VC Careers
By Ken Horenstein
About this collection
## VC Education and Career Development Resource Collection This collection represents a comprehensive guide to venture capital education and career development, spanning from foundational learning resources to practical career opportunities. The materials include **structured educational programs** (VC University's Berkeley-certified courses), **essential reading lists** curated by practicing VCs, **thought leadership** from industry veterans like Fred Wilson and Brad Feld, and **current job opportunities** in the VC ecosystem. The collection emphasizes **democratizing access** to VC knowledge through formal education, mentorship, and community building. Key themes include the importance of **practical, hands-on learning** over theoretical knowledge, the value of **networking and mentorship** in career advancement, and the **evolving nature** of venture capital in areas like AI, web3, and emerging ecosystems.
Curated Sources
StrictlyVC, LLC – Six months ahead.
StrictlyVC, a platform providing news and events about the venture capital scene, has been acquired by Yahoo, Inc. Despite the acquisition, StrictlyVC continues to operate with its core offerings intact. It provides a free daily newsletter that covers the VC scene in Silicon Valley and beyond. The platform also hosts events that bring together VCs, entrepreneurs, and corporate development executives. Past speakers at these events include notable figures such as Marc Andreessen, Sam Altman, and Chamath Palihapitiya. In addition to its newsletter and events, StrictlyVC has expanded its content to include videos and podcasts, such as interviews with industry leaders like Sam Altman of OpenAI. The content is available across various platforms, including Apple, Spotify, and Stitcher.
Key Takeaways
- The acquisition by Yahoo indicates a strategic move to bolster Yahoo's presence in the venture capital and startup ecosystem.
- StrictlyVC's events and content offerings provide valuable insights into the VC scene, featuring influential figures and covering key topics.
- The expansion into multimedia content like videos and podcasts enhances StrictlyVC's reach and engagement with its audience.
VC Jobs & Newsletter – Curated by John Gannon and Team
This document provides a comprehensive collection of venture capital (VC) jobs and information on how to secure a VC job. It includes a detailed list of VC jobs and internships in various locations such as New York City, San Francisco, Boston, and London, as well as remote opportunities. The document also references a recent VC salary and compensation survey with over 350 responses, offering insights into fair salary and compensation for various VC roles. Additionally, it promotes a newsletter that provides exclusive job opportunities and tips for advancing in a VC career.
Key Takeaways
- The document serves as a valuable resource for individuals seeking VC jobs by providing a comprehensive list of job openings and internships across various locations and firms.
- The inclusion of a VC salary and compensation survey offers insights into industry standards for different roles within VC firms.
- The newsletter associated with the document provides subscribers with exclusive job opportunities and career advancement tips, making it a strategic resource for those looking to break into or advance within the VC industry.
Venture Capital Jobs and Internships - Venture Capital Careers
The document is a job board listing various venture capital job and internship opportunities across different locations worldwide. It includes job titles, company names, locations, salary ranges, and brief descriptions of the companies and their focus areas. The job listings cover a range of positions from analyst and associate roles to senior management and director-level positions in venture capital firms, private equity, and related financial services. Companies represented include Clocktower Ventures, Coinbase Ventures, Macquarie Capital, Two Trees Capital, and Digital Currency Group, among others. The job postings highlight the diverse nature of venture capital investments, including technology, fintech, healthcare, energy transition, and deep tech sectors.
Key Takeaways
- The venture capital job market is diverse, with opportunities ranging from entry-level analyst positions to senior management roles across various geographical locations.
- Venture capital firms are investing in a wide range of sectors including fintech, healthcare, energy transition, and deep tech, indicating a broad interest in innovative and potentially disruptive technologies.
- The presence of both full-time and internship opportunities suggests that venture capital firms are not only looking for experienced professionals but also nurturing talent through internships, potentially creating a pipeline for future full-time roles.
VC University - A joint initiative of Berkeley Law Executive Education and the National Venture Capital Association
VC University offers comprehensive programs for venture capital education, including online courses, in-person bootcamps, and live events. The initiative aims to democratize access to venture capital knowledge for entrepreneurs, investors, attorneys, and others. The programs cover venture finance fundamentals, practical skills, and strategic insights, with a focus on emerging ecosystems and underrepresented groups. VC University has educated over 5,100 participants, awarded 720+ full scholarships, and boasts a 96% recommendation rate among alumni. The programs are designed for various career stages, from newcomers to advanced professionals, and include networking opportunities, mentorship, and interactive learning experiences.
Key Takeaways
- VC University's programs have successfully bridged the knowledge gap for underrepresented groups in venture capital, fostering diversity and inclusion.
- The combination of online and in-person learning experiences provides a comprehensive education in venture finance, equipping participants with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills.
- The initiative's focus on emerging ecosystems and regional venture trends highlights the importance of localized knowledge and networks in the venture capital industry.
Amazon.com
The document appears to be an Amazon user's list of business-related books, including titles by Nassim Nicholas Taleb, Ben Horowitz, and Alexander Osterwalder. The list includes 'Antifragile: Things That Gain from Disorder', 'The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable', 'The Hard Thing About Hard Things: Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers', 'Business Model Generation: A Handbook for Visionaries, Game Changers, and Challengers', and '7 Powers: The Foundations of Business Strategy'. The user has added these items to their list on various dates, with some items having price drops noted. The list also includes user interface elements and Amazon's general content, such as navigation links and product recommendations.
Key Takeaways
- The user's list focuses on business strategy and entrepreneurship, indicating an interest in these topics.
- The presence of multiple books by Nassim Nicholas Taleb suggests an interest in risk management and uncertainty.
- The inclusion of 'The Hard Thing About Hard Things' by Ben Horowitz implies an interest in practical advice for entrepreneurs and business leaders.
- The variety of book titles and authors on the list indicates a diverse range of interests within the business and strategy domain.
AVC - Musings of a VC in NYC
Fred Wilson, a veteran venture capitalist, shares his insights on various topics including his transition to web3 blogging, the emergence of AI and its applications, the potential of web3 technologies, and the need for a new energy stack to address climate change. He discusses his experiences with web3 blogging platforms, the importance of composability and portable identity, and the potential for mainstream decentralized applications. Wilson also highlights the significance of Empire AI, a state-of-the-art AI computing center in New York, and the need for regulatory clarity in the web3 space. Additionally, he reflects on his personal journey to improve his sleep habits and shares his thoughts on the venture capital ecosystem.
Key Takeaways
- The transition to web3 technologies is gaining momentum, with decentralized applications and composable services becoming increasingly important.
- AI is expected to continue driving innovation in 2024, with new applications emerging and legacy applications embracing AI to remain competitive.
- The venture capital ecosystem is undergoing a rationalization, with limited partners being cautious and large firms scaling back or shutting down.
- The energy transition is being powered by innovation in energy generation, storage, and distribution, and is expected to be a major area of focus in the coming years.
- Regulatory clarity is needed in the web3 space to unlock its full potential and enable mainstream adoption.
Feld Thoughts
The document is a collection of blog posts by Brad Feld, an entrepreneur and venture capitalist, covering various topics such as entrepreneurship, AI, startup communities, and personal updates. The posts include discussions on Reid Hoffman's new book 'Superagency', a new podcast series for startup community builders, and Brad's own experiments with AI in his online community. Other topics include book reviews, event announcements, and personal reflections on aging and travel.
Key Takeaways
- Brad Feld is experimenting with AI in his online community, using an AI alter-ego named Spike Feld to engage with members.
- Reid Hoffman's book 'Superagency' offers a optimistic perspective on AI's potential, advocating for 'smart risk taking' and 'iterative deployment'.
- The Colorado AI regulation mess is cited as an example of fear-based thinking around AI, contrasting with Reid Hoffman's approach.
Jobs | Jobs in VC Job Board
The document lists various job openings in the venture capital and private equity sector, including positions such as Investment Sourcing Lead, Investment Team, Technical Associate, Investor, Senior Payroll Analyst, and Director of Pensions Centre of Excellence. The job listings are from companies like 11 Tribes Ventures, Begin Capital, Uncork Capital, First Round Capital, OMERS Ventures, StepStone Group, Tulsa Innovation Labs, Alumni Ventures, Magnify Ventures, and Social Finance. The roles span different levels, from entry-level to senior positions, and include various functions such as investment management, finance, data analysis, and communications. Some of the job listings are contract-based, while others are permanent positions. The companies vary in size, ranging from 1-10 employees to 1001-5000 employees.
Key Takeaways
- The job market in venture capital and private equity is diverse, with various roles available across different companies and functions.
- There is a demand for professionals with expertise in investment management, finance, data analysis, and communications in the venture capital and private equity sector.
- Companies in this sector range from small firms with 1-10 employees to larger organizations with over 1000 employees, offering a range of work environments and opportunities.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do the formal educational approaches of VC University compare with the experiential learning emphasized by Fred Wilson and Brad Feld in terms of preparing someone for actual venture capital practice?
- What specific skills and knowledge gaps do the scholarship programs at VC University aim to address for underrepresented groups entering venture capital?
- How has the transition from web2 to web3 that Fred Wilson discusses influenced the types of educational content and career preparation needed for modern VC roles?
- What role does the 'Give First' mentorship philosophy from Brad Feld play in the broader democratization efforts seen across VC University and other educational initiatives?
- How do the job requirements and career paths shown in the Jobs in VC listings align with the educational content and skills emphasized in the reading lists and blog posts?
- What impact might AI tools like Brad Feld's 'Spike Feld' experiment have on scaling the mentorship and community aspects that appear central to VC career development?
- How do the emerging ecosystem programs (VC University LIVE in Michigan, Louisiana, Texas, North Carolina) relate to Fred Wilson's observations about decentralization trends in web3 and AI?