What an Independent Advisor wishes they had known before entering the Venture Capital industry
Mike's unconventional path into venture capital (VC), lacking prior knowledge of the field, highlights the value of immersion over formal preparation; the advisor advises that "the best way to do it is just jump in and figure it out," suggesting on-the-job learning trumps academic study for this career.
Venture Capital, Networking, Career Transition, Immersive Learning, Entrepreneurship
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Mike Sims
Advisor
Independent Consulting Company
Penn State University, 2020
Executive MBA, UCLA, June 2023
Economics
Consulting & Related Professional Services, Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG)
Entrepreneurship and Business Owner
Veteran
Video Highlights
1. A background in aerospace engineering can make transitioning into venture capital easier.
2. There is no one specific path to becoming a venture capitalist; the best approach is often to immerse oneself in the community and learn through experience.
3. While academic training is helpful, practical experience and networking are crucial for success in venture capital and related fields.
Transcript
What have you learned about this role that you wish someone would have told you before you entered the industry?
My background was very different from what I do today. When I got into VC, I didn't even know what VC was. I know a lot of people study and network for years to get into VC.
I literally only knew how to spell VC. In hindsight, if I had known about what it was, or about Aerospace, my friend in Aerospace could have become an interface engineer with VC much easier.
I probably would have gotten my undergrad in economics. I might have gone to school much earlier or even saved money and syndicated as an angel with other investors. That way, I could have learned the ropes a bit more.
At the end of the day, there are a lot of people who think they know about VC and many things in general, but there's no real way to prepare other than academic training. The best way is to jump in and figure it out.
If you're looking at getting into Aerospace, you probably want to be an engineer. If you're looking to get into VC, the best way is to immerse yourself in the community. Eventually, something will happen to your benefit, and you'll be an adventure capitalist.