Career Guide: Tips for MBAs: VC & Entrepreneurship

Step 1: The most important step! Begin by scheduling an appointment with your professional career advisor, Michael Maher. He will help you define your career goals and coordinate your efforts. He can help you make the connection between your background and interests to potential roles and types of employers. After meeting with Michael, read suggested career books and outline your approach. Some suggested titles are listed.

Step 2:Target your search by creating lists of companies in specific regions or industries. Create a list of potential contacts at each company.

Step 3: Research the companies you are interviewing with and the industries they are in. See suggested resources for company and industry research below.

Step 4:Talk to Michael, second-year students, and alumni about jobs, companies, and interviewing.

Pay attention to advice on how to contact alumni and potential employers. Learn how to craft an engaging message to get your foot in the door. You want to make a good first impression!

What is venture capital (VC) and how is it different than private equity (PE)?

Private equity consists of capital that is not listed on a public exchange. Venture capital is a type of private equity that focuses on start-ups. Venture capital funding comes in rounds. Seed or angel investing happens in the very early stages of a firm to get it off the ground. If needed, additional rounds of investing series A, series B, C, D, and so on help the firm to become larger and closer to exit via IPO or acquisition. (See Investopedia article on Private Equity)

More information on researching venture capital is available on the library website.

What does an entrepreneur do? 

An entrepreneur creates a new firm, often focusing on newer products or innovative services.

Those who work for larger firms focusing on creating new products or services are sometimes referred to as corporate entrepreneurs, intrapreneurs, or corporate innovators. While they may be focused on creating the new, they typically do not have to deal with the pressures of funding the same way an entrepreneur does. 

What is the difference between a start-up and a small business?

Start-ups dream of being the next Google, Amazon, or Airbnb - i.e. grow into a large, multi-national firm. Small businesses still want to be successful, but they may want to stay smaller i.e. a local brewery, spa, or boutique consulting firm. 

Please note that some of these resources require an individual subscription for additional content.