I believe that an MBA is still quite valuable in the VC industry. Significant investors usually want a seat on the board of the start-ups in which they invest. Those board members need to have a very broad base of knowledge in order to evaluate and influence the start-ups' strategies, rather than just the ability to do the financial analysis required to determine an appropriate valuation.

That's good to know my MBA will be valued back in the US when I head home in the future. I agree with you about working for an international corp here to leverage my background and MBA. I'm actually currently at Amway Japan and am lucky to have a few interesting projects in the pipeline. Thanks for again for all your advice. You must make a good coach!

Lance

I do think that an MBA is helpful and I know folks have gone or are going back to get MBA's while they wait out the current storm. With respect to VCs, right now there is not a lot of investing. VCs and angels who still have money are waiting on a recovery to start investing again in earnest.

I am not sure what I would advise other than to say that I think you have a solid background. And I think that your best bet may be hooking up with a non japanese company who wants to succeed in Japan and needs talent like yours.

Best regards,

Gerry

I appreciate your viewpoint on Silicon Valley vs. Japan. I suppose the main difference is the size of the payoff if one succeeds as an entrepreneur in Silicon Valley. The amount of VC money appears to be proportional to the payoff as well – I've heard $2M being on the high side here, although I'm not an expert.

Thanks for the advice on the MBA blog, that's a good idea. Do you get a sense that having an MBA means anything to employers in Silicon Valley these days? I considering returning to the Bay Area in a couple of years and wondering about the value of the degree.

Best,
Lance

Great piece and well done! I pretty much agree with most of your points.

That said, I think you experience really is not that much different than being in the U.S. Here in SIlicon Valley, unemployment is at a 10%, perhaps a near record in California. The meltdown has had a wide ranging impact.

While I continue to look for a new gig, I am doing a fair amount of consulting including coaching. I find it psychologically rewarding but it is not yet at the level of paying the bills.

My advice is to continue following your gut and the MBA won't hurt. You may want to even consider doing a blog about the process of gettibng an MBA.

ALl the best,

Gerry