Simple Advice for Junior Folks in Venture Capital: Don’t Be a Generalist. Do One Thing Really Well for your GP and One Thing Really Well for Founders.
Sometimes I write a post just to be able to send the URL to people when they ask me a specific question. This one is “what advice do you have for someone who is a new VC analyst or wants to join a firm at that level?”
If you’re joining a venture capital firm as a junior professional I’d recommend against being a generalist, or trying to get good at everything. Instead once you’ve gotten your bearings optimize on developing distinct super powers.
One super power that is in service of your GP. Assuming you’re working for a particular partner or a specific coverage team, pick something that is of great value to you partner and can be performed repeatedly. Maybe it’s around sourcing and depth within a particular network. Expertise in a technology platform. Or some data analysis competency. A tool you can build and maintain for the partnership. Something along the See, Pick, Win, Service, and Exit spectrum that creates value and is distinct from how any other person would approach the job.
The other super power should be in service of the founders you back. Pick something that is matched against the stage and markets you partner is investing in and just become the go-to person for the founders. Maybe you are just excellent at sourcing new grad engineering hires from your old school. Or running data analysis projects. Or whizbang at influencer marketing. It almost doesn’t matter what — it just needs to be high value, repeatable and welcome to come from the cap table (vs needs to live on the org chart).
Sure beyond these two items you will have responsibilities, and should have capacity, to spring into action for one-offs, or other jobs to be done. But I think a beachhead of value aligned against these two ‘customers’ will make you more valuable in specific ways and build your reputation versus just being ‘responsive’ and a ‘good guy.’
Of course YMMV — I’ve never hired or mentored a venture analyst — I’m just observing from my experiences working with founders and venture co-investors. Good luck!
Bluesky has the JUICE — follow me there
Originally published at https://hunterwalk.com on February 20, 2025.
