The VC industry isn’t a monolith, observes Lightspeed Venture Partners founding partner Ravi Mhatre. If you want to pursue a career in venture capital, he advises, it’s important to talk to people from across the spectrum, from angel investors to sector-specific firms to global firms that invest across many industries. He adds that working with founders to build companies isn’t about immediate payoff, and that the VC businesses is best suited to people who are comfortable taking risks but can also be patient and take a long view.

Instead of focusing on competitors, focus on solving customer problems and making users happy.

Instead of focusing on competitors, focus on solving customer problems and making users happy.

Instead of focusing on competitors, focus on solving customer problems and making users happy.

Instead of focusing on competitors, focus on solving customer problems and making users happy.

Instead of focusing on competitors, focus on solving customer problems and making users happy.

Unlock a massive opportunity by aligning the needs of multiple stakeholders.

Unlock a massive opportunity by aligning the needs of multiple stakeholders.

Unlock a massive opportunity by aligning the needs of multiple stakeholders.

Unlock a massive opportunity by aligning the needs of multiple stakeholders.

Build a network based on affinity, not strategy.

Build a network based on affinity, not strategy.

Build a network based on affinity, not strategy.

Unicorns aren’t random occurrences. In fact, truly massive tech companies share some very similar DNA.

Unicorns aren’t random occurrences. In fact, truly massive tech companies share some very similar DNA.

Unicorns aren’t random occurrences. In fact, truly massive tech companies share some very similar DNA.