Sarah Finegan

With thanks to Private Equity International for this month’s deep dive on how #GPStakes helps to finance and drive best in class development in our industry

33

2 Comments

VC world can be cruel and unforgiving. With LPs more and more pushing for distribution and liquidity, fund managers in the mid-tenure of their fund with zero DPI and TVPI around 1.0 would have much more difficulty to raise new fund. The ability to fundraise is one of the crucial indications and validation of the job for VCs. Key highlights from the article below: Thirteen percent of venture General Partners (GPs) no longer plan to raise another fund due to LP pullback. This rate has doubled since H1 2023 when only 6% of GPs had no plans for another fund. Nearly 44% of venture firms surveyed in mid-2023 had previously postponed their fundraising plans due to concerns about overexposure to the asset class. Many emerging managers entered venture capital in 2019 or 2020 when the LP market supported more funds. However, slow exits in the first half of 2024 have led to challenges in raising second funds without significant cash distributions to LPs. Some venture GPs are now actively participating in the secondaries market to demonstrate returns. Despite the challenges, GPs who secured fresh capital remain optimistic. They expect the 2023 and 2024 vintages to be the strongest return years since 2019. 🚀📈 #VC #VentureCapital #Fundraising #LPs #EmergingManagers #TechInvestment #MarketTrends #CountdownCapital #IndustryInsights #JetVentures #JetInvestment‍‍‍‍‍‍

23

Taavet Hinrikus and I made the Financial Times Due Diligence email. https://lnkd.in/ez2AuGQx One 'unintended consequence' is that if there is a 45% tax on carry and CGT (raising £40m per year, remember) it for all intents and purposes closes the door on new VCs in the UK. Especially started by teams from non-traditional backgrounds. To meet the GP commit, you need to be already part of the 'wealthy' as you cannot rely on the value you create - nearly half of it will disappear - to fund it. We have both had extremely successful startups which are few and far between. The smaller number of new VCs will therefore more likely increasingly be for people who have inherited the capital or can draw it from their already rich family. Probably not want they have in mind with this policy.

32

2 Comments

I really enjoyed breaking in our new studio to sit down with Temporal Technologies Co-Founders Samar Abbas and Maxim Fateev for the latest episode of Founded & Funded. Temporal was founded in 2019 based on an open-source microservices orchestration engine project but is the result of a more than decade-long partnership between the two co-founders that spanned their time working on different iterations of the same thing at AWS, Microsoft, and Uber. In this episode, Samar, Maxim, and I dive into the challenges of building an open-source ecosystem while also working on a commercial offering and scaling a successful company, how to navigate and adjust a product roadmap in an ever-changing world of AI and large language models, and how to successfully build an early startup team, navigate through a CEO transition, and bring on a startups first independent board member. It's a very compelling conversation and a must-listen for every builder out there. Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://lnkd.in/gymf9sES Find other platforms and the transcript on our website: https://lnkd.in/ggRtnKtM Be sure to subscribe to our channel for more deep dives into cutting-edge technologies and the minds behind them. Don't forget to like, comment, and share this conversation if you found it valuable!

73

3 Comments

✨ Breaking: Artesian Venture Partners Announces New Fund.- Artesian (Alternative Investments) Artesian Venture Partners, a partner of the WAVC initiative, focuses on venture capital investments in early-stage startups across various sectors, including health sciences and renewable energy. https://lnkd.in/dvfKFtkf Please share to let other #Founders know For the ❤️ of Startups #Fusion42 #Startups #Venturecapital

6

🚀 Resurge Growth Partners Launches €120M "Venture Equity" Fund to Rescue VC Orphans In a unique move to address a growing gap in the venture landscape, London-based Resurge Growth Partners has launched a €120M investment vehicle to acquire and revitalize "VC orphans" — portfolio companies with strong foundations but stagnant growth, too mature for VC attention yet not developed enough for private equity buyers. This emerging category is what Resurge is calling “venture equity,” a blend between private equity (PE) and traditional venture capital (VC). 🔍 The Opportunity in Overlooked Potential The strategy, led by cofounders Oren Peleg and Eyal Malinger, seeks out companies with at least €7-8M in annual revenue, providing €10M-25M in funding per acquisition. For these businesses, Resurge's support can mean new life: they’re often high-potential but constrained by the “draconian” terms of venture debt that founders might not fully anticipate, believing growth will allow them to refinance. Now, Resurge aims to step in where traditional VC support has faded, providing operational guidance and financial backing to restore momentum. 🌱 Ad-hoc Investor Strategy To reach the fund’s €120M target, Resurge has already secured nearly half of its goal through a family office and GP commitments from the cofounders. The remaining funds will be raised deal-by-deal, allowing flexibility to adapt capital needs to each unique opportunity. This approach reflects a refreshing innovation in the ecosystem, supporting founders whose companies are stuck in limbo — often high-performing in revenue but under-supported by VC. Could Resurge's "venture equity" be the solution that many stagnating startups need to unlock their next growth phase? #venturecapital #startupinvestments #startup

1

What Dave McClure is building resonates well what we are doing with our Siena Secondary Fund. Although one focuses on fund stakes and the other company positions, the journey is the same - need to educate the market about what is #VC #secondary and how to benefit from it...

10

2 Comments

✨ Breaking: Bek Ventures Announces New Fund.- Bek Ventures Fund III: Launched in November 2024, Fund III from Bek Ventures focuses on investing in founding teams from Central and Eastern Europe with potential for billion-dollar outcomes. Despite not specifying the exact fund size in the article, it is confirmed to be over €235 million. The fund, which was oversubscribed, primarily invests in technology sectors, from seed to growth-stage startups. https://lnkd.in/dAX6WFEQ Please share to let other #Founders know For the ❤️ of Startups #Fusion42 #Startups #Venturecapital

12

2 Comments

Its's a deal flow time! We are about to share the details of 637 start-ups who joined Rare Founders London's largest #demoday 2 weeks ago with all the investors (only verified ones) in our community. If you are a #founder who is #fundraising and want to get more exposure to investors (IT'S FREE) - submit your details following the link in comments. If you are an #investor interested in pre-seed to series A start-ups join our community (link in comments) to get access access to the monthly deal flow. Please tag #investors and #founders who this might be applicable for.

105

51 Comments

When the first alphabet in these conversations changes from 'M" to 'B', you know the funding winter is transforming into spring 🌱 #VC #VentureCapital #Earlystagefunding Read more about the latest monthly funding report for VC funding in July 2024 here: ttps://https://lnkd.in/dhdWF8fP

8

I sat down with Rakefet Russak-Aminoach, Managing Partner at Team8, a global Venture-Creation and VC Fund with over $1 billion in AUM, that creates and invests in companies focusing on Fintech, Cybersecurity, Data & AI, and Digital Health. Since launching in 2014, Team8 has built 20 companies and achieved over two billion dollars in exits. Prior to Team8, Rakefet was the CEO of Bank Leumi בנק לאומי, which she drove to become the largest company by market cap in all of Israel. In this Fintech Leaders episode, we discuss: - Team8’s process to incubate and launch massive companies   - Why embedded fintech will drive the future of financial services   - Transforming and building a company’s culture   - How great talent is the most important ingredient behind achieving great results… and a lot more! Full Story -> https://bit.ly/4f6ClsC

35

2 Comments

In addition to building our own VC practice at AAF Management Ltd., we’ve invested in 37 VCs since 2017. Here is what, I believe, it takes to build a multi-vintage, early-stage, venture franchise: 𝟭- 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀: hyper-focused GPs build longevity and consistency in their businesses. If you pitch LPs saying you will invest in early stage consumer but end up doing late stage consumer that’s a massive red flag. Stay germane to your mandate and strategy. 𝟮- 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗲 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: the market is crowded with venture firms, articulate your differentiated value proposition to LPs and founders. Don’t try to be everything to everyone. Focus on 1-2 value propositions to your stakeholders and execute them with excellence and defensibility. 𝟯- 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗕𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝘁 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆-𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴: we tell stories everyday. Raising capital for a fund and building your venture firm requires that same story-telling skillset. Tell consistent narratives to the market to help build your own brand as well as your firm’s brand. 𝟰- 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁-𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗲: if you possess subject-matter expertise in a certain vertical, domain or industry, you already own a defensible moat. Accentuate that to your advantage when building your firm, raising capital from LPs and winning deals from founders. 𝟱- 𝗠𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲: early stage venture is a highly collaborate asset class. Keep your ego at the door, you will never be able to do everything it takes to build a firm alone. Leverage LPs, partners and founders for deal flow sourcing, diligence and overall industry best practices. 𝟲- 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁-𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁-𝗙𝗶𝘁: in quintessential startup vernacular, ideally find your product-market-fit by the time you launch your second fund. You need product-market-fit before you scale your AUM, grow your team and carry more fiduciary responsibility. 𝟳- 𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲: early stage VC investing is a marathon. Patience will reward you personally, professionally and financially. Build mental, physical and psychological stamina to endure the inherent ebbs and flows of your entrepreneurial journey. 𝟴- 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗴-𝗧𝗲𝗿𝗺: early stage VC investing is the archetypal long-term financial asset. Think in 10 year increments for your firm’s grand vision, think in 4 years for a given fund’s investment period and think in quarters when reporting material updates on your portfolio to your LPs. 𝟵- 𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝗻: if instant gratification, short feedback loops and a constant need for reaffirmation is what you are looking for in a career then early stage VC investing will not fulfill you. Have fun building, and as Naval Ravikant once said: "𝙗𝙚 𝙖𝙣 𝙤𝙥𝙩𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙘 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙖𝙣." Finally, and most importantly, be authentic and true to yourself. #firmbuilding #entrepreneurs #VC

218

20 Comments

Liquidity or exit planning is often taboo leading to many companies being ill prepared. Successful outcomes are years in the making - they start and end with proactive prep (e.g. getting your house in order, developing strong relationships with strategic partners, potential investors and advisors). With Scott Colvin & Paul Perrett we lay out some key actions you should embed now that can set you up for exit success and also make you a better run business today Big thanks to Bree Fedele 🖋

55

6 Comments

Between 2020 and 2023, Alitheia IDF (AIF), Africa’s first and largest gender lens fund, invested over $45.4 million in 11 portfolio companies — a 1582% increase in deployed capital from our initial $2.7 million investment in 2020. AIF’s latest Social Performance Report, which I’m excited to share, highlights this progress and other impact metrics. It reaffirms our commitment to empowering African businesses, driving gender equity, and delivering impact for local communities. Read the report here: https://lnkd.in/dq6CVhXK. As the premier Pan-African Gender Lens Fund, AIF aims to showcase the potential of businesses founded and led by women and gender-diverse teams. The fund supports scale-stage SMEs pioneering innovative solutions to commercial and social challenges. These investments fuel diversity and inclusion, achieving measurable social, environmental, and financial impact. Key milestones include: - Nearly 2,000 jobs were created, with 55% going to women. - Growth in portfolio company across multiple African countries to expand access to essential services for underserved communities. - 73% of portfolio companies are women-owned, and 54% female board representation. In addition to advancing gender equality, we champion climate resilience and digital transformation to build inclusive economies. By aligning capital with purpose, AIF proves that impactful investment drives both transformation and returns. Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/dq6CVhXK

76

8 Comments

𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀’ 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗴𝗲 🕵️‍♂️ Ever felt like investors speak their own secret language? You’re not alone. Burak, a seasoned VC, shares his candid take on the jargon-filled world of venture capital. To bridge this gap, Burak has created a list he calls The Investors' Secret Code Language—a handy resource for decoding those tricky conversations. If you’ve ever been baffled by VC lingo, this document is a must-read. Big thanks to Burak Buyukdemir for putting this together! 🙌 Check it out below. 👇

18

Check out my latest video where we dive into one of the most crucial aspects of fundraising for startups: securing a lead investor. Discover why having a lead investor—your keystone—is essential to closing your funding round and how it can bring other investors on board. If you're in the process of raising funds or preparing for it, this video will give you valuable insights into navigating the complex world of startup investment. https://lnkd.in/eEi_9M_y

6

Five years ago, my partner Nisha Dua and I left corporate life and formed BBG Ventures, convinced that a rising generation of founders from diverse communities and backgrounds were poised to build transformative companies in a rapidly changing America. Today we’re announcing a new $60M early-stage fund to continue that work, and releasing the research that informed our investment thesis: The Mind of Polycultural America: A Look at Identity, Priorities and Behaviors (https://lnkd.in/eGzP3f2r) We’ve always looked around corners to identify shifts in behavior and attitudes. But several years ago, Nisha began describing the changing face of the country as the American Polyculture; and last year we set out to better understand it. That research – a survey of 2000+ people, large enough to be statistically relevant across race, gender, age, income, political party, and geography – reveals a number of surprising insights. Americans today define their identities based on a unique perception of their place in the world, which will demand more nuance and personalization in the platforms and products we bring to market; but we have surprisingly common priorities, needs and concerns across nearly every age group, race and gender. The research also confirmed our belief that a diverse cross-section of founders who understand first-hand the challenges and opportunities in our polycultural future will have a competitive advantage in arenas that still need transformation: health, education, financial security, workforce support and climate safety. Thrilled to be on this journey with my partner of more than decade, Nisha Dua, plus the stellar BBGV team: Claire Biernacki, Carol Magalhães Isaacs, Drew Silverman Fennessy, Addison B. Marsh, Jr. If you know a founder transforming the way we live in one of these categories, send them our way. Thanks Leena Rao for the coverage on Business Insider! https://lnkd.in/eRb5Vv3R

579

93 Comments

HNY! Hope everyone had a great break. Quiet on here as head down. Such a lot of exciting things coming up: - More Tools for all scaleups to improve their growth trajectory - More Founders using VenturePath to secure their Series A-B investment rounds - More VCs joining VenturePath's VC Network - More Events (including a VC dinner for 50 on the 22nd and SuperScalers female founders event on the 30th) - More Partners joining our scaleup support ecosystem - More Data to publish on 2024 VC trends for the UK ScaleUp Investment Mission Busy January! We'll share more on these when we have a minute... If you can play a part, as a founder, VC, investor, partner, sponsor, data provider etc., there's still room for a conversation or coffee with you though 😉

34

5 Comments