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Henry, Partner at Morado Ventures LLC: Advize Career Interview
A pre-med student's unexpected pivot to sociology led to a diverse career path, culminating in a partnership at Morado Ventures LLC. This journey involved temp jobs, an Apple internship, and a successful career at Intuit, showcasing the value of diverse experiences.
As a venture capitalist, the individual juggles operational support for portfolio companies with sourcing new investments, constantly networking and analyzing market trends.
Success in this fast-paced environment requires strong analytical skills, tech savviness, and a broad or deep industry expertise— all while building relationships in a small, yet helpful industry.
The most rewarding aspect is working with founding teams, guiding them through challenges and witnessing their growth. Despite initial self-doubt and the competitive nature of the field, perseverance and a willingness to learn are key.
For aspiring venture capitalists, operational experience is highly valued, making summer jobs and internships crucial stepping stones.
The individual's story underscores the importance of overcoming self-imposed limitations and embracing diverse opportunities to build a fulfilling and impactful career.
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Henry Sohn
Partner
Morado Ventures LLC
UC Berkeley
n/a
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Anthropology, Sociology
Finance (Banking, Fintech, Investing)
Finance
Disabled, Immigrant
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Career Path of a College Student at Intuit
Initially a pre-med student due to family influence, Henry pivoted to sociology after realizing "my motivations were all wrong" during a hospital volunteering experience. Their diverse work history, including temp jobs and an Apple internship which they declined to finish their degree, ultimately led to a role at Intuit, launching their career.
Main Responsibilities Of A Partner At Morado Ventures LLC
As a Partner at Morado Ventures LLC, Henry's role is multifaceted, encompassing both operational support and investment activities. Henry actively works with portfolio companies, offering assistance ranging from "healthcare, payroll, insurance things" to securing "first customer" deals and product roadmap development, while simultaneously sourcing new investment opportunities by networking with founders and other VCs.
A Day in the Life of a Partner at Morado Ventures
A venture capitalist partner's day is largely dedicated to "constantly...networking," meeting with potential startups, industry figures, and internal partners to discuss portfolio companies and new investment opportunities. This involves significant time spent "reading a lot" to stay abreast of industry developments and technological advancements, ultimately aiming to identify exciting companies worthy of investment.
Most Important Skills for a Partner at Morado Ventures LLC
For a venture capitalist at Morado Ventures LLC, tech savviness and analytical skills are crucial for "constructive conversation" with founders and for evaluating numerous pitches. The ability to identify patterns in successful companies and build a network, coupled with either broad ("a little bit of knowledge in lots of different fields") or deep sector expertise, are also key to success in this role.
Favorite Parts Of Being A Partner At Morado Ventures LLC
Henry, a Partner at Morado Ventures LLC, most enjoys the constant learning inherent in the role, driven by the ever-evolving technology landscape and Moore's Law's continued impact; this, combined with working alongside "the smartest people around" across diverse categories, keeps the work stimulating and engaging.
Biggest Challenges Faced By A Partner At Morado Ventures LLC
Henry's biggest challenge as a Partner at Morado Ventures is "keeping up with everything," a constant battle due to rapid industry changes and the need for frequent context switching between detailed legal discussions and high-level design conversations. This is further complicated by the long-term nature of venture capital investments, requiring patience for "seven to 10 years, maybe even longer" before seeing a return.
Favorite Parts Of Working In The Venture Capital Industry As A Partner
Henry, a Partner at Morado Ventures LLC, finds the most rewarding aspect of venture capital to be "working with these founding teams," supporting them through the challenges of building a company and witnessing their growth and success. This journey, marked by seeing them "at their best" and "at their worst," culminates in the satisfaction of their impact on the industry and personal development.
What Type Of Person Thrives In The Venture Capital Industry According To A Partner At Morado Ventures LLC
Morado Ventures LLC Partner Henry highlights strong relationship-building skills as crucial for success, stating that "it's a small world". Beyond networking, deep industry expertise from prior operating roles and a curious, adaptable mindset, combined with a vision for future technological evolution, provide a significant advantage in venture capital.
What a Partner at Morado Ventures LLC Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the Venture Capital Industry
The venture capital industry is competitive, with initial networking challenges focusing on "knowing this person? That company?". However, Henry emphasizes the importance of persistence and a helpful industry culture, noting that "most people try to be helpful" and will respond to outreach, rewarding those who persevere.
Entry-Level Positions for Aspiring Venture Capitalists
While some venture capital firms offer internships or hire recent undergraduate graduates, the industry increasingly values operational experience, with Henry stating that "there's a lot more emphasis and a lot more value placed them on people who have operational experience." Therefore, gaining experience in building companies or working in teams exposed to that process is highly beneficial for aspiring venture capitalists.
Significant Career Lesson From a Partner at Morado Ventures LLC
Henry, a Partner at Morado Ventures LLC, learned that "those limits are usually self-imposed," overcoming early doubts about a business career despite a liberal arts background to achieve success in top tech companies. This experience taught him the importance of disregarding self-imposed limitations and pursuing desires with focused improvement and learning.
College Experiences That Helped a Partner at Morado Ventures LLC Succeed
Henry's early tech skills, even outside a computer science major, gave him an edge in summer jobs, allowing him to showcase increased productivity over traditional methods; this, coupled with a full-time internship at Apple near the end of college, provided invaluable industry experience and "opened doors at other companies."
How Trying Jobs Influenced a Partner at Morado Ventures' Career
Henry, a Partner at Morado Ventures LLC, advises social science students lacking detail-orientation to view early career jobs as "something you just try on for size," suggesting diverse summer jobs to explore different fields. This approach reflects Henry's own experience, working in various sectors like law firms and banks, highlighting that career paths evolve, and early choices do not necessarily define a lifetime trajectory.
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