I am a student in Canada studying business technology at a not so prestigious school and I have recently realized how much of what I have been doing overlaps with private equity.
Quick backstory. I was 70k in debt, scraped together my last 10k, and used it to buy a failing business. I managed to turn it around and today it is valued at over 250k and bringing in cash flow ($7-9k per month). Since then my father and I have been actively looking at acquiring and flipping digital holdings like YouTube channels, SaaS products, websites, and similar online assets. At the time I did not know it but this is basically the same model as private equity just on a smaller scale.
Now I am at a crossroads. I want to learn more and specifically by interning or working in private equity. So I have options:
-
Should I try to break into private equity through the traditional route with
internships and analyst roles at large firms -
Or should I lean into my track record and try to build my own practice continuing to acquire and flip digital assets (I plan on doing this regardless but working while im young can teach me alot)
Is there a path where both can intersect where I leverage my deal experience to get in at a firm
I would love to hear from people who work in the industry. Is my non traditional background an advantage or a disadvantage if I want to enter private equity, Should I be doubling down on what I am already doing and focus on scaling it or should I attempt to pivot into the big firms even without a target school background
Any advice or perspective would mean a lot.
Flipped a failing business into $250k+ while in debt, advice on breaking into private equity?
byu/Old_Assumption2188 inEntrepreneur
Posted by Old_Assumption2188
2 Comments
Good for you and your success so far. Having been a director for a family office, GP for VC, and running my own funds, I see you having three paths:
1. Keep doing what you’re doing until you get PE wanting to invest in you.
2. Approach the PE firms in your area and ask if you can bring them deal flow for a carry (commission).
3. Network your way and offer to intern.
Unfortunately, you don’t have enough experience for a job yet. But then again, if you keep repeating what you’re doing now, why go get a job in PE? Not sure if you researched it but it’s not fun when you’re starting at the bottom at all.
From someone who works in finance, continue to work on your craft, sounds like you and your pops have a good thing going. Build a nice two-three mill cushion and do your own thing. Trust me you’ll be much happier and much better off just doing your own thing.
Second route if you can automate your businesses and still want to do PE go for it, you will learn things that you can later take to your businesses and grow them.