From Microsoft to Coinbase Ventures: How Jonathan King Broke into VC

reaking into venture capital is notoriously difficult. The industry is small, competitive, and network-driven, often leaving aspiring investors wondering how to get their foot in the door. For Jonathan King, now a Principal at Coinbase Ventures, leading investments in their research arm, the journey was far from straightforward. It required grit, resilience, and the right educational support system.

The Path Before Venture

Jonathan began his career in the energy industry, working in corporate strategy. Part of his remit involved identifying startups that could accelerate the company’s digital transformation. That exposure to corporate and institutional VC funds sparked his curiosity.

“I realised how exciting it was to talk to founders, stay on top of technology trends, and sharpen that edge,” Jonathan recalls. To deepen his financial skillset, he pursued an MBA at Georgia Tech while working at Microsoft in product roles, all while passively investing in crypto since 2017.

This balance of operating experience, technical background, and growing interest in venture gave him a unique perspective, but also meant he faced a tough reality: there was no well-trodden path from product into VC, and even fewer from his MBA program into venture at all.

The Challenge of Breaking In

Jonathan’s transition wasn’t easy. He was the first person from his MBA program to recruit for VC, which meant there were no established pipelines or alumni examples to follow. On top of that, his focus was narrow - not just venture, but crypto VC, a segment that was still relatively small at the time.

While many aspiring investors cast a wide net across different funds, Jonathan’s path required patience. He had to wait for the right opportunity while building credibility in a competitive market.

Finding the Right Bridge: GoingVC

That’s where GoingVC came in. Looking for a structured way to build both knowledge and networks, Jonathan applied to the program in 2021, receiving a scholarship to join.

“GoingVC gave me an end-to-end view of venture fundamentals - everything from sourcing and due diligence to modelling and exit strategies,” he says. “But the most impactful part was learning how to build a thesis. It taught me how to think critically about where a sector is going, and having that collateral was invaluable in interviews.”

Jonathan wrote his thesis on how Web3 and crypto could reimagine the media and entertainment industry, a perspective he later leveraged in his conversations with Coinbase Ventures.

Landing at Coinbase Ventures

When Coinbase Ventures posted a role in 2022, Jonathan tapped into the GoingVC community and secured a referral through the alumni network. The GoingVC career support team guided him through interview prep, case study analysis, and the work trial process.

Coinbase Ventures was the only firm Jonathan interviewed with - and he got the job. He joined as a Principal and, within three years, was promoted to lead investments in their research arm.

Proof of Grit and Hustle

Jonathan’s path wasn’t just about the curriculum - it was also about hustle. While working at Microsoft full-time, he was juggling GoingVC, his MBA, and venture work on the side. His days often stretched from 7am to 11pm, filled with sourcing, classes, and operator responsibilities.

“I knew my North Star,” he reflects. “GoingVC gave me the venture fundamentals, my MBA gave me the financial grounding, and Microsoft kept me sharp as an operator. It wasn’t easy, but it showed I had the grit and resilience needed to thrive in venture.”

Making His Mark

In 2023, Jonathan sourced his first deal at Coinbase Ventures - a pre-product, pre-revenue company in a nascent market. Backed by his thesis-driven research, he convinced Coinbase to not only invest but lead the round. By 2024, that company scaled to nearly $100M in annual run rate.

“That was the data point I needed to know I could succeed in this career,” Jonathan says.

Since then, he has sourced and led more than 45 deals at Coinbase Ventures.

Advice for Aspiring VCs

Now on the other side of the table as a hiring manager, Jonathan advises candidates to focus on three things:

1. Hustle and grit: show commitment and resilience through your career choices.
2. Venture fundamentals: understand deal mechanics, sourcing, due diligence, and underwriting.
3. A clear point of view: bring sector expertise or unique insights that add value to an investment team.

The GoingVC Advantage

Jonathan’s story demonstrates not only the grit required to break into venture but also the role GoingVC can play as a bridge into the industry. Its curriculum equips members with practical, end-to-end knowledge, its thesis-building framework sharpens their perspective, and its community provides the connections that can make all the difference.

As Jonathan puts it: “GoingVC was instrumental in helping me get this role. It gave me the skills, the confidence, and the network I needed to make the leap into venture.”