Breaking into VC & Entrepreneurship: Insider Tips from the Venture Summit
The Venture Summit at Ross School of Business brought together leading VCs and LPs, featuring Bill Gurley from Benchmark Capital, to share insights on the current trends in venture capital. Here are some key takeaways that stuck with me and can help you on your journey into VC or entrepreneurship.
Watch the video on my YouTube channel for more highlights from the event!
Hey everyone! As I gear up to officially launch Inspiring Brands—my blog and podcast where industry experts and leaders share their insights and stories on business, entrepreneurship, and innovation—I wanted to reflect on an incredible experience I had at the Venture Summit. Hosted by Roger Ehrenberg (Managing Partner at Eberg Capital), Latif Peracha (General Partner at M13), and the Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital Club at the Ross School of Business, University of Michigan, this event was packed with valuable insights from successful entrepreneurs, investors, and peers. (Thank you all for your kindness and for sharing your advice!)
Here are a few key takeaways that resonated with me and can help you on your entrepreneurial journey:
Perseverance and determination are key to success as an entrepreneur
A recurring theme at the summit was how essential passion and perseverance are to entrepreneurial success. If you want to make it, you need to really want it. It’s not just about working hard; it’s about constantly learning, adapting, and staying committed, even when things get tough. What separates successful entrepreneurs from the rest is that drive to keep going when others would give up.Build Your Network (It’s more important than you think)
The relationships you build now, whether through your work projects, clubs, or networking events, could open doors for you down the road. Start making meaningful connections early on, help others by providing value, and don’t hesitate to reach out to like-minded people who can support your goals.Genuine connections and networking are essential
We discussed the importance of adding value to your network without expecting anything in return. When you focus on building genuine, give-first relationships, you create lifelong connections that are far more meaningful. And here’s another tip: when it comes to networking, quality beats quantity. Instead of trying to gather as many LinkedIn connections as possible, focus on really getting to know people, following up, and investing in those relationships. Those deeper connections will be worth so much more.Dare to take the leap and think outside of the box (Innovation requires bold moves)
Paula Volent nailed it when she said, “You can’t generate returns without taking risks.” The most successful entrepreneurs and VCs aren’t afraid to take risks and try unconventional ideas. Innovation matters, so don’t hesitate to make bold decisions and think differently.Embrace failure as part of the process
Launching a startup or pursuing a career in VC? Make sure it’s something you’re passionate about. The process will be challenging, but it will also be rewarding. High risks = high rewards. However, you need to identify your audience, get feedback, and be ready to adapt. It’s calculated risks that are worth your time and effort. Failure will happen, but it’s all part of the learning process. Every failure is just another opportunity to iterate, improve, and move closer to success.
Final Thoughts
The Venture Summit was packed with powerful insights on what it takes to thrive in entrepreneurship and venture capital: dedication, perseverance, and building meaningful relationships with like-minded professionals.
As I launch Inspiring Brands, I’m excited to take these insights with me and share even more experiences with all of you here.
Now, I'd love to hear from you! Have any of these tips resonated with your own entrepreneurial journey? Share your thoughts in the comments section on the Instagram post or let’s continue the conversation over on LinkedIn!
Credits
A huge thank you to all the guest speakers at the event and the organizers (especially those who share your thoughts in my YouTube video)
Special thanks to:
Andrew Haeger - Co-president at Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital Club and the rest of the team at EVC.
EVC is comprised of graduate University of Michigan students that are dedicated to furthering their educational and professional goals as prospective entrepreneurs, intrapreneurs, and investors in the startup ecosystem.Bill Gurley - General Partner at Benchmark Capital
Benchmark is an early-stage venture capital firm based in San Francisco and Woodside investing in and working alongside entrepreneurs building startups into transformational companies. They focus on early-stage venture investing in consumer, marketplaces, open-source, AI, infrastructure and enterprise software.Roger Ehrenberg - Managing Partner at Eberg Capital
Eberg Capital is a leading sports-focused venture capital firm helping creators and their fans develop closer, more authentic relationships across sports, gaming, the arts, and beyond.Erik Sebusch - Partner, Global Strategy Leader Venture Capital and Growth Equity at Mercer
Mercer helps their clients realize their investment objectives, shape the future of work, and enhance health and retirement outcomes for their people.Paula Volent - Chief Investment Officer at The Rockefeller University
The Rockefeller University is the world’s leading biomedical research university, drawing top scientists and graduate students from around the world in pursuit of one mission: to conduct science for the benefit of humanity.Latif Peracha - General Partner at M13
M13 is an early-stage (seed and Series A) venture capital firm that invests in visionary founders building disruptive software businesses. They invest in enabling technology—such as AI and web3—that powers the future of work, health, commerce, and money. M13's portfolio includes 200+ direct investments, with 25 exits to date.Atul Rustgi - Managing Partner at Accolade Partners
Accolade Partners is an alternative investment firm specializing in technology and healthcare-focused venture capital and growth equity fund investments.Craig Thomas - Managing Director on the Private Equity team at UTIMCO
UTIMCO is a not-for-profit corporation modeled after investment management companies organized by Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, and Duke Universities to invest their respective assets. It was the first investment corporation formed by a public university system.
Inspiring Brands is a blog and podcast about business, entrepreneurship, and innovation, where industry experts and leaders share their experiences, insights, and stories.
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