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Aug 27, 2021
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Career Resources

Advice from Dylan Hoffman (Cohort 7 Member) on pursuing a career in VC

Author
Dylan Hoffman, Karrie Liang

🔍 Key Insights

Congratulations Dylan Hoffman who joined Touchdown Ventures as a Senior Associate! Congrats, Dylan!

Below are some of the biggest pieces of advice that Dylan (GoingVC Cohort 7 Member) would like to share with those who are pursuing VC for their next career move 📝

  1. Managing your networking is key. After I (quickly) exhausted my personal VC network, I started tracking VC firms based on personal interest and potential hiring opportunities. I leveraged the Wharton network extensively (graduated from their MBA program in May). I also reached out cold a lot - LinkedIn / Twitter / direct outreach forms on VC websites. Keeping track of all of these connections and relationships was key.
  2. I kept a log of every VC question I was asked during an interview so I could continue iterating on my answers and always always prepped for each interview by familiarizing myself on the firms' sector(s) of focus and potentially even coming with a few companies of interest.
  3. Persistence is key! I had to sift through a lot of non-answers / no's before I started gaining traction. It was a solid 4 months before I got my first interview with Touchdown, so keep going!
  4. Targeting VCs that bring on interns or fellows (look at websites and LinkedIn) can be low-hanging fruit. I curated a list in my networking tracker of VC firms that did that and had two fellowships before I got my full-time offer.

Thank you, Dylan for the nuggets of advice for those who are actively pursuing a career in venture capital!

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Frequently Asked Questions

Weʼre seeking people who have a demonstrated passion for, and persistence in, pursuing a career in venture capital. If youʼre admitted, we expect you to give first, show up, work hard, contribute, and ultimately make the group better.

Participants in past GoingVC cohorts have come from a variety of academic backgrounds and career paths, including tech companies like Zynga, Uber, Amazon, Google, Hustle Fund, Lowercarbon Capital, Mercury Fund, Salesforce Ventures, Lerer Hippeau, BBG Ventures, Redpoint Ventures, USV, and General Catalyst.

Weʼve also had GoingVC members who were finishing up their college degrees, and others further along in their careers.

Weʼve had former engineers, entrepreneurs, product managers, management consultants, angel investors, investment bankers, and many more.

Yes! Itʼs a part-time program that takes just about 4-6 hours per week.The majority of participants are working full-time, interning with a VC firm, or going to school while participating in the program.

There is no “perfect” age to participate in the GoingVC program. Itʼs more about what you want to get out of it and whether we can provide that for you.

Weʼve had members who recently graduated or are currently in grad school, as well as others who were much later into their careers.

GoingVC is a geographically agnostic program. The investment skills youʼll learn are universal.

While we donʼt target any specific cities for alumni job placement, members have gone on to find VC roles all over the world.

Live sessions typically take place on Tuesdays or Thursdays at 5 PM PST.

If you canʼt make the live calls, no problem. We record every lecture so you can watch or listen on your own time, whether on your computer or phone. Many members complete the program asynchronously.

GoingVC (US): $8,999

GoingVC Europe: €7,449 / £6,449

We strive to make GoingVC accessible, regardless of your financial situation. We offer flexible payment terms, including payment plans, to help make the program more manageable for different budgets. For U.S. applicants, financing options are available through our partner, Climb.

If for any reason youʼre not satisfied with the program within the first 30 days (thatʼs a quarter of the program), just let us know — weʼll issue a full refund, no questions asked. We make this guarantee because we want GoingVC to be one of the most impactful professional development experiences youʼve ever had.

Members should expect to spend around 4-6 hours per week to get full value out of the experience.

The curriculum varies based on which track you select when you join the program. We have the flagship program track, which is all about learning the fundamentals of VC and breaking into the industry. Then, we have a track focused on Raising a Fund, which teaches you the fundamentals and also prepares members for raising their own fund. Thus, a select portion of the curriculum differs.

You can read more about our curriculum here.

Yes. Members will have the opportunity to join GoingVCʼs Investor Program, giving you direct experience with sourcing and evaluating deals.

GoingVC is fully virtual and designed to be accessible globally, with flexible recorded sessions so you can participate regardless of your location or schedule.

GoingVC is built for busy professionals balancing full-time jobs. While live sessions offer valuable real-time interaction with active VCs, theyʼre all recorded, so you can learn flexibly on your own schedule without missing out.

GoingVC is designed for professionals at all stages of their VC journey: from aspiring Analysts to Partners looking to deepen their skills. Whether youʼre just breaking in or advancing your career, the program offers valuable education, experience, and network support tailored to your needs.

GoingVC supports professionals from different backgrounds. Our comprehensive curriculum–live expert lectures, curated readings, case studies, and hands-on modeling–builds well-rounded VC skills. Combined with personalized mentorship, we help bridge gaps and prepare you to confidently break into venture capital.

Every session is recorded and available to view on your own time—on your computer or phone. Many participants complete the program asynchronously and still gain full value.