AMA- 15 yrs exp across consulting, VC & Growth stage company. Now a founder
As in title
Really impressive creds :)
What got you excited in the first place to go into VC/startups?
Also have the founders/VCs in the ecosystem changed in 'type' from what they were like 5-10 years ago?
Elix
Stealth
a year ago
I joined early stage after working for a few years in management consulting. The itch was to really learn how to build from 0 to 1, and met an incredible founder while I was exploring. VC happened subsequently naturally, as a lot of VCs prefer folks with startup experience
Elix
Stealth
a year ago
The environment has become really supportive for folks to start, hence have started seeing a lot of fence sitters now jumping to start on their own.
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Really cool to see this!
I’m a VC (although still early, I’m an Associate)
I constantly question between staying within VC (given there are good financial outcomes) and building (potentially larger outcomes, but lower probability)
How did you evaluate this dilemma personally?
Elix
Stealth
a year ago
Wasn't a dilemma at all. Being an operator earlier, I always liked the action and control one gets being a founder.
Which sector did you end up building in? Fav sectors of a VC?
Framework that helped you in deciding between investing vs building?
Elix
Stealth
a year ago
There are VCs supporting almost every sector, so it's not prudent to think of building looking at what VCs would invest in.
Elix
Stealth
a year ago
As an investor, you cover wider but with limited depth. As a founder, you go really deep. These are non overlapping skill-sets. However, being an ex-vc helps you raise better and being a founder helps you evaluate companies better as a vc :)
PushySun89
Stealth
a year ago
Can you share more about your journey: education background, what was your first role and how and when did you decide to start something of your own? This will help to ask more pointed questions. Thanks for doing this.
Elix
Stealth
a year ago
Engineering & MBA from tier 1 Indian colleges. Never thought I would start on my own, but working for long in a growth stage company & VC gave me a lot of confidence. Decided to start in 2021 after finding a great co-founder.
Hey Elix,
Have a lot of questions. Would really appreciate it if you could give time and answer all of them.
1. Why did you choose management consulting?
2. What skills are needed to be kickass at it?
3. I am in tech, want to explore consulting and VC. I don't have an MBA. How do I go about it?
4. If you could explain VC to a 5 Yr old but in 4-5 lines, what would it be?
5. Do you feel there's peace in consulting/VC?
Elix
Stealth
a year ago
1. I had a short tech stint pre-mba. Even after 2 years at MBA, didn't know what I really wanted (banking internship was N eye opener that it sucks, didn't like marketing). Management consulting seemed great in terms of figuring out and overall exposure
2. Excellent analytical skills, communication and proactiveness. Find options to do global projects, they add a very different layer to overall exposure and experience.
3. Will need to understand your profile a little more. It's a slightly closed group to get into, with similar minded individuals and folks look at people like them to hire.
4. VC: A financial institution where rich folks trust you with their money, assuming you would use your wisdom to generate handsome returns for them, by identifying and investing in the latest trends and backing great founders
5. Consulting is stressful and requires you to be on your toes all the time (always serving the client). It's a constant treadmill, better done early in the career. VC is relatively relaxed, often comes with entitlement as people are trying to raise from you and does offer peace.
Thank you so much!
Can we expand more on 3 though? Let me know what you want to know about my Profile, happy to divulge info
What space are you currently building within?
How did you decide on what to build?
Elix
Stealth
a year ago
Building in commerce space, b2b2c. Decided to build in this space, looking at my competencies and understanding the gaps in the market.
darkscan22
Stealth
a year ago
Would you agree consulting is just glorified project management?
Elix
Stealth
a year ago
No, absolutely not. Consultants do a lot of hard work and every word they present to client has to be backed by solid data. Also, aligning multiple stakeholders at a client, at senior levels, when you are not even a part of that org isn't an easy job at all.
darkscan22
Stealth
a year ago
Aligning multiple stakeholders is the biggest piece of project management.
Barbaadeshwar
Stealth
a year ago
Are you looking for a Marketing / Brand head? If yes where do I sent my creds :p
Elix
Stealth
a year ago
Haha, not yet :)
bruh7
Stealth
a year ago
Ngl these AMAs are the engaging powerhouse for Grapevine. Absolutely gold and I'm loving it
What do you think about a Marketing role at a VC firm/IB bank. From a Management consulting or VC - what value do you give to it especially for someone like me who has worked in fast paced startups and doing this now.
Elix
Stealth
a year ago
Please elaborate your question, didn't understand
How important is a marketing and communications role to a VC firm as i see most of the marketing people here have worked with the best startups and companies and are doing basic work like social media posts, seo, small scale mixers against a good pay.
What should an individual starting his career in an early stage startup priotize for to be able to have good start ?
Sorry for the unstructured question
Elix
Stealth
a year ago
Enthusiasm, proactiveness and energy go a long way. Work hard. Focus on gaining trust and confidence of the leadership team. Get a maibaap, who would ensure your growth! Be visible. Don't shy away from doing any work. Ask questions and don't shy away, but always ask difficult questions in a closed setting, not publicly. Never be unnerved by uncertainty - early stage companies try a lot of things and fail in most, and that's how they innovate.
nobody_90
Stealth
a year ago
1. In VC firms, How is the pressure for mid-junior level folks to give returns back to investors. Or is it only at the partner level?
2. What is the usual return given back to investors of VC firms, in terms of XIRR?
Elix
Stealth
a year ago
Mid-Junior folks focus primarily on deal-scouting and screening as many companies possible. Returns in VC are build over a period of long time, and it is usually the partners who are most focused on that metric. XIRR above 20% is great, top quartile.
nobody_90
Stealth
a year ago
Thanks for the reply!
Are you enjoying building compared to a role like VC/ consulting?
What made you switch?
Elix
Stealth
a year ago
Yes, enjoying building. But there is always a continuous anxiety at early stage bec things are very dynamic.
The itch to give a shot to building something meaningful is why I switched from VC. It's a very tough decision. One sacrifices a stable career and a great pay, for meagre founder salary and regular anxiety. For a dream to build something real and meaningful.
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