would encourage you to check out my venture capital careers page. Tons of tips for job hunting in VC land from myself and other former and current […]

    Greycroft seeking pre-MBA Associate « Yet Another (ex-)VC Blog

    September 16, 2012 at 12:15 pm

    Reply

  18. Hi John,

    Can you suggest the best way to drop you a very brief one-on-one note regarding your work at AWS@NYC? I’d prefer not to guess my way to the right email addy! ;-)

    Dom

    Dom

    October 11, 2012 at 5:56 pm

    Reply

    • Dom – just send me a message via LinkedIn or email my first initial last name at amazon dot com.

      John Gannon

      October 20, 2012 at 3:20 pm

      Reply

  19. […] from my VC Careers email list (you can subscribe from this page) often email me asking for advice about how to get […]

    Questions from a PhD who wants to work in VC | Yet Another (ex-)VC Blog

    December 29, 2013 at 9:36 pm

    Reply

  20. Any ideas on if a Ph.D. in Biology can break in to VC directly without work experience? Do you know how to go about the process?

    PG

    March 3, 2014 at 11:56 pm

    Reply

    • It would be hard to go straight from your PhD program to venture unless you had spent some time working in or with bio related VC firms or startups. And then it would still be hard :) It’s important to do things to build VC or startup experience. If you haven’t been doing that, start now.

      In terms of the process, I have lots of links on this page to articles (written by me as well as others) that can help you develop a strategy. My eBook also provides this information in a focused format.

      Good luck in your search!

      John Gannon

      March 4, 2014 at 9:50 am

      Reply

  21. […] Meet with a founder, ostensibly about a job with that founder’s company, but then tell them what you are really trying to do is find a job in venture capital. […]

    Startup flakes | Startup Jobs and Career Advice from Startup Leaders

    June 4, 2014 at 8:51 am

    Reply

  22. […] VC associates sift through a fire hose of business plans from brilliant, motivated people all day.  You start to see the same ideas over and over. The same themes play out with small variations. […]

    Startup COO explains startup finance and operations jobs | Startup Jobs and Career Advice from Startup Leaders

    June 21, 2014 at 9:35 am

    Reply

  23. […] John Gannon’s e-mail list  – http://johngannonblog.com/vc-careers/ […]

    Venture Capital Resources | Vatsal Shah's Web Log

    August 6, 2014 at 3:18 pm

    Reply

  24. […] thinking of going to work on a CFO’s team at a small tech company. Her goal? To eventually get a job in venture capital. Here’s what she said (slightly modified to protect the innocent): I wanted to get your […]

    Joining a CFO’s team at a tech company: A path to a venture capital job or a road to nowhere? | Yet Another (ex-)VC Blog

    August 14, 2014 at 11:08 am

    Reply

  25. […] the last 6 years(wow, has it been that long?) I’ve been helping people land venture capital jobs and startup jobs through the VC Careers community, Road to a Venture Capital Career, and […]

    My latest book: Finding Startup Jobs | Yet Another (ex-)VC Blog

    April 17, 2015 at 9:03 am

    Reply

  26. […] the last 6 years I’ve been helping people land venture capital jobs and startup jobs through the VC Careers community, Road to a Venture Capital Career, and […]

    My latest book: Finding Startup Jobs - Startup Jobs and Career Advice from Startup Leaders

    April 22, 2015 at 7:15 pm

    Reply

  27. […] have on my draft deck, embedded below. If your main focus is VC/startups, see John Gannon’s venture capital jobs site and Christina Cacioppo’s startup and job […]

    How to Work with Private Equity and Venture Capital Portfolio Companies - David Teten

    July 12, 2015 at 12:52 pm

    Reply

  28. […] I put it into an Evernote Notebook called ‘JohnsJobs’ (like in this example – which means it’s meant for my startupcareeradvice.com blog) or ‘VC Careers’ (for my VC Jobs and Career Advice blog) […]

    How I tripled my blog traffic without lifting a finger 

    November 5, 2015 at 2:53 pm

    Reply

  29. […] I put it into an Evernote Notebook called ‘JohnsJobs’ (like in this example – which means it’s meant for my startupcareeradvice.com blog) or ‘VC Careers’ (for my VC Jobs and Career Advice blog) […]

    How I tripled my blog traffic without lifting a finger - Startup Jobs and Career Advice from Startup Leaders

    November 5, 2015 at 9:52 pm

    Reply

  30. […] I put it into an Evernote Notebook called ‘JohnsJobs’ (like in this example – which means it’s meant for my startupcareeradvice.com blog) or ‘VC Careers’ (for my VC Jobs and Career Advice blog) […]

    How I tripled my blog traffic without lifting a finger | Yet Another (ex-)VC Blog

    November 5, 2015 at 9:52 pm

    Reply

  31. Hi John,
    Thank you for sharing such insightful resources! I have been looking for a site like yours for quite a while and fortunately few days ago I have found your blog. I would like to congratulate you for such incredible and helpful blog regarding VC career jobs and resources.

    I am currently working in a Business Angels firm in Barcelona but I am considering to make a move into the London / US VC ecosystem. So I actually have some issues I would like to ask you:
    1. One is related to the job positions you posted:
    a.How can we know when the due date for applying to the job positions is?
    b. There was one post regarding Bessemer Venture Partners posted on the 20/10/2015 where you redirect us to Kristina at bvp.com. I have tried to reach her but on the BVP Website there is no contact email to her. Do you know how I can get in touch with her?

    2. I am aware that there is a big competition within the VC industry and especially if you apply for job positions in London / SF / NYC / Boston / Berlin / Stockholm nevertheless, I was wondering what will be your advice to stand out from other candidates that are living in those places and might be more familiar with the VC ecosystem in those areas?

    3. The other issue is the following: I have a pre-MBA business administration background nevertheless I would like to learn more about VC Financial Modelling: do you know of any specific courses focusing on that? If so: are they for free? Do you provide them? I think it can be pretty interesting for people interested to land in this industry.

    Any advices / help will be much appreciated!

    PS: is there any other way we could contact you privately for further inquiries / doubts?

    Thanks!

    Eden

    Eden

    November 19, 2015 at 10:48 am

    Reply

    • Hi Eden – sorry for the delayed reply.

      On the jobs, I post whatever information that I find so if due date is not included then it means I don’t have the visibility :(

      Re: a finance course for aspiring VCs … you know, I haven’t heard of anything specifically but I do see a need for a course that shows basic VC math, cap tables, etc. Maybe poke around on Udemy to see if you can find something?

      John Gannon

      December 3, 2015 at 12:03 pm

      Reply

  32. Hi John,
    Thank you for sharing such insightful resources! I have been looking for a site like yours for quite a while and fortunately few days ago I have found your blog. I would like to congratulate you for such incredible and helpful blog regarding VC career jobs and resources.
    I am currently working in a Business Angels firm in Barcelona but I am considering to make a move into the London / US VC ecosystem. So I actually have some issues I would like to ask you:
    1. One is related to the job positions you posted:
    a.How can we know when the due date for applying to the job positions is?
    b.There was one post regarding Bessemer Venture Partners posted on the 20/10/2015 where you redirect us to Kristina at bvp.com. I have tried to reach her but on the BVP Website there is no contact email to her. Do you know how I can get in touch with her?

    2.I am aware that there is a big competition within the VC industry and especially if you apply for job positions in London / SF / NYC / Boston / Berlin / Stockholm nevertheless, I was wondering what will be your advice to stand out from other candidates that are living in those places and might be more familiar with the VC ecosystem in those areas?

    3.The other issue is the following: I have a pre-MBA business administration background nevertheless I would like to learn more about VC Financial Modelling: do you know of any specific courses focusing on that? If so: are they for free? Do you provide them? I think it can be pretty interesting for people interested to land in this industry.

    Any advices / help will be much appreciated!

    PS: is there any other way we could contact you privately for further inquiries / doubts?

    Thanks!

    Eden

    Eden

    November 19, 2015 at 10:51 am

    Reply

  33. […] John’s Yet Another (ex-) VC Blog […]

    Ep69: Building an Investor Brand, Part 1 (Jay Acunzo & John Gannon) | The Full Ratchet

    February 17, 2016 at 11:33 pm

    Reply

  34. […] John’s Yet Another (ex-) VC Blog […]

    Ep69: Building an Investor Brand, Part 1 (Jay Acunzo & John Gannon) | Venture Weekly

    February 21, 2016 at 3:32 pm

    Reply

  35. Hi John,

    Great blog. Seriously. Quality / quantity / relevancy of content is the best I have seen.

    I’m an associate at a small/mid size (~US$200m) Australian VC, previously working in BB IB for 2 years. The job is great but I would like to head over to the US (SF/NY) at some point to 1.play with the big boys 2. see more of the world / life experience.

    How do VCs look at transferring from fund to fund? And how do their view overseas expereince?

    (finance undergrad, no MBA)

    James

    James McGrath

    February 22, 2016 at 11:14 pm

    Reply

    • Thanks, James. These are great questions. Unfortunately this is not a situation I have encountered in terms of the cross border move. In terms of moving to another firm, that happens frequently.

      John Gannon

      February 22, 2016 at 11:47 pm

      Reply

  36. […] John’s Yet Another (ex-) VC Blog […]

    Building an Investor Brand, p2 | The Full Ratchet

    February 23, 2016 at 2:22 pm

    Reply

  37. Hi John,

    Thank you for this very informative and up-to-date blog. Everything written here is as good as advertised.

    I’ve seen most of the videos and articles you provided on how to get a VC job, but I was wondering if I could get some advice from you for my situation. I’m an aerospace engineer with 8 years of experience in the aerospace industry and just completed an MBA program. As a recent transplant to the Bay Area from the East Coast, I was wondering what you thought might be the best strategy to approach VC firms that specialize in tech companies – in particular, space tech (e.g. Bessemer). Whether the best approach is cold-emailing or attending local events, I’m curious what your thoughts were. I think my combination of technical and business skills would make me a good fit at one of these firms. Your help is greatly appreciated.

    Ben

    October 11, 2016 at 12:13 pm

    Reply

    • Hi Ben – thanks for the note. Play to your strengths and figure out the 5 or 10 or 20 investable companies in space tech, find out how you can help those companies directly, and then help them succeed! Make intros to potential buyers, partners, investors, etc — once you get to know their business a bit better and making sure that what you are doing is a net positive to the company. You could also develop an investment thesis about the space in general and share it with VCs privately or more publicly by breaking it apart into blog posts. Best of luck in your search!

      John Gannon

      October 13, 2016 at 7:46 pm

      Reply

  38. Hi John,

    Great website and resources here. I am a post MBA working in investment banking and I did finance prior to my MBA. I want to work for funds like Funders Fund after 1-2 years in banking. Do you have any suggestions for me? I am currently based in NYC.

    Thanks,
    Sara

    Sara

    December 3, 2016 at 12:08 pm

    Reply

    • Hi Sara – I’d suggest joining the VC Careers email list (you’ll find links for it throughout this page) as I often send job search techniques and postings there.

      There are a lot of folks with a similar background to you trying to break into the industry, so think hard about how you’re different (really different) and then develop a strategy that plays to that differentiation.

      Best of luck!

      John Gannon

      December 3, 2016 at 8:44 pm

      Reply

  39. Great website and articles John! I am working full-time as a management consulant and I want to be a career VC in the 1-2 years, so I am curious whether it is possible to start a side business or help a VC on a part-time basis? If so, do you have any resources I can refer to?

    Thank you.

    Gawande

    December 7, 2016 at 9:38 pm

    Reply

    • Most of the resources I find I link here. Are there specific things you feel are missing from what’s here? Let me know as I am always looking to improve the quality and quantity of content.

      John Gannon

      December 8, 2016 at 9:12 am

      Reply

  40. Hi John, big follower of your website as a graduate VC. The VC I work for is hiring, how would we go about being added to your list of jobs please?

    Josh

    January 12, 2017 at 11:10 am

    Reply

    • Hi Josh – subscribe to my email list which you can do from this page. Then just reply to the first email you get — it goes directly to me.

      John Gannon

      January 15, 2017 at 11:59 am

      Reply

  41. Hey John, huge fan of everything you do here.

    It is pretty clear that having a couple of investment pitches ready is important. I have many startups in mind, but don’t feel like I know how to best attack (a) choosing which to pitch and (b) structuring a pitch. Do you have any advice or can you point to anywhere that could inform people on how to go about this effectively?

    samslezek

    January 23, 2017 at 8:57 pm

    Reply

    • Hi Sam – thanks for the kind words. I am pretty informal about pitching a company when I have a pre-existing relationship with an investor, but I still make sure that it is clear why I think it would be a good fit for them or their fund.

      Here’s a (real) example below.


      “Hi – acquaintance of mine just joined a seed stage co. out your way called AcmeCo. They are doing network monitoring / control / SDN management with some special sauce thrown in. Have 40 co’s using their beta.

      They are closing a seed round shortly, thought it might be up your alley and told them they should talk with you.

      If it is of interest, let me know and I’ll connect you with them.

      Hope all is well!”

      John Gannon

      January 23, 2017 at 9:31 pm

      Reply

  42. John,

    I am interested in applying for associate positions listed on your webpage. I am curious whether VC associate recruiting is similar to the recruiting process at a PE firm, which means candidates will get an offer one year in advance? Given my current work situation, I won’t be able to joining a firm until August. Therefore, I am curious whether I should apply for the opportunities now, and negotiate on start date if I get an offer, or wait until a few months later (obviously there are many good opportunities posted recently and I would like to give a try).

    Also, I’ve already had 5 years of experience and a MBA. For the associate postings, do you think I can negotiate for a senior associate position?

    Let me know your thoughts / advice on this.

    Thanks!!

    Gawande

    February 1, 2017 at 10:23 pm

    Reply

    • Thanks for the note.

      First, everything is negotiable! :)

      Second, some of the later stage firms or large multi stage firms do hire folks ahead of time e.g. IVP.

      My advice would be to get yourself in front of as many firms as you can, whether or not they are hiring now or later. Your success in this kind of job search will be highly influenced by the number of high quality connections you’re able to develop. (Actually, I think that’s the key to career success, too ;)

      Good luck!

      John Gannon

      February 2, 2017 at 8:30 am

      Reply

  43. Hi John,

    I received a verbal offer for an associate position (I found job posting here, thanks). The firm has been delaying a formal contract for several weeks, citing busyness when I followed up. Is this common, or is it likely they are waffling on my candidacy?

    Any suggestions for how to approach following up?.

    Thanks

    PureVC

    February 8, 2017 at 12:57 pm

    Reply

    • If they are a known entity (established firm) then I’d be less concerned than if they are a newer firm, or a firm that’s not yet closed a fund. However, it is quite common for VC firms not to move fast when there’s no compelling event.

      E.g. I had an offer to join a fund, and within a week was able to go from 1st meeting to offer on paper with a 2nd fund. That 2nd fund would not have moved nearly as fast if I had not got that 1st offer.

      You might also consider (if you haven’t already) letting other firms that you’ve been talking with (and that you wouldn’t mind working for) that you do have a verbal offer but that you’re still very interested in their firm. This may get some other folks moving and help you get to an outcome you want — starting a job in venture!

      Good luck!

      John Gannon

      February 10, 2017 at 6:37 pm

      Reply

  44. Do you provide sample investment memos or industry overviews?

    Jerrod Hill

    February 17, 2017 at 5:30 pm

    Reply

    • Yes, I’ve shared these via the email list in the past.

      John Gannon

      February 17, 2017 at 6:09 pm

      Reply

  45. Hi John, thank you for putting this together! It’s very useful. I’m interested in working at a VC but have a marketing and digital analytics background. I’m wondering if VCs hire people with experience outside of finance to either help evaluate startups on things other than revenue potential (i.e. using market research and product/market fit criteria), or to help portfolio companies with marketing strategy. What non-finance roles are there at a VC and how hard is it to get one? Thanks!

    Ann

    March 13, 2017 at 3:25 pm

    Reply

    • Hi Ann – thanks for writing. There are plenty of folks who work in VC who didn’t come from a finance background. In fact for early stage VC there’s really not alot of “finance” to be done. For growth stage VCs it is a different story, since you are dealing with real business that have income and positive cashflow. Larger VC firms may have marketers on staff to consult with their portfolio on growth related topics. Long way of saying: there are many paths, but all require a ton of hustle :) Good luck!

      John Gannon

      March 28, 2017 at 9:51 pm

      Reply

  46. Hi John,
    Awesome Blog man! Hopefly your blog is helping many people that interesting in VC.

    My first question is: Which is the most methodology to evaluation a Startups? Even a Seed, Series A, B,C. For me doesn’t mean a DCF. Could be the multiples? If you have one to share this model, can you do that?

    Second question: I used to work as an Analyst in some M&A boutiques, that could run two deals (all phases), i came to SF to study in Berkeley and got stuck on those VC’s Funds. Do you think i can apply for anyone like a temporary position?
    TKs

    CAUE FERREIRA

    May 5, 2017 at 8:03 pm

    Reply

    • Angel, Seed, Series A valuations can be more art than science, although from what I have seen there is a typical range that is ‘market’ at any given point in time based on round size. Some investors also target a % ownership and then work backwards into the valuation from that % ownership and the amount of money going in. I think #breakingintovc may have some more coverage on this topic (valuing early stage businesses) as well, and also has some tips on getting into VC in general as an undergrad. Good luck in your search!

      John Gannon

      May 5, 2017 at 8:13 pm

      Reply

  47. Hi John,

    Thanks for a killer resource and I had a question about salary ranges for VC roles. I am in the final interview steps for a Principal position at a biotech focused VC firm and looking for input on the salary range. The wide range I found on the internet (200k-700K base) has left me with more questions than answers.The firm is a pretty standard, 6 partners, 1 managing partner and no junior members overseeing `$250million. I know that every firm is unique and that the wide range maybe true, but I was looking for some sage like advice from my favorite VC blogger. Let me know if you can help or at least provide some resources that might.

    Cheers,

    Jamie

    Jamie

    November 16, 2017 at 2:38 pm

    Reply

    • Hi Jamie – best bet if you are in a bind is to reach out to some recruiting firms that do semi-frequent VC searches. They may have a good read on what is currently market depending on the key variables (e.g. AUM, sector, stage). Glocap is one firm that comes to mind, but there are several others. Best of luck in getting your search over the finish line.

      John Gannon

      November 20, 2017 at 9:08 am

      Reply

  48. Hi John – thank you for this blog. Incredibly useful!

    I’m looking for some advice around my next role and hope you can help. I spent three years working at an asset manager and then moved to an on-demand technology compay to get experience as an operater before moving to VC. My current work consists of a mix between finance, operations, and strategy. I’m currently choosing between two options at my company – move into a role that is much more operational or work as chief of staff. Do you have any advice around which will be more valuable to a VC and will likely yield better success when I recruit for VC?

    Thanks in advance!

    Michael

    November 27, 2017 at 2:39 pm

    Reply

    • Chief of staff for a CEO that’s a successful serial founder (or someone who is CEO for one of the top VC backed startups in the country) could be pretty amazing in terms of helping you build your network in the VC world.

      OTOH operating experience, especially in areas that VCs tend to favor (e.g. product), could be a good path as well.

      Hard to say more without more detail or context — hope this helps.

      John Gannon

      December 31, 2017 at 4:42 pm

      Reply

  49. Hi John, Thanks for these resources. I’m currently leaving an angel group to join a seed stage £40M fund with a strong vertical focus on an industry in which I have experience investing in. I can’t seem to find any information or data (other than PE data) on compensation for principal level roles (base, bonus, carry in %). There are plenty of analysis for the US market but nothing for the European/UK landscape. How do principals and Associates in Europe get this information? Thanks for any help or pointers.

    Mike

    February 19, 2018 at 6:42 am

    Reply

    • Hi Mike – I don’t have any pointers for EU/UK salary research at this time. Sorry I can’t be of more help.

      John Gannon

      February 19, 2018 at 9:30 am

      Reply

  50. Wanted to tell you thank you for this awesome site. It has great content, and every week I learn something new. You’ve really provided a valuable resource to those of us who are trying to find our way and break into the industry. Come on Seattle…we need more opportunities up here in the PNW!

    Brenda

    June 22, 2018 at 2:38 pm

    Reply

  51. John, I have spent the last 3 years in a biotech startup that is winding down and have two options ahead of me: 1) Take a Med School offer I’ve been deferring, or 2) Take an Pre-MBA role at a Boutique Consulting firm that focuses on the Life Sciences Industry (in Boston). If my end goal is to have a career in Life Science focused investing, which would be the better path in your opinion?

    Kyle

    June 26, 2018 at 6:11 am

    Reply

    • Great question. Without me having a lot of Life Sciences specific advice at hand (sorry!), I would suggest picking ~15-20 people that you respect across multiple Life Sciences VC firms and seeing if there’s a consistent thread in their background. This might give you an idea of what path to pursue. Best of luck!

      John Gannon

      June 26, 2018 at 6:30 am

      Reply

      • Thanks John, I’ll do just that. I appreciate your blog, you have a lot of insight here!

        Kyle

        June 26, 2018 at 6:56 am

    • Hi Kyle,
      I am currently someone that broke into the Boston VC Biotech community and John’s advice is a great starting point. I’ll help by being one of your 15-20 information interviews. My advice will be focused on VC instead of other investing career paths and will likely reiterate other posts on the site. There is no direct path into biotech VC, but resources like this blog can help you along your path. My path started with a PhD and two postdocs before breaking in, however all the time I was thinking about and working towards a position in VC. During that time, I was networking, internshipping /consulting part-time for VC firms and building a strategy to increase my odds, however I never knew if or when it would happen. Essentially, I had to have a day job I enjoyed and a career path for my life that didn’t involve being a VC. My advice for someone early in their professional career, make the career choices that makes you most fulfilled and VC will happen when it happens. Pick the day job you enjoy the most as you move forward to VC and keep in mind what can feel like the most direct path may not be (don’t pick a job you know you won’t like, just because you think it is direct). As for med school or consulting? Pick the path that will bring the most fulfillment for this portion of your life. A majority of Boston Biotech VC s (even the most junior roles) has a PhD and/or MD and some have an additional MBA. I would build a solid scientific foundation and there is no way to short cut that experience. It could start with a PhD, MD or 5-10 years in the industry (biotech, pharma, life science consulting), but almost every one of my colleagues has this solid foundation. Essentially, everyone had a successful science day job for about a decade before they became a VC and most had even more. In the meantime, talk to 20 other biotech VC, network, be tenacious and start to fill your VC tool kits with orthogonal experiences.

      Jamie Kasuboski

      June 26, 2018 at 8:55 am

      Reply

  52. Jamie,

    Thanks for your perspective! It’s nice to hear from someone with a life science background. I feel like both consulting and Medical School provide great opportunities, which makes it challenging to decide. I think you make a great point to not choose based on which path I think we’ll get me to VC sooner. I’m definitely going to move forward with that in mind. Would you mind if I reached out to you to ask couple more questions?

    Kyle

    June 27, 2018 at 6:46 am

    Reply

  53. Hi John,

    Thank you for the wonderful and helpful resources!

    I am a fresh double-MSc graduate (Economics/Finance and Investments) based in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. I am currently deciding between two unique opportunities and having great trouble assessing them clearly:

    1) Student-run VC fund: student-run venture capital fund based in Amsterdam (ASIF). Pre-seed and seed stage. My role would allow me to get into contact with promising startups in Amsterdam, prominent angel investors and other VCs. One year role. #1 choice for me.

    2) Graduate (rotational) programme at Schiphol Airport: Unique insights into one of the biggest airports in Europe. Rotational aspect is rather interesting and I could focus on projects that pertain to my interests. Exciting but not exactly what I am looking for.

    I have realised early on that the VC industry is where I would want to work. I am extremely interested in innovative startups and the unique funding process behind it. At the same time, I tend to think that the student-run VC is a diagonal step in my career and not a complete step forward (given the environment it operates in).

    Would really appreciate to hear your thoughts on this.

    Thank you in advance.

    Federico

    Federico Maroli

    June 1, 2019 at 11:26 am

    Reply

    • I think your instincts are good re: which role you should take.

      John Gannon

      June 11, 2019 at 6:20 am

      Reply

  54. Dear John

    Thank you for sharing us VC careers opportunities. What I notice is most of jobs are based in the USA, do you have any job opportunities based in Europe?

    That would be very helpful!
    Thanks,
    Mia

    Xingmiao CHEN

    June 11, 2019 at 6:05 am

    Reply

    • Yes, there is a whole page of European VC jobs linked from johngannonblog.com/vc-careers. Hope this helps!

      John Gannon

      June 11, 2019 at 6:19 am

      Reply

  55. Hey John,

    Love the blog! I have some questions for you. Can I email you? I didn’t see it anywhere on the website/

    Thanks!

    Clayton

    June 23, 2019 at 2:04 pm

    Reply

  56. John,

    A couple questions:

    1. I work in corporate development at a large, public medical device company. I also have experience in valuation and had worked on several startup projects. Would my background be appealing to VC firms?

    2. If my background is not appealing, what should I do differently?

    3. How do you recommend getting started on networking? I can’t find any alumni that work in VC.

    Clayton

    June 23, 2019 at 4:35 pm

    Reply

    • 1) I’m not sure about the med device space, but in tech VC there are lots of examples of corp dev folks who moved over to the VC side of the universe.

      2) See #1 :)

      3) I am assuming that if you work in corporate development that you have connections to VC firms in your space, but the wording of your question indicates that maybe you’re not connected to any? My guess is that VCs in your space would be open to taking a meeting with you to discuss industry trends and non-confidential aspects of what your company is working on. That would be a good start.

      John Gannon

      June 26, 2019 at 6:45 pm

      Reply

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