The networking loop that got me my first VC job

Hi! I’m glad you’re here. You’ve made it to issue #81 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.

Today’s deep dive: How I turned networking into a repeatable system to break into VC and how you can too

^{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.}

Read time: 5 minutes

How I turned networking into a repeatable system to break into VC and how you can too

When people ask how I broke into venture, they usually expect a story about luck, connections or timing.

But the truth is simpler - I treated networking like a system.

It wasn’t about who I knew. It was about who remembered me.

I call it The Networking Loop - a 3-step strategy that helped me build relationships with VCs, founders, and operators before I ever got an interview.

And the best part? Anyone can do it.

Step 1: Build Your Target List

Most people start networking by sending cold DMs to every VC they can find. That’s a mistake.

You want focus, not volume.

Start by building a list of 25-30 funds that fit your interests and background.

Break them into tiers:

• Tier 1: Your dream firms (the ones you’d drop everything to work for).

• Tier 2: Firms you admire and want to learn from.

• Tier 3: Firms you’d be genuinely excited to collaborate with.

Then, identify people in each firm who are 1-2 steps ahead of you, usually analysts, associates, or current interns.

They’re far more likely to respond and are usually open to helping others at the same stage they were once in.

*Pro tip: Keep this organized in a simple CRM (Google Sheet works fine). Track who you’ve reached out to, when, and what you talked about.

Step 2: Start Small and Build Outward

Your goal isn’t just one conversation. It’s a chain reaction.

When you get a call with someone in venture, end it by asking:

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