VCVenture Capitalist
VC
Career

Venture Capitalist

By the numbers
Typical pay
$166,570 / yr
Education to start
Bachelor's degree
Future demand
+14.8% by 2034
People in this job
842K
Figures shown for ·closest of 2 O*NET occupations
The work
Watch · day in the life
A day, hour by hour
08:00
Deal inbox scan

Skim overnight pitch decks and warm intros — flag two worth a closer look.

09:00
Founder pitch

A seed-stage AI startup pitches; decide if this founder is worth betting millions on.

10:30
Due diligence deep-dive

Pull apart a fintech's financials, churn data, and cap table before next week's partner vote.

12:30
Founder coffee

Lunch with a Series A CEO — coach them through a rough board dynamic.

14:00
Partner meeting

Present an investment memo; the room pushes back hard on market size.

15:30
Portfolio check-in

A struggling portfolio company needs a lifeline — decide whether to double down or cut losses.

16:30
Term sheet negotiation

Hammer out ownership stake and board seat terms with a founder's lawyer.

18:00
LP update call

Report fund performance to the investors whose money is on the line.

19:30
Network & sourcing

Hit a startup demo night — three conversations, one name worth following up on.

Things you do
  • Sit through startup pitches and decide if they're worth betting on.
  • Dig into a company's finances, team, and market before writing a check.
  • Negotiate deal terms and ownership stakes with founders.
  • Meet with dozens of founders each week to find the next big thing.
  • Coach portfolio company CEOs through tough decisions and rough patches.
Decisions you’ll make
  • Is this founder someone I'd bet millions on, even if the idea pivots?
  • Does this market have room to be huge, or is it just interesting?
  • Should I lead this round now, or wait and see more traction first?
  • Is my struggling portfolio company worth doubling down on, or do I cut my losses?
  • Should I push back on the founder's strategy, or trust their instincts?
Education Pathways · how you get there
100 in 100 went the college route · 0 in 100 found another way in 5 years or more, typically
Education mapped from O*NET:Investment Fund Managers · 82% related
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