{"id":13859,"date":"2024-09-26T14:23:10","date_gmt":"2024-09-26T14:23:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/embl-fellows-career-service\/?page_id=13859"},"modified":"2024-12-04T12:19:58","modified_gmt":"2024-12-04T12:19:58","slug":"venture-capital","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/embl-fellows-career-service\/info-resources\/exploration\/venture-capital\/","title":{"rendered":"Career area: Venture capital"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"vf-grid | vf-grid__col-3\"><div class=\"vf-grid__col--span-2\"><!--[vf\/content]-->\n<div class=\"vf-content\">\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">An &#8216;IP, technology transfer, venture capital&#8217; career<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Venture capital professionals need to be able to identify and analyse relevant information and make\/defend decisions based on this information. Venture companies with a portfolio that includes or focuses on life science companies employ life scientists for their critical thinking skills and for their ability to help assess the robustness of the science behind the business\u2019 potential life-science-related product. Large pharma companies also often have their own venture capital departments that invest in startups. Additional opportunities also exist at other finance and investment companies with investment portfolios that include life science companies.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"vf-tabs\"><ul class=\"vf-tabs__list\" data-vf-js-tabs=\"true\"><li class=\"vf-tabs__item\"><a class=\"vf-tabs__link\" href=\"#vf-tabs__section-ad9d22e7-f2ff-4f69-8d17-6906474a25b3\" data-vf-js-location-nearest-activation-target=\"\">Roles and responsibilities<\/a><\/li><li class=\"vf-tabs__item\"><a class=\"vf-tabs__link\" href=\"#vf-tabs__section-0e516856-67d5-40f7-8a48-9fb56f3d4d9c\" data-vf-js-location-nearest-activation-target=\"\">Career entry and progression<\/a><\/li><li class=\"vf-tabs__item\"><a class=\"vf-tabs__link\" href=\"#vf-tabs__section-2b831503-f499-4f03-ae98-402b00c99e2e\" data-vf-js-location-nearest-activation-target=\"\">Knowledge and skills<\/a><\/li><\/ul><div class=\"vf-tabs-content\" data-vf-js-tabs-content=\"true\">\n<section class=\"vf-tabs__section\" id=\"vf-tabs__section-ad9d22e7-f2ff-4f69-8d17-6906474a25b3\"><h2>Roles and responsibilities<\/h2>\n<p>Possible tasks may include a subset of the following activities:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>keeping up to date on developments in relevant business sectors, and in scientific fields, to identify potential opportunities.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>collecting, evaluating and synthesising relevant information and making strategic recommendations on:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>potential future companies in the portfolio: attend \u2018pitches\u2019 from companies looking for investment; dig further into the science, business plan and team for interesting propositions, assess market potential\/competition etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>business decisions for current portfolio \u2013 as investors in these companies, the fund has a say on important decisions such as mergers, licensing details, further fund-raising.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This information gathering often involves identifying and talking to relevant professionals and experts:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>partners (and occasionally more junior staff) may also sit on the board of directors for companies, and be involved in attracting new investors for their venture fund and communicating with existing investors.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Roles in other investment companies may have similar responsibilities, but a stronger focus on assessing business information that might affect the stock price of their investments.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"vf-tabs__section\" id=\"vf-tabs__section-0e516856-67d5-40f7-8a48-9fb56f3d4d9c\"><h2>Career entry and progression<\/h2>\n<p>It is possible to enter venture firms in a junior role, and progress upwards. Entry level roles may be called \u2018associate\u2019 or analyst. For direct entry, competition is very high. Those who directly enter this area generally can demonstrate an interest in the business side of science \u2013 they often enjoy following biotech news. Other relevant activities that can help you build your CV include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>taking part in entrepreneurial training\/pitching competitions that help you become familiar with start-ups.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>doing an internship (many companies offer internships (or fellowships) that are paid and will enable you to gain around 6-months experience \u2013 some but not all are openly advertised).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>work as an outside consultant for a venture company (note, you will likely need to gain approval from your institution for this, due to potential conflicts of interest and contractual obligations).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Alternatively, gaining experience in an operational role in industry, business development, management consultancy or other relevant positions can provide experience that will allow you to enter at a higher level.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"vf-tabs__section\" id=\"vf-tabs__section-2b831503-f499-4f03-ae98-402b00c99e2e\"><h2>Knowledge and skills<\/h2>\n<p>In our&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/embl-fellows-career-service\/blog\/2022\/03\/skills-for-a-scientific-career\/\">careers and skills survey,<\/a>&nbsp; 6 venture capital professionals told us the competencies they use most in their daily work&nbsp; The most frequently selected competencies were:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>networking\/engaging in professional discussions (selected by 100% of respondents)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>clarity of thought (selected by 86%)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>effective communication (selected by 71%&nbsp; and ranked top for success in the role)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>broad scientific knowledge (selected by 71%)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>independent thought (selected by 43%)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"\"><!--[vf\/content]-->\n<div class=\"vf-content\">\n\n<figure class=\"vf-figure wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1828\" class=\"vf-figure__image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/embl-fellows-career-service\/wp-content\/uploads\/pexels-rfstudio-3825540-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13339\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/embl-fellows-career-service\/wp-content\/uploads\/pexels-rfstudio-3825540-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/embl-fellows-career-service\/wp-content\/uploads\/pexels-rfstudio-3825540-300x214.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/embl-fellows-career-service\/wp-content\/uploads\/pexels-rfstudio-3825540-1024x731.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/embl-fellows-career-service\/wp-content\/uploads\/pexels-rfstudio-3825540-768x549.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/embl-fellows-career-service\/wp-content\/uploads\/pexels-rfstudio-3825540-1536x1097.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/embl-fellows-career-service\/wp-content\/uploads\/pexels-rfstudio-3825540-2048x1463.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<article class=\"vf-card vf-card--brand vf-card--bordered vf-u-margin__bottom--800\" default>\n  \n  <div class=\"vf-card__content | vf-stack vf-stack--400\">\n          <h3 class=\"vf-card__heading\">\n        \n        What do people value about this career?\n              <\/h3>\n    \n    \n          <p class=\"vf-card__text\"><!-- wp:paragraph -->\r\n\r\nIn our\u00a0<a class=\"vf-card_link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/embl-fellows-career-service\/blog\/2022\/03\/skills-for-a-scientific-career\/\">careers and skills survey,<\/a> venture capital professionals frequently stated that they appreciate that their work:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>is intellectually stimulating<\/li>\r\n \t<li>benefits\u00a0society<\/li>\r\n<\/ul><\/p>\n      <\/div>\n<\/article>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<style>\n    <\/style>\n\n<section id=\"wp-block-1\">\n  <div class=\"vf-card-container  | vf-u-fullbleed  \n  | vf-u-background-color-ui--grey--light \">\n          <div class=\"vf-section-header | vf-u-margin__bottom--600 | vf-u-sr-only\">\n        <h2 class=\"vf-section-header__heading\" >\n        header    <\/h2>\n              <\/div>\n      \n\n<div class=\"vf-grid | vf-grid__col-3\"><div class=\"vf-grid__col--span-2\"><!--[vf\/content]-->\n<div class=\"vf-content\">\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Want to learn more about this career area?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<details  class=\"vf-details\" id=\"\"  >\n<summary class=\"vf-details--summary\">\nOverview articles<\/summary>\n<div class=\"acf-innerblocks-container\">\n<div class=\"vf-links vf-links--tight vf-links__list--s vf-links__list--very-easy\">\n    <ul class=\"vf-links__list vf-list vf-links__list--secondary\">\n    <li class=\"vf-list__item\">\n          <a class=\"vf-list__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S0012160619305640\">\n        My career path to investment banking \u2013  Developmental biology special issue \u2018Careers beyond the bench\u2019      <\/a>\n      <\/li>\n    <li class=\"vf-list__item\">\n          <a class=\"vf-list__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencemag.org\/careers\/2002\/10\/predicting-future-venture-capital\">\n        Predicting a future in venture capital \u2013 Science Careers      <\/a>\n      <\/li>\n    <li class=\"vf-list__item\">\n          <a class=\"vf-list__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.science.org\/content\/article\/investing-science-feature-index\">\n        Investing in science: *Feature Index* \u2013 Science Careers      <\/a>\n      <\/li>\n    <li class=\"vf-list__item\">\n          <a class=\"vf-list__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/nbt1008-1195\">\n        So you want to be a venture capitalist? \u2013 Nature Biotechnology      <\/a>\n      <\/li>\n  <\/ul>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<details  class=\"vf-details\" id=\"\"  >\n<summary class=\"vf-details--summary\">\nVideos<\/summary>\n<div class=\"acf-innerblocks-container\">\n<div class=\"vf-links vf-links--tight vf-links__list--s vf-links__list--very-easy\">\n    <ul class=\"vf-links__list vf-list vf-links__list--secondary\">\n    <li class=\"vf-list__item\">\n          <a class=\"vf-list__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=KrtvuIbqCvQ&#038;list=PLjXjP2rLl5xlNtBIds3kVuLqQAujNe4_K&#038;index=8\">\n        Venture Capital in Life Sciences &#8211; Dr Jason Mellad &#8211; University of Cambridge      <\/a>\n      <\/li>\n  <\/ul>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:12px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"vf-box vf-box--normal vf-box-theme--quinary | vf-u-margin__bottom--400\">\n                            <p class=\"vf-box__text\">We highly recommend learning more about the careers using the resources above, then conducting <a href=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/embl-fellows-career-service\/info-resources\/making-connections\/#vf-tabs__section-c9d226ee-2bad-45ed-bf4a-7d49cd01ad03\">informational interviews<\/a> to gain further insights directly from former PhDs working in career areas that interest you.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"\"><!--[vf\/content]-->\n<div class=\"vf-content\">\n\n<article class=\"vf-card vf-card--brand vf-card--bordered vf-u-margin__bottom--800\" default>\n  \n  <div class=\"vf-card__content | vf-stack vf-stack--400\">\n          <h3 class=\"vf-card__heading\">\n                  <a class=\"vf-card__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/internal-information\/eicat\/embl-fellows-career-service\/career-exploration\/\" target=\"\">\n        \n        For EMBL fellows\n                  <svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"vf-card__heading__icon | vf-icon vf-icon-arrow--inline-end\" width=\"1em\" height=\"1em\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n            <path d=\"M0 12c0 6.627 5.373 12 12 12s12-5.373 12-12S18.627 0 12 0C5.376.008.008 5.376 0 12zm13.707-5.209l4.5 4.5a1 1 0 010 1.414l-4.5 4.5a1 1 0 01-1.414-1.414l2.366-2.367a.25.25 0 00-.177-.424H6a1 1 0 010-2h8.482a.25.25 0 00.177-.427l-2.366-2.368a1 1 0 011.414-1.414z\" fill=\"currentColor\" fill-rule=\"nonzero\"><\/path>\n          <\/svg>\n        <\/a>\n              <\/h3>\n    \n    \n          <p class=\"vf-card__text\">Further internal resources (e.g. library of recorded career talks) can be found on our intranet pages.<\/p>\n      <\/div>\n<\/article>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n        <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<hr class=\"vf-divider\">\n\n\n\n\n        <div class=\"vf-section-header\">\n        <h2 class=\"vf-section-header__heading\">\n            <a class=\"vf-section-header__heading vf-section-header__heading--is-link\"\n               target=\"_blank\"\n               href=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/embl-fellows-career-service\/blog\/category\/career-profiles\/profiles_techtrans\/venture\/\">\n                Read relevant posts from our blog                <svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"vf-section-header__icon | vf-icon vf-icon-arrow--inline-end\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                    <path d=\"M0 12c0 6.627 5.373 12 12 12s12-5.373 12-12S18.627 0 12 0C5.376.008.008 5.376 0 12zm13.707-5.209l4.5 4.5a1 1 0 010 1.414l-4.5 4.5a1 1 0 01-1.414-1.414l2.366-2.367a.25.25 0 00-.177-.424H6a1 1 0 010-2h8.482a.25.25 0 00.177-.427l-2.366-2.368a1 1 0 011.414-1.414z\" fill=\"\" fill-rule=\"nonzero\"><\/path>\n                <\/svg>\n            <\/a>\n        <\/h2>\n            <\/div>\n    \n<div class=\"vf-grid vf-grid__col-3 | vf-content\">\n\n    \n            \n<article class=\"vf-summary vf-summary--news\" style=\"display: block; display: unset;\">\n  \n  <span class=\"vf-summary__date\" title=\"2020-11-03T14:33:06+00:00\"\n    datetime=\"2020-11-03T14:33:06+00:00\">3 November 2020  <\/span>\n    \n  <h3 class=\"vf-summary__title\">\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/embl-fellows-career-service\/blog\/2020\/11\/career-profile-jordi-xiol-senior-associate-at-ysios-capital\/\" class=\"vf-summary__link\">Career Profile: Jordi Xiol, Senior Associate at Ysios Capital<\/a>\n  <\/h3>\n    <p class=\"vf-summary__text\">\n    Interview with Jordi Xiol about how his transition from fundamental research to a venture capital role.  <\/p>\n    <\/span>\n      \n<\/article>\n\n<!--\/vf-summary-->\n    \n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"vf-divider\">\n\n\n\n<div class=\"vf-grid | vf-grid__col-3\"><div class=\"vf-grid__col--span-3\"><!--[vf\/content]-->\n<div class=\"vf-content\">\n\n<div class=\"vf-section-header | vf-u-margin__bottom--400\">\n  <h2 class=\"vf-section-header__heading\" \n      >\n      \n          <a class=\"vf-section-header__heading vf-section-header__heading--is-link\"\n                  target=\"_blank\"\n         href=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/embl-fellows-career-service\/info-resources\/exploration\/\">\n        Return to our Career information and exploration page        <svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"vf-section-header__icon | vf-icon vf-icon-arrow--inline-end\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n          <path d=\"M0 12c0 6.627 5.373 12 12 12s12-5.373 12-12S18.627 0 12 0C5.376.008.008 5.376 0 12zm13.707-5.209l4.5 4.5a1 1 0 010 1.414l-4.5 4.5a1 1 0 01-1.414-1.414l2.366-2.367a.25.25 0 00-.177-.424H6a1 1 0 010-2h8.482a.25.25 0 00.177-.427l-2.366-2.368a1 1 0 011.414-1.414z\" fill=\"\" fill-rule=\"nonzero\"><\/path>\n        <\/svg>\n      <\/a>\n      <\/h2>\n\n  \n  <\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"vf-grid | vf-grid__col-1\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"parent":8552,"menu_order":12,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"template-title-left-aligned.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"embl_taxonomy":[],"class_list":["post-13859","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"embl_taxonomy_terms":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/embl-fellows-career-service\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13859","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/embl-fellows-career-service\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/embl-fellows-career-service\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/embl-fellows-career-service\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/embl-fellows-career-service\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13859"}],"version-history":[{"count":25,"href":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/embl-fellows-career-service\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13859\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21641,"href":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/embl-fellows-career-service\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13859\/revisions\/21641"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/embl-fellows-career-service\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8552"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/embl-fellows-career-service\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13859"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"embl_taxonomy","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/embl-fellows-career-service\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/embl_taxonomy?post=13859"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}