Life as a Venture Capitalist

• This is our first edition of Global Venture Capital Career Guide. Over the past 3 years, we received numerous requests from our readers and customers that they are interested to know more about the capital raising markets, venture capital and private equity industries.
• Many of our customers have also expressed their interests in pursuing career in venture capital and private equity related industries. Some are seeking career changes, either from other financial services industries, such as banking, accounting or funds management; while others have been considering changing career from specific industries such as biotechnology, aviation, IT or environmental industries.
• In 2008, we started our research into career prospects for the venture capital industry worldwide. We also interviewed over 500 venture capital firms in order to understand the insights of venture capital industries.
• I had worked as a venture capital fund manager for over 4 years based in Australia, US and Asia; it was a very interesting time for me. For me, it was a good foundation for me to pursue into my own ventures.

Life as a Venture Capitalist

Based on my own experiences, the most exciting elements as a professional in the venture capital industry are:

• Networks: You have opportunities to meet with people from all kinds of industries and also from different parts of the world.
• Analytical: You have to be analytical, as each opportunity is different and completely unique from another.
• You never get bored: You never get bored, just when you think you understand everything in an industry, another deal will come along, and you will need to start your research process again.
• It's a big world out there: you get good chance in reviewing deals in international markets, when I was the fund manager, I had reviewed deals as far as Liberia (which I had declined), many from China, many from Latin America, and also Eastern European markets
• Fact finding process: I think the biggest benefit from my career as an analyst was finding out what sectors and industries I am interested in the most, this has helped me in terms of setting up my own business.
• Management Styles and Management Mistakes: As an analyst with VCs, you would spend considerably more time with the management team of the potential or investee companies, you will find out differences in management styles, what works, what don't work. By doing so, you can also improve your own management style if you do set up a venture yourself eventually.