Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Answers to the most commonly asked questions.
General Questions
Q: What is VCOMA?
A: The Venture Capital Office Managers Association
Q: When was VCOMA founded?
A: VCOMA was founded August 15, 2005
Membership Questions
Q: Who can become a VCOMA member?
A: See "Who are We?" section for detailed explaintion of who qualifies for membership. You must also be responsible for at least two of the areas of focus listed to qualify.
Q: What industies do members belong to?
A: Members work for Venture Capital, Private Equity, Fund of Funds, Investment Banking, Hedge Funds, Wealth Management, and equivalent firms.
Q: What if more than one person from my firm wants to join? Is membership by company or by person?
A: VCOMA currently offers an Individual membership and a Firm membership.
- Individual membership is for one person only. However, the members' firm receives benefits from the many discounts it can utilize through the member as long as the member works at that firm. If the individual leaves the firm, they take the membership and it's benefits with them.
- Firm membership is for companies wanting to add 3 - 10 members per location. Firm membership means that the firm decides who will be assigned to membership and can change assigned members at any time. This ensures that the discounts and other benefits of membership stay with the firm even as employees come and go.
Q: What happens to my membership if I leave my firm?
A: If you have an Individual membership, you retain the membership for the twelve month period until it expires. If you move on to another qualifying firm, you may update your information, move the discounts to your new firm, and renew it when it expires. If your membership was part of a Firm membership or paid with a company check, the membership would stay with them and roll to the person who replaces you.
Q: Why would I want to retain my memberhsip if I no longer work at my firm?
A: If you are looking for a new position in Venture Capital, you can still post your resume on the VCOMA jobs board at no charge. Addtionally, there are many benefits to membership such as spa drawings, an email list serve, and dozens of pages of content which you may still utilize during the remainder of your membership.
Q: What do I get for the annual membership fee?
A: See the "Membership" section for a complete list of benefits. Most members say they make back their membership fee within a matter of weeks due to the many discounts membership offers its members and their firms.
Q: Is this just a networking group?
A: Not at all, however that is a huge benefit to membership. Membership benefits include discounts, salary surveys, a jobs board, recommended vendor lists, drawings, events, and dozens of pages of content on your areas of focus (see the "Site Directory" for a full list of content on the public and members only area of the website.
Q: Where are meetings and events held?
A: Currently there are meetings and events being held in the Northern California Bay Area, Boston, New York, and Chicago. However, as membership grows in other geographic areas, events will be added there as well.
Q: What positions does the salary survey cover?
A: Office Manager, Executive Assistants, Administrative Assistants, and Receptionists. The surveys are ongoing and updated monthly. We also provide compensation reports for other positions in the industry.
Q: How do the discounts work with the corporate vendors?
A: They each work a little bit differently, but basically members get the best pricing they have to offer ("volume" pricing) regardless of your company's size or purchasing history. The discounts start immediately after membership begins (some such as Dell, take a little longer as they set up a personalized website for your firm). Discounts range from approximately 10% - 52% and higher.
Q: Do you publish a member directory?
A: VCOMA takes the privacy of its members seriously and at this time does NOT publish a full directory or share member names. You can find a partial list of member's firms on our "Who are We?" section. This list is provided on an opt-in only basis from our members.
Q: Can potential members check VCOMA's references?
A: If you would like to receive references from VCOMA members, send the request and it will be forwarded to our membership. Since we don't give out our member information, their response is voluntary but many are happy to answer any questions you may have.
Q: How much is membership to VCOMA?
A: Individual membership is $45 per year or $80 for a two year membership. Firm membership is $35 per member per year (for 3 - 10 employees). We also offer an Auto Renewal Plan that locks in a $40 per year rate and automatically charges your credit card each year.
Q: How do I join VCOMA?
A: Register in our "Become a Member" section. NVCA Members register here.
Q: What forms of payment do you take for membership fees?
A: Visa, MasterCard, American Express, PayPal, and checks are accepted.
Q: Can I have my firm send you a company check for my membership dues?
A: Yes. You can download an invoice which can be paid by company check. Your registration will be held for 35 days. If payment is not recieved before that time, it will be cancelled. Membership becomes active after payment is received and cleared.
Q: What is Affiliate Membership?
A: Affiliate Membership is a limited membership for vendors and service providers. See our "Affiliates" page for full details.
Q: How do NVCA members sign up for VCOMA?
A: NVCA members can sign up for the membership provided by NVCA at the VCOMA Gateway.
Sponsorship, Recommended Vendors, and Speaker Questions
Q: Who is a vendor?
A: A vendor is a person or company that provides services to our members, such as travel agents, recruiters, caterers, etc.
Q: How does a vendor become a recommended vendor on the recommended vendor list?
A: A vendor may become a vendor resource or get added to our list through a recommendation from a client in the Venture Capital / Private Equity industry. The client does not have to be a VCOMA member but they must work in the industry. The recommendation must be a referral based on direct experience with the vendor and a review of the vendors work must be included. Vendor recommendations may be submitted from our "Vendors" section.
Q: Who is a Sponsor?
A: A sponsor is someone who supports VCOMA events or activities. You can find sponsorship opportunities on our "Become a Sponsor" page.
Q: What is a Discount Sponsor?
A: A discount sponsor is either a local or corporate vendor that offers a discount to our members in return for free advertising.
Q: What are the benefits of becoming a VCOMA sponsor?
A: The benefits include being promoted to both members and potential members, as well as potentially interacting in-person to further promote your business with our members at events. See our "Become a Sponsor" section for full details on each opportunity.
Q: I would like to become a speaker at an upcoming VCOMA event. Can I do this without becoming a sponsor?
A: Yes. You can be placed on the potential speaker list by contacting us at sponsor@vcoma.com. As the calendar is being scheduled, we will contact speakers we feel are appropriate for the upcoming calendar. However, being a speaker does not promote your company as heavily to the membership as becoming a sponsor as well.
Advertising & Jobs Board Questions
Q: Can my company advertise to VCOMA members without becoming a sponsor?
A: Yes! You may place an advertisement either to send to our members by email, in our newsletter, or on our website. See our "Advertise" section for details.
Q: I am a recruiter or a VC firm that is not a member. How do I advertise my open positions or current candidates to the VCOMA membership?
A: VCOMA has a jobs board on the "members only" area of the website. You may advertise jobs and candates to the membership for a fee. See our "Advertise" section for details.