Haas vs. Tuck for Venture Capital VC

Question

Hello All!

I have been fortunate enough to be accepted into 2 amazing MBA programs (Haas and Tuck). I am very into small programs, which is why I chose to apply to the 2. I am looking to transition into Venture Capital in the long-run. I have no banking/consulting/tech experience so I understand that I most likely need to do something relevant to Venture Capital/Tech immediately after post-MBA in order to transition into Venture Capital. However, if I can get into VC immediately after school, that would be preferential.

All that being said, between Tuck and Haas, which of the 2 would provide the best opportunities for VC (either immediately after school or down the line a couple years after school)? I know Haas has a strong presence in Tech, but it seems like the Tuck network is tighter, which is definitely helpful in a hard-to-break-into industry like VC. From my research on the Employment Stats at each of the schools, Tuck seems to place a greater percentage of students into Private Equity (which includes VC), although both numbers are pretty small in the grand scheme of things (5% for Tuck, 2% for Haas).

Also, my location preferences are SF, LA, NYC, and Boston.

Any insights would be helpful! Thanks!

dmarkham28 · Answer

I would go for Haas, the rankings difference is negligible and since you didn't mention money I'm going to assume that's a non-factor as well. However since Haas is near Sand Hill and all the major VC's you're going to have a much better networking opportunities than you would in Hanover. I'm sure Tuck places well, especially on the East Coast, however if VC is your endgame you really can't beat Silicon Valley.

lilb837 · Answer

dmarkham28  - thanks for the reply and congrats on Anderson!

dontquixote · Answer

Tuck. Better school. Better brand. GREAT FANTASTIC alumni base.

VC is really a hard job to get. You need the pre-mba experience. It is not the kind of job you can get without pre-mba experience. The school wont get you the job. So if you are a person who has the background then you can go to either school and get a VC job. But unless you are that person its going to be really hard. Go to the better school.

I bet Hass has better look females and great weather.

HealthcareMBAGuy · Answer

This literally could not be further from the truth.

dontquixote · Answer

This is what Sandy Kreisburg from poets and Quant aka hbsguru thinks about VC jobs. Feel free to disagree. But if you are a fan of or know about the 'handicapping your mba odds' series, the hbs guru thinks so

Posted from my mobile device

Posted from my mobile device

NickPapagiorgio · Answer

I would say these are peer schools although some may disagree, but will definitely give the slight edge to the strength/loyalty of the alumni network to Tuck. Tuck doesn't place much on the west coast besides PE/VC, booths been gaining traction in tech due to their west coast trek. Having most of their west coast alumni in PE/VC may give you an advantage as well as having the Center for PE/Entrepreneurship as a resource. If you had prior relevant experience before this (e.g., banking/consulting/tech), I would of definitely said Tuck, but since you don't, I would think the odds of going straight to VC from either of these schools is going to be slim. Haas has the advantage of getting you any of that experience while keeping you close to the VC firms to strengthen and/or build your network. I love Tuck as a school and am applying there later this year, but Haas is definitely better for your situation.

Cycle14 · Answer

Yes, I'm partial, but the VC and tech connections at Haas are very strong. Through faculty, alumni and program-related elements there are some great opportunities here. I'm in the EMBA program and the access to founders and VC's is deep and frequent.

You're best bet is to talk with current students in the programs to which you've been accepted and get their perspectives.

Good luck and congrats on two great options!

PTK · Answer

Hi  lilb837 
Although I like Tuck a lot, if I were you I would choose Haas. It is in the west coast and VC funds tend to feed on the West coast. 
Haas is tech school. so the logic behind looks like  Haas->West Coast&Tech->VC  which is not the same for Tuck.

lilb837 · Answer

dsb  Very insightful points, thanks!

dontquixote  - Thanks. Your reasons are why I'm leaning towards Tuck. Chances are that I'll have to get a typical VC-feeder career (tech banking, consulting  , or start-up  ) immediately post-MBA to make the logical shift to VC a couple years afterwards. I feel like the strength of the Tuck network in these careers may make up for its location compared to Haas, but I may be wrong. Just by some googling around, it does seem like there's more partners at VC's who are Tuckies vs. VC's who went to Haas, although it seems that a lot of VC's did their undergrad at Haas. Would undergrads of a particular school be willing to help out MBA alums?

PTK  Thanks. I remember seeing you around in the Tuck admit thread, so there's a chance we can be classmates! What about East Coast opportunities? Do you know if Tuck places well for VC-feeder careers (tech banking, start-ups) in the East Coast. I know there's a big VC/start-up community in both Boston and NYC, and I am open to those locations as well.

PTK · Answer

lilb837  
I was denied at Tuck, so it was someone else. 
Yes, there's a big VC/start-up community in both Boston and NYC. But I dont know specifics. About Haas/Tuck I was speaking from general understanding.

heyivy · Answer

In our experience, we've seen the most success in securing a post-MBA position in VC by those students who have done something entrepreneurial during their 2 years in school (and preferably before). VCs are increasingly opting towards former-entrepreneurs/ early employees at startups rather than former "feeders" such as bankers/ consultants.

To that end, we believe Haas, with its proximity to the valley, would provide you with greater exposure and support in finding entrepreneurial opportunities (whether joining a startup or starting something of your own). To better inform your decision, you could use LinkedIn's advanced search capabilities to see which alumni network has a greater presence in VC in the geography of your choice (SV, NYC, etc).

heyivy · Answer

In our experience, we've seen the most success in securing post-MBA positions in VC by those students who have done something entrepreneurial during their 2 years in school (and preferably before). VCs are increasingly opting towards former-entrepreneurs/ early employees at startups rather than former "feeders" such as bankers/ consultants.

To that end, we believe Haas, with its proximity to the valley, would provide you with greater exposure and support in finding entrepreneurial opportunities (whether joining a startup or starting something of your own). To better inform your decision, you could use LinkedIn's advanced search capabilities to see which alumni network has a greater presence in VC in the geography of your choice (SV, NYC, etc).

touchmba · Answer

Hi lilb837,

What a great problem to have - congratulations on getting into 2 great schools.

Have you reached out to current Tuck and Haas students with similar interests? I would try to "reality-test" your assumptions about each school - an insider perspective would probably be best!

Red|L · Answer

Berkeley Haas. This isn't even a close call, tbh.
Its location -- the Mecca of startups and VC -- and its strong alumni in VC, will link you up easily to the right people.

sangana12basava · Answer

Hey Friends,

It was indeed a very insightful thread discussing the better B-school for VC, but although I am into one of the earliest small deep tech fund in India, Would want to know my chances to get into US B-schools?

Haas vs. Tuck for Venture Capital VC

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