Welcome to Learning VC💡! I’m Luis Llorens and I write monthly about venture capital and my personal experiences as an investor. Subscribe to receive new posts and support my work:

Summary

❇️ 5 Proven Ways to Stand Out
❇️ Venture Resources
❇️ Curated dealflow
❇️ List of VC Events in Europe
❇️ Top 5 VCs by Country

Venture capital is a desirable and competitive industry to break into, with limited roles, high demand, and a strong emphasis on relationships. It’s essential to understand what VCs look for, build relevant knowledge, and stay close to the ecosystem.

❇️ 5 Proven Ways to Stand Out

You don’t need a Harvard MBA or a McKinsey badge. You need proof that you think and act like an investor.

🔹Start Building a Personal Portfolio

Start investing however you can:

• Angel Investing.

• Syndicates (e.g. AngelList, Odin, etc.).

• Crowdfunding platforms (e.g. Crowdcube, Dozen, etc.).

• Write public investment theses & “mock portfolios”.

This proves pattern recognition, conviction, and initiative. Show you’re already acting like a VC.

🔹Send Monthly Dealflow to VCs

Choose partners at firms you admire and want to work with. Every month, email them 1-2 startups they should meet. Keep it simple:

• A 1-liner on why the startup is interesting.

• How it matches their thesis. Study their portfolio and learn their style.

After 2 or 3 months, they’ll know your name and your judgment. They'll start replying to your messages and keep you top of mind in case they're hiring.

🔹Help Partners Fundraise

Most people forget this: GPs struggle with LP fundraising. If you can:

• Introduce warm LPs.

• Recommend useful lists or materials for fundraising (Family Offices, Fund of Funds, etc.).

You’ll instantly stand out.

🔹Build a Network

Venture is a relationship business. Attend events. DM people. Stay visible, helpful, and curious:

• Source startups.

• Share insights.

• Analyze trends.

• Support VCs work.

🔹 Launch Something Yourself

VCs love builders. It doesn’t have to be big. Build a community, launch a newsletter, help a founder. Anything that shows you know how to operate will set you apart from the others.

Action > polish. Doers stand out.

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❇️ Venture Resources

No fluff. Just the ones that shaped my mindset.

📚 Books

• Angel by Jason Calacanis - Makes you want to start writing checks.

• Venture Deals by Brad Feld & Jason Mendelson - Must-know mechanics.

• The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz - Honest insights into founder struggles.

• Zero to One by Peter Thiel – Think like a contrarian investor.

• Secrets of Sand Hill Road: VC and how to get it by Scott Kupor - Clear view into how VCs operate.

• Biographies: Steve Jobs / Elon Musk / Phil Knight - Founder stories that stick.

🎙 Podcasts

• 20VC.

• BG2.

• Acquired.

• a16z Podcast.

• Invest Like the Best.

• The Diary of a CEO.

• Itnig (Spanish).

• Other cool podcasts.

🎙 Substack/ Newsletters

• Ruben Dominguez Ibar, Andre Retterath, David Cruz e Silva 🎙, EUVC, Jannis Hake, Hugo Rauch, Samir Kaji - VC resources.

• Chris Tottman, Burak Buyukdemir - Founder resources.

• Ivan Landabaso. Aris Xenofontos, Michael Spencer, Devansh - AI.

• Ben Lang - Startup lists.

• Mario Gabriele - Industry reports.

• Guillermo Flor, Kyle Poyar, Jeroen Coelen - SaaS GTM & PMF.

• Jaime Novoa - Spanish ecosystem.

• Extended list of top Newsletters on Ivan’s post.

🧠 Other Must-Reads

• Investment Memos.

• Silicon Valley (the show).

• Curated list of open VC Jobs.

❇️ Curated Dealflow

You'll find a list of 500+ startups from around the world that are currently fundraising. Dealflow you can share directly with the VCs you admire...