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New Delhi: <keyword id="20845764" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Indias-startup-ecosystem" source="keywords">India's startup ecosystem</keyword> experienced a surge in <keyword id="19913965" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="venture-capital" source="keywords">venture capital</keyword> (VC) funding during the first seven months of 2024, raising a total of USD 6.3 billion through 672 deals. This marks a 42.1 per cent year-on-year (YoY) increase in funding value, despite a modest 1.2 per cent rise in deal volume, according to a report by <keyword id="19910824" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="GlobalData" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="GlobalData" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="GlobalData">GlobalData</keyword>. The uptick in funding underscores investor confidence in India's <keyword id="21354516" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="startup-landscape" source="keywords">startup landscape</keyword>, even as global market conditions remain cautious. An analysis of GlobalData's Deals Database reveals that during the same period in 2023, India saw 664 VC deals with a disclosed funding value of USD 4.4 billion. Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Analyst at GlobalData, commented on the findings and said, "The massive jump in funding value, despite a modest 1.2 per cent growth in deal volume, can be attributed to some of the big-ticket deals announced during the review period. This also proves that even though VC investors remain cautious there is no dearth of money for promising startups." Some of the most notable <keyword id="20948843" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="VC-funding" source="keywords">VC funding</keyword> deals in India during January-July 2024 include USD 665 million raised by Zepto, USD 300 million by Meesho, USD 216 million by PharmEasy, USD 150 million by Radiance, USD 148 million by Kogta Financial, and USD 120 million by Rapido. India continues to stand out as a key player in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region for VC funding, trailing only China. It is also among the top five global markets in terms of both VC deal volume and value. During the January-July 2024 period, India accounted for 7 per cent of the total VC deals announced worldwide, while its share of the disclosed funding value was 4.3 per cent. Bose concluded, "Despite global economic uncertainties, India remains a pivotal market for VC activity, driven by a robust pipeline of promising startups that continue to attract significant capital. This trend reinforces India's position as a critical player in the global venture ecosystem, demonstrating resilience and growth even amid cautious investment sentiment."

First 7 months of FY25 see significant surge in VC funding to India's startups: GlobalData

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Neal Mintz beat over 500 applicants to get his dream job at Wischoff Ventures.</li><li>Mintz said that during the hiring process, he offered to set up the firm's payroll for free.</li></ul>This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/nealmintz/">Neal Mintz</a>, 26, a senior associate at Wischoff Ventures. The following has been edited for length and clarity. Business Insider has verified his education and employment history.I have wanted to pursue a career in the venture capital ecosystem since I was in college.While pursuing my bachelor's degree at Washington University's Olin Business School, I spent two summers living and working in Tel Aviv, which has an incredible startup ecosystem.It was difficult to break into venture capital straight out of college. Instead, I started my career in consulting with Ernst &amp; Young, where I spent two years in their digital strategy consulting practice.At EY, I worked with clients that included Fortune 500 companies. I did everything I could to align my interests with my work, but I recognized that it would be harder to jump into an investing role as I became more senior.That was when I knew that I really needed to start looking elsewhere.After EY, I landed a role at a venture studio working with start-ups. That was where I learned how to perform due diligence on early-stage business opportunities.I then moved on to Ground Up Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm. I was the only employee there besides the fund's four partners, so I had to learn quickly on the job.After nearly two years at Ground Up Ventures, I wanted to try working at another fund to see if there was room for upward mobility.That's how I ended up at my current job at Wischoff Ventures, a firm started by a woman whose work I admired — Nichole Wischoff.<h2 id="915a9294-61f5-4d9f-ad32-d1378e4b0470">I went through three weeks of interviews and pulled out all the stops</h2><div type="image" title="Nichole Wischoff and Neal Mintz sitting on a sofa." height="3610" width="4284" msid="114100622" hostid="261" sizebytes="487094"></div>I wanted to work for Nichole because I knew that as the fund's first full-time hire, I would have the opportunity to work with her directly and learn the ropes.The competition for the role was intense, and Nichole said I'd beaten over 500 candidates to get hired.The interview process took about three weeks, including three one-hour calls and an in-person meeting. In addition to the interviews, Nichole also asked me to weigh in on some due diligence opportunities and startup investments.Throughout the process, I did everything I could to show Nichole I knew how to do this job and that she wouldn't need to handhold me.At one point, Nichole mentioned she would need to set up a payroll provider for her first hire. Even though we were still in the interview process then, I offered to do it for her for free.<h2 id="7157d802-6f42-4e22-a400-78ccc7ae1135">People think I'm a try-hard, but that's just what it takes</h2>Some people have criticized my approach to securing the job at Wischoff Ventures.I recognize that the prospect of putting in so much effort to get a job may be discouraging. But we must remember that venture capital is an extremely competitive industry. The interview process is indicative of what working in venture capital is really like.If you want to succeed as a junior investor, you'll get a lot of rejections from founders all the time. If you want to thrive, you have to think creatively about how to get in front of founders. On top of that, you have to do your due diligence and research if you want to land a deal.Even after spending dozens of hours with a prospect, you could still get rejected, but that's just how deals work. So, for better or for worse, there are just so few roles within this industry. And you will have to go above and beyond if you want to make a mark.I offered to set up payroll for Nichole because I wanted her to know I was willing to do whatever it took. So whether it's implementing a customer relationship management system or planning happy hours — I'm all in.Breaking into venture capital is a long game. It took five years of my career to get in the door. But while the journey may sound intimidating, it's attainable for anyone who's excited and committed to what they're doing.

I landed my dream job at a VC fund after I offered to set up payroll for free. People called me a try-hard but that's just what it takes.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Landing a job in venture capital is notoriously difficult because it's so competitive.</li><li>Emma Halls, a Stem7 Executive Search recruiter, shares what VC firms are looking for in candidates.</li></ul>This as-told-to essay is based on a transcribed conversation with Emma Halls, a director at Stem7 Executive Search, a recruitment firm for the financial services industry. Business Insider has verified her employment. The following has been edited for length and clarity.Venture capital is one of the hardest sectors to get into because it's so competitive.As a recruiter for Stem7 Executive Search, I specialize in placing candidates in venture capital and private equity, particularly in early-stage investment firms. We work with VC firms in London, Palo Alto, Paris, Berlin, Stockholm, Munich, and New York. For junior roles, our clients prefer candidates with a background in <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cfa-exam-age-dropping-more-college-students-finance-internships-resume-2024-7">investment banking</a> or management <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/consulting-firms-mckinsey-bcg-accenture-workers-leaving-2024-9">consulting</a>. But that alone is not enough to land a job in VC. It's beneficial if someone has work experience in technology or startups. But they're also looking for candidates whose CVs show they're actually passionate about the whole VC ecosystem. It's not enough to just say you're passionate on your CV — you need to showcase this through your experience.<h2 id="a5921397-b7d7-4bbe-9074-237fd5ad561f">VC firms look for networkers and disruptors </h2>This could be through their education; candidates might have done a science or engineering degree and shown they're curious about how things work. It could be through starting an initiative themselves, such as a university society, or building an app with friends. This shows VC firms that the candidates were always doing things that created some kind of disruption.One thing we tell candidates is that they're entering a highly-networked industry. VC firms want to know if applicants have been able to network themselves into some kind of startup role or internship. Have they reached out to people in the ecosystem to build contacts? Have they entered any competitions at university related to startups or business? These things will show a venture capital fund that's hiring that this person's got something extra about them.A key quality our clients look for is the ability to build interpersonal relationships. Have applicants been able to communicate with people and build relationships? Not just talk to people but actually build relationships, which means keeping in touch with that person consistently. The other trait they look out for is emotional intelligence, which comes out more in interviews.<h2 id="f0c2a601-5e0a-49bc-b1ec-c129ec13c50f">Nailing the interview</h2>Before candidates get to the interview stage, they need to look at what this specific fund does and the industries it operates in. What areas and companies are these particular venture capital funds investing in? What stage of investment are they looking at?There's no point applying to a biotech firm and saying they're really interested in AI. Usually, the process would be that if they get to the interview stage, they will then be asked to talk through their background. They'd be asked questions like, "If you were going to invest in any market at the moment, what would that be?"<div type="image" title="Emma Halls" height="750" width="1050" msid="115087248" hostid="261" sizebytes="18462"></div>There are some hot markets out there that our clients are quite interested in candidates having experience in. This includes, but is not limited to, artificial intelligence, biotech and healthtech, climate tech, and financial services.So, if candidates come to an interview, the person interviewing them will want to know, "What are the investments that we do within our portfolio? Which one do they like? Which one would they invest in and why? Which one would they back to do really well?" They want to know that the candidate has done a lot of research on their portfolio before they go into the firm.<h2 id="ccde81f1-f933-4a62-88f8-e954c7eb9dac">Candidates without a finance background can stand out</h2>Over the last five years, we've seen <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/landed-vc-job-varied-resume-diverse-experience-resume-2024-8">many different routes</a> into venture capital. People have networked in these areas, and we would advise candidates to absorb all the information available to them via podcasts and social media. That will help candidates learn more about the areas, but they will also know themselves if they have that real passion and curiosity that will set them apart.Also, for more niche funds, such as biotech and health, we've seen doctors and people with a background in life sciences apply to those areas.<h2 id="82da002c-bffb-4e45-97b3-8250d61f3968">Share what podcasts you listen to </h2>One of the common mistakes candidates make is not listing enough on their CV about all the things they have done that make them stand out. They should ensure they've listed everything they've done at university, what they're doing outside work, all the research they've done, and even what podcasts they listen to.Candidates often forget they need to showcase why they think they will be good for the firm. So rather than saying, "I want to have a chance to come and join your firm because your firm is really exciting," what they should be writing about is, "I would really like to have the opportunity to interview with you because I think I could contribute in these ways."<h2 id="3dc1814e-9702-4ae3-8680-af360d213601">Avoid lengthy cover letters </h2>Often, a candidate might write a very, very long cover letter, and essentially, that is not needed. They might trip themselves up unknowingly. Our advice for candidates is that it's fine to write a few sentences on why specifically they would like to join that organization and why they really like the company's portfolio. They should outline why they feel that the skills they have are in line with what the company looks for at that level.If I look at why our candidates get turned down from actual interviews, it's often because they don't exemplify that they have certain soft skills. Can they communicate? It's very easy for candidates to be consumed by their phones instead of talking to people face to face — which will come out in interviews if they don't have those coveted communication skills.

I recruit for VC firms. Soft skills and podcasts can help candidates stand out in a competitive field.    

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Nichole Wischoff screened over 500 applications before making her first hire for her VC fund.</li><li>Wischoff ended up hiring Neal Mintz, a 26-year-old who impressed her with his enthusiasm and drive.</li></ul>This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholewischoff/">Nichole Wischoff</a>, 34, founder of Wischoff Ventures. The following has been edited for length and clarity. Business Insider previously published an essay about her first recruit at Wischoff Ventures, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/landed-dream-job-vc-after-offering-set-up-payroll-free-2024-10">Neal Mintz,</a> and his hiring experience.Venture capital is a hard industry to get a job in.If you don't have rich parents or people that come from the industry to refer you, it's very hard for you to find an in.I didn't come from the industry. I spent most of my career working at startups and had to brute-force my way to starting Wischoff Ventures from scratch.My path into venture capital has colored my approach toward recruiting. I wanted to find hires like myself — those who might not have gone to Stanford or had some flashy names on their CVs but are willing to outwork any of those people.<h2 id="342a1dae-a9ed-4ec9-aabb-26075a697992">Screening through 500 applications to find the perfect hire</h2>I started recruiting for my fund's first full-time hire earlier this year. I posted the position on LinkedIn and X and got over 500 applications.Although it seemed a lot, it wasn't difficult to filter down the numbers. For one, 30% of the applications were rejected because I needed someone based in San Francisco or New York. Those applicants were either not living there or didn't intend to move there.Another 30% of the applications mainly came from people working in investment banking.While those candidates did have a deep background in finance, they weren't quite what I was looking for. Understanding ventures, especially early-stage ones, is very different from what they did in banking.Another 20% of applicants were dropped because their documents contained spelling mistakes.Some candidates even spelled my name wrongly, which bothered me. If your job is to source deals and you can't even get your prospect's name right, you won't hear back from them.I ended up taking calls with about 25 candidates at the end.One candidate that struck out to me, who I would later end up hiring, was Neal Mintz.Neal was just so determined to get this job.<h2 id="03e563be-6052-4de0-ac1d-dfae52e2499d">Neal pretty much hired himself</h2><div type="image" title="Nichole Wischoff and Neal Mintz sitting on a sofa." height="3610" width="4284" msid="114297958" hostid="261" sizebytes="487094"></div>I interviewed Neal over three weeks. We had three calls before meeting in person. In addition to walking him through the job, I also brought him along to a founder pitch and got him to share his assessment with me after the meeting.What impressed me about Neal was how well-prepared he was. During our calls, I learned that Neal already knew a lot about my portfolio, whether it be the companies I've invested in or the areas I was excited about. He had detailed questions about specific companies.At one point, I mentioned that I would have to set up a payroll system since I'd been operating the fund solo. Neal offered to help do it for free, showing just how much of a hustler he was.You could say that Neal pretty much hired himself because he was really aggressive, in a good way, about landing the job.<h2 id="dcf0033e-b949-497d-b045-3deb20647c16">I'm looking for people who are willing to run through walls</h2>If you want to pursue a career in venture capital, you've got to be determined. Don't quit, and don't take no for an answer.Whether it be applying for a job or sourcing for a deal, you have to come in over-prepared for your meetings if you even want to stand a chance.I want to look for people who are willing to run through walls every day on the job.Of course, I won't ever ask you to clean a bathroom, but I need to know that you'd be willing to do it if I asked.I don't care if you're joining as my chief of staff or as a general partner, you have to be okay to roll up your sleeves and get things done. I want to hire people who won't quit, won't give up, and are determined to get things done, no matter what.

I'm a VC, and I hired my first staff after he offered to set up payroll for free. He showed me just how far people are willing to go for a VC job.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Ben Horowitz, A16z cofounder, said in July that he plans to support former President Donald Trump's campaign.</li><li>An email to A16z employees now reveals that he plans to donate to Vice President Kamala Harris.</li></ul><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/startups-little-tech-us-global-leadership-marc-andreessen-ben-horowitz-2024-7">Ben Horowitz</a>, the erudite cofounder of venture capital firm A16z, sent an email to staff that he is planning to donate to support the Harris-Walz campaign, Business Insider has confirmed.The email, which was first reported on by Axios, came as a surprise given Horowitz had already donated to support former President Donald Trump less than three months ago.In the Friday email, Horowitz wrote that he and his wife, Felicia, have known Vice President Kamala Harris for over 10 years and that "she has been a great friend to both of us during that time.""As a result of our friendship, Felicia and I will be making a significant donation to entities who support the Harris Walz campaign," the email said.Horowitz stopped short of saying he would endorse or vote for the Democratic presidential nominee.The couple wants to establish a working relationship with both candidates in the final days of one of the closest presidential races of the century, according to a person familiar with Ben and Felicia Horowitz's thinking.On July 16, just days before President Joe Biden dropped out of the race, Horowitz and his close business partner Marc Andreessen said in their podcast that Trump would better support <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/startups-little-tech-us-global-leadership-marc-andreessen-ben-horowitz-2024-7">emerging technology companies and startups</a>."The future of our business, the future of technology, new technology, and the future of America is literally at stake," Horowitz said on the podcast. "So here we are. For little tech, we think Donald Trump is actually the right choice."Although Horowitz wrote in the email to A16z employees that he'll be donating to entities supporting the Harris-Walz campaign, the venture capitalist noted that he has yet to hear what the campaign's tech policies will be."Although I have had several conversations with Vice President Harris and her team on their likely tech policies and am encouraged by my belief in her, they have not yet stated what their tech policy will be, so the firm will not be updating its position in that regard," he wrote in the email.Read the email below:

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First 7 months of FY25 see significant surge in VC funding to India's startups: GlobalData

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I landed my dream job at a VC fund after I offered to set up payroll for free. People called me a try-hard but that's just what it takes.

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I recruit for VC firms. Soft skills and podcasts can help candidates stand out in a competitive field.

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I'm a VC, and I hired my first staff after he offered to set up payroll for free. He showed me just how far people are willing to go for a VC job.

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VC power player Ben Horowitz says he'll donate to Kamala Harris. Read the memo.

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