General Partner
A General Partner is a senior leadership position in venture capital firms and investment companies. They make key decisions about where to invest the firm's money, build relationships with startup founders, and help manage the companies they invest in. Think of them as the main decision-makers who both find promising companies to invest in and help those companies grow. They usually have significant experience in either building companies themselves, managing investments, or both. This role is different from other partners (like Limited Partners who only provide money) because General Partners are actively involved in running the firm and making investment decisions.
Examples in Resumes
Served as General Partner at XYZ Ventures, managing $100M investment fund
Led investment decisions as GP for early-stage technology startups
Promoted to General Partner, overseeing portfolio of 20+ companies
Typical job title: "General Partners"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find General Partners
Professional Networks
Industry Events
Job Resources
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How do you evaluate potential investments and what is your investment thesis?
Expected Answer: Should demonstrate clear investment strategy, understanding of market analysis, risk assessment, and ability to explain their specific focus areas and how they identify promising opportunities.
Q: How have you helped portfolio companies beyond just providing capital?
Expected Answer: Should provide specific examples of strategic guidance, networking assistance, recruitment help, and other value-add activities that benefited portfolio companies.
Mid Level Questions
Q: What's your process for conducting due diligence on potential investments?
Expected Answer: Should explain their approach to investigating companies, including financial analysis, market research, team assessment, and competitive analysis.
Q: How do you structure deal terms and negotiate with founders?
Expected Answer: Should demonstrate understanding of term sheets, valuation methods, and ability to create win-win scenarios with entrepreneurs.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What resources do you use to source potential deals?
Expected Answer: Should mention networking events, entrepreneur pitches, accelerators, and other common deal sourcing methods.
Q: How do you stay current with industry trends and developments?
Expected Answer: Should discuss reading industry publications, attending conferences, networking with other VCs, and following market developments.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (3-5 years)
- Deal sourcing and initial screening
- Financial modeling and analysis
- Industry research and market analysis
- Supporting due diligence processes
Mid (5-10 years)
- Leading due diligence processes
- Deal negotiation and structuring
- Portfolio company management
- Building strong founder relationships
Senior (10+ years)
- Fund strategy development
- Limited Partner relationships
- Complex deal negotiations
- High-level portfolio management
Red Flags to Watch For
- No demonstrated track record of successful investments
- Lack of industry network and connections
- Poor understanding of current market trends
- Limited experience in deal structuring and negotiations
Related Terms
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