How to Break Into Venture Capital
A step-by-step guide to land your first role in VC, get noticed, and build credibility.
Welcome to Learning VC💡! I’m Luis Llorens and I write monthly about venture capital and my personal experiences as an investor. Subscribe to receive new posts and support my work:
Summary
❇️ 5 Proven Ways to Stand Out
❇️ Venture Resources
❇️ Curated dealflow
❇️ List of VC Events in Europe
❇️ Top 5 VCs by Country
Venture capital is a desirable and competitive industry to break into, with limited roles, high demand, and a strong emphasis on relationships. It’s essential to understand what VCs look for, build relevant knowledge, and stay close to the ecosystem.
❇️ 5 Proven Ways to Stand Out
You don’t need a Harvard MBA or a McKinsey badge. You need proof that you think and act like an investor.
🔹Start Building a Personal Portfolio
Start investing however you can:
Angel Investing.
Syndicates (e.g. AngelList, Odin, etc.).
Crowdfunding platforms (e.g. Crowdcube, Dozen, etc.).
Write public investment theses & “mock portfolios”.
This proves pattern recognition, conviction, and initiative. Show you’re already acting like a VC.
🔹Send Monthly Dealflow to VCs
Choose partners at firms you admire and want to work with. Every month, email them 1-2 startups they should meet. Keep it simple:
A 1-liner on why the startup is interesting.
How it matches their thesis. Study their portfolio and learn their style.
After 2 or 3 months, they’ll know your name and your judgment. They'll start replying to your messages and keep you top of mind in case they're hiring.
🔹Help Partners Fundraise
Most people forget this: GPs struggle with LP fundraising. If you can:
Introduce warm LPs.
Recommend useful lists or materials for fundraising (Family Offices, Fund of Funds, etc.).
You’ll instantly stand out.
🔹Build a Network
Venture is a relationship business. Attend events. DM people. Stay visible, helpful, and curious:
Source startups.
Share insights.
Analyze trends.
Support VCs work.
🔹 Launch Something Yourself
VCs love builders. It doesn’t have to be big. Build a community, launch a newsletter, help a founder. Anything that shows you know how to operate will set you apart from the others.
Action > polish. Doers stand out.
❇️ Venture Resources
No fluff. Just the ones that shaped my mindset.
📚 Books
Angel by Jason Calacanis - Makes you want to start writing checks.
Venture Deals by Brad Feld & Jason Mendelson - Must-know mechanics.
The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz - Honest insights into founder struggles.
Zero to One by Peter Thiel – Think like a contrarian investor.
Secrets of Sand Hill Road: VC and how to get it by Scott Kupor - Clear view into how VCs operate.
Biographies: Steve Jobs / Elon Musk / Phil Knight - Founder stories that stick.
🎙 Podcasts
🎙 Substack/ Newsletters
Ruben Dominguez Ibar, Andre Retterath, David Cruz e Silva 🎙, EUVC, Jannis Hake, Hugo Rauch, Samir Kaji - VC resources.
Chris Tottman, Burak Buyukdemir - Founder resources.
Ivan Landabaso. Aris Xenofontos, Michael Spencer, Devansh - AI.
Ben Lang - Startup lists.
Mario Gabriele - Industry reports.
Guillermo Flor, Kyle Poyar, Jeroen Coelen - SaaS GTM & PMF.
Jaime Novoa - Spanish ecosystem.
Extended list of top Newsletters on Ivan’s post.
🧠 Other Must-Reads
Silicon Valley (the show).
❇️ Curated Dealflow
You'll find a list of 500+ startups from around the world that are currently fundraising. Dealflow you can share directly with the VCs you admire.
