What to study about a VC firm before an interview

Hi! I’m glad you’re here. You’ve made it to issue #18 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.

For those of you who are VC recruiting or fundraising, get ready for the fall sprint! We’re finally in the last two weeks of the summer lull. Be sure to go back through my VC deep-dives to put yourself in a good place to nail your interviews and fundraising conversations.

Today’s deep dive: 9 questions you MUST have answered about a firm’s thesis before stepping foot in a VC interview

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.

9 questions you MUST have answered about a firm’s thesis before stepping foot in a VC interview

Just get an interview for a VC role? Congrats!

Securing the interview is a big step, but now the real work begins - preparation. Understanding the firm's investment thesis inside and out is crucial before you walk into that room.

But what is it exactly that you need to know about the firm and the way they invest?

In this newsletter, I’m going to give you 9 specific questions that you should answer about the firm in order to be properly prepared for your interview.

Understanding the firm’s thesis allows you to:

• Have a more in-depth conversation with your interviewer

• Understand what your day-to-day role will look like there

• Adjust your story/experience to fit that firm’s focus areas

• Pitch a startup that aligns perfectly with the firm’s criteria

• Ask more targeted questions at the end of the interview

+so much more!

Every VC firm is different and understanding that will help you nail your interviews. If you missed the issue where I went through the 6 types of VC firms, be sure to check that out too.

Now to the 9 questions…

Let’s get into it!

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