Aspiring venture capitalists need five to 10 years of professional success as a serial entrepreneur, or high-level executive experience at a portfolio company, or experience in a high-profile position in Information Technology, engineering, health services, or biotechnology.
A variety of skills are needed to be a successful venture capitalist, including financial acumen, an analytical mind, excellent negotiation abilities, and keen business judgment. They also need strong communication and interpersonal skills, and the ability work as a member of a team. Venture capital firms are tiny compared to most other professional entities. They are high-pressure partnerships where the alchemy of strong personalities becomes critical to the success of the firm.