
How to enter into VC after 1.5 YoE mgmt consulting?
I am a Mechanical Engineer from one of the top IITs. Got a day 1 consulting job (tier 1 firm). It's been 1.5 years in the job and I want to switch to VC. Due promotion by the start of 2025.
Recently interviewed with a new US based early stage VC firm (remote job), cleared the first interview and the case study, final interview didn't go amazingly well. They just wanted one Associate and I wasn't the best of the lot, got rejected.
My job role actually says 'Business Analyst ' so I get outreaches for Analytics roles mostly.
How do I enter into VC in India (early stage smaller fund-size VC firms preferred) ? What are the do's and don'ts? What would be the best time to target such roles? How should I prepare? Who should I reach out to and how? How should I shape my profile?
Will it pay me as well as consulting? What are other options that I can consider apart from consulting (I was thinking about Strategy roles in startups/ founder's office).
GV fam help me please!

Don’t work in VC now, find a transformational company, work for the ceo for 4-5 years. Become a startup operator and then if you still want to be a VC, become a VC.

Thanks for the reply. I came across similar advice earlier. May I know the reasons for suggesting this?

VC is not about analysing companies and investing. It’s very counter intuitive to traditional investor. Your skill is to identify many founders working on very similar ideas and then bet on one of them. This requires a lot of hands on experience and also network of builders. All your future builders will come from the best early stage startups of today. Also hands on execution in a startup gives you a life long satisfaction and a community of people who you work alongside to make a dent in the world. You don’t get any satisfaction in investing. Investing is just spraying and praying.

Your background seems primed to get shortlisted Business Analyst - I assume you're from McKinsey or Kearney
How to apply - get in touch with Michael Page recruiters or just write good cold emails to VP+ folks at target funds (ideally send it to people who invest in spaces where you feel you want to invest)
They're hiring round the year since folks leave every now and then, so you can start reaching out.
Don't worry about getting shortlisted, once again, focus on prep: read tonnes about investing, startups in India, seed/series A investments from recent years
It'll pay you better than consulting yep. Assuming you make 20-30L, you'll jump to 50-60L at a Tier 1 fund if you make it

Thanks a lot for the guidance @WittyFeed. I shall start with this. Any other Do's/ Don'ts or tips that could help me? PS: Also, unfortunately I'm not in MBBK, I'm at an Asia-focused firm. I'm a 2023 graduate btw.

Reach out to Lightspeed Analyst’s