Helping students & early professionals become a VC Analyst with The Analyst Fellowship

Understanding Venture Capital

• What is Venture Capital?

• Evolution of VC & Key Players in the Ecosystem

• Stages of VC Funding (Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A, etc.)

• Role of VC in Startup Growth

Terminologies of VC

• Key Terms: Valuation, Dilution, Term Sheets, SAFE, Convertible Notes, Cap Table

• Understanding Pre-Money & Post-Money Valuation

• Equity vs. Convertible Instruments

How Do VCs Make Money?

• Venture capital as an asset class of outlier risks and returns

• The stakeholders in a VC firm

• Metrics to measure performance of VC firms

• Power Law

• 80:20 Rule

• Portfolio and anti-portfolio

• Types of Venture Capital firms

• How VC teams are organized

• Intro into a VC role - sourcing, due diligence, portfolio support, fundraising, ops and investor relations

How to Build an Investment Thesis

• What is an Investment Thesis?

• How VCs Define Their Thesis

• Examples of Investment Theses from Top VC Firms

• Building Your Own Investment Thesis

How to Build an Investment Memo

• What is an Investment Memo?

• Key Sections of an Investment Memo

• Case Study: Reviewing Memos from Leading VCs

• Writing Your Own Investment Memo

Deal Sourcing

• How VCs Find Startups (Inbound vs. Outbound)

• Networking & Relationship Building

• Tools & Platforms for Sourcing Deals

• Evaluating a Startup at First Glance

Founder's Perspective on VC Funds

• How Founders Choose VC Partners of a Startup

• Common Founder Complaints About VCs

• What Makes a Good VC from a Founder’s PoV

• Negotiation Dynamics Between Founders & VCs

Market Size Analysis

• Importance of TAM, SAM, SOM in VC Decision-Making

• Bottom-Up vs. Top-Down Market Sizing

• Frameworks for Estimating Market Size

• Case Study: Market Size Analysis of a Successful Startup

Resume Building for VC Roles

• What VCs Look for in Resumes

• Structuring a Resume for VC & Investing Roles

• Key Skills & Experiences to Highlight

• Resume Reviews & Peer Feedback

Careers in Venture Capital

• Pathways into VC (Analyst, Associate, Principal, Partner)

• Alternative Routes: Angel Investing, VC-Adjacent Roles

• How to Land a VC Internship or Full-Time Role

• Long-Term Career Growth in VC