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Comment by GFischer | Hacker News Reader

I don't think this is the best advice for everyone:

"How would I become a VC? By being one: pull some of my own money, invest it in startups, and build my track record. That’s how. I can’t imagine any other way."

I can definitely imagine another way - the way I suppose the people that went to the event being discussed ("how to become a VC.") might have in mind: learn the ropes from someone experienced, learn what's needed (lots of legal, economical and technical stuff I didn't even know existed before reading stuff like the A VC blog http://www.avc.com/ ), learn from their mistakes and successes (and no, I don't think the Internet is a good enough substitute for the actual experience).

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How do you propose to learn what's needed, without actually doing the job? VC jobs have a crazy applicant ratio above 100 to 1. So even if you are super-qualified, with the best MBA, your chances are still below 1% to land that job.

The alternative, kind of what Jeff Clavier did, is just ignore the traditional ladder and just do it.

A problem with this is, most people don't have the money to just start investing in startups. This is one reason why startups tend to need VCs in the first place. It's not like the only thing holding people back from investing in startups is willpower.

I don't think a 20-year old, fresh out of college, wants to become a VC. So that particular advice was more targeted at mid-level managers, with some cash in the bank, and the desire to become a VC. Do you know any VC who is less than 30?

Speaking personally, this probably has to do more with resources (money, experience, people) and less with desire.

Agreed. I know several young finance guys that would all like to get into VC one day, but they know that without a founder background they need to cut their teeth in banking/dealmaking before moving over. But there is definitely a desire.

I didn't know that the VC jobs were that hard to get.

I thought you could get into a job with a VC firm and learn from inside.

Not necessarily a VC job, but one where you're in contact with the business.

Or, you could get a VC or super-angel mentor.

I'm not looking to become one, but I was drawing from my father's experience on how he started his own company (he first learnt the ropes at another firm).

Apparently not, from what i've heard big VCs only hire experienced people, most firms prefer hiring ex investment bankers. There's really not many Entry level jobs in the VC industry (Source: wall street oasis forum)

especially because VCs invest other people's money.

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