Coffee Chats: A Quick Guide

Coffee chats are informal conversations (usually 20–30 minutes) with current Hillside Ventures members. They aren’t interviews, but they are a great way to learn about the fund, build connections, and show genuine interest before applying.

To book, click above on your vertical of interest. Read our analysts fun facts, and click on the booking link to be transferred to their Calendly, where you can pick a time to meet with them either in-person or virtually. If one person is not available for you to book with, feel free to book with another. Feel free to have coffee chats with analysts from any of the verticals you're interested in!

What Coffee Chats Are For

• Learning about Hillside’s mission, investment thesis, and culture.
  
  

• Gaining insight into the analyst experience.
  
  

• Asking questions about the application process.
  
  

• Building relationships with current members.
  
  

How to Prepare

1. Do Your Homework
   
   

   • Review verticals of interest.
     
     

   • Know a couple of portfolio companies.
     
     

   • Be able to explain why you’re interested in venture capital and Hillside in particular.
     
     

2. Have Talking Points Ready
   
   

   • Share your story: what brought you to VC, your experiences (finance, entrepreneurship, sustainability, etc.), and your goals.
     
     

   • Prepare questions that show curiosity, such as:
     
     

     • “What skills do you think are most valuable for Hillside analysts?”
       
       

     • “What surprised you about Hillside compared to your expectations?”