Stop waiting for a VC role
Three ways serious candidates build venture capital experience before they are hired.
My 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.
