Venture capital jobs are sometimes offered through a venture capital firm and often involve the management of a private venture capital fund. Some investors even partake of venture capital careers as an independent investor. The scope of duties within venture capital jobs varies, with some requiring the financing of a small start-up company while others may involve the acquisition and restructuring of much larger companies. Individuals working in venture capital jobs perform an array of duties, such as researching the profitability and risk of an investment, meeting with shareholders and partnering with other investors while raising financial capital. Job titles within venture capital careers may include chief executive officer, president, vice president, partner, principal or associate director, with each job description varying according to the structure of the firm an individual works with, as well as the details of a specific investment.
Within the banking industry, venture capital jobs are unique investment positions. While a college degree is not always necessary for venture capital careers, most people who work in these positions have a college degree in business, economics or a related field. In the United States, most also have a financial license issued by the state where an investor resides, which demonstrates competency in understanding and facilitating complex business or financial matters.
Venture capital jobs are typically found at a firm specializing in providing financial capital for fledgling companies or companies that are in need of a financial bailout or growth funding. Many venture capitalists specialize in providing Series A Round funding even after other start-up funding has been provided. Individuals working in such investment capacities will often work as part of a team of researchers, analysts and investors to evaluate and properly structure an investment deal. Some venture capitalists, however, work independently or will team up with other individual investors to finance an individual company.
Although considered part of the banking industry, venture capital jobs are not offered through banking institutions. Instead, companies in search of financial capital usually turn to a venture capital fund when standard bank financing could not be acquired or when such financing is not conducive to the plans a particular company may have established. Individuals working in venture capital jobs may be able to offer more suitable terms to a borrower in exchange for an equity investment, which often includes a seat on a company’s board of directors, as well as regularly engaging in communication with key management personnel charged with directing a company’s success.
Active board participation is also an integral part of many venture capital jobs. It is not unusual for an investor or member of an investment fund to sit on several boards simultaneously and to actively participate in the details involved with running a business. Individuals with executive experience in the type of business requiring venture capital may also participate as temporary consultants, particularly in start-up companies.