How to break into Venture Capital (VC) and Family Office

For ambitious students, roles in Venture Capital (VC) and Family Offices offer unparalleled opportunities to engage with dynamic and interesting industries. These aren't just jobs; they're launchpads into the heart of strategic finance and innovation, with the opportunity to work in companies that have billions of Assets Under Management (AUM). The stakes are high, the learning potential is immense, and the work can be fascinating.

While these career paths may be hard to break into, employing the right strategies and tactics can significantly maximise your chance of success.

In this guide, we demystify both Venture Capital and Family Offices, explore the roles available and then provide tips for breaking in.

Deeper Dive into Venture Capital (VC)

Venture Capital firms exist to invest in early-stage companies that have the potential to grow and increase their equity value over time. As a result, graduates can expect to evaluate and research industries, conduct due diligence, and help shape growth strategies on portfolio companies, which are often yet to turn a profit.

Now let’s unpack the general structure of VC firms and break down the various tasks you could expect to undertake.

In terms of hierarchy, the structure of a VC firm operates very similarly to an Investment Bank, with the most junior professionals operating at an analyst level and an MD (Managing Director) sitting at the top.

According to Mergers and Inquisitions, the most common tasks expected of the analyst role can be divided into these six areas:

Sourcing: Finding new startups to invest in and making the initial outreach.
Deal Execution: Conducting due diligence on potential startup investments, analyzing their markets and financial projections, and negotiating deal terms.
Portfolio Company Support: Helping portfolio companies with everything from recruiting to sales & marketing, engineering, fundraising, and administrative and financial issues.
Networking and Brand-Building: Attending events and conferences, publishing content online, and speaking with others in the industry, such as lawyers and bankers who work with startups.
Fundraising and LP Relations: Helping the firm raise new funds, reporting to existing Limited Partners (LPs), and finding new investors for future funds.
Internal Operations and Other Tasks: These include administrative tasks, such as hiring for jobs in investor relations, accounting/legal, and IT, and improving internal reporting and deal tracking.

Pathways into Venture Capital

Just like in other industries, VC firms offer internships, rotational programs, and other unstructured pathways in.

Summer Internships, Off-Cycle Internships & Direct Entry

Perhaps the most conventional way of getting into VC is via the internship route. Nonetheless, these opportunities are often not advertised as widely compared to industries such as Consulting or Banking, for instance. Therefore, networking is key to staying in the loop.

While using the websites of specific firms would offer the best options for internships, many sites provide a good starting point for students, including Start-up & VC, eFinancial Careers.

VC Graduate Programs

There are dedicated graduate programs that exist specifically to help provide students with work experience for varying experience levels.

Some are aimed at individuals at entry-level, while others are catered towards those who are more experienced.

Useful knowledge and skills for Venture Capital

A really useful skill for Venture Capital is demonstrating curiosity. This is mentioned in our interview with Zihao Xu from Octopus Ventures, but echoed below by Junkai who says it’s important to develop an understanding of trends and the ability to spot outliers amongst a competitor set of companies that are benefiting from that trend.

In addition, building up domain expertise in a particular area is useful, as Anthony mentions in our profiles below, as well as being able to tell a story about your career to date. Brandon says (see below): ‘Having a sound story behind your journey to date which you can sell well, which may or may not include directly relevant experience but at least transferrable skills which are required for the role’.

Lastly, financial acumen, with a sound understanding of company valuation and Excel and BI skills is very useful.

An Alternative Path: Family Office

The world of finance is constantly evolving, and for ambitious students, new avenues for high-impact careers are continually emerging. Among the most intriguing and influential are Family Offices.

Once a discreet fixture for the ultra-wealthy, these entities have become powerhouses of private capital, offering unparalleled opportunities for those looking to build a career at the intersection of investment, strategy, and legacy management.

Rather than working with early-stage companies with opportunities for growth, Family Offices make decisions for high-net-worth individuals. By definition, they are private advisory firms that manage the finances, investments, philanthropy, and even the personal affairs of a wealthy family.

What is the goal of a Family Office?

The goal of a family office is to preserve, grow, and transfer wealth across generations, while also catering to the unique needs and values of the family it serves.

Family Offices have a number of interesting characteristics:

They make decisions very quickly
They value trust, discretion, and versatility to a greater extent than skill and qualifications alone
They are often secretive. In many, the family names are often kept quiet (take a look on LinkedIn and you'll find that many who work at family offices do not have the specific name of the family).

For these reasons, it is necessary to stress that family offices are not corporate environments in the traditional sense. Indeed, a study by FD Capital emphasizes the fact that they are more personal and less hierarchical compared with VC or Private Equity.

Broadly speaking, family offices have two general structures:

Single-Family Offices (SFOs): Exist to serve one ultra-wealthy family.
Multi-Family Offices (MFOs): Exist to manage assets for multiple families.

While the types may differ, the reality is that the core work done in both types of these family offices will largely be the same.

What are the Roles in a Family Office?

According to Everon, some typical tasks expected at a Family Office may include:

Developing and planning investment strategies
Implementation of the strategy
Consolidation of different assets
Monitoring performance and developing a reporting system
Real estate management

What Sort of Investments Do Family Offices Make?

One of the most compelling aspects of Family Offices is their broad and often opportunistic investment mandates. Unlike specialised funds, they typically aren't constrained by strict asset allocation rules, allowing for immense flexibility. This means exposure to a diverse range of asset classes:

Public Equities and Fixed Income: Core components for liquidity and stability.
Private Equity (PE) & Venture Capital (VC): A significant and growing area. Family Offices are increasingly participating in direct investments or co-investments alongside established PE and VC funds. This can range from early-stage startups to mature private companies.
Real Estate: Direct investments in commercial, residential, or development projects.
Hedge Funds: Allocations to various alternative investment strategies.
Impact Investing: A growing number of Family Offices are aligning their investments with social and environmental impact goals, offering unique opportunities in sustainable and ethical finance.
Special Situations: Given their flexibility, Family Offices can act quickly on unique, often illiquid, opportunities that traditional funds might miss.

This diverse portfolio means professionals gain exposure to a wide array of investment strategies and industries.

Why Are Family Offices Becoming Popular?

In recent years, Family Offices have experienced a surge in prominence. Several factors are driving this trend:

Growth in Ultra-High-Net-Worth Individuals (UHNWIs): The global increase in UHNWIs has naturally led to a greater demand for sophisticated and tailored wealth management solutions that go beyond what traditional institutions can offer.
Control and Discretion: Families often prefer the privacy, control, and bespoke nature of a Family Office over multi-client institutions. It allows them to maintain direct oversight of their assets and align investments with their specific values and long-term goals.
Direct Investing Appeal: Many wealthy families are keen to invest directly in private companies (venture capital, private equity) and real estate, bypassing traditional funds. Family Offices provide the infrastructure and expertise to execute these direct investments efficiently.
Holistic Management: Beyond just investments, Family Offices manage complex legal, tax, philanthropic, and lifestyle needs, offering a truly integrated approach to wealth that resonates with families seeking comprehensive solutions.
Cost Efficiency (at Scale): For extremely wealthy families, setting up their own dedicated office can eventually become more cost-effective than paying fees to multiple external service providers.

What roles are available in Family Offices?

This rise means more opportunities for ambitious professionals looking for high-impact roles.

While specific roles vary widely depending on the size and structure of the office, here are common entry points and areas of opportunity for graduates:

Investment Analyst/Associate: This is a common entry role, focusing on conducting due diligence, financial modelling, market research, and assisting with investment recommendations across various asset classes.
Portfolio Associate/Assistant: Supporting the portfolio management team with tracking performance, reporting, and operational aspects of investments.
Research Analyst: Specialising in market trends, specific sectors (e.g., tech, healthcare, real estate), or macroeconomic analysis to inform investment decisions.
Operations/Finance Assistant: Roles that focus on the operational backbone of the office, including accounting, reporting, compliance, and process management.
Philanthropy/Impact Investing Coordinator: For offices with a strong philanthropic arm, roles can involve managing charitable initiatives and impact investments.

From speaking to our alumni, we’ve found that Family Offices often value generalists who are curious, adaptable, and can wear multiple hats. They are looking for talent that can "fill gaps" and "compliment" the existing team's strengths.

How Do You Break Into Family Offices?

Getting into a Family Office requires a strategic and often unconventional approach. These roles are rarely advertised widely, relying heavily on networks and trusted referrals.

Build a Foundational Skillset

Financial Acumen: Strong understanding of financial analysis, valuation, and accounting. Consider courses or certifications in these areas.
Data Analysis: Proficiency in Excel is a must, and familiarity with other data tools (e.g., Python, R, or even advanced BI tools) is a significant advantage.
Commercial Awareness: A genuine understanding of how businesses operate and generate value across different industries.
Problem-Solving: The ability to deconstruct complex issues and propose actionable solutions.
Mission-driven: Families often have a set of mission-driven goals they are funding. This could be social issues, environmental or cultural. As Ali mentions in the profiles below “ ...demonstrate intrinsic motivation: Show genuine curiosity and commitment to long-term, purpose-driven investing—especially in areas like climate, innovation, or legacy-building that matter to the family”.

Gain Relevant Experience

Internships are Key: Seek internships in investment banking, private equity, venture capital, asset management, or even corporate finance roles within high-growth companies. These provide transferable skills and network opportunities.
Diversify Your Exposure: If possible, gain experience across different asset classes or sectors. This versatility is highly valued.
Startup Experience: Working at a startup can demonstrate an entrepreneurial mindset and comfort with ambiguity, highly prized traits.

Harness the Power of Your Network

Alumni Connections: Leverage your university's alumni network. Many professionals in Family Offices are keen to support their alma mater.
Informational Interviews: Reach out to professionals in the field (via LinkedIn, university networks) for informational interviews. The goal is to learn about their roles and the industry, not to ask for a job directly. These conversations are crucial for uncovering hidden opportunities.
Be Authentic: "The most important thing... is chemistry". Family Offices are often small, close-knit teams. Authenticity and genuine interest are paramount.
Industry Events: Attend conferences or webinars focused on private wealth, alternative investments, or family office trends to expand your network.

Tailor Your Approach

Research Meticulously: Each Family Office is unique, reflecting the family's values and investment philosophy. Research the specific office's focus areas, investment history, and any public profiles of its principals.
Show Initiative & Ownership: Demonstrate instances where you have "led end-to-end" initiatives. Family Offices look for self-starters who can take ownership and drive results with minimal supervision.
Emphasise Discretion & Trust: These are paramount. Highlight experiences that demonstrate your ability to handle sensitive information and build trusting relationships.

Breaking into a Family Office demands persistence, a sharp intellect, and a strategic approach to networking. It's a path for those ready for a "steep learning curve and high stakes decision making", offering a unique launchpad into the highest echelons of global finance. At Exactimo, we empower ambitious minds to secure their dream roles, and a career in a Family Office is undoubtedly one of the most compelling.

Conclusion

Breaking into a Venture Capital firm or Family Office is not easy. However, with enough planning, research and networking, it’s perfectly possible. Whilst technical knowledge is often required with consulting, investment banking, or startup background preferred, it’s just as important to have an enthusiasm about business and a desire to help spot and grow portfolio companies.

The rewards of working in these sectors are huge: they offer strong compensation, as well as a unique insight into the interactions of strategy, finance, entrepreneurship, and innovation that very few professions can match.

To find out more, see profiles of individuals who have broken into this either Venture Capital or Family Office, offering their firsthand experiences.

Profiles

Junkai Zhu

What is your current role? Healthcare Investor at Earlybird Ventures

What do you do in your role? Sourcing and analysing companies within the healthcare field from Series A onwards.

What are the best things about the role? Meeting new people from speaking with founders, working with other investors, and discussing opportunities with key opinion leaders

What are your tips for the application process? Ensure that you understand what the VC fund typically invests in and highlight all areas that you would consider when evaluating an opportunity.

What knowledge and skills do you think are relevant? Developing a deep understanding of different trends and fields to spot the outlier company amongst the competition.

—

Ali Zein

What is your current role? Investor at Family Office

What do you do in your role? Lead climate-focused deal sourcing and due diligence across the UK, Europe, and the GCC, with a focus on high-impact opportunities in clean energy, sustainable infrastructure, and emerging climate technologies. Support end-to-end investment execution and portfolio monitoring, including financial modelling, legal coordination, and performance tracking across multi-asset investments. Develop and maintain relationships with top-tier fund managers, co-investors, and advisors, building a strong pipeline of opportunities aligned with the family’s strategic and generational goals.

What are the best things about the role? Direct influence on meaningful, long-term investment decisions.

What are your tips for the application process? Demonstrate intrinsic motivation: Show genuine curiosity and commitment to long-term, purpose-driven investing—especially in areas like climate, innovation, or legacy-building that matter to the family. Highlight strong financial literacy: Use specific examples to prove your ability to analyse deals, interpret financial statements, and assess risk—particularly in private markets or across multiple asset classes.

What knowledge and skills do you think are relevant? A strong understanding of private markets, solid financial modelling and valuation skills, and deep knowledge of climate and sustainability

—

Luyi Zheng

What is your current role? Managing Director

What do you do in your role? I lead investment, portfolio management and exits

What are the best things about the role? It's about intellectually challenging to own high-stakes decisions, and work with executives to shape companies

What are your tips for the application process? Think like an owner, not just an agent

What knowledge and skills do you think are relevant? Being able to see both forests and trees

—

Anthony Akinwale

What is your current role? Venture Capital Intern

What do you do in your role? Evaluated pitch decks, created one-pagers that synthesised key trends within specific industries, met up with founders

What are the best things about the role? Being in the room to study what makes a start up a viable one to invest in. I found it super interesting to learn from the investor side what they are looking for. Connected to that was spending time with different founders, hearing their journey and hearing how the investment is progressing their idea.

What are your tips for the application process? Learning fundamentals of things like cap tables, term sheets, financial statements, one pagers etc will help you to stand out. Share also in the process why you are passionate about early stage investments

What knowledge and skills do you think are relevant? Being able to say you are an expert in a certain sector would be very attractive as that would mean you could provide value to portfolio companies.

—

Nyasha Chidume

What is your current role? Investment Analyst

What do you do in your role? Assist with portfolio reporting, quarterly reporting, assessing new opportunities, analysing the competitive landscape, operational functions.

What are the best things about the role? The variety in projects and friendly team. My input is valued.

What are your tips for the application process? Demonstrate a keen interest in the sector that your target company is involved in. Do research and understand the competitive edge you could provide the organisation. Don’t be afraid to seek out mentorship and outside help. Finally, be resilient in the face of rejection. You only need 1 yes, and after you’ll forget about the 100 no’s before.

What knowledge and skills do you think are relevant? Excel (intermediate to advanced), valuation methods, model building, time management, project management.

—

Brandon Man

What is your current role? Analyst

What do you do in your role? Advising, backing and investing in the European lower-mid market with a focus on primary fundraises, GP-led secondaries, and co-investment transactions

What are the best things about the role? The networking and travel opportunity - meeting, learning, and working with industry leaders across various sectors and regions

What are your tips for the application process? Having a sound story behind your journey to date which you can sell well, which may or may not include directly relevant experience but at least transferrable skills which are required for the role; a good foundational understanding of the market / commercial awareness and typical responsibilities of the role is also essential and expected; expressing your personal hobbies and interests is always an under-utilised area with many candidates' profiles so do highlight this if you can

What knowledge and skills do you think are relevant? Financial concepts (in particular, valuation methodologies) is always an expectation; broad yet defined commercial awareness is also handy; understanding the relevant players in the space is important (e.g. for my role, that would be the different advisors, LPs, and GPs in the PE space); and having good communication and multi-tasking skills is very important in order to ensure one meets deadlines and meets expectations