<![CDATA[Land in VC]]>https://www.howtolandinventurecapital.comhttps://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!cAf0!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F575ef7af-25ff-4980-b8bd-8e874bbf933f_1280x1280.pngLand in VChttps://www.howtolandinventurecapital.comSubstackWed, 29 Apr 2026 11:32:53 GMT<![CDATA[How to build conviction when investing on founders]]>https://www.howtolandinventurecapital.com/p/how-to-build-conviction-when-investinghttps://www.howtolandinventurecapital.com/p/how-to-build-conviction-when-investingThu, 26 Feb 2026 14:32:03 GMT

Welcome to another edition of Land in VC. If you’ve been forwarded this email but you’re not a subscriber, please subscribe. And if you’re interested in sponsorship opportunities, send me an email at conrad@enzoventures.eu and I’ll share more details.

You’ve done the market research. The market is massive and the timing looks right.

But then you ask yourself the hardest question in early-stage investing:

Is this the right person to pull it off?

This is where most investors struggle (me too sometimes) and honestly? Where most founders lose deals they should have won.

After sitting in rooms where a brilliant founder with a genuinely important idea walked out without a term sheet; not because the business was bad, but because the investor couldn’t answer one internal question with confidence:

Why is THIS person the one to do it?

That question doesn’t have an obvious answer. And “good vibes” is not a thesis.

I’ve seen partners at top funds pass on companies that went on to be category-defining, not because they were stupid, but because gut feeling is noisy, FOMO is not a thesis and oattern matching on the wrong signals is dangerous.

So join me in an analysis on how I usually evaluate how this founder is the right person to build, for example, an AI vertical software.

Why most conviction-building fails

Before getting into it, it’s worth understanding why this is so hard.

Early-stage investing is, by definition, done with incomplete information. There is no revenue to analyze. No retention curve to scrutinize. No proof that the product works at scale.

What you have is: a person, a problem, and a story.

And most investors default to evaluating the story — and a bunch of times there ins’t even a pitch deck; so the narrative and the market are the most important things. So in the end, you should be evaluating the person’s relationship to the problem and their capacity to deliver.

That shift changes everything.

A great story can be coached. A founder who is genuinely, uniquely positioned to solve a problem? That’s rare. BUT,

Here’s what to look for. 👇

Building conviction as a VC (falling in love w/ a startup) – David Guérin

Read more

]]><![CDATA[VC Job Opportunities 🇺🇸/🇪🇺 – Week 9]]>https://www.howtolandinventurecapital.com/p/vc-job-opportunities-week-9https://www.howtolandinventurecapital.com/p/vc-job-opportunities-week-9Tue, 24 Feb 2026 14:52:12 GMTOne day, I got a WhatsApp from a friend:

Hey, there’s this role at this VC fund. Thought of you.

That’s exactly what I want for you when you see this post: a curated wrap of open VC job opportunities from the last week.

Below is a curated list of open roles across venture capital, funds, and venture-backed platforms, grouped by region for easier scanning. Each title links directly to the application.

I publish this every week so you don’t have to scroll through LinkedIn endlessly. Just one place for all open VC jobs globally.

Subscribe now

Let’s start with the States and then go to Europe.

🇺🇸 United States (+35 roles)

(From a16z to SoftBank, ICONIQ to First Round — the U.S. is packed with investor, platform, and operational openings this week.)

🗽 New York

  • Business Development Specialist – Infra— Team8 (New York) Apply

  • Associate, Healthcare Incubations— Primary (New York) Apply

  • Operator-in-Residence (OIR): BioTech— Primary (New York / Boston) Apply

  • Senior Administrative Team Assistant— ICONIQ Capital (New York) Apply

  • Senior Analyst, Client Operations— ICONIQ Capital (New York) Apply

  • Senior Analyst, Client Development— ICONIQ Capital (New York / San Francisco) Apply

  • Senior Analyst, Valuations— ICONIQ Capital (New York) Apply

  • MBA Venture Capital Intern— Cerity Partners (New York) Apply

  • Contractor, Office Coordinator, Crypto— Andreessen Horowitz (New York) Apply

🌉 California / Bay Area

  • Associate, Growth Equity— Adams Street Partners (Menlo Park) Apply

  • Director— Koch Disruptive Technologies (San Francisco / Fremont) Apply

  • Executive Assistant— NFX (San Francisco) Apply

  • Investment Associate— 500 Global (Palo Alto) Apply

  • Analyst, Global Investment Team— 500 Global (Palo Alto) Apply

  • Partnerships Manager— 500 Global (Palo Alto) Apply

  • Marketing Assistant— 500 Global (San Francisco) Apply

  • AI Engineer— Initialized Capital (San Francisco) Apply

  • Operations Associate— Initialized Capital (San Francisco) Apply

  • Partner 16, Fund Strategy Financial Analytics Associate— Andreessen Horowitz (San Francisco) Apply

  • Partner 22, Fund Strategy Engineering & Data— Andreessen Horowitz (San Francisco) Apply

  • Partner 14, Product Designer, ASG— Andreessen Horowitz (San Francisco) Apply

  • Workplace Experience Coordinator— Andreessen Horowitz (Menlo Park) Apply

  • Founder in Residence— Embedding (Palo Alto) Apply

  • Investor— First Round Capital (San Francisco / New York) Apply

  • Investor— First Round Capital (San Francisco) Apply

  • Sales Expert (Part-Time, Contract to Hire)— First Round Capital (San Francisco / New York) Apply

  • Executive Assistant— ICONIQ Capital (Palo Alto) Apply

  • Senior Associate, Family Office Advisory— ICONIQ Capital (San Francisco) Apply

  • Senior Associate, Legal Counsel— ICONIQ Capital (San Francisco) Apply

  • Investment Associate— SoftBank Vision Fund (Menlo Park) Apply

  • Investment Analyst— SoftBank Vision Fund (Menlo Park) Apply

  • Investor – AI— Samsung Next (Mountain View) Apply

  • Director – Fund Accounting— StepStone Group (San Diego) Apply

  • Corporate Partnerships Intern— Plug and Play Tech Center (Sunnyvale) Apply

🏛️ Mid-Atlantic & East Coast

  • Accelerator & Sales Director— Plug and Play Tech Center (Princeton Junction, NJ) Apply

  • Ventures Associate – Enterprise & AI— Plug and Play Tech Center (West Windsor, NJ) Apply

  • Legal Operations Associate— Sands Capital (Arlington, VA) Apply

  • Portfolio Analytics Director— Digital Currency Group (Stamford, CT) Apply

  • Paralegal— Alumni Ventures (Manchester, NH / Boston, MA) Apply

  • Controller— Alumni Ventures (Manchester, NH) Apply

🏙️ Midwest & Other

  • Principal— Alumni Ventures (Chicago, IL) Apply

  • Senior Associate— Alumni Ventures (Chicago, IL) Apply

  • Venture Capital Analyst— MicroVentures (Austin, TX) Apply

  • Community Engagement Specialist (Contract)— Alumni Ventures (Las Vegas, NV) Apply

  • Managing Director – Electrify Nevada Accelerator— gener8tor (Reno, NV) Apply

  • Investment Accelerator Intern— gener8tor(Fargo / Grand Forks, ND) Apply

🇪🇺 Europe (+20 roles)

(From Redalpine across Switzerland to SuperSeed in London, and Speedinvest in Berlin — a solid spread of investor and operations roles this week.)

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

  • Venture Capital Investor— SuperSeed (London) Apply

  • Investment Manager— Techstars (London) Apply

  • Visiting Analyst – Growth Investments (f/m/d)— Redalpine (London) Apply

  • Fund Accounting Associate— SoftBank Vision Fund (London) Apply

🇩🇪 Germany

  • Visiting Investment Analyst (July 2026)— AENU (Berlin) Apply

  • Senior Risk and Compliance Manager (m/f/d)— Project A (Berlin) Apply

  • Investor (f/m/d)— Redalpine (Berlin) Apply

  • Associate / Senior Associate, Marketplaces & Consumer (f/m/d)— Speedinvest (Berlin) Apply

  • Mandatory Investment Intern (m/f/d)— Signature Ventures (Aying, Bavaria) Apply

🇨🇭 Switzerland

  • Investment Manager / Principal (f/m/d)— Redalpine (Zug) Apply

  • Summit Fund Lead – Product & DACH Distribution (f/m/d)— Redalpine (Zug) Apply

  • Corporate Finance Associate (f/m/d)— Redalpine (Zug) Apply

  • Accountant (f/m/d)— Redalpine (Zug) Apply

  • Visiting Analyst – Science (f/m/d)— Redalpine (Zug) Apply

🇵🇹 Portugal

  • Entrepreneur in Residence (Technical)— Phira Ventures (Lisbon) Apply

🇫🇷 France

  • VC Analyst Intern— Wind (Paris) Apply

🇪🇸 Spain

  • Intern— Plug and Play Tech Center (Barcelona) Apply

🇨🇾 Cyprus

  • Program Associate— Plug and Play Tech Center (Cyprus) Apply

🇳🇴 Norway

  • Investor, Europe— Energy Impact Partners (Oslo) Apply

🇦🇺 Australia

  • Founders Associate— Startmate (Sydney / Melbourne) Apply

  • Head of Capital Formation— AirTree Ventures(Sydney) Apply

If you see a role that fits someone you know, send them this post.
That “Hey, I thought of you” message could change someone’s career.

Be like my friend — share with others who may be interested.

Get Week 10 straight to your inbox. Less scrolling, more connecting. One curated list, every week.

]]><![CDATA[Personal brand is the most important thing on this new ERA]]>https://www.howtolandinventurecapital.com/p/personal-brand-is-the-most-importanthttps://www.howtolandinventurecapital.com/p/personal-brand-is-the-most-importantThu, 19 Feb 2026 15:01:53 GMT

A few months ago, a founder I had never met sent me a cold DM on LinkedIn.

“I read your post on Should you jump into VC right after undergrad? Wanted to connect.”

He wasn’t looking for money and he wasn’t pitching anything. He just wanted to talk to the person behind the writing.

Something Shifted

I have been paying close attention to Barcelona’s startup ecosystem for a couple of years now, first as an outsider trying to break in, and more recently as someone lucky enough to be inside.

And in that time, I have watched something quietly change.

The smartest people in the room are no longer necessarily the ones winning.

The most visible ones are — and I do not mean visible in the sense of posting every day or chasing engagement.

I mean visible in the sense that when someone hears their name, they already have context. They already know what that person stands for.

That shift is real, and most people chasing VC roles have not caught up to it yet.

What Personal Brand Actually Means in This Industry

There is a myth worth killing early.

Personal brand is not a polished LinkedIn profile or a newsletter with a nice logo.

And it is definitely not a catchy bio or a perfectly formatted market map. Those things are packaging, and packaging alone does not move the needle.

Personal brand comes down to one question: does your thinking travel without you? When you are not in the room, do people reference your work? When a GP or a founder hears your name for the first time, do they already have a frame for who you are and how you think?

Read more

]]><![CDATA[VC Job Opportunities 🇺🇸/🇪🇺 – Week 8]]>https://www.howtolandinventurecapital.com/p/vc-job-opportunities-week-8https://www.howtolandinventurecapital.com/p/vc-job-opportunities-week-8Tue, 17 Feb 2026 14:27:33 GMTOne day, I got a WhatsApp from a friend:

Hey, there’s this role at this VC fund. Thought of you.

That’s exactly what I want for you when you see this post: a curated wrap of open VC job opportunities from the last week.

Below is a curated list of open roles across venture capital, funds, and venture-backed platforms, grouped by country for easier scanning. Each title links directly to the application.

I publish this every week so you don’t have to scroll through LinkedIn endlessly. Just one place for all open VC jobs globally.

Subscribe now

Big week. This one’s stacked.

Total roles in this week:

  • 🇺🇸 United States: 46 roles

  • 🇪🇺 Europe: 19 roles

Grouped clean so you can scan fast.

🇺🇸 United States (46 roles)

(From a16z to SoftBank, Samsung Next to NFX — the U.S. is packed with VC openings this week.)

🗽 New York

🌉 California / Bay Area

🏙 Chicago / Midwest

🏛 Conneticut / Northeast

🌴 Miami, Florida / South

🇪🇺 Europe (19 roles)

(From London to Munich, Paris to Oslo — European funds are actively hiring across all seniority levels.)

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

🇫🇷 France

🇪🇸 Spain

  • Intern— Plug and Play Tech Center (Barcelona, On-site)

  • Analyst— Plug and Play Tech Center (Madrid, On-site)

🇩🇪 Germany

🇧🇪 Belgium

🇳🇴 Norway

🇮🇹 Italy

  • Analyst— Plug and Play Tech Center (Milan, On-site)

If you see a role that fits someone you know, send them this post.
That “Hey, I thought of you” message could change someone’s career.

Be like my friend, share with others that may be interested.

Subscribe to get the next edition straight to your inbox — less scrolling, more connecting.

]]><![CDATA[Should you jump into VC right after undergrad?]]>https://www.howtolandinventurecapital.com/p/should-you-jump-into-vc-right-after-undergadhttps://www.howtolandinventurecapital.com/p/should-you-jump-into-vc-right-after-undergadThu, 12 Feb 2026 14:30:46 GMTThe vast majority of times people ask “how to enter VC?” instead of “does it make sense to enter VC right now?”

I did myself the same first question before making the second one.

But then I reconsider, and I landed into VC with a truly why.

But the thing is: does still make sense to invest in the best-in-class founder without having seen the operator side after your undergrad/MBA?

The truth is: it depends.

Starting your career in venture straight out of your undergrad is not the most common career path students dreams of; and if you land that role, it’s an exciting opportunity. I know lots of wonderful VCs analysts, associates, principals… that started as an intern and they are running their ways to a GP; and that’s great!

I know, VC can feel like the dream job from the outside; the day-to-day reality is more ambiguous, more relationship-driven, and more dependent on judgment than most early-career roles.

If you’re considering the leap, you’re probably should be asking:

  • Is VC the right place to start my career?

  • Will I learn fast enough, or should I build reps elsewhere first?

  • Are there better stepping stones (startups, consulting, banking, product) before VC?

Let’s break it down: the pros, the cons, and the alternatives, so you can make a decision you won’t regret two years later.

So, should you jump into VC right after undergrad?

My quick take: you can do it, and some people thrive.

But you need to be honest about what you’ll gain, what you’ll miss, and what kind of VC role you’re actually stepping into.

VC is not a single job. An analyst at a €20M pre-seed fund and an analyst at a €250M seed to series A mega-fund can be completely different careers.

Your experience will depend heavily on fund stage, team size, partner style, and whether you’re empowered to build real conviction, or mainly asked to do coverage and process.

Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz, former founders of Netscape and Opsware, went on to build arguably the most influential modern VC firm, Andreessen Horowitz (a16z).

Why it can work

In early-stage VC (where I am), a lot of the core skills are learnable on the job, especially if you’re a fast learner with high curiosity and low ego.

Read more

]]><![CDATA[VC Job Opportunities 🇺🇸/🇪🇺 – Week 7]]>https://www.howtolandinventurecapital.com/p/vc-job-opportunities-week-7-edahttps://www.howtolandinventurecapital.com/p/vc-job-opportunities-week-7-edaTue, 10 Feb 2026 14:27:43 GMTOne day, I got a WhatsApp from a friend:

Hey, there’s this role at this VC fund, thought of you.

That’s exactly what I want for you when you see this post: a curated wrap of open VC job opportunities from the last week.

Below is a curated list of open roles across venture capital, funds, and venture-backed platforms, grouped by country for easier scanning. Each title links directly to the application.

I publish this every week so you don’t have to scroll through LinkedIn endlessly. Just one place for all open VC jobs globally.

Land in VC is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Let’s start with the States and then go to Europe.

🇺🇸 United States (49 roles)

(From a16z to Digital Currency Group, Plug and Play to Alumni Ventures — the U.S. remains packed with VC and platform openings this week.)

🌉 California / Bay Area (SF, Palo Alto, Sunnyvale, San Diego, Los Angeles, Cupertino)

  • Associate — Mighty Capital (San Francisco) → Apply here

  • Analyst — Llama Ventures (San Francisco) → Apply here

  • VC Investment Intern — Scale Asia Ventures (Palo Alto) → Apply here

  • Principal in SF — YXS Capital (San Francisco) → Apply here

  • Executive in Residence — Ferocity Capital (San Francisco) → Apply here

  • Senior VC Associate — Growth Warrior Capital (San Francisco) → Apply here

  • Venture Partner — Minfon Group (Cupertino) → Apply here

  • Investment Team Member — Struck Capital (Los Angeles) → Apply here

  • Contractor, Technical Project Manager, Speedrun — Andreessen Horowitz (San Francisco) → Apply here

  • Partner 22, Product Growth, Speedrun — Andreessen Horowitz (San Francisco) → Apply here

  • Contractor, Partnerships Manager, Tech Week — Andreessen Horowitz (San Francisco) → Apply here

  • Contractor, Workplace Experience Coordinator, San Francisco Bay Area — Andreessen Horowitz (San Francisco) → Apply here

  • Partner 16, Deal Operations — Andreessen Horowitz (Menlo Park) → Apply here

  • Partner 16, GTM Business Development — Andreessen Horowitz (San Francisco) → Apply here

  • Partner 18, Deal Operations, Infra & AD — Andreessen Horowitz (San Francisco) → Apply here

  • Partner 18, HR Operations — Andreessen Horowitz (San Francisco) → Apply here

  • Partner 18, IT Engineer, San Francisco — Andreessen Horowitz (San Francisco) → Apply here

  • Partner 18, Marketing Partner, Speedrun — Andreessen Horowitz (San Francisco) → Apply here

  • Partner 20, Talent, Speedrun — Andreessen Horowitz (San Francisco) → Apply here

  • Partner 22, Associate Director, Capital Formation and Investor Relations — Andreessen Horowitz (Menlo Park) → Apply here

  • Partner 22, Content Marketing, Investor Relations — Andreessen Horowitz (San Francisco) → Apply here

  • Partner 22, GTM Executive Talent — Andreessen Horowitz (Menlo Park) → Apply here

  • Partner 22, GTM, Speedrun — Andreessen Horowitz (San Francisco) → Apply here

  • Partner 22, Talent, AI Apps — Andreessen Horowitz (Menlo Park) → Apply here

  • Partner 4, GTM Coordinator, Menlo Park — Andreessen Horowitz (Menlo Park) → Apply here

  • Partner 6, Executive Assistant, San Francisco — Andreessen Horowitz (San Francisco) → Apply here

  • Partner 20, Demand Generation, Speedrun — Andreessen Horowitz (San Francisco) → Apply here

  • Ventures Analyst/Associate — Plug and Play Tech Center (Sunnyvale) → Apply here

  • Ventures Associate - Enterprise & AI Ventures — Plug and Play Tech Center (Sunnyvale) → Apply here

🗽 New York

  • Investor / Partner — USA Deal Team — Dragonfly Capital (New York City) → Apply here

  • Northzone Asssociate (US) — Northzone (New York City) → Apply here

🏜️ Arizona

  • Chief of Staff — Saints Capital (Phoenix / Scottsdale) → Apply here

🏛️ Connecticut

  • Investment Lead, Venture — Digital Currency Group (Stamford) → Apply here

  • Investment Lead, Venture — Digital Currency Group (Stamford) → Apply here

  • Platform Associate — Digital Currency Group (Stamford) → Apply here

  • Venture Analyst — Digital Currency Group (Stamford) → Apply here

  • Venture Analyst — Digital Currency Group (Stamford) → Apply here

  • Investor, Liquid Tokens — Digital Currency Group (Stamford) → Apply here

  • Investment Associate — Digital Currency Group (Stamford) → Apply here

  • Investment Associate — Digital Currency Group (Stamford) → Apply here

  • Technology Fund - Senior Associate — Connecticut Innovations (New Haven) → Apply here

  • Venture Capital Fundraiser — Connecticut Innovations (New Haven) → Apply here

🏖️ Florida

  • Fund Controller — Las Olas Venture Capital (Fort Lauderdale) → Apply here

  • Ventures Analyst/ Associate | Semiconductors — Plug and Play Tech Center (Kissimmee) → Apply here

🍑 Georgia

  • Investment Associate - Venture Capital (B2B SaaS & Healthcare Technology) — BIP Ventures (Atlanta) → Apply here

  • Investment Analyst (Buy-Side, Early Career Program) — BIP Ventures (Atlanta) → Apply here

  • Senior Solutions Engineer — ICONIQ Capital (Atlanta) → Apply here

🏙️ Massachusetts

  • Healthcare Growth Equity Associate — Valspring Capital (Boston) → Apply here

  • Investor Relations & Operations Analyst — Catalyst Health Ventures (Boston) → Apply here

🤠 Texas

  • Ventures Analyst/Associate — Plug and Play Tech Center (Sugar Land) → Apply here

  • Ventures Associate | Aerospace & Defense — Plug and Play Tech Center (College Station) → Apply here

  • Innovation Manager — Plug and Play Tech Center (New York) → Apply here

🏛️ Washington DC

  • Summer Intern, Accion Ventures — Accion (Washington) → Apply here

🧀 Wisconsin

  • Program Manager - UW-Green Bay Pre-Accelerator — gener8tor (Green Bay) → Apply here

🌾 Arkansas

  • Program Manager - gBETA Arkansas — gener8tor (Arkansas) → Apply here

🇪🇺 Europe (18 roles)

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

  • AI Associate & Assistant to the Head of UK & EMEA — Alumni Ventures (London) → Apply here

  • Head of Community — South East Angels (Brighton) → Apply here

  • Venture Fellowship (London) - The Bridge — Entrepreneurs First (London) → Apply here

  • Investment Manager (Contract) — Trust Fund (London) → Apply here

🇫🇷 France

  • VC ASSOCIATE (CDI) @SOWEFUND — Sowefund (Vernon) → Apply here

  • Venture Fellowship (Paris) - The Bridge — Entrepreneurs First (Paris) → Apply here

🇪🇸 Spain

  • Impact Manager — Ship2B Ventures (Barcelona) → Apply here

  • Ventures Analyst — Plug and Play Tech Center (Valencia) → Apply here

🇩🇪 Germany

  • Investment Analyst/Associate Venture Capital (m/f/x) — UnternehmerTUM (München) → Apply here

  • Visiting Analyst (Venture Capital) — YZR Capital (Munich) → Apply here

  • Investment Associate Venture Capital (f/m/d) at May Ventures — May Ventures (Münster) → Apply here

  • Working Student Corporate Venture Capital - Brose Ventures — Brose Ventures (Berlin) → Apply here

  • Internship Corporate Venture Capital - Brose Ventures — Brose Ventures (Berlin) → Apply here

  • Venture Capital Analyst (m/w/d) — LEA Partners (Karlsruhe) → Apply here

  • Visiting Analyst (m/f/d) | Liberty — DTCP (Hamburg) → Apply here

  • Analyst Programme 2026 — Tenzing (Munich) → Apply here

  • Visiting Associate (Munich or Remote) - 4 to 6 months from February/March 2026 — First Momentum Ventures (München) → Apply here

  • VC Investment Intern (Munich or Remote) - 4 to 6 months from February/March 2026 — First Momentum Ventures (München) → Apply here

🇬🇷 Greece

  • Senior Venture Capital Analyst — iGrow Venture Partners (Athens) → Apply here

🇨🇭 Switzerland

  • accountant (f/m/d) — Redalpine (Zug) → Apply here

🇲🇹 Malta

  • Junior Finance Assistant — Growth Box Ventures (Ta’ Xbiex) → Apply here

If you see a role that fits someone you know, send them this post.
That “Hey, I thought of you” message could change someone’s career.

Be like my friend, share with others that may be interested.

Subscribe to get the next edition (Week 8) straight to your inbox — less scrolling, more connecting.

Land in VC is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

]]><![CDATA[Agentic Framework: Why I'm Worried For People Who Aren't Paying Attention]]>https://www.howtolandinventurecapital.com/p/agentic-framework-why-im-worriedhttps://www.howtolandinventurecapital.com/p/agentic-framework-why-im-worriedThu, 05 Feb 2026 14:57:51 GMTI’ve been sitting with this for weeks, and I finally decided to write about it.

Not because I have all the answers. But because I’m seeing something happening right now that reminds me of 2015 when everyone dismissed cloud computing, and I can’t shake the feeling that some really smart people are about to be caught off guard.

It’s not that AI is new. You know it’s everywhere. But what’s changing is how AI is working.

A year ago, AI answered questions. You asked, it responded. Helpful, sure. But still waiting for you to ask. Still passive.

Now it’s different. Now AI doesn’t wait. It sees a problem. It makes decisions. It talks to other AI systems. They coordinate. They execute. They report back. All while you’re sleeping.

And here’s what’s getting to me: most people still don’t realize this is already happening at scale.

Let me tell you what I saw that made this real for me.

The Moment Things Clicked

A few weeks ago, I was speaking with the founder of an AI-first compan, an investment opportunity of my usual day-to-day as a VC Investor but this time I saw something.

They deployed multiple AI agents, each with a specific job. One understood customer patterns. Another knew the approval rules. A third could actually execute transactions. A fourth monitored what happened and learned from it.

But here’s the part that got me: these agents weren’t just executing tasks someone told them to do. They were talking to each other. Coordinating. One agent would surface a pattern, another would interpret it, a third would decide what to do about it.

No human orchestrating. No morning standup to assign work. No email saying “can someone look at this?”

The agents saw the work. They talked about it. They did it. They reported back.

When the founder walked into their office the next morning expecting a 30-minute status meeting about what was stuck, everything was already documented. Analyzed. Optimized.

I remember sitting there thinking: This is something fundamentally different.

This isn’t just faster. It’s not just automation. This is a different way of organizing work.

And I realized: most organizations don’t actually understand what’s possible yet. Because they haven’t seen it working.

Why I Think This Matters (And Why You Should Care)

Here’s the thing about breakthrough infrastructure moments: they’re invisible until they’re not.

In 2013, nobody believed cloud would be the foundation of everything. It was seen as risky. Unproven. Something only startups desperate for capital would do.

By 2019, everyone building without cloud was basically already losing. Not in a dramatic way. Just quietly losing. Slower iterations. Higher costs. Less flexibility. You’d wake up three years later and realize your competitors had moved faster than seemed possible.

The same pattern is happening right now with agentic AI.

Most organizations are in the “skeptical but interested” phase. They’re reading about it. Maybe running small pilots. Keeping an eye on things. Waiting to see if it actually works.

But right now, this moment, is when early movers are quietly building something durable. They’re not waiting for perfect. They’re not waiting for maximum certainty.

They’re learning as they go.

And the organizations that figure this out first, not because they’re smarter, but because they started, will have built something their competitors literally cannot catch up to. Not in 6 months. Maybe not even in 18 months.

That’s not hype. That’s how infrastructure migrations work.

The Frameworks (And Why Picking One Matters)

I don’t want to get too in-the-weeds here, but this part actually matters.

Right now, three main frameworks are emerging as the foundation that organizations are standardizing on:

Read more

]]><![CDATA[VC Job Opportunities 🇺🇸/🇪🇺 – Week 6]]>https://www.howtolandinventurecapital.com/p/vc-job-opportunities-week-7https://www.howtolandinventurecapital.com/p/vc-job-opportunities-week-7Tue, 03 Feb 2026 14:33:19 GMTOne day, I got a WhatsApp from a friend:

Hey, there’s this role at this VC fund. Thought of you.

That’s exactly what I want for you when you see this post: a curated wrap of open VC job opportunities from the last week.

Below is a curated list of open roles across venture capital, funds, and venture-backed platforms, grouped by country for easier scanning. Each title links directly to the application.

I publish this every week so you don’t have to scroll through LinkedIn endlessly. Just one place for all open VC jobs globally.

Subscribe now

Let’s start with the States and then go to Europe.

🇺🇸 United States (40 roles)

(From a16z to First Round, MicroVentures to Initialized — the U.S. remains packed with VC and platform openings this month.)

🗽 New York

  • VP, Portfolio (Liquidity & Monitoring) — Alumni Ventures (New York City) → Apply here

  • Associate, Frontier — Energy Impact Partners (New York City) → Apply here

  • Senior Investor Relations Associate — Greycroft (New York) → Apply here

  • Market Development Associate — Primary (New York) → Apply here

  • VP of Marketing, Programming & Networks — Primary (New York) → Apply here

  • Associate, Healthcare Incubations — Primary (New York) → Apply here

  • Associate, Cyber — Primary (New York) → Apply here

  • Associate, Fintech Incubations — Primary (New York) → Apply here

  • Community Engagement Specialist (Contract) — Alumni Ventures (Las Vegas) → Apply here

🌉 California / Bay Area (SF, Palo Alto, Oakland, San Diego)

  • Investment Associate — 500 Global (Palo Alto) → Apply here

  • Analyst, Global Investment Team — 500 Global (Palo Alto) → Apply here

  • Partnerships Manager — 500 Global (Palo Alto) → Apply here

  • Marketing Assistant — 500 Global (San Francisco) → Apply here

  • Contractor, Admin Assistant — Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) → Apply here

  • Founder in Residence — Cold Start (San Francisco) → Apply here

  • Partnerships Lead - Private Equity & Venture Capital — Rillet (San Francisco) → Apply here

  • Costanoa Summer Fellowship 2026 — Costanoa Ventures (San Francisco) → Apply here

  • Founder in Residence — Embedding (Palo Alto) → Apply here

🇪🇺 Europe (30 roles)

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

  • Venture Capital Investor — SuperSeed (London) → Apply here

  • Events & Community Lead (m/f/d) — Earlybird (London) → Apply here

  • Investment Manager — Techstars (London) → Apply here

🇫🇷 France

  • Investment Intern — Astanor Ventures (Paris) → Apply here

🇪🇸 Spain

  • Investment Associate — Bynd VC (Madrid) → Apply here

🇵🇹 Portugal

  • Entrepreneur in Residence — Phira Ventures (Lisbon) → Apply here

🇩🇪 Germany

  • UVC Partners: Data & AI Engineering - Working Student (m/f/x) — UnternehmerTUM (Munich) → Apply here

  • Senior Risk and Compliance Manager (m/f/d) — Project A (Berlin) → Apply here

  • Operations Manager (m/f/d) — Project A (Berlin) → Apply here

  • Content & Brand Intern (m/f/d) — Earlybird (Berlin) → Apply here

  • Intern - VC Platform & Operations (m/f/d) — Planet A Ventures (Berlin) → Apply here

  • Investor (f/m/d) — Redalpine (Berlin) → Apply here

  • Intern / Working Student - Venture Building & Investments (m/f/d) — ThirtyEight Capital (Munich) → Apply here

  • Intern Founders Associate (Fintech Startup) — Firstlane Capital (Berlin) → Apply here

  • Financial Analyst Intern (m/f) — Rocket Internet (Berlin) → Apply here

  • Sales Development Representative (m/w/d) — Apollo Health Ventures (Berlin) → Apply here

  • Co-Founder — ThirtyEight Capital (Munich) → Apply here

  • Founding Engineer (PropTech Startup) — Firstlane Capital (Berlin) → Apply here

🇮🇹 Italy

🇧🇪 Belgium

🇪🇪 Estonia

  • Finance and Operations Specialist — Specialist VC (Tallinn) → Apply here

🇳🇱 Netherlands

  • Analyst – Fundraising & Finance Operations — Rubio Impact Ventures (Amsterdam) → Apply here

  • Head of Fund Operations — O3 Partners (Rotterdam) → Apply here

🇳🇴 Norway

  • Investment Associate — Yara Growth Ventures (Oslo) → Apply here

🇸🇪 Sweden

  • Angel Investor — Lumma Ventures (Stockholm) → Apply here

  • Investment Analyst — Scania Ventures (Södertälje) → Apply here

🇨🇿 Czech Republic

🇵🇱 Poland

  • Investment Associate - Flashpoint Secondary — Flashpoint (Warsaw) → Apply here

🇨🇭 Switzerland

  • Summit Fund Lead - Product & DACH Distribution (f/m/d) — Redalpine (Zug) → Apply here

  • Investment Manager / Principal (f/m/d) — Redalpine (Zug) → Apply here

  • Visiting Analyst - Science (f/m/d) — Redalpine (Zug) → Apply here

If you see a role that fits someone you know, send them this post.
That “Hey, I thought of you” message could change someone’s career.

Be like my friend, share with others that may be interested.

Subscribe to get the next edition (Week 7) straight to your inbox — less scrolling, more connecting.

]]><![CDATA[Stop waiting for a VC role]]>https://www.howtolandinventurecapital.com/p/stop-waiting-for-a-vc-rolehttps://www.howtolandinventurecapital.com/p/stop-waiting-for-a-vc-roleThu, 29 Jan 2026 06:25:14 GMTMy name is Conrad. I am a VC investor at an early stage fund in Barcelona. Venture capital looks glamorous from the outside, but from the inside it is mostly pattern recognition, judgment under uncertainty, repetition, rejection.

This newsletter exists because I remember how confusing the path felt before I was in. VC felt like a closed loop. Everyone inside seemed to have arrived through some invisible side door.

Today’s deep dive is not about hacks or shortcuts. It is about how people actually build venture credibility before they ever get paid to do it.

I am writing this for the version of you that feels close, but not quite there.

As always, I share VC insights daily across my socials for free. This newsletter may contain paid partnerships or affiliate references.

Operate Like a GP Without a Fund

If you already come across founders you believe in, there is no rule saying you must wait for a firm to validate that instinct.

Platforms like Verivend let you create a syndicate, raise capital from angels, deploy it into startups you source, then build a real investment track record in public.

You learn capital allocation, deal selection, portfolio construction. You also earn management fees plus carry if things go well.

This is not theory. This is practice.

If this path is relevant, book a demo or reply directly to this email. No pressure.

The Experience Paradox Is Real

Here is the uncomfortable truth.

Most VC roles require prior VC exposure.
Most people cannot get VC exposure without a VC role.

That loop filters out a lot of talented people who would be excellent investors.

But the loop has cracks.

VC experience is not binary. It exists on a spectrum. The closer you get to real decisions, the stronger the signal.

Below are three ways people quietly move along that spectrum.

You do not need all three. One done seriously is enough.

1. Structured VC Programs

The clean entry point.

These include internships, analyst programs, fellowships, scout networks.

They are not glamorous but they are valuable.

You learn how deals are discussed internally.
You see how partners disagree.
You understand why good stories still get passed.

You will not write checks. That is fine.

The value is exposure to how risk is framed and how conviction is formed.

This was my first step. It gave me language. Language changes how people perceive you.

2. Angel Investing

Learning changes when it is your money.

Read more

]]><![CDATA[VC Job Opportunities – Europe]]>https://www.howtolandinventurecapital.com/p/eu-vc-open-roles-in-venture-capitalhttps://www.howtolandinventurecapital.com/p/eu-vc-open-roles-in-venture-capitalMon, 26 Jan 2026 13:45:32 GMTBelow is a curated list of open roles across venture capital, funds, and venture-backed platforms.

Jobs are grouped by country so you can quickly scan what’s relevant to you. Each role links directly to the application.

Why I do that? Because:

One day, I got a WhatsApp from a friend:
“Hey, there's this role at this VC fund in Barcelona. Thought of you.”

Same I want for you when you see this post.

Let me wrap all the job posting of the VC ecosystem in one post, one post every two weeks.

All by countries, so you can go and check the ones you’re interested.

Subscribe now

Let’s go with Europe.

NETHERLANDS

  • Head of Fund Operations — O3 Partners (Rotterdam) → Apply here

GERMANY

  • Operations Manager — Project A (Berlin) → Apply here

  • Content & Brand Intern — Earlybird (Berlin) → Apply here

  • Intern – VC Platform & Operations — Planet A Ventures (Berlin) → Apply here

  • Intern / Working Student – Venture Building & Investments — ThirtyEight Capital (Munich) → Apply here

  • Financial Analyst Intern – Valuation & Business Modeling — Rocket Internet (Berlin) → Apply here

  • Co‑Founder — ThirtyEight Capital (Munich) → Apply here

FRANCE

  • Investment Intern — Astanor Ventures (Paris) → Apply here

ITALY

SWEDEN

  • Angel Investor — Lumma Ventures (Stockholm) → Apply here

  • Investment Analyst — Scania Ventures (Södertälje) → Apply here

UNITED KINGDOM

  • Venture Capital Investor — SuperSeed (London) → Apply here

  • Investment Manager — Techstars (London) → Apply here

  • Events & Community Lead — Earlybird (London) → Apply here

PORTUGAL

  • Entrepreneur in Residence — Phira Ventures (Lisbon) → Apply here

BELGIUM

POLAND

  • Investment Associate (Secondary) — Flashpoint (Warsaw) → Apply here

SWITZERLAND

  • Summit Fund Lead – Product & DACH Distribution — Redalpine (Zug) → Apply here

  • Investment Manager / Principal — Redalpine (Zug) → Apply here

  • Visiting Analyst – Science — Redalpine (Zug) → Apply here

ESTONIA

  • Finance & Operations Specialist — Specialist VC (Tallinn) → Apply here

Be like my friend, share with others that may be interested.

To receive new posts and support my work, subscribe for free.

]]><![CDATA[How I landed in Venture Capital 🚀]]>https://www.howtolandinventurecapital.com/p/how-i-landed-in-venture-capitalhttps://www.howtolandinventurecapital.com/p/how-i-landed-in-venture-capitalTue, 20 May 2025 17:00:54 GMT

One day, I got a WhatsApp from a friend:
“Hey, there's this role at this VC fund in Barcelona. Thought of you.”

A week later, I had the offer in my inbox.
Mama, I made it.

But why now? why me?
This story didn’t start in February 2025 when I got the role. It started long before.

⏳ tl;dr

  • July 2023 – My first exposure to VC, two interviews that opened my eyes. The same month I started working at a management consulting firm.
    Not my time yet.

  • Jan 2024 – Convinced I wanted to explore VC deeply. Research mode: full on.

  • Feb 2024 – Launch this newsletter: How to Land in Venture Capital. Attended FYFN 2024 in Barcelona. Still an outsider, but intrigued.

  • June 2024 – Attended South Summit. Meet founders and investors. The idea of becoming a VC feels real.

  • Oct 2024 – Join Included VC. Start acting like an investor. Build personal brand. Network intentionally.

  • Jan 2025 – Quit consulting. Go ALL IN. Fully committed to landing a VC role.

  • Feb 2025 – After many interviews, I get referred to a new role. I give it everything, aaaand… I get the offer. YESS!

Remember to shoutout those who helped you!

🚀 The Spark

July 2023 – Jan 2024

I still remember those two interviews. They were as an intern in two VC firms, the funds were pretty cool but there were +80 fund in Spain. Were those the only cool ones? I gave me the first dose of an absolutely cool and small industry.

VC represented all about entrepreunership, investments, unicors, vision, and risk. An entire new world for me where investments meets rockstar people.

At that time, I had just started working as a management consultant at a global firm. It was stable, prestigious but I couldn’t stop thinking about that VC world.

So in January 2024, I began researching. Deep dives into how VC works. During the 2023-2024 winter holidays I read two (mythical) books: Venture Deals and The Lean Startup. I studied all the funds in Iberia and their thesis, you can find below the table I used. I wasn’t close to landing a job in VC… but I was getting closer to understanding it.

Me creating a table of +60 VC Funds Investing in Iberia

🛠 Build Without Permission

Feb 2024 – Oct 2024

In February, I launched a newsletter called How to Land in Venture Capital.

It gave me a reason to reach out to people, structure my learning, and build in public.

Take a look to my first post.

That same month, I went to the FYFN in Barcelona (I was working in Madrid by that time). I met founders, investors, operators… and suddenly, VC was no longer a concept, it was about that people.

In June, I went to the South Summit in Madrid. I remember telling a friend:

I wish I could understand how these investors work.

By October, things changed. I was selected for Included VC, a global fellowship. I was surrounded by people who spoke the language of venture —and believed I could, too.

Included VC: Class of 2024

“Great shoutout to Nikita! An absolutely shiny person that make this happens.”

From that moment, I started acting like an investor. Analyzing startups. Writing memos. Polishing my profile. Reaching out to GPs. I wasn’t waiting for permission anymore.

💥 Obsession & Opportunity

Jan 2025 – Feb 2025

By January, I was all in.

I quit my job. I gave myself no Plan B. I was going to land a VC role, whatever it took.

I have already applied to over 90 funds, interviewed with 18. Each rejection taught me something. Each step made me sharper. My network started working for me, people were now sending me roles.

Then, one day, a good friend sent me a WhatsApp. A VC fund in Barcelona was hiring. I had never heard of the opportunity, it hadn’t been shared publicly. It was shared internally… and now it was mine to earn.

I did my homework. Listened to every podcast where the GPs had spoken. Learned about their backgrounds, their values. One had a family business, just like me. Click.

In the interview, I sold myself like it was the last chance I had.

One week later… BOOM! Offer signed.

…and abviously, I made a post!

✍️ Reflections, tips and my advice

Looking back I can share some lessons that worked for me. I’m not going to tell you “do this”, it’s more about your mindset.

1. Visibility compounds.

Most people want to help, but they can’t help what they can’t see.

When I started writing my newsletter, sharing posts, and talking openly about my goal, something shifted.

I went from being a guy who wanted to break into VC… to someone others saw as being on that path. That perception shift made people think of me when opportunities came up. That’s when luck starts showing up more often.

Visibility doesn’t guarantee success, but I asure you invisibility guarantees obscurity 100% of the times.

2. Credibility is built before you’re hired.

When I started writing investment memos and posting startup analysis, I wasn’t “qualified” by any fund. But I was behaving like an investor. That matters.

It’s not about faking it. It’s about proving (to others and to yourself) that you can already operate at the level you aspire to. You don’t get good once you get the job. You get the job because you’re already good.

If you want to be in VC, think and act like a VC before anyone pays you for it.

3. Connections matter, but conviction matters more.

Yes, networking helped. But networking without conviction feels transactional and people sense that.

The turning point was when I stopped asking “how do I get into VC?” and started asking “how can I be valuable to this ecosystem?”

Every coffee chat, every event, every message had more energy behind it. Because I wasn’t there to impress. I was there to learn, share, and contribute, and that shift changed everything!

You don’t need to know everyone, but you need to leave a strong impression on the few who matter.

4. Know when to go all in.

I didn’t start obsessed, I grew into it. But once I saw the fit, I knew I had to fully commit.

Quitting my job was the most uncomfortable but freeing move I made. Suddenly, every hour counted. Every interaction, every application had intent behind it.

When you stop giving yourself a Plan B, Plan A becomes non-negotiable.

But —and this is important— go all in only when you’ve done the deep work.

The risk should feel bold, not reckless.

A post from Jan 2025

Work on your why. VC is not just “cool.” It’s demanding, competitive, and ambiguous. You need a deep reason to stay in the game when it gets tough.

5. Don’t expect linear progress.

I had moments of complete doubt. Weeks where nothing moved. Interviews where I thought, this is the one… and silence followed.

Momentum in this process isn’t always visible. Sometimes the dots only connect in hindsight and you can only see that after x months; and even not see it at all.

Every rejected application, every awkward cold DM, every “close but not quite” interview, they all sharpened the version of me that eventually did get the offer.

Progress is often invisible right before it becomes undeniable.

What I learned beyond the hustle

Breaking into venture capital isn’t just about luck or knowing the right people. It’s a test of self-awareness, patience, and resilience.

Early on, I realized the ecosystem values authenticity and commitment over superficial hustle. People can tell when you’re genuinely curious versus when you’re just checking a box.

I also learned that visibility breeds opportunity, not because you boast, but because sharing your journey creates connections. Vulnerability, like admitting you’re still figuring things out, makes you relatable and opens doors you didn’t even know existed.

Finally, rejection isn’t failure, it’s the best feedback you can get. Every “no” refined my approach, sharpened my story (and my WHY), and clarified my purpose. The key is to keep moving forward, learning, and showing up with authenticity.

Trust the process

If you’re trying to break into VC (or chasing any hard goal), remember this:

👉 The only person who truly needs to believe in you is you.

The other things will follow.

Embrace the discomfort, the unknown, and the imperfect moments, they’re shaping you for something bigger.

Doors will close and you’ll get ghosted lots of times. You’ll doubt yourself. But if you keep learning, keep showing up, keep refining your craft, eventually, the right door opens.

Be visible, be consistent, and be patient.

And when your moment comes?

You’ll be ready.

How to land in Venture Capital is a reader-supported publication.

]]><![CDATA[Predicting Startup Success 🦄 through Founders’ 🧬 Personality Traits]]>https://www.howtolandinventurecapital.com/p/predicting-startup-success-through-founders-dnahttps://www.howtolandinventurecapital.com/p/predicting-startup-success-through-founders-dnaSun, 22 Dec 2024 07:10:00 GMT

tl;dr

Ready to discover if your personality has the power to fuel the next billion-dollar startup? 🦄 Join me to see why top VCs are diving deeper than ever into founder personalities to predict startup success.

  • 🔑 Unicorn traits unveiled, discover the Big Five Personality Traits (openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and resilience) that make founders unstoppable — and learn why they’re as crucial as a great market fit.

  • 🧬 Beyond basics, this it’s not just about charisma. The world’s most successful founders show adaptability, customer obsession, and grit to push through challenges others won’t.

  • 🧩 Find your type from Fighter to Leader to Developer, each founder personality type brings unique strengths. Are you an Operator who turns ideas into reality, or an Engineer obsessed with perfecting the product? Take a closer look at what top founders bring — and see where you fit.

  • 🚩 Spot the red flags of every founder you meet. Learn to recognize traits like overconfidence or resistance to feedback that send warning signals.

Investors often focus on market size, product fit, and financial metrics, but a founder’s personality is just as crucial — if not more so — in predicting startup success.

🔥 Level up, start by understanding the psychology that drives sustainable growth. This isn’t just theory — it’s a roadmap to becoming (or backing) the next 🦄 unicorn.

This post was created by the author of How to land in Venture Capital, a weekly newsletter diving deep into the VC landscape. Support my work and stay ahead in the game by subscribing today!

1. 🌟 The Value of the Founder’s Profile

The founder’s profile is often the cornerstone of a startup’s potential. While product-market fit, competitive landscape, and financial metrics are vital, research reveals that a founder’s personality and approach to challenges can be among the most predictive factors of startup success. In fact, a study from the University of Oxford has shown that a founder’s personality can be 🔹5x🔹 times more predictive of success than industry and 🔹2x🔹 as predictive as the startup’s age. This highlights the paramount importance of founder traits when evaluating investment opportunities.

For both investors and aspiring entrepreneurs, understanding the key traits of successful founders can provide invaluable insights into what it takes to build and sustain a thriving startup. 🚀

🧲 Personality Traits of Successful Founders

Personality traits aren’t just personal attributes — they’re foundational to how a founder interacts with their team, overcomes challenges, and ultimately drives the business forward. Successful founders generally demonstrate a combination of the 🔍 Big Five Personality Traits, alongside other key qualities that contribute to effective leadership.

Big Five Personality Traits and how much a founder has to have in each one by Conrad Carbonell van Reck

Here’s an in-depth look at the Big Five Personality Traits that have been linked to entrepreneurial success:

1. 🌍 Openness to Experience

Founders high in openness are naturally curious and adventurous. They are willing to explore new ideas, adopt novel approaches, and stay adaptable to industry changes. This trait enables them to think creatively and envision opportunities others may overlook.

Steve Jobs’ openness allowed him to break away from conventional technology design, making Apple a leader in innovation through products that combined sleek aesthetics with groundbreaking functionality.

2. ✅ Conscientiousness

Conscientious founders exhibit a strong work ethic, high organization, and reliability. These founders are detail-oriented, efficient, and consistently set and meet goals, which is critical in the early stages of a startup when resources are limited.

Jeff Bezos demonstrated exceptional conscientiousness in building Amazon from an online bookstore to a global e-commerce leader. His focus on customer experience, logistics, and relentless attention to detail built Amazon’s reputation for reliability and efficiency.

3. 💬 Extraversion

Extraverted founders are outgoing, energetic, and comfortable in social situations, which is invaluable for networking, sales, and building investor relationships. This trait can boost a founder’s ability to pitch their startup effectively and connect with others who can help the business grow. 

Richard Branson’s extroversion and charisma have made him a master of publicity, helping Virgin Group secure strong brand loyalty and market presence across multiple industries.

4. 🤝 Agreeableness

High agreeableness makes founders cooperative, empathetic, and able to build strong relationships with employees, customers, and partners. These founders often create positive work environments and foster collaborative cultures that attract and retain top talent.

Satya Nadella’s leadership at Microsoft reflects a high degree of agreeableness; his empathetic approach has transformed the company’s culture, encouraging innovation and inclusivity.

5. 🧘 Low Neuroticism (Emotional Stability)

Founders with low neuroticism handle stress well and show resilience under pressure. They are unlikely to panic during challenging times, which helps them navigate setbacks without compromising their decision-making.

Elon Musk has shown resilience under immense public scrutiny and pressure, managing both Tesla and SpaceX through financial and operational challenges that would likely overwhelm most people.

Additional Traits Beyond the “Big Five”

Alongside these foundational traits, successful founders often display several additional qualities that further enhance their potential for success. These include:

  • 🔹Preference for Variety and Novelty
    Many founders are drawn to uncharted territories and are energized by exploring new concepts. This preference helps them adapt quickly and think ahead of the curve in dynamic industries.

  • 🔹Comfort in the Spotlight
    Founders who embrace the public eye can effectively advocate for their brand and communicate their vision to the world. Comfort in public roles makes it easier for them to attract attention, funding, and talent.

  • 🔹High Activity Levels
    Founders with high energy are able to handle the demanding, fast-paced lifestyle that a startup requires. Their ability to work long hours and sustain intense focus on multiple tasks is often a critical factor in achieving early traction.

🔍 The Six Founder Personality Types

A scientific report called “The impact of founder personalities on startup success” from Paul X. McCarthy, Xian Gong, Fabian Braesemann, Fabian Stephany, Marian-Andrei Rizoiu & Margaret L. Kern has categorized founders into six personality types commonly associated with startup success. Each type brings unique strengths, and diverse founding teams that combine these types tend to achieve higher success rates. 

Here’s a breakdown of the types:

  1. 🥊 Fighters: Persistent, resilient individuals who won’t back down from a challenge, no matter the obstacles.

  2. 🛠️ Operators: Execution-focused personalities who excel at turning ideas into practical, actionable steps.

  3. 🎯 Accomplishers: Goal-oriented founders who are driven by achieving measurable milestones.

  4. 🧲 Leaders: Charismatic, influential personalities who motivate teams and cultivate a shared vision.

  5. ⚙️ Engineers: Analytical problem-solvers who bring technical expertise and enjoy building solutions. Elon Musk is an ‘engineer’ while Bill Gates is a ‘leader’.

  6. 🌱 Developers: Visionary founders focused on long-term growth, often prioritizing product and team development.

💡 Founding teams with at least one Leader, one Operator, and one Engineer type often yield balanced, high-performing teams with diverse skills and perspectives. 🎉

🔑 Key Characteristics Investors Should Look For

Investors evaluating founders should pay attention to specific characteristics and abilities that distinguish successful entrepreneurs.

These include:

  • 🌍 Ambition and vision: Purpose-driven, aiming for a significant long-term impact.

  • 🔄 Curiosity and learning agility: Constantly asking questions and adapting based on new insights.

  • 🤝 Leadership and team-building skills: Building motivated, high-performing teams.

  • 💪 Discipline and persistence: Staying focused through ups and downs, committed to long-term goals.

  • ❤️ Customer obsession: Deeply committed to understanding and serving customers.

💡 During pitch meetings or interviews, ask founders about a time they received critical feedback from a customer and how they responded. This reveals their level of customer obsession and adaptability. 🤔

🥊 🛠️ 🎯 The Importance of Founding Team Diversity 🧲 ⚙ ️🌱

A diverse founding team, with a blend of personality types and skills, significantly increases the chances of success. Research shows that startups with three or more founders are more than twice as likely to succeed compared to solo-founded ventures. 🌱 A blend of personalities (such as an adventurous leader, a detail-oriented engineer, and a sociable operator) can boost success rates 8–10 times due to their complementary skills compared to solo-founded ventures.

Analyzing founders’ personality traits is a critical component in evaluating startup success. By understanding these key characteristics, investors can improve their chances of identifying high-potential founders and backing startups with resilient, adaptable, and visionary leadership.

2. Defining a Successful Founder Profile

Successful founders typically share several key traits. Here’s a closer look:

Successful Founder Profile by Conrad Carbonell van Reck

Understanding what makes a founder truly effective is central for both aspiring entrepreneurs and investors who aim to support promising startups. Building a successful company demands more than a good idea; it requires a distinct combination of vision, resilience, adaptability, and strong team-building abilities. These traits collectively make up the Founder DNA and they can significantly influence a startup’s trajectory.

Key Characteristics of Successful Founders

🌠 1. Visionary Thinking

Visionary founders can look beyond the immediate hurdles and paint a compelling picture of what their company aims to achieve. They recognize potential in markets that others might overlook, and they can anticipate trends that could reshape industries.

Founders with a clear vision are better able to attract top talent, secure investment, and drive their team toward a shared goal. Their ability to articulate this vision makes it easier to build momentum and motivate others.

Elon Musk’s vision for a human civilization on multiple planets through SpaceX showcases visionary thinking on a grand scale, pushing the boundaries of what a private company can aim to accomplish.

🌱 2. Resilience

Founding and growing a startup involves numerous setbacks. Resilient founders don’t see failure as an endpoint but as an opportunity to learn and improve. This mindset is critical in the fast-paced, high-risk environment of a startup.

Resilient founders are more likely to maintain a positive outlook and unwavering commitment to objectives, which is essential in the face of inevitable setbacks

Sara Blakely, the founder of Spanx, faced multiple rejections from investors before gaining traction. Her persistence and resilience enabled her to create a billion-dollar brand.

🔄 3. Adaptability

Adaptable founders are open to pivoting their business models, product offerings, or go-to-market strategies in response to feedback or changing market conditions. This flexibility allows them to capitalize on emerging opportunities or overcome unexpected challenges.

In a volatile market, a rigid approach can be detrimental. Founders who are adaptable are more likely to succeed because they are not confined to a single path but can evolve based on market demands.

Reed Hastings of Netflix transformed the company from a DVD rental business to a streaming giant, showcasing an impressive level of adaptability as technology and consumer habits evolved.

💖 4. Customer Obsession

Successful founders are deeply invested in understanding and meeting customer needs. They don’t just create products; they build experiences around those products, viewing their role as one of serving their customer base rather than merely selling to it.

Customer-centric founders are more likely to tailor their offerings to exceed expectations, leading to stronger market positions.

Walt Disney’s dedication to delivering magical experiences transformed Disney into one of the most beloved brands globally. His customer-focused approach continues to define the Disney ethos.

🌍 5. Team-Building Skills

Strong founders are able to attract, build, and retain high-performing teams. They understand the importance of surrounding themselves with skilled individuals who bring complementary strengths to the company.

Organizations with three or more founders are more than twice as likely to succeed than solo-founded startups. Furthermore, diverse founding teams with specific combinations of personalities can increase the odds of success by 8 to 10 times.

Warren Buffett of Berkshire Hathaway has built a strong reputation for identifying and nurturing leadership in his companies, creating a culture that emphasizes autonomy and trust.

3. Red and Green Flags for Investors

Identifying certain traits and behaviors can offer clues about a founder’s potential.

Red Flags 🚩: Single decision-maker, lack of industry knowledge, unwillingness to pivot, overconfidence, poor team dynamics.

Green Flags ✅: Proven track record, industry experience, clear business plan, coachability, and strong team alignment.

Red Flags 🚩 and Green Flags ✅ for Investors by Conrad Carbonell van Reck

💡 Pay attention to these flags during initial meetings and in pitch decks to assess a founder’s readiness and risk level.

4. Red Flags 🚩: Traits of Unsuccessful Founders

Common Pitfalls ️🚧🕳 and Red Flags 🚩 for Investors

1. Overconfidence 🚀 🤦‍♂ ️👑

  • Manifest of excessive certainty in one’s beliefs (overprecision), overestimation of abilities, or belief in superiority over others (overplacement). It leads to ignoring market signals and taking unnecessary risks.

2. Inability to Pivot 🛑 🔄 🚧

  • Rigidity in business strategy and resistance to market feedback, both critical in a fast-paced startup environment.

  • BlackBerry’s founders stuck to their original strategy and failed to adapt to the smartphone market, ultimately losing ground to competitors like Apple.

3. Lack of Teamwork 🤐 🚪 🤸

  • A founder who centralizes decisions and fails to build a complementary team is less likely to succeed. Solo founders often face challenges scaling due to their reluctance to delegate.

4. Short-term Focus ⏳ 👀 💸

  • Prioritizing immediate gains over sustainable growth is risky. Without balancing short-term achievements with a long-term vision, founders may pursue unsustainable strategies.

5. Resistance to Feedback 🛑 👂 ❌

  • Dismissing constructive criticism is a major red flag 🚩, as it prevents necessary adaptation and learning. This can lead to poor decision-making, especially in early stages.

Successful founders embody qualities like adaptability, resilience, and customer obsession, allowing them to navigate challenges effectively. In contrast, unsuccessful founders often display rigidity, overconfidence, and short-term thinking, which can lead to business failures.

5. Case Studies and Lessons Learned

🌟 Case Study 1: Melanie Perkins (Canva) — Success Through Persistence

Melanie Perkins, co-founder of Canva, exemplifies the traits of a successful founder. Despite facing significant challenges, her persistence and adaptability led to remarkable success.

  • Determination

  • Resilience

  • Adaptability

  • Vision

Perkins faced over 100 rejections from investors before securing funding for Canva. Her determination and resilience kept her going through these setbacks. She described herself as “determined, stubborn and adventurous,” traits that proved crucial in overcoming obstacles.

Perkins’ clear vision for an easy-to-use online graphic design platform, combined with her adaptability in refining the pitch and product, eventually led to securing $3 million in seed funding. Today, Canva is used by millions and has become a unicorn company.

Persistence and adaptability in the face of repeated rejections can ultimately lead to success. A clear vision, combined with the willingness to refine and improve, is crucial for overcoming initial setbacks.

📉 Case Study 2: Founders of Blockbuster — Struggle Due to Lack of Adaptability

In contrast to Perkins, the leadership at Blockbuster demonstrates how a lack of certain key traits can lead to failure.

  • Adaptability

  • Foresight

  • Willingness to pivot

Blockbuster was once the dominant player in the video rental market. However, the company’s leadership failed to adapt to the changing market conditions and the rise of streaming services like Netflix. Their inability to pivot from their traditional business model and lack of foresight regarding the potential of online streaming led to the company’s bankruptcy.

Even established companies can fail if their leadership lacks adaptability and foresight. It’s crucial for founders and leaders to remain open to change, continuously assess market trends, and be willing to pivot when necessary.

6. Actionable Tips for Investors 🔍

For a comprehensive founder assessment:

  • 📝 Conduct in-depth interviews: Schedule interviews to probe into founders’ values, strategies, and adaptability. Pay attention to how they handle difficult questions.

  • 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Evaluate team diversity: Look for teams with complementary skills and personality diversity.

  • ✅ Perform background checks: Reach out to previous collaborators to gain insights into work ethic and leadership style.

  • 🔧 Assess industry experience: Founders with industry experience and previous startup exposure bring valuable insights and resilience.

  • 🤔 Evaluate coachability: Founders who welcome feedback tend to adapt well to market changes.

By implementing these tips, investors can gain a more comprehensive understanding of the founders’ capabilities, potential for success, and fit with their investment strategy. This thorough assessment can lead to more informed investment decisions and potentially better outcomes for both investors and startups.

While metrics and markets are essential, investors benefit greatly from understanding the psychology behind founder success. A nuanced approach to assessing founders’ personalities can reveal critical insights, allowing investors to better predict long-term potential and align their support with resilient, visionary leaders.

While market opportunity and product matter, the right founder can make or break a startup.

How to land in Venture Capital is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

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]]><![CDATA[amenitiz, the smartest and simple solution for independent hoteliers]]>https://www.howtolandinventurecapital.com/p/amenitiz-the-hospitality-all-in-one-solutionhttps://www.howtolandinventurecapital.com/p/amenitiz-the-hospitality-all-in-one-solutionSun, 15 Sep 2024 14:31:01 GMT

In today’s edition of How to land in Venture Capital, I want to give you an investment memo, typically an analysis that a VC conducts on a startup to determine whether they should invest in a specific company or not.

Today’s deep dive: amenitiz — an all-in-one SaaS platform for small and independent hoteliers

❌ Problem

Independent hoteliers and property managers struggle with fragmented systems, manual processes, and high costs, leading to inefficiencies and a poor guest experience.

✅ Solution

amenitiz provides an all-in-one, user-friendly platform that automates operations, enhances guest experiences, and boosts revenue by centralizing management, bookings, payments, and pricing optimization​.

Structure of this Post

  1. Today’s company: overview of the company analyzed

    Brief overview of the Investment Memo in simple terms.

  2. Investment Memo

    1. Team

    2. Market Opportunity & Size

      1. Trends and Drivers

      2. Customer Demographics

      3. Challenges

    3. Problem

    4. Solution

    5. Customer and Business Model

      1. Target Customers

      2. Business Model

    6. Competitors

      1. Direct

      2. Indirect

    7. Traction and/or Metrics

      1. Customer Adoption

      2. Product Development

      3. Recognition

  3. Would I invest?

How to land in Venture Capital is a reader-supported publication. To receive new weekly posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Today’s company: amenitiz

amenitiz is an all-in-one SaaS platform designed specifically for independent hoteliers, bed & breakfasts, and property managers to streamline their operations and enhance their profitability.

🔎 Company name: amenitiz
📈 Last Stage: Series A (2022)
💵 Valuation: Undisclosed. Invested last round $ 30m
✍️ Year Founded: 2017
👔 Employees/Founders: 342
📈 Business Status: generating revenue
📊 Milestones: raised a total of $39.1 million in funding. Acquired Ododo in 2022 to expand services
📚 Other: headquartered in Barcelona, Spain

Please note that we also have Investment Memo’s of other companies on our website: voicit, table, Invopop, Genesy AI, Distinkt and Bioo.

And remember, if you want to start doing your own investment memo’s, here you can find a post where I explain how I analyze startups.

Investment Memo of amenitiz

Team

amenitiz was founded by Alexandre Guinefolleau, Emmanuelle Guinefolleau, and Frederic Cadet.

  • Alexandre Guinefolleau, CEO & Co-founder: Alexandre serves as the CEO, bringing firsthand industry experience to the table, as his family's struggles with hotel software inspired the company’s inception​.

The executive team includes experienced professionals in finance, revenue management, and embedded finance, indicating a well-rounded leadership capable of addressing different aspects of the business

Market Opportunity and Size

The hospitality sector has a large market of independent hotels, B&Bs, and small property managers in need of streamlined management tools.

amenitiz targets this niche with an integrated solution that simplifies operations and boosts revenue.

Trends and drivers:

  • The push for digital transformation in hospitality is driving the demand for software that automates bookings and enhances guest experiences.

  • Properties are increasingly looking for all-in-one solutions to improve efficiency and profitability.

Customer Demographics:

  • The platform caters to independent hoteliers, B&B owners, and small property managers who need an integrated tool to manage bookings, enhance online visibility, and automate operations​.

Challenges:

  • Key challenges include standing out in a overcrowded market and persuading smaller properties to adopt new technology over traditional methods.

  • Amenitiz must highlight its unique value proposition to encourage digital adoption in smaller and family businesses.

Problem

Many independent hoteliers struggle with fragmented systems, manual processes, and the complexities of managing multiple channels and guest experiences.

Existing software solutions are often expensive or not tailored to the needs of small properties. This results in inefficiencies, lost revenue, and a suboptimal guest experience.

Solution

amenitiz is an all-in-one SaaS platform designed specifically for independent hoteliers, bed & breakfasts, and property managers to streamline their operations and enhance their profitability.

It offers a comprehensive suite of tools that cover every aspect of property management, from automating reservations, check-ins, and billing, to providing an integrated booking engine that drives direct bookings.

By offering a user-friendly and scalable solution, amenitiz aims to alleviate the complexities of managing a hospitality business, allowing hoteliers to focus on providing an exceptional guest experience and growing their business.

Product

amenitiz offers an all-in-one platform that combines property management, direct booking capabilities, website building, payment processing, and pricing optimization tools.

It aims to simplify operations, reduce manual tasks, and enhance the overall guest experience, helping properties increase direct bookings and manage their business more effectively

Amenitiz also includes a website builder to help properties increase their online visibility, connect with over 120 online travel agencies (OTAs), and reduce dependency on third-party platforms.

The platform's payment processing system, AmenitizPay, centralizes and secures payments, while their price optimization tool, Amenitiz PriceAdvisor, helps hoteliers set competitive rates based on demand, seasonality, and market trends​.

Customer and Business Model

Target Customers

amenitiz serves independent hoteliers, bed & breakfasts, and small property managers.

Business Model

Their business model involves a subscription fee for using their software, as a monthly or yearly basis, with different pricing tiers based on the amount of rooms/rentals a specific hotelier has.

This model is sustainable as it provides recurring revenue and aligns with the ongoing needs of their customers​

Competition

Competitors in this space include companies like Cloudbeds, which also offers a software solution for hospitality management​.

However, amenitiz differentiates itself by focusing on the independent and small property segment, offering a more user-friendly and integrated platform tailored to their specific needs.

Direct competitors

Indirect competitors

  • mews (more complex solutions for larger companies)

  • apaleo (solution for larger hotels — min 50 rooms)

  • lodgify (less techy, adecuate for private property manager)

Traction and/or Metrics

Amenitiz has shown strong traction since its inception. As of 2024, the company has grown to 342 employees and has raised a total of $39.1 million in funding, with notable investors like Chalfen Ventures, Eight Roads, and Backed VC​.

Product Development

The company has continually expanded its product offerings, evolving from basic property management software into a comprehensive platform.

Their tools now include a booking engine, website builder, payment processing, and pricing optimization, addressing key pain points for their target market.

This ongoing development demonstrates their commitment to meeting the diverse needs of hospitality businesses and staying ahead of industry trends.

Recognition

amenitiz has attracted attention from prominent investors, raising $39.1 million in funding from venture capital firms such as Chalfen Ventures, Eight Roads, and Backed VC.

Their rapid growth and funding milestones have solidified their reputation as a key player in the hospitality tech sector, further validating their business model and solution.

Would I invest?

✅ Yes. amenitiz represents a strong investment opportunity due to its comprehensive all-in-one platform that effectively addresses the needs of independent hoteliers, B&Bs, and small property managers.

The company has demonstrated solid traction with a growing customer base, having raised $39.1 million in funding and expanding to 342 employees as of 2024​.

Its focus on simplifying hospitality management, from reservations to payment processing and website building, positions it well in a market that is increasingly seeking digital solutions. With its tailored approach for smaller properties, Amenitiz fills a gap in the market not adequately addressed by larger, more complex software providers​.

Furthermore, the team’s background and experience in the hospitality sector provide them with valuable insights, enabling them to develop a product that meets the specific challenges faced by their target customers.

Disclaimer 1: I am not gaining any financial or other personal benefits from announcing or promoting this startups. My purpose is solely to provide information based on the available data.

Disclaimer 2: the information provided is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. I encourage readers to conduct their own research and due diligence before making any investment decisions.

]]><![CDATA[How to stand out when applying to a VC fund?]]>https://www.howtolandinventurecapital.com/p/how-to-stand-out-to-a-vc-fundhttps://www.howtolandinventurecapital.com/p/how-to-stand-out-to-a-vc-fundSun, 08 Sep 2024 14:30:35 GMTHi there!! I’m Conrad, a VC and startup enthusiastic, and I’m happy to have you here!

Welcome to the #20 edition of How to land in Venture Capital: a weekly newsletter of valuable pieces of research to help you land a job in VC, and some of the best VC Dealflow startup analysis.

This is a 🔓 paid-edition post 🔓

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Today’s deep dive: How do I create a really good letter for my applications?

A strong cover letter can make the difference between getting noticed or overlooked. Unlike a resume, a cover letter allows candidates to express their personality, passion, and unique value proposition.

Let’s start with the structure of the post, where I will give you an overview of what you'll be reading, helping you understand both the content and how it has been organized.

In this post we are going to cover the three essential WHY components of a great cover letter that will help you stand out when applying to a VC fund:

  1. Not all VCs ask for a CL

    While some VC firms might not require a cover letter, submitting one gives candidates an advantage.

  2. Why you?

    Stand out yourself from the crowd and highlight why you are a strong FIT for the role.

  3. Why venture capital?

    Show a real understanding of the sector, and demonstrate a deep understanding of the VC world and a passion for the sector.

  4. Why this VC firm?

    Understand that tailoring the letter to the specific VC firm is important and that VCs often goes for a specific vertical inside of an industry.

Plus, we’ll provide tips and even share my own cover letter as an example.

By the end of this post, you’ll have a clear blueprint for crafting a cover letter that grabs the attention of VCs and sets you apart from the competition.

Subscribe to How to land in Venture Capital to receive new posts every week!

Not all VCs ask for a CL

Not all VC firms require a cover letter, but submitting one can be a game-changer.

In a competitive industry like venture capital, where firms often receive a flood of resumes, a cover letter is your chance to tell your story, convey your passion, and prove that you're not just another candidate in the pile.

A strong cover letter helps differentiate you from the crowd by letting you present your personality, your understanding of the industry, and why you are the best fit for the firm.

remember why you started. For more inspiration, quotes and tips on self-love and business for girlbosses and female creatives check out yessupply.co.

1. Why you?

This section of your cover letter is all about showcasing your unique qualifications and why you’re the right fit for the role. Instead of simply rehashing your resume, use this space to emphasize your key strengths and experiences that align with the venture capital world.

Start by thinking about the core skills required in VC: financial analysis, deal sourcing, due diligence, understanding startups, and building relationships with entrepreneurs. Then, highlight the specific experiences in your background that show you excel in these areas.

For example, if you’ve worked at a startup, you might write:

Having served as the head of operations at a Series A SaaS startup, I’ve experienced firsthand the challenges that early-stage companies face. I helped build scalable systems, led strategic initiatives, and worked closely with the founders during fundraising efforts.

This exposure has given me a unique perspective that I’m excited to bring to a venture capital firm that supports startups through similar growth challenges.

If you have experience in finance or consulting, emphasize how those skills can translate to VC:

During my time as a consultant for high-growth tech companies, I developed financial models and conducted market research that directly informed investment decisions. My ability to analyze business models, assess market opportunities, and identify risks will allow me to add immediate value to your due diligence processes.

The goal is to demonstrate that you have the skills and experiences necessary to contribute meaningfully to the VC firm’s operations. Avoid generic statements—be specific about what makes you a great fit.

Arte Ikigai imagen 1

2. Why venture capital?

In this section, you need to convey a deep understanding of venture capital and why you are passionate about it.

VCs want to see that you’re not just interested in the job but are genuinely drawn to the world of startups, innovation, and high-risk investments. This is where you should discuss your motivation for pursuing a career in venture capital, and why you’re excited about the opportunity to support entrepreneurs.

You can start by explaining your personal connection to the VC world. Maybe you’ve been involved with startups, have been reading about VC trends, or have even started angel investing on your own. For example, you could write:

My passion for venture capital stems from my fascination with entrepreneurship and innovation. I’ve spent the last two years attending startup pitch events, meeting with founders, and developing my own investment thesis focused on emerging tech sectors like AI and blockchain. This involvement has not only fueled my desire to support high-potential startups but also given me a strong foundation in evaluating business models and market opportunities.

If you don’t have direct VC or startup experience, you can still demonstrate your understanding of the industry by referencing research, market trends, or side projects:

I’ve always been drawn to the intersection of technology and business, which is why I’ve spent time independently researching venture capital trends and reading books like ‘Venture Deals’ by Brad Feld. I’ve also recently completed an online course on startup financing and venture capital, where I built financial models and analyzed case studies of successful startups.

Make it clear that you’re not only knowledgeable about the sector but also deeply invested in its future. This demonstrates that you’re in it for the long haul, which is critical in an industry that thrives on long-term relationships and strategic investments.

3. Why this VC firm? FIT is KEY

VC firms don’t just look for generalists; they want candidates who understand and align with their specific focus areas, investment thesis, and values.

This is where your research on the firm comes into play. You need to show that you understand what makes this particular VC firm unique and why you’re excited to work with them specifically.

Start by researching the firm’s portfolio companies, investment focus (e.g., early-stage, Series A, fintech, biotech), and any unique aspects of their investment strategy.

Then, tailor your letter to explain how your background and interests align with what they do. For example:

I’ve been following [VC firm] for several years and have been particularly impressed by your investments in the health tech space, including [portfolio company 1] and [portfolio company 2]. Having previously worked in health tech, where I helped build predictive analytics tools for hospitals, I’m passionate about the potential for technology to revolutionize healthcare. Your focus on early-stage health tech companies perfectly aligns with my background and interests, and I’m excited about the opportunity to contribute to your efforts in this space.

Additionally, mention any cultural or personal fit you might have with the firm. VCs look for people who resonate with their values and work culture, so it’s helpful to highlight these connections:

I’m also drawn to [VC firm] collaborative approach to working with portfolio companies. Your emphasis on hands-on support and founder-first philosophy resonates with my own experience working with startup teams and my belief in building long-term partnerships.

The goal is to make the VC firm feel like you’re not just applying to any fund—you’re applying to them because you understand and admire their work, and you’re excited to contribute in a meaningful way.

Tips for successful applications

  1. Prepare, prepare and prepare: Research the VC firm thoroughly. Know their portfolio, key partners, and focus areas inside and out.

  2. Discipline: Follow the application instructions carefully. Missing details can quickly disqualify you.

  3. Seek for professional help: Don’t hesitate to get feedback on your cover letter. A second set of eyes can help catch mistakes or unclear language.

These tips will help you navigate the application process and increase your chances.

Recap and final thoughts

A strong cover letter is your chance to stand out in a competitive industry like venture capital. By answering the three key questions—Why you? Why venture capital? Why this Firm?—you can create a cover letter that showcases your unique value proposition, demonstrates your passion for the sector, and shows that you’re the right fit for the firm. Make it personal, make it specific, and make it count.

Here my Cover Letter for VCs

VC Cover Letter
46KB ∙ PDF file
Download
Download

If you have any doubts on this exercise or you need something specific from me, do not hesitate in texting me or email me to conrad.carbonell@iese.net.

Hope I helped you and get free funding very soon! See you next week.

Disclaimer 1: I am not gaining any financial or other personal benefits from announcing or promoting this startups. My purpose is solely to provide information based on the available data.

Disclaimer 2: the information provided is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. I encourage readers to conduct their own research and due diligence before making any investment decisions.

]]><![CDATA[voicit, an automated meeting AI SaaS platform that automates and personalizes meeting summaries]]>https://www.howtolandinventurecapital.com/p/voicit-an-automated-meeting-ai-saashttps://www.howtolandinventurecapital.com/p/voicit-an-automated-meeting-ai-saasSun, 18 Aug 2024 14:30:00 GMT

In today’s edition of How to land in Venture Capital, I want to give you an investment memo, typically an analysis that a VC conducts on a startup to determine whether they should invest in a specific company or not.

Today’s deep dive: voicit — Transcript and automate your meetings with AI

❌ Problem

Manual note-taking during meetings is inefficient, time-consuming, and prone to errors, leading to lost information and decreased productivity.

✅ Solution

Voicit automates the entire documentation process for meetings, providing precise and customizable summaries in minutes rather than hours.

The platform's AI understands what information is critical and generates accurate reports that can be easily shared and integrated with other business tools.

Structure of this Post

  1. Today’s company: overview of the company analyzed + one-pager

    Brief overview of the Investment Memo in simple terms.

  2. European + Remote VC Job Openings

  3. Investment Memo

    1. Team

    2. Market Opportunity & Size

    3. Problem

    4. Solution

    5. Customer and Business Model

    6. Competition

    7. Traction and/or Metrics

  4. Would I invest?

How to land in Venture Capital is a reader-supported publication. To receive new weekly posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Today’s company: voicit

voicit is an AI-powered SaaS platform that automates and enhances the documentation of meetings, making it easy to create precise and customizable summaries that capture essential details.

🔎 Company name: voicit
📈 Stage: Early Growth
💵 Valuation: Undisclosed
✍️ Year Founded: 2022
👔 Employees/Founders: 2
📈 Business Status: early market adoption with over 200 companies onboard
📊 Milestones: finalists at Campus SeedRocket and Alhambra Venture, over 200 companies using the platform
📚 Other: strong founding team with expertise in AI and SaaS development, focusing on transforming how businesses manage meeting documentation through automation.

Please note that we also have Investment Memo’s of other companies on our website: table, Invopop, Genesy AI, Distinkt and Bioo.

And remember, if you want to start doing your own investment memo’s, here you can find a post where I explain hosw I analyze startups.

Investment Memo of voicit

Read more

]]><![CDATA[How to secure free funding for your startup in Europe? (Part III)]]>https://www.howtolandinventurecapital.com/p/how-to-secure-free-funding-in-europehttps://www.howtolandinventurecapital.com/p/how-to-secure-free-funding-in-europeSat, 10 Aug 2024 14:29:32 GMTHi there!! I’m Conrad, a VC and startup enthusiastic, and I’m happy to have you here!

Welcome to the #18 edition of How to land in Venture Capital: a weekly newsletter of valuable pieces of research to help you land a job in VC, and some of the best VC Dealflow startup analysis.

This is a 🔓 free-edition post 🔓

Get 20% off for 1 year

Today’s deep dive: How to secure free funding for your startup in Europe?

Navigating the complex landscape of grants and funding programs can be challenging. This post will guide you through the essential steps and provide you with the knowledge you need to successfully apply for various European funding opportunities.

This is the third piece of research on the Spanish and European Startup Ecosystem, consisting of three parts:

Part I: Spanish Startup Law 28/2022

Part II: Creating a startup Step by Step in Spain

Part III: Public funding in Europe: free money?

Let’s start with the structure of the post, a quick overview, and the key funding programs. We'll then cover detailed application processes, essential tips for success, and final advice for maximizing your chances of securing funding.

Structure of this Post

  1. Brief explanation

    A quick overview of the importance and benefits of securing free funding through European grants and programs.

  2. European funding programs

    An introduction to notable funding opportunities available to startups in Europe.

  3. Detailed application processes

    Step-by-step guides on how to apply for each grant or program.

  4. Tips for successful applications

    Expert advice on preparing your applications to increase your chances of success.

  5. Recap and final thoughts

    A summary of the key points covered and concluding advice for startup founders preparing to apply for funding.

In this episode of How to land in Venture Capital, we will explore the most significant funding opportunities for startups and how to apply for them effectively. Subscribe for more:

Subscribe to How to land in Venture Capital to receive new posts every week!

Brief explanation

Securing free funding is a crucial step for startups looking to innovate and grow. This guide aims to help you navigate the application processes for various European grants and programs, ensuring you can access the resources needed to bring your vision to life.

How to land in Venture Capital
How easy (or hard) is to build a startup in Spain with the Startups Law 28/2022? (Part I)
I’m happy to have you here! Already +200 subscribers. Thanks…
Read more
2 years ago · 4 likes · 1 comment · Conrad

European funding programs, and some warnings

Before diving into the application processes, it's essential to understand the primary funding opportunities available. These programs offer substantial financial support and resources to help startups succeed, but there are a few warnings to keep in mind:

  • Ensure your project aligns with the program’s goals. These grants fund projects that provide societal, environmental, or technological benefits. Ensure you understand and meet these criteria before applying to avoid wasting time and effort on a non-eligible application.

  • Projects should have a clear, positive impact on society or human well-being and address specific challenges.

  • These programs are highly competitive, often receiving numerous applications from across Europe. Be prepared to provide detailed documentation, including business plans, financial projections, and technical specifications. Incomplete or poorly prepared documents can lead to immediate disqualification. Pay close attention to the quality and detail of your application materials. A well-prepared and compelling proposal is essential to stand out.

  • The application process can be lengthy and complex, often requiring significant time investment for research, preparation, and submission.

Applying for these funding programs can be a complex and time-consuming process. Each program has specific requirements and stringent evaluation criteria. It's crucial to thoroughly prepare your application and ensure that your project aligns with the funding objectives.

Funding Opportunities Under Horizon Europe Calls 2024
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How to get free funding and where to apply to get funds from the European Union?

Detailed Application Processes

Here are the complete processes for applying to key European funding programs for startups:

Information | Horizon Europe Portal

1. Horizon Europe for Startups

Horizon Europe is the EU's key funding program for research and innovation with a budget of €95.5 billion from 2021-2027. It focuses on various thematic areas, including health, digital transformation, and climate change. It offers several grants tailored for startups aiming to innovate and conduct research.

How to apply:

  • Read the Online Manual.

  • Identify the relevant call for proposals under the Horizon Europe Work Programme.

  • Prepare a detailed project proposal following the guidelines provided in the call document.

  • Submit the proposal through the Funding & Tenders Portal of the European Commission.

Webpage:

2. European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator

The EIC Accelerator provides substantial financial support and coaching to startups and SMEs with groundbreaking innovations that have the potential to create new markets or disrupt existing ones. The grant can cover up to 70% of the project costs.

How to apply:

  • Create a profile and submit an application via the EIC's AI platform.

  • If selected, proceed with a full application including a detailed business plan and pitch deck.

  • The selection process includes a remote evaluation and, if successful, an interview with an EIC jury.

Webpage:

3. EUREKA Eurostars

Eurostars is a funding program for R&D-performing SMEs that wish to collaborate on transnational innovation projects. The program supports innovative projects that can be quickly commercialized.

How to apply:

  • Form a consortium with at least one other Eurostars country.

  • Submit a project proposal through the Eurostars application platform.

  • If successful, the project will receive funding support from the national funding bodies of the participating countries.

Webpage:

4. LIFE Programme

The LIFE Programme supports environmental, nature conservation, and climate action projects across the EU. It provides funding for innovative projects that contribute to environmental sustainability and climate resilience.

How to apply:

  • Visit the CINEA LIFE Programme website to identify the most relevant sub-programme for your project.

  • Draft an application outlining the project’s environmental or climate impact, objectives, and implementation plan.

  • Use the online submission platform to submit your application by the deadline specified.

  • The proposal will be evaluated based on its contribution to EU environmental and climate goals, innovation, and sustainability.

  • If approved, negotiate and sign the grant agreement.

Webpage:

5. Innovation Fund

The Innovation Fund focuses on large-scale projects in renewable energy, carbon capture and storage, and low-carbon technologies. Startups with innovative solutions in these areas can benefit from substantial funding.

How to apply:

  • Monitor the calls for proposals published on the Innovation Fund website.

  • Prepare and submit a comprehensive project proposal in accordance with the call requirements.

  • The selection process includes a detailed evaluation of the project’s potential impact and feasibility.

Webpage:

6. Startup Europe

Startup Europe is an initiative by the European Commission that connects startups with investors, accelerators, and corporate networks. It does not provide direct funding but offers access to various funding schemes, mentorship, and networking opportunities.

How to apply:

  • Register on the Startup Europe website.

  • Participate in events, competitions, and programs listed on the platform to connect with potential funding sources.

Webpage:

Tips for successful applications

  1. Prepare, prepare and prepare:
    Ensure your business plan, financial projections, and project proposal are well-prepared and align with the specific grant's objectives.

  2. Follow guidelines:
    Carefully follow the application guidelines and criteria provided by each funding program. Use this manual for preparing better your application.

    1. Online Manual

  3. Seek for professional help:
    Consider hiring a consultant or attending workshops related to grant applications to improve your chances of success.

These tips will help you navigate the application process and increase your chances of securing funding.

Recap and final thoughts

Securing funding through European grants and programs is a valuable opportunity for startups to innovate and grow. By understanding the available funding options, following detailed application processes, and preparing thoroughly, you can increase your chances of success. Remember, these programs are not just about financial support; they offer access to networks, mentorship, and resources that can significantly boost your startup's potential.

If you have any doubts on this exercise or you need something specific from me, do not hesitate in texting me or email me to conrad.carbonell@iese.net.

Hope I helped you and get free funding very soon! See you next week.

Disclaimer 1: I am not gaining any financial or other personal benefits from announcing or promoting this startups. My purpose is solely to provide information based on the available data.

Disclaimer 2: the information provided is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. I encourage readers to conduct their own research and due diligence before making any investment decisions.

]]><![CDATA[table, a personal CRM but AI-first for effortless networking management]]>https://www.howtolandinventurecapital.com/p/table-personal-crmhttps://www.howtolandinventurecapital.com/p/table-personal-crmSat, 03 Aug 2024 14:30:29 GMT

In today’s edition of How to land in Venture Capital, I want to give you an investment memo, typically an analysis that a VC conducts on a startup to determine whether they should invest in a specific company or not.

Today’s deep dive: table — Your personal CRM but AI first

❌ Problem
Traditional personal CRM systems are either manual and time-consuming (excel) or super expensive (Salesforce), leading to inefficiency and missed opportunities in managing professional relationships.

✅ Solution
Table AI automates data importation, enrichment, and social interaction (email, linkedin, etc.), by providing personalized reminders and insights with an intuitive AI chat-based interface.

Structure of this Post

  1. Today’s company: overview of the company analyzed + one-pager

    Brief overview of the Investment Memo in simple terms.

  2. European+Remote VC Job Openings

  3. Investment Memo

    1. Team

    2. Market Opportunity & Size

    3. Problem

    4. Solution

    5. Customer and Business Model

    6. Competition

    7. Traction and/or Metrics

  4. Would I invest?

How to land in Venture Capital is a reader-supported publication. To receive new weekly posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Today’s company: table

table is an AI-powered personal CRM that automates and enhances network management, making it easy to build and maintain meaningful connections.

🔎 Company name: table
📈 Stage: Pre-seed
💵 Valuation: Undisclosed
✍️ Year Founded: 2024
👔 Employees/Founders: 2
📈 Business Status: Validation of the MVP
📊 Milestones: thousands of people interested
📚 Other: SOLID founding team with deep expertise in B2B SaaS

Please note that we also have Investment Memo’s of other companies on our website: Invopop, Genesy AI, Distinkt and Bioo.

Before going deep-dive on this startup, are you looking for a Venture Capitalist role in Europe or in Remote? Check the last VC Job Openings

European+Remote VC Job Openings

And remember, if you want to start doing your own investment memo’s, here you can find a post where I explain hosw I analyze startups.

Investment Memo of table

Read more

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