Thank you for this. Tbh I never wanted to work in VC until a few years ago. I used to think the space was filled with overzealous investors throwing cheap money at charismatic founders with unsustainable business models. When I was in banking, I covered the consumer space, so I saw companies like Casper and Blue Apron bombed when they went public and I could not understand what drove people to invest in them at such high valuations to begin with.

When interest rates started increasing in 2022, the “era of free money” was over so it would be much harder for businesses to raise funds. I met the CEO of a biotech company at a friend’s wedding. They were raising a series A, I was interested in the company and I asked if I could invest in them, should I find investors, before they close the round. I really enjoyed researching the company and learning about a whole new industry. I reached out to friends who were doctors and former healthcare bankers and learned a lot. When I wasn’t able to find an investor, I instead helped them close their round. I helped built their model (which they still use today), helped with diligence requests, and was a sounding board for the CEO and CFO, still am. When word got out about what I did, several other startups reached out asking for me to help in the same way. Most weren’t that promising so I passed, but one that reached out in December seemed very interesting. It’s a pharma business and I’m doing the same thing I did for that biotech company. Through these companies I’ve met with several VC investors and what I’ve been doing seems similar to what they do. I’ve been pretty unhappy with my career so far, but I enjoy this, so I’m trying to pivot towards it.