MBA to enter in the Venture Capital industry


soldinger

Hi,

I am interested entering in the VC industry and I was considering which MBA could help me to enter in this sector, I was thinking on IE because it has a strong focus on entrepreneurship and finance (I have been already accepted to IE MBA).

Is this a good choice or it would be better IESE (because it has a strong focus on finance), IMD (because it is has a good network for this industry in Swiss/Austria/Deutschland) to reach this goal?

Thank you,

Guido

Hi,

I am interested entering in the VC industry and I was considering which MBA could help me to enter in this sector, I was thinking on IE because it has a strong focus on entrepreneurship and finance (I have been already accepted to IE MBA).

Is this a good choice or it would be better IESE (because it has a strong focus on finance), IMD (because it is has a good network for this industry in Swiss/Austria/Deutschland) to reach this goal?

Thank you,

Guido
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Duncan

Venture capital is profoundly national, and differs from entrepreneurship. VCs are a very small niche of the finance sector and don't recruit many people. When they do, they recruit through small networks. Focus on the market in which you have the best connections, and go to the very best school.

Venture capital is profoundly national, and differs from entrepreneurship. VCs are a very small niche of the finance sector and don't recruit many people. When they do, they recruit through small networks. Focus on the market in which you have the best connections, and go to the very best school.
quote
Inactive User

i agree with you, research and get the best business school.
check out school like RICS.
if you might find it useful.

i agree with you, research and get the best business school.
check out school like RICS.
if you might find it useful.
quote
ralph

check out school like RICS.

What are you talking about? I wouldn't go near this school, especially since this candidate is already admitted to a ranked, internationally-accredited MBA program.

<blockquote>check out school like RICS.</blockquote>
What are you talking about? I wouldn't go near this school, especially since this candidate is already admitted to a ranked, internationally-accredited MBA program.
quote
Duncan

Manchester Business School's MBA for Construction Executives is accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), and I don't thinl that the courses at the RICS-Amity school are. Either way, neither is a route into VC.

Manchester Business School's MBA for Construction Executives is accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), and I don't thinl that the courses at the RICS-Amity school are. Either way, neither is a route into VC.
quote
ezra

Hi Guido,

An MBA isn't really a direct route to a VC job. Most VCs break into the industry by having been an entrepreneur first and then getting connections to the firms, through building their businesses and raising funds.

I'm not really familiar with the VC scene in Europe, but I'm guessing that there are VCs around the big startup hubs - London, Berlin, Stockholm, Madrid. If I were looking to make connections with these firms I'd be investigating the best ways to network with them, and this would probably mean being close to them. And then doing an MBA strong in finance. So LBS seems like a good choice, but that's not on your list.

You're right, IE is probably a safe bet - if you can launch a business while you're there you can connect with angels and VCs that way, giving you a foot in the door. It would be a two-step process.

However, a lot of the real VC money in Europe comes from the US anyway - so a school like Stanford (Silicon Valley) or Columbia (NYC) would put you in proximity to the real action.

Hi Guido,

An MBA isn't really a direct route to a VC job. Most VCs break into the industry by having been an entrepreneur first and then getting connections to the firms, through building their businesses and raising funds.

I'm not really familiar with the VC scene in Europe, but I'm guessing that there are VCs around the big startup hubs - London, Berlin, Stockholm, Madrid. If I were looking to make connections with these firms I'd be investigating the best ways to network with them, and this would probably mean being close to them. And then doing an MBA strong in finance. So LBS seems like a good choice, but that's not on your list.

You're right, IE is probably a safe bet - if you can launch a business while you're there you can connect with angels and VCs that way, giving you a foot in the door. It would be a two-step process.

However, a lot of the real VC money in Europe comes from the US anyway - so a school like Stanford (Silicon Valley) or Columbia (NYC) would put you in proximity to the real action.
quote
soldinger

Thank you for all the replies posted!

Thank you for all the replies posted!
quote
Duncan

None of these is a "safe bet". VC organisations are tiny despite having big funds. You will need to network like crazy.

None of these is a "safe bet". VC organisations are tiny despite having big funds. You will need to network like crazy.
quote
ezra

None of these is a "safe bet".

You're right, I should have been more clear - while IE's not by any means a guaranteed route into the VC business, it's still better than most other European options in this sense, considering the school's focus on entrepreneurship and its location.

But yes, this applicant would need to focus on strategic networking, and ideally should have guided a business through one or two series funding rounds by the time s/he can expect to land a job in VC.

<blockquote>None of these is a "safe bet".</blockquote>
You're right, I should have been more clear - while IE's not by any means a guaranteed route into the VC business, it's still better than most other European options in this sense, considering the school's focus on entrepreneurship and its location.

But yes, this applicant would need to focus on strategic networking, and ideally should have guided a business through one or two series funding rounds by the time s/he can expect to land a job in VC.
quote
Duncan

Guido is often an Italian name. I think an Italian has few openings in the Spanish VC scene.

Guido is often an Italian name. I think an Italian has few openings in the Spanish VC scene.
quote

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