The best time to break into VC

Hi! I’m glad you’re here. You’ve made it to issue #109 of VC Demystified🪄.

^{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 for free across my socials. This newsletter may contain paid partnerships or affiliate links.}

One of the most asked questions I get: should I try to break into VC now or wait until I have more experience?

Though I would like the answer to be it doesn’t matter, I do think there are nuances to consider in this industry that no one will tell you. Basically it all depends on which level you're targeting when you want to break in.

Let’s start by talking about the VC position hierarchy:

Analyst - Most funds don't have this role. You'll find it at large, established firms with structured programs like Union Square Ventures, but otherwise few firms hire this junior of a person. There are limited roles at this level.

Associate and Senior Associate - This is the standard entry point and where the most opportunity exists. Many of these roles are posted publicly. These roles are accessible with a few years of operating, banking, consulting, or technical experience. Sometimes they even hire with 0 years of work experience. Basically this role is a bet on your hustle and ability to learn the job as you go.

Principal and VP - This is the level where trying to break in cold with no VC experience gets complicated. These roles are rarely posted publicly. Most funds fill them by promoting from within or hiring someone already operating at that level elsewhere in the ecosystem. Coming in from outside VC entirely is a much harder path than most people expect.

Partner - Partner isn't a role you break into (usually); it's one funds build around someone. The most common paths are promotion from within, or arriving with a background compelling enough that a fund structures a seat for you. Think, a successful exit, deep domain authority, or a sourcing network they can't replicate internally.

And of course, there areVC platform roles to break into as well that have their own hierarchies but I’m not going to touch on those in this article.

Below, I’m going to give you honest advice (as if I were talking to a friend) on when you should consider breaking in based on where you’re at in your career. Let’s discuss.