How to build a track record as a junior VC (without writing checks)

Hi! I’m glad you’re here. You’ve made it to issue #35 of VC Demystified🪄.

My name’s Nicole - I’m a Principal at an early stage venture fund, and I know firsthand that VC can often be a black box. Breaking into the industry may feel daunting and resources can seem scarce and inaccessible. I wanted to put together a newsletter to give others the playbook I wish I had when I first started.

This is the second to last newsletter of 2024! I can’t believe it’s been 8 months of doing this with you all 😇.

Today’s deep dive: The 5 critical things to track as a junior VC to start evaluating your investment acumen

My personal mission is to open as many doors as possible for other people and this newsletter is just one avenue to do that. As always, I will continue to post VC insights daily across my socials for those of you who prefer those channels.

The 5 critical things to track as a junior VC to start evaluating your investment acumen

You don’t need to be a check writer to start evaluating your picking ability in venture.

In fact, building a track record early—before you’re officially making investments—is a smart way to hone your skills.

Here’s how you can start tracking your picks and developing a sense of what your portfolio would have looked like.

First, Why Tracking Matters

By keeping tabs on these categories, you’re essentially building a hypothetical portfolio. This exercise allows you to:

• Evaluate your picking ability: See how your instincts and decisions stack up over time.

• Identify gaps in your approach: Learn from deals you missed or misjudged.

• Develop your investment thesis: Refine your thinking around what makes a great investment.

5 Specific Things to Track as a Junior VC 👇️ 

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