Venture Capital

Back early-stage startups before most people believe in them — relationship-driven, long time horizons.

Hours / week: 45–60
Entry pay: $85K–$120K
Difficulty: 4/5

Typical estimates

Your readiness

A typical analyst day

9:00 AMReview inbound pitch decks and founder introductions
10:00 AMFirst meeting with a founder pitching their startup
12:00 PMLunch or coffee with a founder from the existing portfolio
1:30 PMMarket research on a sector the fund is considering investing in
3:00 PMReference call on a founder the fund is close to backing
4:30 PMInternal partner meeting discussing potential deals
6:00 PMIndustry networking event or demo day

The job, honestly

Venture capital investors fund early-stage, high-growth startups in exchange for equity, betting that a small number of winners will generate outsized returns for the whole portfolio. Junior roles focus on sourcing promising founders, evaluating pitches, and supporting portfolio companies after investment.

Pros

Meaningful work-life balance compared to most other finance paths
Constant exposure to new ideas, technologies, and ambitious founders
Relationship-driven work — your network becomes a genuine long-term asset
A strong long-term platform for eventually starting your own company or fund

Cons

Very few structured entry-level roles; most hiring is informal, network-driven, and inconsistent
Compensation is backloaded into carried interest that can take a decade or more to realize, if ever
It can take years to know whether an investment decision was actually good
Smaller teams and funds mean less structured mentorship than banking or PE

Recruiting roadmap

Sophomore
- Start building a startup networkComing upJAN–DECJoin a student-run VC fund or startup club — direct experience evaluating or working with startups matters most here.
Junior
- Internship recruiting (informal, year-round)JAN–DECVC internships are rarely posted publicly — most come from direct outreach to individual investors and funds.
Career switcher
- Lateral entry via startup or banking experienceJAN–DECThe most common path in is operating experience at a startup, or a lateral move from banking/consulting with a demonstrated interest in technology.

Career ladder

Analyst / Associate0-3 years · $100K–$150K
Senior Associate3-5 years · $140K–$200K
Principal5-9 years · $180K–$300K
Partner / General Partner9+ years · $250K–$1M

Typical estimates of total pay.

Where people go next

Startup operating roleA very common move — join a portfolio company (or another startup) in an operating role.
Corporate DevelopmentSome move to corporate venture or M&A roles at larger tech companies.
Start your own company or fundVC exposure to many founders and business models is a common springboard to founding.

Skills and topics

Evaluating markets, teams, and business models quickly
Relationship building and networking
Pattern recognition across many pitches
Written and verbal communication
Comfort with long, uncertain feedback loops

1
Accounting Fundamentals
Lesson Practice
2
Cap Tables & Dilution
Lesson Practice
3

Interview questions

Pitch me a startup you think is a great investment (real or hypothetical).
Cover the market size, why the team is uniquely suited to win, the business model, and why now is the right moment — strong answers show you understand what actually drives venture-scale outcomes, not just a cool product idea.
How do you evaluate a founding team?
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What does a cap table and term sheet broadly cover?
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How would you source deal flow?
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From the Circle

Earn your way into the Circle to see insider posts and events for Venture Capital.

Learn about the Circle

Resources

Books

Venture Deals — Brad Feld & Jason Mendelson
The Power Law — Sebastian Mallaby

Podcasts

Acquired
20VC

Daily reading

A startup newsletter covering your sector of interest
Product launches and funding news on a startup news site