Helping students and young professionals build their careers in VC with the VC Analyst Program

Research Methods for Venture Capital

• Primary vs secondary research

• Using databases (Pitchbook, Crunchbase, Tracxn)

• Reading industry reports

• Analyzing competitor landscapes

• Spotting trends

Sector & Sub-Sector Analysis

• Difference between sectors, sub-sectors, and micro-trends

• Identifying tailwinds

• Frameworks for sector breakdown

•  Case example: fintech → neobanks → SME-focused neobanks

Market Size Analysis

• Importance of TAM, SAM, SOM

• Top-down vs bottom-up approaches

• Choosing the right approach for early-stage

• Example of market sizing for a SaaS startup

Deal Sourcing Strategies

• Inbound vs outbound sourcing

• Events, demo days, incubators, accelerators

• Cold outreach vs warm intros

• Building founder relationships

• Using deal sourcing tools

Company Research & First Glance Evaluation

• Reading a startup pitch deck

• Website and product checks

• Early traction signals

• Competitive landscape basics

• Red flags to notice early

Assessing Founders

• Founder-market fit

• Leadership qualities

• Team complementarity

• Prior track record

• Evaluating founder motivation

Evaluating Business Models

• Revenue models (SaaS, D2C, marketplace, fintech)

• Scalability potential

• Unit economics basics

• Stickiness and retention metrics

• Common pitfalls

Valuation Multiples

• What are valuation multiples

• Common multiples in SaaS, D2C, marketplaces, fintech

• Using comparables and precedent transactions

• When multiples mislead

• Analyst’s role in benchmarking valuation

Introduction to DCF & Right Pricing

• Basics of discounted cash flow (DCF)

• Why DCF is difficult in early-stage VC

• Alternative methods VCs use

• Balancing founder expectations vs market norms

• How VCs decide the “right price”

Drafting an Investment Memo

• Purpose of an investment memo

• Key sections: team, market, product, traction, financials

• Style of writing: concise, analytical, structured

Presenting an Investment Memo

• Converting memo into IC slides

• Storytelling for investors

• How to defend assumptions

• Presenting trade-offs clearly

Inside the Investment Committee

• Structure of IC meetings

• Role of analysts in IC

• Common questions asked in IC

• How decisions are made collectively

Portfolio Management & Monitoring

• Importance of portfolio support

• Tracking KPIs and quarterly updates

• Analyst’s role in data collection

• Supporting portfolio companies beyond capital

Exit Strategies in Venture Capital

• IPOs and public listings

• Mergers & acquisitions

• Secondary share sales

• Analyst’s role in monitoring exit pathways

AI in Venture Capital

• AI in deal sourcing

• AI in due diligence

• AI for market research

• AI in portfolio monitoring

• Limitations and ethical considerations

Resume Building for VC Roles

• What VCs look for in resumes

• How to highlight skills and experiences

• Structuring for impact

• Common mistakes to avoid

Cracking VC Interviews

• Types of VC interview rounds

• Common technical and behavioral questions

• Guesstimates and case studies

• Building a personal edge through networking