Will I Fit in the VC World?
The deep-tech VC world is open to people with many different backgrounds. I, for example, studied at ETH Zurich, where I completed a Master’s in Agricultural Economics and Policy. After that, I spent two years as a political activist before moving into an operational role at a biotech startup. Your experience shapes how you approach startups and evaluate technologies, so you might fit in if you have technical knowledge combined with unconventional expertise.

While previous experience in tech or startups is common, it’s not essential. A keen interest in emerging technologies or a solid understanding of market trends can also take you far. Remember, you’re joining Verve Ventures to learn something new, so you don’t have to be perfect before you apply. You’ll fit right in if you’re curious, open to growth, and ready to ask questions.

How to Get into Verve Ventures
The application process for Verve Ventures involves several steps, but don’t be discouraged. Some parts are fun—and if it seems that they aren’t, VC might not be the right path for you.

Submit Your CV
The first step is sending in your CV, so make sure it highlights your experience and passion for startups and technology.

Complete the Assessment
After submitting your CV, you’ll take an assessment that tests math skills, reading comprehension, and attention to detail. It’s challenging and designed to get progressively harder, so if it feels tough, you’re on track. Take your time, stay calm, and don’t rush through it.

The Case Study
Now, the real fun begins. You’ll be asked to provide your thoughts and reflections on a specific market. This task gives you a glimpse into a core part of the Visiting Analyst role. My best advice? Think like an investor: what would you need to know to feel confident investing your money in a startup in this market? Dive deep, think creatively, and show your critical thinking skills. Also, and this is crucial, don’t rely only on ChatGPT for this one. You might get some good answers, but you’ll miss the chance to showcase your analytical approach and skill. Later in the process, you will get challenged on your assumptions and conclusions, which are also a regular part of our daily work. At that point, you’ll be happy that your answers stem from your thinking process, not an AI-generated one.

In-House Interviews
The final step is a series of interviews where you’ll meet Verve Ventures’ team and discuss the role in more detail. You might review your case study again. We will ask each other critical questions daily, so be ready to defend your approach. As someone who used to hire people, my advice for this step is simple: come as you are and come prepared. Show your personality, share your opinions openly, and be yourself. The interview process is as much about you determining if Verve Ventures is the right place for you as it is about them assessing if you’re the right fit.

If you have a technical or scientific background, one additional tip is to prepare by reading up on the basics of VC and entrepreneurship. This knowledge will give you the foundation to understand industry concepts and ask informed questions during your interviews.

Life at Verve Ventures: The First Weeks
Your first step will be learning about deal sourcing, the art of finding and assessing early-stage startups. It’s a very hands-on process, so prepare to be in calls with founders from day one on. The goal of the internship is to get you going fast and then let you run on your own. This gives you a lot of freedom. Some Visiting Analysts dive deep into a specific area, while others work with different team members on various projects. Part of the work will be done on your own, researching emerging technologies, finding the hottest startups and trying to figure out the potential market for these. There is also much collaboration. Discussions center around the feasibility of ideas, where you can tap into the expensive experience of the whole team.

I still have three months to go. Now I get to push my own projects autonomously while being in a close feedback loop with the rest of the team. I can contribute to others’ success by being involved in their projects. We look at everything from revolutionary computer chip technology to life-saving AI cancer detection methods. Like this, I learned about the most insane inventions in sectors I knew nothing about.

Should you apply?
In summary, Verve Ventures might be the right place for you if you’re a nerd with social skills who loves exchanging ideas with other nerds. So, if you’re considering a path in deep-tech VC, my advice is simple: be bold, be curious, and don’t be afraid to bring your unique background.

Current Job Openings at Verve Ventures