If you want to understand how decisions are made at a VC firm it is important to understand the staff who work there. Here is a guide but you can also read more at this blog post: https://bothsidesofthetable.com/how-to-improve-your-odds-of-getting-to-yes-with-a-vc-land-and-expand-b46a0a102a07

1. Active
Partners
Less Active
Partners
Venture
Partners
Analysts,
Associates,
Principals
• At most larger
VCs, active
partners
typically do 1-3
deals / year
• Newer partners
are on fewer
boards and
likely more new
deals
• Senior partners
often willing to
let others do
deals - have
more firm
management
responsibilities
Staff at a VC
Investment
Partners
Others
Partners
Operating &
Board
Partners
Other Investment
Roles
Non-Investment
Staff
Platform
Teams
Executive
Assistants
• Sometimes
nearing
retirement age
• Sometimes
made too much
money / has
other interests
• Sometimes not
senior but in
processes of
leaving firm
(your job is to find
out which
partners are
active & which
aren’t)
• Varies firm-to-
firm so enquire
• Can often lead
deals but do
fewer
• Often has other
non-firm
activities
(boards,
operating roles)
• Sometimes part-
time
• Many firms -
particularly larger
ones have
partners with
huge operating
experience who
will take board
seats for the firm.
• Sometimes these
partners can lead
an investment but
typically don’t
• Analysts & associates
typically younger,
principals typically
post-MBA and/or
enough experience
they are promoted
• Some firms let
principals lead deals
in others they take
some board seats
• In every firm
associates &
principals are much
more influential than
outsiders might
perceive (they are
classic “influencers”)
• Finance, legal,
marketing, talent,
software, analytics,
business
development
• Often platform
teams help
portfolio post
investment
• Platform members
can also be
influencers during
the investment
process (talent,
marketing, tech all
input into partners)
• If you think EAs
don’t have
influence you’re
kidding yourself
• EAs often have the
most
communications
with active
partners who will
definitely hear if
the EA is
mistreated
• EAs also can be
your positive gate-
keeper to get key
meetings if they
like / respect you