How to stand out when applying to a VC fund?

VCs receive hundreds, if not thousands, of applications for each open position, therefore, a strong cover letter offers a valuable opportunity to differentiate yourself by sharing your personal story.

Hi 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 🔓

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.

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But first, are you looking for a Venture Capitalist role in Europe or in Remote?

European or Remote VC Job Openings

• Venture Capital Scout | @McKenzie Shanahan VC
  Location: Remote
  mailto:info@mckenzieshanahan.com

• Ventures Principal - Americas | Shopify
  Location: Remote
  https://lnkd.in/dHTS-9Df

• Investment Analyst - Strategy Focus (all genders) | Future Energy Ventures
  Location: Berlin, Germany
  https://lnkd.in/dQPue34Z

• Investment Analyst | Antler
  Location: Berlin, Germany
  https://lnkd.in/dXABkyeK

• Visiting Analyst (gn) | FoodLabs Investment Team
  Location: Berlin, Germany
  https://lnkd.in/dcy2ZfnB

• Venture Capital Internship January 2025 | WENVEST Capital
  Location: Munich, Germany
  https://lnkd.in/dVSe-hTt

• Venture Capital Investor | SuperSeed
  Location: London, United Kingdom
  https://lnkd.in/dCXjBVgS

• Principal at a Climate Tech Venture Studio | Marble
  Location: Paris, France
  https://lnkd.in/di_Fj6w4

• Internship Stage - Analyste VC F/H | La Banque Postale
  Location: Paris, France
  https://lnkd.in/d9snKDNa

• Analyste Venture Capital (VC) | Pleiade Venture
  Location: Paris, France
  mailto:stage@pleiadeventure.com

• Associate | Keen Venture Partners
  Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands
  mailto:talent@keenventurepartners.com

• Dealflow Internship | Scientifica
  Location: Rome, Italy
  https://lnkd.in/dKD2NGsW

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