VC is a young person’s game.

More time. More energy. Stronger pulse on what’s next. It’s one of the few industries where being young is actually your edge.

But here’s what most young VCs get wrong: They try to think like their partners instead of developing their own taste.

Chauncey Kerr Hamilton, Partner at XYZ Venture Capital, breaks it all down in episode 048 of New to Venture.

Here’s what I learned:

1️⃣ Time management is everything. If you like poker, host a poker night for your founder friends. If you have kids, take them on your work trip. Feed two birds with one scone. Blend personal and professional. It’s the only way to survive.

2️⃣ Your job as a young VC? Understand what your firm wants AND figure out your own taste in founders/companies, then find a way to marry them together.

3️⃣ Get good at explaining why you’re excited. You’ll need to convince committees, later-stage investors, and LPs. If you can’t articulate your conviction, you won’t close the deal.

4️⃣ Do post-mortems on failed deals. What went wrong? What did you miss? Your blind spots will haunt you if you don’t find them early. 

5️⃣ Winning deals gets easier over time. More people in your corner = more references. Chauncey’s formula: Unvarnished feedback + unwavering support + speed to conviction. Speed IS support.

6️⃣ VCs will never know more than founders about their space. But they know the venture game. What gets funded? What do growth investors look for? What’s changing? A great investor should provide a birds eye view of the startup ecosystem. 

Young VCs have the time, energy, and ability to relate to young founders. Use that to your advantage.

Episode 048 is live. Time to level up.

Timestamps:

(00:00) - Introductions

(01:03) - Chauncey’s path to venture

(04:02) - The Chief of Staff role

(05:26) - Gardening! + Parallels between life and investing

(09:42) - Time management

(11:53) - What changes with tenure?

(15:00) - Developing your taste in companies

(17:35) - Missing out + winning deals

(21:37) - Treating founders well

(24:30) - How Chauncey wins + Providing value

(27:42) - Consensus thinking

(30:52) - Mentoring

(36:43) - Highlights and lowlights

(40:42) - Ceremonial Final Qs