Will Stringer, CEO, Chisos, observes, “Talking with founders and doing diligence on companies from an investor point of view can be a great way to find your next problem to work on, or even network into a job at one of the companies you diligence.” We agree!
Platforms like Republic allows both accredited and non-accredited investors to invest as little as $100 in early-stage startups. A number of VCs (e.g., AngelList Spearhead) have formal programs to back your investments with capital. According to Abe Othman, head of Data Science, AngelList, “The data suggests that having started a company and having invested in companies are both indicators of future success—but the combination of having both experiences on the founding team has an even greater impact.” See:
Becoming a VC is one of the few jobs founders often take after having a large, successful exit. See:
- How to negotiate a partner role at a VC or private equity firm
- Venture Capital compensation data and recruiters list
If you want to launch your own fund, see Syllabus for how to launch, manage, and invest a VC fund.