Networking for Emerging VCs: Why Your Peers Are Your Best Asset

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Networking within the venture capital (VC) industry can be incredibly nuanced and daunting for VC newbies. VC is a relationship-based business, and it’s natural to aspire to connect with the industry’s elite: managing directors and partners at leading firms, investors with extraordinarily successful portfolios, and thought leaders or LinkedIn influencers.

While the importance of these connections is beyond question, there’s a compelling case to be made for why early-career professionals, particularly analysts and associates, should also prioritize building relationships among their early-career peers. Making friends and building ties with peers can do wonders. This approach not only broadens your network in all directions but also fosters a community of support that can yield significant personal and professional benefits over time.

For analysts and associates just starting out in VC, getting to know your peers and building a network across the board can be very strategic, maybe even more so than always trying to impress those sitting at the top.

Building a Foundation for Mutual Growth

Networking with your peers in venture capital isn’t just about making more friends; it’s a strategic move for mutual growth and learning.

1. Knowledge and Skill Exchange: At the early stages of a VC career, the learning curve is steep. Networking with peers allows for the exchange of insights, experiences, resources, and strategies. Peers can provide great advice on navigating the intricacies of deal flow, due diligence, portfolio management, and more.
2. Creating a Supportive Community: The VC industry is competitive and fast-paced, making it easy to feel self-doubt and isolation. Building relationships with other early-career professionals creates a supportive network that can offer encouragement, empathy, and motivation. This sense of community is important for mental well-being and fostering a collaborative environment where everyone feels more comfortable sharing opportunities and resources.
3. Access to a Wider Range of Opportunities: Fund managers and leaders may have access to the most coveted deals and insights, but your peers are likely to be on the forefront of emerging trends, innovative startups, and new technologies. By networking horizontally, you position yourself to catch wind of these opportunities early on, potentially opening doors to collaborations and investments that might otherwise go unnoticed. This may also help you bring new and diversified insights and opportunities to your firm, which can lead to potential promotions or praise.
4. Long-Term Professional Relationships: The relationships formed with peers in the early stages of your career are likely to be among the most enduring and rewarding. As you and your peers progress within the VC ecosystem, these connections can evolve into powerful professional networks. The analyst or associate you connect with today might be a future GP or entrepreneur. Growing together, you can support each other’s career paths and potentially collaborate in more meaningful ways in the future.
5. Diversifying Your Network: While it’s crucial to have mentors and connections among VC leaders, a well-rounded network should include a diverse array of people, also including professionals in VC adjacent fields, early employees at startups, or even people trying to break into your industry. Connect with a BDR at an early stage tech startup or get coffee with an analyst at a VC research company. This diversity can enrich your perspective, providing insights into different aspects of the industry.

Cultivating Meaningful Connections

It’s incredibly important to remember that the goal of networking with your peers isn’t merely to expand your personal CRM and boost your LinkedIn clout, but to cultivate meaningful relationships that provide mutual value. This requires authenticity, regular engagement, and a willingness to contribute as much as you gain. Engaging in online communities, attending industry events, and participating in informal gatherings are excellent ways to foster these connections.

Tips on How to Build Community with Your Peers

• Join online communities that focus on your demographic. You can search for these on platforms like Slack, X, Reddit, and Google. A couple of my favorites include Gen Z VCs, Women in VC, Queer VC, BLCK VC, and EVCA.
• Search for peers in your city on LinkedIn, and send a follow request + message inviting them to connect over coffee! I highly recommend setting up an in-person meeting rather than a virtual one.
• Host an event for your peers! Think about hosting casual meetups at a brewery or throwing a dinner party. Maybe you could host a game night or find a sponsor for a more formal networking event.
• Give back! We all know how difficult it is to secure a job in VC. Make time for others who are trying to land a job in VC by connecting, mentoring, or sharing tips and resources with them. We are all more successful when we bring others up with us.
• Surround yourself with people that you aspire to be. You know how they say, “Never be the smartest person in the room?” Identify people with characteristics that you admire or deeply value; this will encourage growth within yourself.
• Connect with people your age who work at startups. Regular interaction with startup employees can help you better understand the challenges and opportunities within a high-growth startup environment. This also helps you build a network of top talent you can recruit from later on.

Conclusion

In the highly competitive and well-connected landscape of venture capital, focusing solely on networking up the hierarchy can significantly limit your career growth. The benefits of peer networking are multifaceted, offering immediate support, knowledge exchange, new opportunities, and a sense of community.