How to Build VC-Relevant Experience Without a VC Job

If you have read the earlier pieces on how VC firms really hire in India, and what they actually look for in early-career candidates, you already know the hard truth: most funds want some proof you can think, act, and deliver like an investor before they ever consider paying you to do it. The good news is that you do not need to have prior analyst experience at Peak XV or Blume to start building exactly those signals - judgment, operator DNA, sourcing muscle, and clear communication can all be developed outside a fund, and in many cases doing so makes you a stronger candidate than someone who has even done an internship in a fund. You can build credible, public, and transferable experience right now.

Here is a realistic, step-by-step playbook that works for CAs, fresh/recent MBAs, startup operators, returning NRIs, and anyone else trying to break in.

1. Write and Publish Investment Memos Publicly (The Fastest Way to Show Judgment) 

The single most powerful thing you can do is write short, high-quality investment memos (1–2 pages) on real startups or sectors and share them openly on LinkedIn, Substack, or a personal site. 

•  Pick 5–10 startups from Tracxn, Crunchbase, or LinkedIn (focus on Series A–B in AI, Deeptech, fintech infra, or consumer). 

• Analyze them like a real investor: market size, unit economics, founder dynamics, competitive positioning, red flags, and your quick yes/no with reasoning. 

• Keep it crisp, logical, and honest. 

Many funds now notice public memos on LinkedIn - a strong one can get you a DM from an associate or a warm intro.

2. Cold Outreach to Founders & Operators (Build Sourcing Muscle & Network) 

Proactive sourcing is a core trait funds want - start practicing it now by reaching out to 25-30 founders or operators with genuine, value-adding comments. 

• Use LinkedIn or X to find founders of early-stage startups in your target sectors. 

• Send short, personalized messages: “Saw your recent funding announcement - congrats. Noticed [specific observation about their model/sector]. Curious if you are thinking about [related trend]. Happy to share a quick note if helpful.” 

• Document these outreaches (anonymized summaries) as part of your public track record.

This builds sourcing proof and often leads to referrals or advisor roles.

3. Take VC-Adjacent Roles at Startups (Build Operator DNA Fast) 

Join a high-growth startup (Series A–C) in product, growth, BD, strategy, finance, or operations for 12–24 months - these roles give you real operator experience that funds crave. 

• Look for companies that work closely with investors (many Series B+ firms have regular VC check-ins). 

• Focus on functions where you talk to customers, ship features, manage small P&Ls, close deals, or fix real problems - these are the exact skills funds want to see. 

• Even fractional or advisory roles count - many CAs are doing this now and landing VC interviews because they have seen actual numbers and helped founders. 

• While there, document decisions and outcomes as mini-memos to share publicly.

4. Join Accelerators, Incubators, or Venture Studios (The Most Practical Bridge to VC)

One of the smartest and most realistic ways to build credible VC-relevant experience right now-especially if you are a returning BBA/MBA graduate, a CA looking for a pivot, a recent startup operator, - is to actively participate in India’s accelerator, incubator, and venture studio ecosystem. These programs hungry for professionals who can add value to their cohorts, and they offer multiple entry points that give you exactly what is needed to get your profile ready for a VC job. Here is how you can realistically “join” without being a founder, ranked from highest leverage (most direct VC path) to lower-commitment starters:

a. Join as a Mentor, Advisor, or Cohort Coach (The Highest-Leverage Role): Most accelerators and incubators (Antler India, Axilor Ventures, India Accelerator, NSRCEL at IIM Bangalore, T-Hub Hyderabad, Venture Center Pune, and many others) actively recruit mentors and advisors to work with their startup cohorts.

 Why this builds VC experience: You get direct exposure to 10–30 early-stage founders, practice sourcing (spotting promising teams), writing (giving crisp feedback/memos), and judgment (evaluating ideas in real time). VC partners frequently attend demo days, mentor sessions, or investor showcases — your name on the mentor list + visible contributions often lead to DMs, coffees, or warm intros.

Bonus: Many mentors get invited to judge pitch events or contribute content, further boosting visibility.

b. Join as a Scout, Analyst-in-Training, or Fellowship Participant: Some accelerators run formal scouting or analyst fellowship programs (paid/stipend or unpaid) where you help source deals, write short evaluations, or support the program’s own investment decisions.

Why this builds VC experience: You get real deal flow, practice writing investment notes, and direct feedback from VCs - many fellows convert to full-time analyst roles or get strong referrals.

c. Join as an Operator-in-Residence, Contributor, or Team Support

Venture studios (e.g., Foundery or similar in-house builders) and some accelerators hire early team members or contributors to help build/run portfolio companies or internal experiments. Roles can be product, growth, BD, strategy, or operations support for cohort startups.

Why this builds VC experience: Hands-on builder experience (ideation, validation, execution) + visibility to VC partners who fund or advise the program. This gives strong operator DNA and often leads to referrals.

d. Start Small: Contribute as a Speaker, Judge, or Workshop Host

If full mentor/scout roles feel out of reach initially, offer to run a workshop, judge a pitch event, or contribute content (e.g., “Global Scaling Lessons from US MBA for Indian Founders”).

Why This Path Works So Well in 2026

Accelerators and incubators are designed to connect talent with opportunity. Once inside, the network effects kick in: founder conversations become sourcing practice, mentor feedback sharpens your writing, demo-day intros become warm referrals, and visibility on mentor lists signals investor mindset to funds scouting these programs.

5. Find Mentors Early & Deliberately (The Multiplier) 

Reach out to 5–10 Indian VC associates or principals on LinkedIn with a short, genuine note: “I’m building experience outside VC and would value 15 minutes of your time to understand what signals actually matter to funds.” 

Many are open to mentoring serious, low-ego candidates - especially if you have shared memos or startup work to show. A mentor can give feedback on your memos, suggest outreach targets, or make an intro when ready.

6. Small Real-World Investing (Optional but Strong Signal) 

If you have some capital (even ₹1–5 lakh pooled with friends), register on LetsVenture, AngelList India, or micro-syndicates and evaluate/start investing in small tickets. 

Even 2–3 real deals (with memos) show sourcing and judgment in practice - funds take this seriously.

7. First Master the Language, Frameworks & Memo-Writing Skills (The Real Prerequisite Before Everything Else Above)

Before publishing memos or reaching out to founders, it’s critical to first understand the language and evaluation frameworks venture capital firms actually use. Many early aspirants rush into outreach or writing without being fluent in concepts like unit economics, capital efficiency, founder–market fit, or how investment memos are structured in practice - which leads to generic analysis and low response rates.

Some candidates choose to build this foundation through structured exposure to VC frameworks and live case work, rather than assembling it informally. Programs like The VC Academy - offered on this site - are designed for this purpose, helping compress the learning curve and making subsequent outreach, accelerator roles, or operator experience far more effective.

The beauty of this playbook is that it is entirely in your control - you do not need permission from a fund to start acting like an investor. Every memo you publish, every founder you outreach, every accelerator session you mentor in, or every startup role you take builds real, transferable evidence that funds can see and trust. Most people who break in today did exactly this: they built the experience first, then let the intros follow.

For the full realistic guide on building a VC career in India (including detailed paths for students, young professionals, and Global Indians), read our complete overview here.