A Day In the Life of a VC Associate
A VC associate’s day-to-day life, when it really comes down to it, is very similar to that of a hopeless romantic, with a bit more than a hint of paranoia and overbearing parents.
Every day you wake up excited, ready to be blown away by something new, something unfamiliar. You’re looking to the future, and trying to forget recent disappointments. World conquerer.
You walk into the office (or coffee meeting, or incubator, or wherever you happen to be that day) and you know you’re about to see something exciting. This could be the one.
You go past reception, the free coffee, and the bean bag chairs, and suddenly, you make eye contact. They put down the dry erase marker and slide open the glass door to the conference room. You sit down as they open the laptop, both a little nervous.
You’re blown away, but can’t show it. Don’t be too eager! Their CAC is too good to be true (and probably is). Organic growth is off the charts, burn is reasonable, retention is solid. Your heart melts at the low, low churn.
You make the required small talk, inquiring about their education, past relationships. Where did they go to school? Are they seeing anyone else? Any pets, siblings? Both still figuring the other out.
You share a moment over a little-known (but actually hugely important) book about their field. You finished it yesterday, but they wrote their PhD thesis on the subject. The time comes and you know. It’s a match. You want them to meet your role models, your mentors. Mom and Dad. The partners.
You make plans to follow up, maybe a bad joke, and go your separate ways. You float back to the office, and start to write home about the incredible person you just met. Maybe you’re so excited you call.
Finally, the day comes. You played it coy, you blew off a couple other dates, asked around. They’re coming in for a visit. At the last minute, you get a message about a flight delay, an unforeseen illness.
The wheels start turning. You check email compulsively, ask around in Slack. Did you say something wrong? Are there any other high profile marriages in the news that made them think they could do better (don’t kid yourself founders, you are getting married). Was your joke really that bad?
Paranoia kicks in. You’ve been burned before, but not like this. You start looking for all the other ubers for x, plaids for z out there. You’re already over them. On to the next one right? You’re on top of your game! Who could ghost you?
An update. Flight just landed. Everything is fine. You watch google maps for traffic like a hawk, waiting for arrival like a kid watching the clock at 2:28pm on a school day. They’re finally here! You offer a water, kombucha, maybe a bulletproof coffee. They will be impressed by your selection of snacks.
They are just as charming and elegant as the day you first met. After that little where’s-the-lightning-to-hdmi-adapter snafu, they were off like the rocket ship you knew they were. You beam, take notes, watch the faces of your role models for any reaction. Stoic silence.
A few follow up questions, maybe some swag for the road, a momento. You go back in to see what your role models think.
Dad hated them. On to the next one.
