The technology boom has exploded in venture capital, with the likes of Lyft, Uber and Snapchat poised to provide their backers with a fat payday at the exit door.For those hoping to break into venture capital, fintech, cyber security, and the internet of things are among the hottest areas to work in, according to industry experts and VCs contacted by BusinessBecause.
Tech has been among the biggest beneficiaries of the venture capital industry’s recent prosperity, with the number of tech-focused funds surging, such as the €350 million fund recently launched by Lakestar, a firm whose founder was an early backer of Skype and Facebook.
Amid the boom times, sub-sectors have emerged that have drawn increasing amounts of cash from some of the world’s top venture capital firms.
“Fintech, edtech and to a lesser extent, IoT, are where I hear the most chatter,” says Rhonda Shrader, director of entrepreneurship for University of California, Berkeley’s Haas School of Business.
An Accenture study said recently that fintech investment in the Asia Pacific region alone had quadrupled last year, reaching nearly $3.5 billion, led by areas such as payments, the bitcoin blockchain and the cloud. Global fintech investment hit $12.2 billion in 2014.
Examples include Funding Circle, the peer-to-peer lender which raised £97 million from investors including BlackRock and Temasek, and machine learning start-up Sift Science, which raised $23 million from backers such as Y Combinator, the prestigious Silicon Valley fund.
“There are a lot of opportunities in my marketplace to build global businesses,” says Dylan Pearce, a principal at Greycroft Partners in the US, who earned an MBA at Pennsylvania’s Wharton School.
He started his career in investment banking, transitioned to private equity with a focus on tech, and now works with internet companies that Greycroft has backed, such as Yeahka, a Chinese mobile payment service provider.
He illustrates the increasing number of MBA students flocking to venture capital, where the risks are high but pay is lucrative.
“Student interest is representative of the major themes you see in venture investing today — cyber security, employee/consumer engagement solutions, and fintech are some examples,” says Todd Carson, senior associate director for Wharton MBA Career Management.
Cyber security in particular has blossomed, with venture-backed cyber security companies raising a record $1.9 billion in 2014, according to Dow Jones VentureSource.
CrowdStrike for instance, a California-based cyber company, raised $100 million in a round led by Google Capital; Checkmarx, a leader in software application security, raised $84 million from Insight Venture Partners.
Tom Sabel, associate director for the Career Management Center at Stanford Graduate School of Business, says MBA students are savvy: “They’re trying to think about where the wave of next technologies are going to come from.”
Consumer services has blossomed, led by Uber, whose latest funding round, a hearty $1 billion that valued it at $50 billion, or Airbnb, which raised $1.5 billion in the summer at a valation of $25.5 billion. But Tom says the sector is saturated. “It’s harder to pick winners going forward,” he says.
For Jason Heltzer, a Chicago Booth MBA and partner at Origin Ventures, the consumer services segment has been fruitful. The firm was among the first investors in Grubhub, the online food takeaway business, whose $192 million IPO in 2014 would have made its investors a pretty penny.
“Your job as a VC is to produce returns for your investors,” he says.
Ben Thomason at the Career Management Center at Duke’s Fuqua School of Business, however, warns that it takes time to turn risk into reward: “It is important for students to evaluate their intrinsic motivations to pursue this space, because while there have been strong capital investment inflows of late, we all know that can dry up again,” he says.
Student Reviews
Duke University Fuqua School of Business
Supportive atmosphere
The professors at Duke university exhibit exceptional commitment to the success and well-being of their students by ensuring their academic growth and fostering a supportive social atmosphere. Moreover, the entire community is recognized for its amicability and inclusiveness.
Diversity
The people or the students are without a doubt Duke's greatest asset. While all students are driven to succeed, they are also enthusiastic about a variety of hobbies. You run across a huge lot of diversity. It is the ideal example of a school with well-rounded students and the ideal balance of campus life in a metropolis.
Happy to school
All I could ever hope for is Duke University. That really epitomizes the "work hard, play hard" philosophy that elite colleges frequently pursue. Even though you'll have a lot of schooling to complete over the week, it's simple to keep focused because all of your friends are putting in similar amounts of effort. Many events taking place on and around campus on the weekends provide a great way to unwind. The combination of demanding academics and traditional college fun strikes the perfect balance.
Good schooling
Living, eating, learning, and developing who you want to be as an adult are all fantastic at Duke. I participated in student athletics, and I couldn't have asked for a better interaction with the faculty and other students. I appreciate all of the help I get from the Duke community more than anything. Furthermore, the teachers take the time to get to know you, and the lectures are diverse and demanding (if you do the same). I'd give it a 10 out of 10.
Beautiful School, Nice Classes
DU remains one the greatest and best universities that I have ever stepped in. The school is beautiful and neat. The classes are spacious and also very nice. I enjoyed attending my Lectures in those lecture halls. I also loved the Lecturers because of the good work they did. The university also has very good dorms that are given to students on first come first serve basis and they are affordable
Amazing experience
I received my B.S. in Biology and B.A. in Global Health with a minor in Chemistry from Duke University. I was able to grow as a student, scientist, and global health advocate with the help of my friends, professors, and other mentors I met along the way. A lot to learn if you look and ask, a great place to learn for those who want to learn.
whirlwind of growth and change
An amazing 2 years, with covid and everything else happening Duke has been a place of growth for me. The courses , classes were one of a kind, online and on campus. But the valuable lessons learned in the classes are irreplicable. The students are amazing here, so much diversity , I had no problem fitting in. The teachers are down right brilliant and so helpful. Don't be afraid to ask them anything. Graduated with my MBA with Duke and now my future awaits.
One of the best for Business students
Graduated with an MBA. The classes were very insightful and engaging. The staff are very easy to deal with. The teachers and students, are truly amazing people. Grateful to all the people I've met along the way at Duke. I've learnt a great deal that will help me in my future endeavors. The campus itself is a marvel, it is beautiful.
The university campus is awesome
I graduated with a masters degree in Religious Studies from Duke University. One thing I really liked about the university is its huge campus. It is spread in a large area with a lot of greenery and also have the facilities of reading rooms for single person also. My department building was very well taken care of. The library is immensely populated with books for all your needs. The faculty is very nice to students. The classes are equipped with latest technology to cater the needs of students. The University also provides room rentals for international students. They are very well maintained and priority is given to the International students for a comfortable stay there. There are weekly events conducted by the University as well as Student clubs for the entertainment of students. Anybody can take part in them and show their talents. I enjoyed my degree and I graduated in 2021 and was very happy that I had graduated from a reputed University.
Program Flexibility and Vibrant Campus Life
Duke University is renowned for its rigorous academic programs and vibrant campus life. The university offers a diverse range of majors and research opportunities, supported by world-class faculty.
What I particularly liked about Duke was its strong sense of community and the wealth of extracurricular activities available to students. The campus is beautiful, with top-notch facilities and a supportive atmosphere that fosters both personal and academic growth.
Overall, I would highly recommend Duke University for its excellent educational offerings and strong alumni network. If you're looking for a place that challenges you academically while offering numerous opportunities for personal development, Duke is an excellent choice.
