Visible Blog

Why It’s Important to Have a Platform Manager in VC Platform managers are instrumental in the success of startups, which is why the role of platform managers within VC firms has become increasingly important and there has been a surge in hiring for this position. By providing guidance and support to portfolio companies, Platform Managers help founders navigate the challenges of building and scaling a startup. They offer advice and support on everything from product development and fundraising to talent acquisition and marketing. Platform managers act as a liaison between portfolio companies and the VC firm, helping founders access the resources and expertise they need to succeed. Hiring a platform manager can also help VCs enhance their value proposition and differentiate themselves in an increasingly crowded market. Some other ways in which they can also add value to VC firms and their portfolio companies are: Strategic Focus: A platform manager can help VCs develop a strategic focus for their investments by identifying areas where they can add value beyond just providing capital. The platform manager can work with portfolio companies to help them leverage the VC’s network, resources, and expertise to scale their businesses. Portfolio Optimization: A platform manager can help VCs optimize their portfolio by identifying areas of overlap or synergy between portfolio companies. They can also help VCs identify potential acquisition targets and facilitate mergers and acquisitions. Value Creation: A platform manager can help create value for portfolio companies by providing access to resources such as talent, capital, and strategic partnerships. This can help portfolio companies grow faster and more efficiently. Brand Building: A platform manager can help VCs build their brand by creating and promoting events, content, and other initiatives that showcase the VC’s expertise and thought leadership in their respective domains. Investor Relations: A platform manager can help VCs manage their relationships with investors by creating reports, organizing events, and providing regular updates on the performance of portfolio companies. How to Succeed as a Platform Manager in VC To succeed as a platform manager in VC, individuals must have a deep understanding of the startup ecosystem and the challenges that founders face. They must be able to build relationships with portfolio companies and act as a trusted advisor to founders. Additionally, they must have strong analytical skills, as well as the ability to manage complex projects and navigate volatile market conditions. They must be able to analyze financial data and market trends to identify opportunities and make informed decisions. They must also have the ability to manage complex projects and navigate volatile market conditions. To get into venture capital as a platform manager, individuals should focus on building a strong network in the startup ecosystem. They should attend industry events, participate in startup accelerators, and connect with successful founders and investors. It’s also important to gain relevant experience in areas such as product development, marketing, and finance. It also helps to read industry blogs and publications to stay up to date on the latest trends and funding rounds. Best Practices for Platform Management Some best practices include, how to identify potential portfolio companies, how to add value to portfolio companies, and how to optimize the firm’s portfolio. Identifying Potential Portfolio Companies The first step in effective platform management is identifying potential portfolio companies that align with the VC firm’s investment focus and criteria. To do this, platform managers should: Develop a deep understanding of the VC firm’s investment focus and criteria, including industry sectors, geographies, and stages of investment. Network and stay up-to-date on industry trends and emerging technologies to identify potential investment opportunities. Leverage the VC firm’s network to source and evaluate potential portfolio companies. Conduct thorough due diligence on potential portfolio companies to ensure they meet the firm’s investment criteria and have strong growth potential. Adding Value to Portfolio Companies Once a portfolio company has been identified and invested in, platform managers can help add value to the company by providing access to resources and expertise that can help the company scale and succeed. To do this, platform managers should: Work closely with portfolio company management teams to identify areas where the VC firm can provide value beyond just capital. Provide access to the VC firm’s network of industry experts, potential customers, and strategic partners. Help portfolio companies recruit top talent by providing access to the VC firm’s talent network and offering guidance on hiring best practices. Help portfolio companies develop and execute growth strategies, including marketing and sales strategies, product development, and international expansion. Optimizing the Firm’s Portfolio Finally, platform managers should focus on optimizing the VC firm’s portfolio by identifying potential areas of overlap or synergy between portfolio companies and helping to facilitate mergers and acquisitions. To do this, platform managers should: Conduct regular portfolio reviews to assess the performance of each portfolio company and identify areas where the VC firm can add value. Identify potential acquisition targets that can help strengthen the VC firm’s portfolio and create synergies across portfolio companies. Help facilitate mergers and acquisitions by providing guidance on deal structuring and negotiation. Work closely with portfolio company management teams to identify opportunities for cross-collaboration and knowledge-sharing across the portfolio. Resources for Platform Managers VC Platform Jobs VC Platform Global Community Let’s Talk Ops OpenLP resources across the venture ecosystem Resources From the Visible Blog How to Hire for Your First VC Platform Role Defining Your VC Platform Approach Using the TOPSCAN Method Guide: VC Portfolio Support Best Practices How to Plan a Top-Tier CEO Summit How to help your portfolio companies find talent Up-and-Coming Platform Managers in VC Meryl Breidbart | Director of Investment Operations | At One Ventures How did you get into platform? I started my career as a designer and founder of Chirps, so when I began at At One Ventures as an investor, I naturally gravitated to filling our platform holes. I started by organizing our first AGM and building some fund partnerships and from there, helped launch our platform and operations team, which now includes a VP of Talent, a VP of Marketing, and a Venture Partner with extensive commercialization experience. What’s the focus of your firm’s post-investment support; what’s your specialty? We know we can’t be excellent at everything, so we have decided to double down on a few areas: talent, marketing, fundraising support, and commercialization. I specifically focus on fundraising. I build pitch decks, run pitch practice sessions, and make introductions for our founders to our vast network of follow-on investors. In addition to this work, I also support our firm with internal operations – assisting with our fundraising efforts and making sure we run a tight ship. What’s your favorite part of the role? Working directly with our founders! I am an extrovert and get energy from talking to lots of different people. I enjoy reducing the amount of work our founders have to do and providing them with best practices and processes so that they can learn quickly. Advice for first-time platform managers? You can’t be all things to all people. Figure out 1-2 strategic goals for the first year of the role and make sure to prioritize those. Otherwise, you will find yourself being a recruiter for company A and a PR firm for company B, which will not scale and will not help you deepen expertise. Mal Filipowska |Portfolio & Platform Manager | Seedstars How did you get into platform? For the first five years of my Venture Capital career, I was always on the investment side of the fund: sourcing deals, preparing investment memos etc. I executed over 30 transactions across Europe, MENA, and India. A big part of my role was building relationships with other VCs and sharing investment opportunities: that’s how I met Seedstars. I instantly fell in love with their investment thesis and commitment to empowering start-ups in emerging markets globally.It was mutual, and the Partners of Seedstars International Ventures invited me to join the team. The platform role was an obvious fit: it was 100% global (opposite to our Investment Managers, divided by regions). It allowed me to continue working with founders from diverse backgrounds from over 100+ start-ups in almost 40 different countries, be hands-on in supporting them in solving their most urgent challenges and have a tangible impact on their journey to success. What’s the focus of your firm’s post-investment support; what’s your specialty? As a global fund, we decided to focus on the most urgent and universal aspect of every start-up: growth. As we can read in the famous Paul Graham essay: “if you get growth, everything else tends to fall into place”.After we invest, our portfolio companies get lifetime access to the “Growth Track” – a tailored consultancy program for start-up teams. It is delivered by growth experts and helps our portfolio companies to develop a long-lasting and sustainable growth strategy. We host such a program twice a year, so portfolio companies can always bring their new employees for us to teach them the growth mindset & methodologies. What’s your favorite part of the role? My favorite part of the Platform role is how it fosters my professional growth within the Venture Capital industry. In the platform role, I am more exposed to the everyday challenges faced by founders, which enables me to actively participate in solving them together. There is no space for beautiful pitch decks or listening to what the VC wants to hear – we’re in the same boat now, so my entire focus is working towards a common goal. Personally, I find it very developing and satisfying. Advice for first-time platform managers? Take your time: Spend some time to dive deep into the role and understand the needs of your portfolio companies. By doing so, you’ll be better equipped to help them succeed.Find your niche: Focus on common challenges your portfolio companies face and become an expert in addressing them. This approach allows you to add “scalability” to your support and significantly impact the board.Stay connected to the investment side: Don’t lose touch with the investment aspect of venture capital. Participate in investment committees and the investment process to maintain a well-rounded perspective and contribute more effectively to your portfolio’s growth.Collaborate with the VC community: Each player contributes uniquely to the world of venture capital. Instead of competing, work alongside your co-investors, join forces with your co-investors, complement each other and build on each other’s strengths.Connect with founders personally: Meeting your founders in person and getting to know them as individuals will help build stronger relationships and foster a deeper understanding of their needs and motivations Regan Gore | Community & Operations Associate | Eniac Ventures How did you get into platform? Prior to joining Eniac, I was in consulting and executive search, and then I taught first grade during COVID. I have honestly found so many overlaps between teaching and platform, and I think that experience helped me hit the ground running when I joined the VC world. I was really lucky to have a wonderful resource in Sam Gelt (a16z) who reached out to me after connecting in a Slack group and helped guide me in my VC job process. Through her and a few other mentors (huge shoutout to Mariana Consuegra (previously BCGDV), Kenyon Cory (Petal), and the Aspire to Her team), I was able to learn more about community and different roles that were community-focused, ultimately finding a path to VC. I have found that platform is a great way to connect with founders and be part of their journeys, especially at a seed firm where we can really provide help and value right away. What’s your favorite part of the role? My absolute favorite part of the role is getting to speak to so many interesting founders as well as connecting with phenomenal partners who can be great resources to our founders. Deepening those relationships every day drives so much of my work, and I love that each day is a little different! Advice for first-time platform managers? My best advice for first-time platform managers is to create your own cohort of founders in your portfolio who you trust + they trust you. I have found this small group has been a helpful sounding board to many ideas, they’ve given me very honest feedback on our platform offerings and have tested out ideas before I’ve brought them to the larger group, and they are great cheerleaders at events and in our slack group! I think a lot of first-time platform managers think that you have to have a “perfect” facade when talking to founders, but they are in the same boat as you, and the relationship is so much better when everyone is open and honest about where they are, what they are working on, and where they can use help. Rachel Hodes | Director of Platform | NextView Ventures How did you get into platform? When I was a senior in college, I decided to take an internship at this relatively new, female-founded, D2C brand that had just closed its Series A. Taking the 1 train down to their chic Chinatown office, which one day became their flagship store, was always the highlight of my week. I remember feeling impressed and inspired by the creativity, collaboration, and community-building that went down in that millennial-pink wonderland, and I knew that this experience was the beginning of my addiction to all things startups. I spent the rest of my early to mid-twenties operating at various early-stage consumer and B2B companies. The “throw spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks” kind of days… *sigh* memories. But like most people, the pandemic forced me to pause, reevaluate my path forward, and be incredibly intentional about what I wanted to do next. I knew I was outgrowing those early-stage operating days but I also knew I wasn’t quite ready to quit startups cold turkey. During this transitional time, I learned about platform from a friend who was actually trying to hire me for a role at his boutique recruitment firm: “Your role here would be similar to that of a platform person’s role at a VC firm.” Oh really? Bet. I started doing my research and realized that platform encompasses all the things I love to do (content, community, operations, marketing, events, etc.) PLUS it directly supports startups and founders in a MAJOR way?! Sign me up. By some kind of kismet, stars aligning chance, my now mentor, Stephanie Manning Cohen (Operating Partner at Lerer Hippeau) had just messaged me on LinkedIn and was interested in chatting about an open platform role on her team. This particular position didn’t end up being the right fit, but Stephanie connected me to the partners at NextView, and it’s been a match made in seed-stage heaven ever since ❤️ What’s the focus of your firm’s post-investment support; what’s your specialty? We focus on the four things that matter most at the seed stage: building a great product, getting great customers, hiring a great team, and not running out of money. I would say my specialty is bringing people together in a meaningful way, and I’m excited to explore that more with NextView’s founder initiatives this year. Stay tuned! What’s your favorite part of the role? Running the NextView accelerator program, hands-down. Bringing a group of early-stage entrepreneurs together and creating meaningful programming and memorable experiences that actually move the needle in propelling their businesses forwards?! There’s nothing more rewarding. It’s also pretty special to see lasting friendships evolve out of the programming you create. The startup founder journey can be a lonely one, and if I can help people feel a little less alone… that makes my heart and soul oh so happy. Advice for first-time platform managers? This role is inherently more fun because you’re doing all the things, but that variety of work also comes with its fair share of challenges. One day you’re working on a website redesign, the next day you’re working on an accelerator kickoff event, and the next day you’re working on establishing your firm’s Affinity foundations. Whatever major project you’re working on, you need at least one, if not two, point partners who can support you in driving towards decisions within the confines of those projects. Aim to divvy up your point partners based on the relevancy of the project at hand and meet with these partners on a regular basis as you’re moving through your work; get their take on things, ask them for advice, talk through your plan for prioritization, etc. The platform work we do on a daily basis is incredibly different than what the investment team is working on; it’s important that you have someone in your corner who has visibility into the work you’re doing and the progress you’re making. And trust me… it makes things a lot easier and more efficient when you’re getting the green light from one or two people vs the entire partnership 🙂 Jenna Borowski | Head of Platform | American Family Insurance Institute for Corporate & Social Impact How did you get into platform? I’ve long been passionate about the role business can play in making the world a better place so when I learned that American Family Insurance was building an Institute for Corporate and Social Impact, I was immediately intrigued. For those who are not familiar, the AmFam Institute’s mission is to close equity gaps in the US and we do that through both running a traditional venture capital fund and developing a portfolio of community partnerships and programs. My background was in communications, but I also had some experience within the startup community and the nonprofit, social impact space. After a lot of networking and a little luck, I took a role leading some of the Institute’s local partnerships and managing a community events space that catered to mission-driven organizations. As I was in on the ground floor of the Institute, I took the opportunity to learn as much as I could about the venture fund, intrigued by the innovation and potential for large-scale impact. This allowed me to dip my toe into platform by helping plan a few events and developing resources for our founders and in less than two years (with help from the pandemic unfortunately shutting down the event space), I made the jump to build out and manage our platform and portfolio services full-time. What’s the focus of your firm’s post-investment support; what’s your specialty? The AmFam Institute is focused on creating an inclusive community of high-performing, mission-driven founders who feel authentically supported and appreciated. We do our best to connect our founders to each other by hosting dinners when we’re attending large conferences and by hosting our annual founder summit, which is definitely my favorite event. Outside of gathering our founders together in person, we’ve put a big emphasis on supporting the health and well-being of our portfolio so we offer a coaching stipend, host monthly mastermind peer group sessions, and offer free drop-in coaching, all in hopes of preventing burnout and helping everyone feel supported because we know being a founder is often a really high-stress and isolating job. I also have to give a huge shoutout to our storytelling and social media team who amplify the work of our portfolio companies through video and social media. My specialty is definitely community building and events so I tend to focus on that, but the content creation is a really valuable part of our post-investment support. What’s your favorite part of the role? There are so many things I love about my role. From the creativity required and the continuous learning to the countless friends I’ve made within the platform community, there’s a lot to love. However, one of the simplest joys for me over the past year has been watching our community grow. It feels almost magical when I see two founders bond at an event or I hear that they’ve stayed in touch long after an introduction was made. It’s a lot of hard work to curate a space where those kinds of connections can form so it’s really rewarding to see it all come together and to know we’re (hopefully) helping them feel a little more connected and supported as they do the hard work of building these truly incredible, world-changing companies. Advice for first-time platform managers? Get connected and don’t be afraid to ask questions! My job got a lot easier when I joined platform groups like Let’s Talk Ops and VC Platform where there are hundreds of brilliant people willing to share their wisdom. It can be intimidating to ask a question when you’re still learning about venture, but there are so many people that enter platform roles without prior VC experience that most likely someone has the same question… or at least remembers having the same question when they started and is willing to jump in with an answer. Cynthia Matar | Head of Platform and Communications | Swiftarc Ventures How did you get into platform? Interestingly enough, I started my career at the Firm as an intern for an analyst position. During my time as an intern/analyst, I discovered how much I enjoyed everything other than the financial/diligence part of the role. I thoroughly enjoyed speaking with founders and finding ways to help, building the firm’s brand and image, networking with investors for business development efforts, and planning and executing activation events. They didn’t quite know where to place me, but understood there was a need for the types of services I was offering. The team very quickly realized the one thing missing (an emerging role in the VC space at the time) was a Platform role/division that could manage all post-investment support and services. I worked my way up from Platform & Media Coordinator to Head of Platform during my time at the Firm and couldn’t be more proud of what we as a team have accomplished together. What’s the focus of your firm’s post-investment support; what’s your specialty? My specialty encompasses Public Relations, Internal & External Communications, Branding/Marketing, Investor Relations, Fundraising and Business Development, as well as Events & Networking. As an early-stage firm, a lot of effort is put into building the Firm’s image and network. What’s your favorite part of the role? My favorite part of the role is quite simply, the versatility of it all. No day looks the same, which makes the role so engaging and exciting to be a part of. I jokingly refer to Platform managers as the “Jack or Jane of all trades.” These are individuals who are able to wear multiple hats and offer a multitude of post-investment support and services. I love the collaboration that comes with the role – you find yourself working closely with everyone across the board (Senior Executives, Founders, Team Members, Stakeholders, and Investors). One of the most exciting parts I’ve had to play was launching each of the Firm’s funds with differing investment theses, PR and Marketing strategies, digital content, activation events, etc. You have a hand in everything, which gives you better insight into the moving parts of how the “engine” runs at a firm. Advice for first-time platform managers? My advice for first-time platform managers is to always be curious! Network with people across the industry, regardless of their roles – remember, you have a hand in it all. Share your thoughts, always. Your perspective is unique in that it offers an unbiased opinion and combines a variety of your experiences, making it refreshing to those who might have a standard set of questions or best practices they always use. Always be a student – your willingness to learn new approaches to apply across the firm is your superpower in this role. Allie Mullen | Director of Platform | Wireframe Ventures How did you get into platform? I’ve spent my career as a startup operator, early employee, and wear-er of many hats. I love working with founders and I love building companies. I’ve always kept a pulse on VC and since I didn’t have a background in finance or consulting, I didn’t think there was an opportunity for me to break in. But as soon as I found out about Platform roles, I knew it was for me. What’s the focus of your firm’s post-investment support; what’s your specialty? Wireframe specializes in helping extraordinary early-stage founders on a mission to improve the health of people and the planet. Our team has deep industry expertise, having been founders and investors in climate, health, and bio for over a decade. I joined the team as a Platform team of one and built the function from the ground up, supporting the fund’s operations, marketing, community-building, events, and post-investment support. What’s your favorite part of the role? It sounds cliche, but I love that every day is different and that I get to work across so many different functions. I also love that this role is still relatively new to the industry and continues to evolve. As Platform leaders, we get to define what Platform means to our fund. There is still a lot of room and opportunity for innovation for what the future of Platform looks like. I am excited to be part of it and to continue to accelerate growth for our founders. Advice for first-time platform managers? Build relationships with other Platform leaders, especially those who have been in it for a while. Platform can be a lonely role, especially for those of us who are teams of one, so connecting with others early on can supercharge your success. Plus, Platform folks are usually pretty similar people and tend to get along well (type-A, social, creative, love a challenge, efficiency, and helping others). Olivia Zdeb | Operations Manager | Hyde Park Venture Partners How did you get into platform? At first, I thought my journey to platform was random, but it turns out it’s a common path for many. I started my career in special recreation, then transitioned to Parks & Recreation for a neighboring Chicago municipality. With over 15 years of experience in events, program organization, marketing, and community engagement, it almost feels like I was training for this role all along. Leaving parks, finishing my master’s degree, and finding my dream job wouldn’t have been in my five-year plan before the pandemic. Taking the risk to leave my established career without a clear roadmap was worth it in the end. What’s the focus of your firm’s post-investment support; what’s your specialty? In addition to the financial support we provide, we also prioritize building strong relationships with our portfolio companies to better understand their needs and to provide them with tailored support to help them grow and succeed. HPVP operates on a true partnership model and focuses on companies rooted in the Midwest, Toronto, and Atlanta. This geographic focus allows us to provide dedicated attention and responsiveness to each of our portfolio companies. Our Platform team collaborates to provide impactful community-building events for our portfolio companies, offer problem-solving resources whenever teams ask for support, and offer personalized talent resources through our Talent Partner Jim Conti. As my role is still relatively new, my value-add continues to evolve with each new investment. With each new investment, I have the chance to establish a relationship with the founding team, understand their unique needs and challenges, and improve my ability to make a significant impactful in my role. What’s your favorite part of the role? I love the creative freedom this role provides. It’s rewarding to see my ideas come to life in the form of marketing campaigns and events that bring new value to our team and community. As a former government employee, I find it refreshing to be in a role with fewer restrictions. As HPVP’s first Operations Manager and the second member of the Platform team, my role has evolved and expanded beyond my initial responsibilities. It’s exciting to me that I can personally drive meaningful improvements for our HPVP team and our portfolio companies. Advice for first-time platform managers? As a first-time platform manager myself, I suggest joining or creating a community of like-minded platform professionals. We’re all learning and growing as we go, so it’s essential to have a support system. I’m an active member of the Let’s Talk Ops, VC Platform, and V2:VC communities. These communities are filled with kind, helpful, and creative individuals who share ideas, collaborate on events, and offer advice based on past experiences. One suggestion would be to take action and “just do it.” While researching the best software, vendor, or service can be helpful, it’s essential to remember that what works for one firm may not work for another. Instead, work within your current systems to maximize their capabilities. Then, identify the constraints that are limiting your next steps. This approach can help you identify the specific resources you need to take your firm to the next level. Anna Jacobson | Operations & Data Partner | Operator Collective Anna leads Operator Collective’s operations vertical, including data analytics, investment operations, internal operations, investor relations, fundraising operations, and fund administration. Prior to joining OpCo in 2020, Anna earned a Master’s in Information and Data Science from UC Berkeley, where she honed her data science expertise, concentrating on predictive analytics, machine learning, and data visualization. An engineer by training and experienced project manager, she is a cross-functional business leader, data strategist, and operations veteran who is passionate about combining technology with process and design to ensure outstanding collaboration across technical, business, and creative teams. How did you get into platform? Very organically! I had never heard the term before I started this job; it does not appear in my job description and even today we don’t call ourselves a Platform Team with a capital P. But most of the work that I do – whether in Operations or in Data – is deeply integrated with our platform functions, so much so that I do now consider myself to be someone who works in platform. What’s the focus of your firm’s post-investment support; what’s your specialty? In a word – connection. Our model is based on the power that is generated by making connections between our portfolio companies and our 200+ Operator LPs – exceptional tech executives – and their networks. My specialty is building and orchestrating the tools and processes that we use in each step of the connection process – to identify, facilitate, track, report, and everything in between. What’s your favorite part of the role? I love it all – from high-level strategic thinking to hands-on building to information design and communications – I find it all profoundly satisfying. Advice for first-time platform managers? Venture is a young industry and platform is an even younger function within venture. This means that practically every part of it is undefined and evolving. This can be a challenge – what exactly are we supposed to be doing?!? – but also an opportunity – we aren’t constrained by what has been done before! Seek allies to work through the challenges and be open and ready to seize on the opportunities. Oleh Karizskyi| Head of Platform | Flyer One Ventures How did you get into platform? Initially, I joined Flyer One Ventures 2 years ago as a Growth/Operations Manager helping portfolio companies with growth, b2b sales, and performance marketing. We did not have a Platform Manager at that time. After 6 months, my team lead left the firm and I became a Band-Aid guy within the fund helping with partnerships and expanding perks, organizing webinars, creating a portal for portcos’ founders etc. Ultimately, the role transformed into Platform Manager combined with the firm’s Investment activity. What’s the focus of your firm’s post-investment support; what’s your specialty? Our fund’s structure is pretty unusual. The majority of our team consists of operators. We have 17 team members, and only 4 of them are in the investment team. We help portcos with hiring, marketing&branding, PR&communications, fundraising, operations, legal issues, and finance support. We have a startup atmosphere in our fund, thus we do not super restrict ourselves with responsibilities zones. One of the major trends inside our Platform is switching from a Hands-on approach towards scaling support by expanding our network of advisors. Personally, I combine fund & community operations (the latest tasks were the implementation of the founders’ request tracking system, arranging webinars for portcos and for the Ukrainian startup community, compiling an internal newsletter for the fund’s community etc), business development & networking, investment activity responsibilities such as startup due diligence, expanding our pipeline and helping portcos with fundraising. We also have a Head of Operations, her responsibilities overlap with mine, so we complement each other. What’s your favorite part of the role? Dynamism and helping founders. I do not get bored by doing the same duties, because they always change. Also, it is great to communicate with founders, find their pain points, and try to help them. It is crucial to show them that they are not alone in their journey. Advice for first-time platform managers? Define what are the pain points of your founders in terms of the fund’s Platform and their businesses, because it will be a waste of time creating value that is not requested. A person can do it by gathering the notes from the investment team that join the board meeting and 1:1 calls. Also, it is helpful to conduct a couple of interviews with founders to get to know founders better. But it shouldn’t be a surprise for first-time managers to find out that smth that was requested is now not needed 🙂 My personal insight was that founders do not share all pains. Such interviews can help founders to reveal their problems and create a comfortable atmosphere for future sharing. Sophie Panarese | Head of Platform & Operations | 186 Ventures How did you get into platform? I began my career at Cambridge Associates learning the ins and outs of asset allocation, manager selection, and overall portfolio construction. While there, I had exposure to all asset classes including Venture Capital. It became immediately apparent to me that the entrepreneurial nature of early-stage VC was something that I wanted to explore one day. With this exciting new goal in my head, I realized that gaining hands-on operating experience would sharpen my Swiss army knife, so I joined the strategy team at HomeGoods where I spent a few years wearing a handful of hats. From there, I began networking and with a little bit of grit and a lot of luck, I’ve found myself at 186 Ventures leading our platform and operations efforts and couldn’t be happier. What’s the focus of your firm’s post-investment support; what’s your specialty? The entire team at 186 Ventures (3 of us) comes from operating backgrounds. We understand that the success of a company goes beyond the initial investment and requires ongoing guidance, strategic advice, and access to relevant networks. Our post-investment support is multifaceted and tailored to meet the specific needs of each portfolio company. We act as strategic partners, working closely with founders and their teams to understand their unique challenges, goals, and aspirations. By leveraging our industry knowledge, operational expertise, and network connections, we provide targeted guidance and insights to help companies overcome obstacles and seize growth opportunities. What’s your favorite part of the role? One of the most exhilarating and rewarding aspects of working in Platform is the opportunity to partner closely with founders who are on a mission to reshape the world as we know it. This is, by far, my favorite part of the role. Collaborating side-by-side with visionary founders who are driven by a deep sense of purpose and a desire to disrupt existing paradigms is truly incredible. These founders possess an unwavering commitment to making a meaningful impact, and being a (small) part of their journey is both inspiring and energizing. Advice for first-time platform managers? Be a lifelong student: The role of a platform manager is dynamic and ever-evolving. Stay open to learning new approaches and strategies that can be applied across your organization. So much of your role is connecting the dots and putting theory into action, so seek out mentors who you trust and who have faced similar challenges. Prioritize user experience: As a platform manager, it’s crucial to prioritize the needs and experiences of your users (Founders, Ecosystem Operators, LPs, Vendors, fellow team members). Continuously seek feedback, understand their pain points, and iterate on your platform to enhance its usability and value. Platform can be defined as a product. By iterating on your product offering, and aligning your product goals with the goals of the investment team, you will play a huge role in differentiating your venture firm from others. Julia Grassa | Head of Talent | Company Ventures How did you get into platform? My professional journey started in non-profit management, where I worked alongside Jewish communities, particularly with teenagers and young adults, to foster meaningful connections and witness their growth over time. Despite initially perceiving my transition to the tech industry as a major shift, I gradually realized that it was a natural fit for me. My initial role as the Community Manager for the Urban Tech Hub program, part of the Grand Central Tech Accelerator, involved establishing the program’s daily operations, yet I was drawn to community engagement as it aligned with my passion. Currently, I lead Talent initiatives and oversee key recruitment searches while facilitating synergistic opportunities between our portfolio companies and prospective candidates. What’s your favorite part of the role? Over the past 6.5 years, my role has evolved in tandem with the dynamic VC landscape, keeping me perpetually motivated and energized. There’s never a dull moment and that’s what keeps me motivated. Advice for first-time platform managers? I recommend starting by observing the firm’s operations, listening attentively to the founders’ needs, and refraining from impulsive action. As someone who is proactive by nature, I must remind myself to take a step back, breathe, and then proceed deliberately. As many platform professionals face burnout, similar to my experience in non-profit work, it’s essential to prioritize self-care for both the body and mind to excel in this role. Kira Colburn | Head of Platform | Work-Bench How did you get into platform? I started my career at a tech PR agency, helping build narratives and stories for a handful of VC clients. After a few years, I realized agency life and working in-house as a VC Platform leader had a lot of similarities and decided to make the jump. In both worlds, days are filled with endless possibilities of things to do and projects to jump into, but instead of working with a variety of clients, I now get to work with our portfolio companies. What’s the focus of your firm’s post-investment support; what’s your specialty? I lean into my strengths coming from a PR background. To put it simply, “Head of Platform” at Work-Bench can be defined as strategy, planning, and execution between our community flywheels of content and events. This includes communications and marketing support for our firm (including writing our Enterprise Weekly Newsletter and managing our active blog) and for our portfolio (including helping them garner PR for their initial launches) as well as event planning to expand our growing community. While our investment team focuses on research and portfolio GTM strategy, my job as the firm’s community builder is to pull commonalities out of our portfolio and broader network, then plan workshops, meetups, blog posts, etc. around those commonalities. What’s your favorite part of the role? My favorite part of being in Platform is the opportunity to draw out stories within enterprise software. It’s no secret that the enterprise software industry is traditionally less sexy than consumer and even general tech. However, there is an interesting story behind every enterprise startup – you just have to dig a little. I love looking into the founder’s journey, where the startup idea percolated, from, how their product impacts the greater way something operates, or how their team is changing culture standards. Advice for first-time platform managers? Over my 5+ years working with and in a VC firm, the “Platform” role has always meant a mishmash of things – everything from portfolio GTM support and recruiting, to event and community planning, to content strategy and execution, to investor relations, to operations management and so much more. Really every and anything under the sun. My advice to first-time platform managers – and what’s going to be most impactful for your firm, and your portfolio companies, but also keep you sane – is to identify your superpower and double down on it. Give up the urge to boil the ocean and focus on a few key areas or projects that can move the needle in a tangible timeframe. Sebastien Boucraut | Chief Scaling Officer | Breega How did you get into platform? Breega is a VC fund founded by Entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs. It was logical, right at the inception of Breega, to dedicate an operational team for the Start-ups. What’s the focus of your firm’s post-investment support; what’s your specialty? We focus on: (i) setting up foundations per vertical with following expertises: Sales & Structure, Growth, Talent, Branding & Com (ii) accompanying the Founders to review/crack an operational matter, such as GTM, Pricing Strategy, operational efficiency, Re-branding, Re-shape the organisation, the Roles & Responsibilities for a stronger performance (iii) Mentoring & Coaching What’s your favorite part of the role? When we have a strong impact on the Start-up & its Founders and we are able to measure it. Advice for first-time platform managers? Be pragmatic, adapt to the structure and the DNA of the Start-ups & Founders, and always be honest to yourself on what you can and cannot provide. Kayla Liederbach| Communications & Marketing Manager | Strut Consulting How did you get into platform? I got introduced to the wild world of VC platform when I was managing marketing at a VC-backed tech startup. One of our investors was a General Partner at a venture capital firm, and a mentor of mine. He asked me if I could help his firm put more intention and coordination behind the marketing efforts of its programs based around the world, and raise the visibility of the firm as the brand behind it all. This was nearly a decade ago when best practices for VC marketing weren’t widely known or shared. Over the years I have figured out what works—and just as importantly, what doesn’t work—when it comes to attracting founders and LPs by doing social media, content, newsletters, events, and PR for venture capital. What’s the focus of your firm’s post-investment support; what’s your specialty? At Strut, we are a consulting firm helping new and established fund managers navigate the complexities of VC fund management. Our expert team provides strategy, instills best practices, and delivers tactical support in Operations, CFO Services, Investor Relations, HR & Talent, Marketing & PR, and Events. My specialty is handling Marketing and PR for Strut Clients. I provide strategic guidance and tactical support based on their current needs—whether it’s writing punchy tweets or landing headlines in TechCrunch. What’s your favorite part of the role? My favorite part of my role is helping people tell their stories. I am a believer that every single person (or company) has an interesting story, but they don’t always know how to tell it. That’s where I can help by doing a deep dive and seeing what comes out. In life, I enjoy looking at patterns, and seeing the big picture. People who know me well have told me that I am a very entertaining and animated storyteller. Advice for first-time platform managers? When it comes to marketing, don’t try to do too many initiatives if you don’t have the bandwidth for it. VC firms often compare themselves against top players and want to do all the marketing initiatives they see the industry leaders are doing, like podcasts. But if you spread yourself too thin, you will burn out. Choose to do a few marketing initiatives that you know are working well and that you enjoy doing. If we aren’t enjoying ourselves, then what the heck are we even doing? 😉 Gil Birnboim | Head of Platform | UpWest How did you get into platform? During the last decade, I have gained valuable experience working closely with startups across various industries and domains, focusing on different aspects of ventures and the Tech ecosystem. Throughout my journey, I discovered that my true passion lies in empowering startup operations and sharing best practices to fuel the growth of founders and help set their companies up for success. What’s the focus of your firm’s post-investment support; what’s your specialty? UpWest is a Silicon Valley-based Seed fund purposefully designed to help Israeli startups break into the US market. We have backed over 90 companies and helped them grow through our hands-on approach. UpWest provides the essential ingredients for success: Seed funding, proximity and access to markets and capital, a supportive community of talented peers, and a workspace conducive to rapid development and deployment. My specialty centers on creating a supportive community where founders thrive and leverage collective knowledge for success. By implementing a founder-first approach that is deeply focused on, and consistently influenced by the journey of entrepreneurs tackling similar fundamental market entry and growth challenges, I bring together our founders and facilitate various opportunities for them to connect, share their experiences, and support one another in overcoming challenges. What’s your favorite part of the role? The people! Working alongside inspiring, resilient, and ambitious individuals that are bringing disruptive ideas to life. Advice for first-time platform managers? My advice for a first-time platform manager is to embrace versatility and plan a roadmap for each area of responsibility. The platform landscape is expansive, so being able to switch between projects and tasks demands mental flexibility and self-discipline. It’s essential to connect with like-minded individuals and cultivate a supportive community for yourself. The opportunity to exchange perspectives, brainstorm ideas, and learn from others’ experiences is immensely valuable. Adrienne Mangual | VP of Finance & Operations | The Artemis Fund “We use Visible to connect monthly KPIs and annual impact metrics from our portfolio companies. In turn, we use monthly data to stay on top of performance and the annual impact data is used in our annual impact report. Examples of data collected include revenue dollars driven to small businesses, families served and jobs created. We strive to be a data-driven venture firm, and Visible allows us to do just that.” More Platform Managers to Watch: Eileen McMahon Coordinator of Operations at Prelude Ventures Ellie Davis of TechNexus Frances Choi Operations and Events at Kindred Ventures Lu Yu at UpHonest Capital Emma Sissman Director of Portfolio Acceleration at SJF Ventures Kristin (Stannard) Kent Principal at Expa Arnaud Hochart Growth Manager at Breega Olivia O’Sullivan Head of Platform at Forum Ventures Improve Post-Investment Operations with Visible Over 400+ funds are using Visible to improve transparency across their funds through streamlined portfolio data collection, easy-to-build dashboards for Portfolio Reviews, and professional reporting. Interested in learning more about Visible?

Watch a recorded conversation with VC Ops experts about improving post-investment operations at your VC firm. Collectively Kristen Ostro from Strut Consulting & Let’s Talk Ops and Lacey Behrens from 01 Advisors have been exposed to operations at dozens of top-tier VC’s. We’ve invited them to share their advice about implementing best-in-class operations at a venture firm. This webinar is designed for anyone looking to improve operations at their Venture Capital firm. Topics Discussed: Tips for working with your fund admin How Lacey runs Portfolio Review Meetings at 01 Advisors How to tailor onboarding for portfolio companies Tools that help improve post-investment operations How to measure whether operational changes are working or not Advice for first-time platform or VC operations hires

Where Do LPs Get The Capital They Deploy? The National Venture Capital Association states that limited partners (LPs) are typically institutions or high-net-worth individuals, family offices, and sovereign wealth funds that have a substantial amount of liquid capital to invest. Some examples could include pension funds, endowments, foundations, and insurance companies. In many cases, these investors allocate a portion of their capital to alternative asset classes, such as private equity or venture capital, as part of a broader investment strategy. The LPs then pool these funds together and invest them in venture capital firms as limited partners. It carries a higher risk compared to traditional assets such as stocks and bonds but also offers the potential for higher returns. Institutional LPs generally invest between $5 million to $50 million in a fund. The venture capital firm, in turn, uses the capital to invest in early-stage or high-growth companies with the potential for significant returns. If the investments are successful, the venture capital firm will generate returns for its limited partners, who may then reinvest those returns into other funds or asset classes, or distribute them to their own investors or stakeholders. How To Find LPs Finding limited partners (LPs) for a venture capital fund can be a challenging and time-consuming process. Here are some general steps that can help: Develop a target investor profile: Before starting your search for LPs, you need to understand the type of investors who are likely to be interested in your fund. Consider factors such as their investment preferences, geographic location, size of investment, and sector focus. Network: Networking is a crucial part of the fundraising process. Attend industry conferences, join venture capital associations and groups, and seek out opportunities to meet potential LPs in person or online. Leverage existing relationships: Reach out to your existing network of investors, entrepreneurs, and industry contacts to see if they can introduce you to potential LPs. Work with placement agents: Placement agents are firms that specialize in helping venture capital firms raise capital from institutional investors. They can provide access to a broader range of LPs and can help you navigate the fundraising process. Use online databases: As mentioned earlier, there are online databases like PitchBook, Preqin, and NVCA that offer information on LPs investing in venture capital firms. These databases can help you identify potential LPs and get a better understanding of their investment preferences and history. Hire a professional investor relations team: Larger venture capital firms often have dedicated teams focused on investor relations. If you have the resources, hiring a professional investor relations team can help you navigate the fundraising process and build relationships with potential LPs. LPs and VCs typically connect through one of two channels, either directly, due to prior collaboration at another fund or in an adjacent area of finance, or indirectly, via a warm introduction from a trusted source. When VCs set out to establish a new fund, they often seek out an initial, strong LP known as an anchor. The anchor commits to the fund and helps the VC identify other potential investors. Depending on the network of the VC and their anchor, the fund’s investors can include family offices, high net-worth individuals, or even large institutional funds such as a fund of funds, CALPERS, or university endowments. While VCs tend to be selective in choosing who they allow to invest in their fund, the process of selecting an anchor by well-connected or respected individuals is even more deliberate and cautious. Securing the right anchor for a fund is a crucial task for a venture firm to successfully raise their fund and set the stage for subsequent rounds in the future. What Kind of Limited Partner To Target For Your First Fund If you are building your first fund, you should look for LPs who are interested in investing in early-stage venture capital funds and have a history of investing in first-time funds. These LPs are typically high-net-worth individuals or family offices who are willing to take on higher risks for potentially higher returns. Additionally, you may want to consider looking for LPs who have experience in the industry or sector you are targeting with your fund. They can provide valuable insights and connections that can help you identify and evaluate investment opportunities. It’s also important to consider the size of the LPs you are targeting. While institutional investors can provide significant capital, they may also have more stringent investment criteria and require a proven track record. On the other hand, smaller family offices and high-net-worth individuals may be more flexible and willing to take a chance on a first-time fund. Related Resource: Visible’s Guide to Fundraising for Emerging Managers Criteria That LPs Use to Evaluate VC Firms Limited partners (LPs) use various criteria to evaluate new venture capital firms that are raising either their first fund or subsequent ones. Investment thesis: LPs want to see that the VC firm has a clear and well-defined investment thesis that fits their interests and investment strategy. Team: LPs evaluate the experience, track record, and expertise of the VC firm’s founding team. They want to see that the team has relevant experience and a strong network in the industry. Transparency: LPs expect transparency from the VC firm on their investment activities, portfolio performance, and other relevant information. Use our templates for Investors to create transparency by sending your LPs updates! Differentiation: LPs look for a unique and differentiated value proposition of the VC firm that sets it apart from other firms in the market. Network: LPs consider the firm’s network of industry contacts, co-investors, and advisors to gauge their potential deal flow and access to investment opportunities. Deal flow: LPs assess the firm’s ability to source high-quality deals and their process for evaluating potential investments. Due diligence: LPs want to see that the VC firm has a rigorous and disciplined process for conducting due diligence on potential investments. Alignment of interests: LPs look for a firm that aligns its interests with those of the LPs, such as having a significant investment in the fund, a reasonable management fee structure, and a fair carried interest arrangement. Related Resources: VCs can use Visible.vc to send their LPs updates as well! Check out our LP Update templates below. Returns That LPs Expect There are very complex agreements between venture capital LPs and venture firms/GPs, as you might imagine. Based on research from Cambridge Associates, over the past ten years, the highest 25% of venture capital funds have yielded an average annual return between 15% and 27%. In contrast, the S&P 500 has only yielded an average of 9.9% per year over the same period. Generally, top-tier venture LPs are looking for something north of a 3x net return on invested capital. This is for venture funds that usually have a formal 10-year lifespan. Top-tier venture LPs usually would rather have higher returns than faster returns, i.e. they don’t really care about IRR if they can get high overall returns. Related Resource: What is IRR for VCs 3x net return on invested capital doesn’t sound like a lot for a financing industry that helps fund companies like Google and Facebook, but there are surprisingly few venture firms that can generate that level of overall return over time. Related Resource: VC Fund Performance Metrics 101 (and why they matter to LPs) What is Included in Limited Partner Agreements Extensive documentation of the terms of an investment in a venture fund is contained within the Limited Partnership Agreement (LPA). The LPA outlines several critical terms, including: Management Fee: This fee is paid quarterly by Limited Partners (LPs), the investors, to the General Partner (GP), the venture capitalist, to manage the fund. The fee is typically 2% of the committed investment but decreases once the fund has invested in new companies, typically after five or six years. After the investment period, the fee declines annually based on a negotiated formula. Carried Interest: The GP earns a fee, generally 20% of any profits on the fund after the LPs have received back their invested capital up to the point of liquidity event that made the carried interest possible. Once the GP has paid back the LPs all that they have invested up to that point, the GP gets 20% of distributions, and the LPs receive 80%. For a period, the GP may get more to “catch up” and receive their 20% carry. Hurdle Rate: While popular with private equity (PE) funds, a hurdle rate is not typical with venture capital (VC) funds. GP Clawback: If the GP receives more than 20% of the profits at the end of the fund, the GP agrees to pay back the LPs. This may happen if the GP receives their 20% early in the fund’s life based on early successes, but the LPs continue to invest, and the fund performs poorly, with no future distributions to bring the LPs to the point where they have all their invested capital back and 80% of any distributions above the return of capital. Investment Period: This is the period that the GP/VC has to make new investments, usually five to six years. After this period, the GP can only make follow-on investments in existing portfolio companies and cannot invest in new companies. Term: The term of a fund is generally ten years, with potential extensions of up to three years. The extensions may require LP approval or not. In theory, once the fund term is over, the fund should be fully liquidated, although provisions for a longer fund life may be necessary to take care of some lingering investments. Key Man: Many funds identify one or a few key employees (VCs) whose leaving can trigger something – usually the end of the Investment Period. So if the super star VC of the firm leaves or dies, something happens. Likely, the Fund at that point can’t make any new investments unless the LPs vote that they can. There are many variations of this. A typical clause would be if 2 or 3 of 5 named partners leaves then this is triggered also. GP Commitment: The GP has to commit at least 1% of the capital of the fund, with more being better, but 1% is standard. Fee Offset: If the GP takes any fees from portfolio companies, those fees go to reduce the management fee paid by the LPs. In a VC firm, the offset is usually 100%. Investment Limitations: Limitations on investments in public companies, in hostile takeovers, in international companies…Limits on the amount of investment in any one company… Borrowing: Limitations on the Fund’s ability to borrow or guarantee borrowings. Related Resource: What should be included in a Data Room for LPs? Resources NVCA-2023-Yearbook The NVCA Yearbook serves as an important industry resource documenting trends and analysis of venture capital activity from the past year. OpenLP Demystifies the LP perspective, helping GPs stay on top of their game and better understand how venture works. 4Degree Airtable LP List A database with LP names, websites, investment manager names, and other information to help you with your fundraising List of LPs Foundry We invest in startups and venture funds, creating a symbiotic network that propels innovation. Our approach to venture capital is characterized by long-term thinking and a “give first” philosophy. Wellcome Trust Wellcome Trust is a healthcare-focused private foundation with investments in various financial assets, including public or private corporate equity, real estate, and infrastructure, among others. Its investment portfolio is currently valued at $25.7 billion. Point72 Point72 is a global asset manager led by Steven A. Cohen that deploys discretionary long/short equity, systematic, and macro investing strategies, complemented by a growing portfolio of private market investments. Blackstone Blackstone is the world’s largest alternative asset manager, with $975B in AUM. We serve institutional and individual investors by building strong businesses that deliver lasting value. StepStone Group StepStone Group provides investors with customized portfolios that integrate primaries, secondaries, and co-investments. GIC GIC is one of the three investment entities in Singapore that manage the Government’s reserves, alongside the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and Temasek. Recast Capital Recast Capital is a platform supporting and investing in emerging managers in venture capital. As our name suggests, we are breaking the traditional mold and doing things a bit differently. MacArthur Foundation The MacArthur Foundation supports creative people and effective institutions committed to building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world. Plexo Capital Plexo Capital is an institutional investor focused on investing into: 1/ venture capital funds led by general partners creating the next generation of leading franchises + 2/ private companies led by entrepreneurs building the future. Partners Group Partners Group is a large, independent investment firm that is truly dedicated to private markets. We are fully aligned with our clients and provide bespoke solutions to institutional investors, sovereign wealth funds, family offices and private investors globally. MSD Capital MSD Capital, L.P. was established in 1998 to exclusively manage the assets of Dell Technologies Founder, Chairman, and CEO Michael Dell and his family. MSD Capital engages in a broad range of investment activities with flexibility to invest in a wide variety of asset classes. Emerson Collective Emerson Collective is focused on several key issue areas. Complex issues require complex solutions, so we use a broad range of tools including philanthropy, venture investing, convening, and art to spur measurable, lasting change. Soros Family Office Soros Fund Management LLC (SFM) is the principal asset manager for the Open Society Foundations – one of the world’s largest private philanthropic funders. SFM invests globally in a wide range of strategies and asset classes, including public equities, fixed income, commodities, foreign exchange, alternative assets and private equity. Vintage Investment Partners Vintage is a global venture firm that invests in venture funds and startups via primary and secondary transactions. Korea Venture Investment Corp KVIC invests in VC funds globally, managing the ‘Korea Fund of Funds’ backed by Korean governments. Argonautic Ventures Argonautic Ventures is a Venture Capital and Hedge Fund that focuses on a handful of emerging and mature industries. Mousse Partners Mousse Partners is the investment division of Mousse Investments Limited that manages a proprietary global portfolio of investments. Top Tier Capital Partners Top Tier Capital Partners is a venture capital fund of funds, co-investment, and secondaries manager investing. Next Play Capital Next Play Capital is a venture investment firm that focuses on both funds and direct co-investments. Greenspring GA is a comprehensive platform focused on fund, direct and secondary investments solely within the venture capital asset class. Sapphire Ventures Sapphire is a venture capital firm that partners with visionary teams and venture funds to build companies. Willougghby Capital Willoughby Capital is an investment firm focused on partnering with growth companies across private and public markets. Pritzler Vlock Family Office Pritzker Vlock Family Office (PVFO) manages a diverse and international asset base that includes emerging bio tech and medical device companies, consumer technology products, real estate and more. Created with a vision to back great people with industry changing ideas, PVFO is a family backed organization that operates with a singular goal: to invest in capital efficient opportunities that result in meaningful and lasting impacts. Seven Valleys Seven Valleys is a New York City-based family office. The family office manages a portfolio across investments in commercial real estate, venture capital, private equity and other asset classes. Related resource: Carried Interest in Venture Capital: What It Is and How It Works Keeping Your LPs Up to Date with Visible Over 400+ funds are tracking key metrics from their portfolio companies and keeping their Limited Partners up to date using Visible. Impress your LPs with data-informed, easy-to-build, updates about your portfolio and fund performance. Related resource: Understanding the Role of a Venture Partner in Startups

What is a Portfolio Review Meeting in Venture Capital A portfolio review meeting in the context of Venture Capital is a dedicated time for the investment and operational team members at an investment firm to align on recent updates across the portfolio. Other purposes of this meeting are to exchange cross-functional insights and coordinate the best ways to support portfolio companies. Who typically leads Portfolio Review Meetings? Portfolio review meetings can be led by anyone at the firm but since the meetings are largely focused on updates about portfolio companies, it is often led by the person responsible for collecting and synthesizing updates from portfolio companies on a regular basis. At a smaller firm, this person may be a Partner, and at a larger VC firm, this person often has the title of Platform Manager, Director of Portfolio Operations, or someone in finance. Ultimately, it should be led by someone with a wide-lens view of what is going on across the portfolio. Related Resource –> Portfolio Data Collection Tips for VCs Portfolio Review Meeting Frequency According to a poll led by Visible, 50% of VC’s are hosting Portfolio Review Meetings on a quarterly basis, followed by 29% weekly, and 14% monthly. The frequency of this meeting largely depends on the size of your portfolio company and how hands-on you are with your companies. A quarterly frequency makes sense for most VC firms because 70% of investors are collecting structured data from their companies on a quarterly basis. (Source data is aggregated usage data on Visible’s portfolio monitoring platform used by 350+ VC funds). Three Necessary Elements to Lead an Effective Portfolio Review Meeting 1) Up-to-date, accurate information from portfolio companies Most investors are collecting 5-15 metrics from companies on a quarterly basis. These include core financial KPI’s and sector-specific metrics. Additionally, it’s common to ask for qualitative updates from companies as well to ensure you have a holistic view of how a company is performing. Related Resource –> Which Metrics Should I be Collecting from My Portfolio Companies 2) Customizable visualizations to engage your team Looking at just raw data points from companies can be, well…boring. To get more engagement during Portfolio Review Meetings it’s a great idea to create engaging visualizations that clearly demonstrate the growth journeys your companies are on. By displaying your data in a Flexible Portfolio Company Dashboard your team will be able to more clearly identify trends and insights. To help your team digest the information about portfolio companies, it’s important to keep your data visualizations consistent for each company. Visible makes this easy by allowing you to save custom dashboards as templates and apply them to all companies in just a few clicks. Learn more about creating flexible dashboards for portfolio review meetings in the video below. 3) A Place to Take Notes & Document Action Items It’s a great idea to document meeting discussion notes and action items as soon as they arise during a meeting. Documenting action items on a company’s dashboard is a great way to keep team members accountable for execution because you can refer back to the notes during future meetings. How Investors Are Leveraging Visible to Enhance Portfolio Review Meetings VKAV’s Portfolio Company Dashboards Verod-Kepple Africa Ventures (VKAV), a long-term Visible user, hosts a formal Portfolio Review Meeting on a quarterly basis. During this meeting, Portfolio Review Committee members join to review the performance of the portfolio companies during the quarter. Additionally, VKAV’s investment team holds an internal Portfolio Review Meeting every other week. Right now, the purpose of this meeting is mostly to check the status of action items (either for VKAV or the portfolio company). VKAV keeps track of open action items directly on a company’s dashboard in Visible so that it is linked to the broader context of how the company is performing. View VKAV’s Portfolio Review Dashboard Example –> View Dashboard 01 Advisors Approach to Portfolio Review Meetings 01 Advisors a San Francisco-based venture firm utilizes Visible’s Request feature to streamline the way they collect data from companies on a quarterly basis. The team meets 1-2 times per quarter for an internal Portfolio Review meeting. Check out their meeting agenda outline below. 01 Advisors Portfolio Review Meeting Agenda Investment Strategy Portfolio Company Categorization Reserve Allocation Strategy Portfolio Company Support Learn more about how 01 Advisors uses Visible for the internal portfolio review meetings in this video.

As a venture capital investor, it’s critical to maintain accurate, up-to-date information about your portfolio companies and investment data. This helps investors make data-informed investment decisions, provide better portfolio support, fulfill audit requirements with relative ease, and not to mention, impress LPs. What’s even better than just having your data well-organized and easy to find, is when investors can seamlessly turn that data into meaningful insights that are easy to share with internal team members and stakeholders. Below we describe three different dashboard types supported in Visible that help investors surface and communicate important updates about their portfolio. Flexible Dashboards for Internal Portfolio Reviews Flexible dashboards in Visible allow investors to integrate metric data, investment data, and properties directly into a dashboard. The flexible grid layout means investors have control over how they want to visualize and communicate updates to their team. Investors commonly use these dashboards to facilitate internal portfolio review meetings which keeps their team up to date and engaged about important updates across the portfolio. View flexible dashboard examples in the guide below. Fund Performance Dashboards for Communicating with LPs Visible allows investors to track, visualize, and share key fund performance metrics. Investors can choose from 14+ different chart types and use custom colors to incorporate their branding into their dashboards. The fund metrics supported in Visible include: TVPI DPI RVPI MOIC IRR Unrealized and realized FMV Total Invested Capital Called and more. Learn about the 30+ fund metrics supported in Visible. Related resource: VC Fund Performance Metrics 101 View a Fund Performance Dashboard example in the guide below. Portfolio Metric Dashboards for Cross-Portfolio Analysis As a venture capital portfolio grows, it’s helpful for investors to be able to pull quick insights across all their companies. Visible’s Portfolio Metric Dashboards let investors compare performance across the entire portfolio for a single metric. This view can be filtered by a custom segment and time period. Visible also automatically calculates quick insights such as: Total Min Max Median Quartiles View a Portfolio Metric Dashboard in the guide below. Visible’s dashboards give investors control over how they want to track and visualize their portfolio KPIs and investment data. Learn more about Visible.

If your portfolio data is patched together in an excel file with questionable version control or is buried in a slide deck prepared six months ago, your team is likely missing the opportunity to take action on important portfolio insights. Up-to-date, accurate portfolio insights help venture capital investors: Provide better portfolio support Make data-driven investment decisions Validate markups and markdowns during evaluation exercises or an audit Demonstrate traction to LPs while fundraising for future funds …but only if the insights are accessible. Visible’s dashboards help venture capital investors visualize and explain the journey companies are on in a way that actually resonates. Learn more about leveraging dashboards in Visible. About the Guide This guide demonstrates how venture capital investors can turn their portfolio data into actionable, accessible insights. The guide also includes examples of three different flexible dashboard types in Visible. Topics covered include: Portfolio data collection best practices Creating dashboards for internal portfolio reviews (Flexible dashboards) Identifying cross-portfolio insights (Portfolio metric dashboards) Sharing portfolio insights with Limited Partners (One pagers) Visible has helped over 350+ venture capital funds streamline the way they collect, analyze, and report on core metrics from their portfolio companies on a regular basis.

Solo GPs (the sole general partner of a fund) are a unique and growing breed of venture capitalists. Unlike larger venture capital firms, solo GPs manage their own investment funds independently, without the backing of a larger organization. While solo GPs may have smaller teams and fewer resources, they offer unique strengths and benefits to startups. They are often more nimble, able to make faster investment decisions and move more quickly to support portfolio companies. They may also have more flexibility in terms of investment focus, as they are not beholden to the constraints of a larger firm. However, solo GPs also face challenges such as limited resources and networks compared to larger firms, and they may need to work harder to build credibility with investors and establish their reputation in the industry. Despite some challenges they may face, solo GPs are increasingly playing an important role in the venture capital ecosystem, providing a valuable source of funding and support for startups across various industries and stages of growth. Investment Focus of Solo GPs The investment focus of solo GPs varies widely depending on the individual investor’s background, interests, and expertise. Some solo GPs may specialize in a particular sector, such as healthcare or fintech, while others may focus on a specific stage of the startup lifecycle, such as seed or early-stage investing. Additionally, some solo GPs may have a geographic focus, investing primarily in companies in a certain region or market. For startups seeking funding from solo GPs, it is important to understand the individual investor’s investment focus and determine whether their startup aligns with that focus. This can help increase the likelihood of a successful investment and ensure that the startup receives the support and resources it needs to succeed. Resource: You can filter through our Connect Investor Database based on these focuses Raising Capital from Solo GPs Versus Traditional VC Solo GPs and traditional VCs differ in several ways when it comes to the investment process, including how they source deals, conduct due diligence, make investment decisions, and approach risk and portfolio management. Sourcing deals Traditional VCs often have larger teams and more resources, which allows them to source deals through a wider variety of channels, including conferences, events, and partnerships with accelerators and incubators. Solo GPs, on the other hand, often rely more heavily on their personal networks and referrals from other investors. Due diligence Traditional VCs often have larger teams and more specialized expertise, which allows them to conduct more detailed and comprehensive due diligence on potential investments. Solo GPs, on the other hand, may have to rely more on their own knowledge and experience when conducting due diligence, which can make the process more time-consuming. Investment decisions Traditional VCs often have more rigorous investment decision-making processes, which may involve multiple rounds of pitches, due diligence, and review by investment committees. Solo GPs, on the other hand, may be able to make investment decisions more quickly and independently, given their smaller team and more streamlined decision-making process. Risk management Traditional VCs often have a more diversified portfolio, which can help mitigate risk. They may also have more resources to devote to risk management and monitoring of portfolio companies. Solo GPs, on the other hand, may take a more hands-on approach to risk management, given their closer involvement with their portfolio companies. Portfolio management Traditional VCs often have larger portfolios, which can make it more challenging to provide individualized attention and support to each portfolio company. Solo GPs, on the other hand, often have smaller portfolios, which allows them to provide more personalized attention and support to each investment. Overall, the differences in the investment process between solo GPs and traditional VCs often stem from differences in team size, resources, and investment focus. Traditional VCs may have more specialized expertise and more resources to devote to due diligence and portfolio management, while solo GPs may take a more hands-on approach and rely more heavily on personal connections and networks when sourcing deals. Benefits of Solo GPs Raising capital from a solo GP can be a different experience for a founder compared to raising capital from a larger venture capital firm or other types of investors. Some of the key differences and benefits include: Personal relationship With a solo GP, the founder will likely have a more personal relationship with the investor. This is because the GP is typically the sole decision-maker and has a more hands-on approach to working with their portfolio companies. Easier access It may be easier for founders who are just starting out or who have limited connections in the industry to get access to Solo GPs. They may also be more willing to take a chance on early-stage startups that have not yet established a track record. Long-term partnership Solo GPs often view their investments as long-term partnerships, rather than just financial transactions. This means that the GP may be more invested in the success of the startup and more willing to provide ongoing support and guidance. Faster decision-making Solo GPs often have a shorter decision-making process compared to larger firms, as they don’t have to go through multiple layers of approval. This can be beneficial for founders who need to move quickly to secure funding. Smaller funding amounts Solo GPs typically manage smaller funds compared to larger firms, so they may offer smaller investment amounts. However, this can be beneficial for early-stage startups that are not yet ready for large rounds of funding. More flexible terms Solo GPs often have more flexibility in terms of investment focus and deal terms. They may be more willing to invest in unconventional or niche markets and may be open to negotiating terms that are more favorable to the founder. While solo GPs can offer many benefits to founders, they also have limited resources compared to larger firms. This means that founders may need to be more self-sufficient and may not receive the same level of support and resources that they would from a larger firm. Solo GPs to Watch Underline Ventures GP: Bogdan Iordache About: Underline Ventures partners at the earliest stages with Eastern European founders building high-growth startups with global ambitions Thesis: We believe founders should be in control of the company they are building. We subscribe to their strategy and align our interests for the long term, while providing a needed critical view. And, if things don’t go as planned, which they often do, we help them through thick and thin. Investment stages: Pre-Seed, Seed, Remote First Capital GP: Andreas Klinger About: A group of remote founders, operators and early investors investing in the next generation of remote work. Thesis: First investor in ideas by global talent going after global opportunities. Investment stages: Pre-Seed, Angel, Early Stage Wischoff Ventures GP: Nichole Wischoff About: Wischoff Ventures invests in early stage, high growth technology companies bringing massive offline industries online. Investment stages: Pre- Seed and Seed Coelius Capital GP: Zach Coelius About: Coelius Capital provides entrepreneurial early-stage capital for technology startups. Investment stages: Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A Streamlined Ventures GP: Ullas Naik Location: Palo Alto, California, United States About: We are a seed stage investment firm rooted in the belief that the founders of companies are the true heroes of entrepreneurial value creation in our society. We are passionate about working with visionary founders to help them create exceptional companies and help them capture as much of that value for themselves as possible – they deserve it! If we stay true to our beliefs and we are good at what we do, then we will benefit too. Our style of engagement with all our stakeholders focuses on low ego behavior, mutual respect and clarity of thought. We seed invest in visionary founders who are building the next generation of transformational technology companies. Investment stages: Series A, Seed Buckley Ventures GP: Josh Buckley Location: San Francisco, California, United States About: We partner with entrepreneurs to build ambitious technology companies Investment stages: Seed, Growth Anamcara GP: Annelie Ajami About: Anamcara is a pre-/seed stage fund investing angel-size checks in B2B companies across Europe. We are reimagining the future of commerce by investing in companies that are leading the new wave of business technologies. Thesis: Anamcara means ‘soul friend’, a person with who can share anything with without judgment. Our mission is to find the best founders and to build meaningful partnerships to help them achieve greatness. Investment stages: Seed, Pre-Seed Buckley Ventures GP: Josh Buckley Location: San Francisco, California, United States About: We partner with entrepreneurs to build ambitious technology companies Investment stages: Seed to Growth Stellation Capital GP: Peter Boyce II Location: Brooklyn, New York, United States About: Stellation’s mission is based on the belief that communities of learning, mission-driven, talent magnets shape the future of technology in service of improving human livelihood. We bank on people because we believe they are the fundamental atomic units of every successful company, even and especially at their earliest stages. Investment stages: Seed to Growth D2 Fund GP: Amory Poulden Location: London, United Kingdom Thesis: Technical founders building capital efficient businesses Traction metrics requirements: No, although we prefer to see some signs that you have built a first version of your product. Sales carry enormous weight. Investment stages: Pre-Seed, Seed Zeev Ventures GP: Oren Zeev Location: Palo Alto, California, United States About: Zeev Ventures is an early-stage venture fund that invests in technology, financial, e-commerce, and consumer service sectors. Investment stages: Seed and Series A Beyond Capital GP: Gloria Bäuerlein Location: Berlin, Germany About: We are a €21.5M angel-operator fund dedicated to partnering with exceptional European pre-seed and seed founders who aspire to build transformational B2B companies. We aim to support you like a founding team member, not like another investor, even if it means negotiating against ourselves. We work tirelessly to support you on your journey, connecting you with early customers, world-class talent, and global investors. We strive to be the highest value per euro invested on your cap table. We collaborate with other investors and will help you build an exceptional support group, optimising for your success and without our own agenda. Investment stages: Pre- Seed and Seed Air Street Capital GP: Nathan Benaich About: Air Street Capital is a venture capital firm investing in AI-first technology and life science companies. We invest as early as possible and enjoy iterating through product, market and technology strategy from day 1. Thesis: AI-first technology and life science companies. Investment stages: Pre-Seed, Seed No Label Ventures GP: Ramzi Rafih Location: London, England About: No Label Ventures (NLV) is a European early-stage VC fund built to capitalise on the over-performance of immigrant founders. NLV backs exceptional immigrant founders from Day 1, helps them with visa and immigration, as well as introductions to clients and downstream funding. Investment stages: Early Stage Nomad Capital GP: Marc McCabe About: Nomad Capital is a seed stage fund focused on investing in emerging companies building marketplaces and B2B software. Nomad is founded by Marc McCabe who previously worked at Google, SV Angel and was an early employee at Airbnb where he led numerous projects including Airbnb for Work and Samara. Since leaving Airbnb in 2018, Marc has been angel investing and supporting clients with fundraising, business strategy, hiring and organizational design. Investment stages: Seed Curious Capital GP: Andrew Dumont Location: Seattle, Washington About: Since 2017, and long before that as operators, we’ve been bettering the odds for companies we work with. We do this as minority investors in our seed companies, majority owners in the companies we operate, and occasionally with outside companies we advise and consult. Every company we support benefits from our scaling machine. Curious was founded by Andrew Dumont, a former technology CEO with nearly 20 years of hard-earned experience operating and scaling early-stage companies. Thesis: As investors and operators, we join you in the trenches to better the odds. Curious has three distinct pillars. An investment arm that supports seed-stage companies, a holding company that operates majority-owned businesses, and a machine that helps them reach scale. We’re the empathetic partner you’ll want on your cap table and in your corner. Investment stages: Seed Pretiosum Ventures GP: Yana Abramova About: We invest in the Future of Businesses, Web2 and Web3 Infrastructure your company should care about. Investment stages: Pre-Seed, Seed 20VC GP: Harry Stebbings About: Building the next great financial institution at the intersection of venture capital and media. 20VC raised $140M across two separate vehicles from some of the most renowned limited partners in venture including MIT, Harvard, Sequoia Heritage, and RIT Capital Partners. Early breakout investments include BeReal, Sorare, Linktree, Nex Health, Merge API, Linear, TheyDo.io, and many more. Investment stages: Pre-Seed and Seed Start Your Next Round with Visible We believe great outcomes happen when founders forge relationships with investors and potential investors. We created our Connect Investor Database to help you in the first step of this journey. Instead of wasting time trying to figure out investor fit and profile for their given stage and industry, we created filters allowing you to find VCs and accelerators who are looking to invest in companies like you. Check out all our investors here and filter as needed. After learning more about them with the profile information and resources given you can reach out to them with a tailored email. To help craft that first email check out 5 Strategies for Cold Emailing Potential Investors. After finding the right Investor you can create a personalized investor database with Visible. Combine qualified investors from Visible Connect with your own investor lists to share targeted Updates, decks, and dashboards. Start your free trial here.

Raise capital, update investors and engage your team from a single platform. Try Visible free for 14 days. A fundraise is full of challenges. On top of building a fundable business, meeting with the right investors, and working through due diligence — you need to share the right documents, with the right investors, at the right time. Over the course of a fundraise, it is all but guaranteed that you’ll need to share a pitch deck, data rooms, and other assets with potential investors. When expecting to communicate with 50+ investors it is crucial to have a reliable system and tool to share your most important fundraising materials. Related Read: What Should be in a Startup’s Data Room? Below, we highlight some of the most popular alternatives to DocSend when it comes to reliably sharing your data room: 1. Visible Integrated fundraising tools for every part of the process. At Visible, we like to compare a fundraise to a traditional B2B sales and marketing funnel: At the top of the funnel, you are finding potential investors via cold outreach and warm introductions. In the middle of the funnel, you are nurturing potential investors with meetings, pitch decks, updates, and other communications. At the bottom of the funnel, you are working through due diligence and hopefully closing new investors. Just as a sales and marketing team has dedicated tools — we believe the same should be true for founders managing their current and potential investors. With Visible you can manage and track every interaction. Find investors at the top of your funnel with our free investor database, Visible Connect Track your conversations and move them through your funnel with our Fundraising CRM Share your pitch deck and monthly updates with potential investors Organize and share your most vital fundraising documents with data rooms Visible Data Rooms allow you to re-purpose your existing Visible assets to quickly build and securely share (via login or link) your data room. We’ll offer granular data so you can understand how different investors are engaging with your data room materials. Related Read: Manage Every Part of Your Fundraising Funnel with Visible Data Rooms Key features Fully integrated with our other fundraising tools — like our Fundraising CRM, Pitch Deck Sharing, Investor Updates, and Dashboards Segmented permissions so you can share individual folders, documents, and assets with different investor groups Advanced analytics so you can understand how individual investors are engaging with your data room materials Manage your fundraise from start to finish with Visible. Give it a free try for 14 days here. Pricing options You can learn more about Visible pricing here. Visible Lite Plan includes data rooms, pitch deck sharing, dashboards, and updates and starts at $59/mo Visible Pro Plan includes the above with more usage and advanced features and starts at $99/mo Visible Scale includes the above with full customization, custom domains, and other advanced features and starts at $199/mo 2. DocuSign Best for electronic signatures. As put by their team, “Contract collaboration doesn’t belong in email, documents and chats. With your most important documents stored and managed in one place, you can focus on what matters most.” Learn more about Docusign and it’s key features below: Key features 400+ direct integrations Easy electronic signatures Contract lifecycle management Pricing options DocuSign pricing differs depending on what products and features you’d like to use. Their trademark eSignature tool starts at $15/month and goes up to $65/month depending on usage. 3. Paperflite Best-rated sales content management. Paperflite is file management software focused on sales and marketing organizations. As put by their team, “Paperflite’s dynamic content hub brings all your sales collaterals, playbooks, marketing materials, and content your teams need and use every day from multiple sources in one single intuitive interface.” Learn more about Paperflite and its key features below: Key features Intelligent content discovery Direct integrations to a mailbox Analytics to help understand how prospects are engaging with your content As we mentioned above Paperflite is highly geared towards sales and marketing teams and does not mention use of data rooms for fundraising. Pricing options Paperflite pricing starts at $50/month and scales up to $500/month depending on feature usage. 4. emPower Document management system. Empower offers document management geared towards learning at large organizations. With their suite of tools, you can organize and share your organization’s important policies, quizzes, and documents. Etc. Learn more about emPower and its key features below: Key features Centralized training materials for teams Create your own quizzes for training Set automatic email reminders for team member training assignements Pricing options The team at emPower does not publicly list pricing for their product. 5. Showell Best for sales enablement. Showell is a centralized place for sales and marketing teams to centralize their most important documents. Showell is especially useful for sales enablement leaders looking to set their sales and marketing teams up for success. Learn more about Showell and its key features below: Key features Single platform to centralize all sales and marketing collateral Can be used to share and present your sales materials to clients real-time Content tracking and analytics to understand how leads are engaging with content Pricing options Showell offers a free plan. Depending on usage and number of users prices will scale. Their first paid plan starts at $25/month. 6. 360Learning Best for knowledge sharing. 360Learning is a tool dedicated to learning and development managers looking to level up their team training and development. Learn more about 360Learning and its key features below: Key features Direct integrations to automatically centralize vital L&D documents and materials Use off the shelf content created by the 360Learning team to learn from the best organizations that have mastered L&D Workflow tools to help encourage your team members to move along with their learning materials Pricing options 360Learning pricing is based on individual users. Per-seat pricing starts at $8/user for the first 100 users and offers custom pricing from there. 7. Box Best maximizing sales and customer growth. Box offers secure document management for teams across an organization. In addition to their document management and storage, Box offers tools to help with esignatures. Learn more about Box and its key features below: Key features Box offers an e-Signature tool to help users sign critical documents Box offers direct integrations with thousands of tools Workflows to help build process and systems around your document sharing Pricing options Box pricing is based on number of users. Plans start at $20/month per user (with a minimum of 3 users). Depending on usage and features, plans can scale to as much as $47/month (per user with a minimum of 3 users). 8. Docuware Best for digitizing your paperwork. Docuware focuses on digitizing business paperwork to help teams boost productivity. Docuware helps with documents in every corner of the business from HR to sales materials. Learn more about a few of Docuware’s key features below: Key features Fully automate invoice processing with their digitization and workflows Support remote team members with digital documents Archive and store critical documents Pricing options Docuware does not publicly list its pricing options and plans. Share documents and connect with investors using Visible At Visible, we oftentimes compare a fundraise to a B2B sales and marketing funnel. At the top of your funnel, you are finding new investors. In the middle, you are nurturing and pitching potential investors. At the bottom of the funnel, you are working through diligence and ideally closing new investors. With the introduction of data rooms, you can now manage every aspect of your fundraising funnel with Visible. Find investors at the top of your funnel with our free investor database, Visible Connect Track your conversations and move them through your funnel with our Fundraising CRM Share your pitch deck and monthly updates with potential investors Organize and share your most vital fundraising documents with data rooms Manage your fundraise from start to finish with Visible. Give it a free try for 14 days here.

At Visible, we often compare a venture fundraise to a traditional B2B sales and marketing funnel. At the top of your funnel, you are adding potential investors via warm introductions and cold outreach In the middle of the funnel, you are nurturing potential investors with meetings, updates, pitch decks, and other materials At the bottom of the funnel, you are hopefully adding new investors to your cap table Just as a traditional sales and marketing funnel starts by finding your ideal customer, the same idea is true with fundraising — you might consider location, check size, investment velocity, etc. If you are a founder in Silicon Valley, check out our list of investors in the area below: 1. Bessemer Venture Partners Location: Redwood City, CA – San Francisco, CA Focus: BVP invests in many focus areas. A few key areas include – SaaS, cloud, healthcare, vertical software, and marketplaces. Related Resource: 32 Top VC Investors Actively Funding SaaS Startups Stage: BVP invests across all stages. Typically writing checks anywhere between $100K and $50M. As put by their team, “Bessemer Venture Partners helps entrepreneurs lay strong foundations to build and forge long-standing companies. With more than 135 IPOs and 200 portfolio companies in the enterprise, consumer and healthcare spaces, Bessemer supports founders and CEOs from their early days through every stage of growth.” Notable investments: Twilio Pinterest Shopify Yelp Twitch 2. Citi Ventures Location: Palo Alto, CA Focus: Citi Ventures invests in 7 key focus areas: Fintech Data Analytics & Machine Learning Future of Commerce Security & Enterprise IT Customer Experience & Marketing Proptech DLT & Digital Assets Related Resource: FinTech Venture Capital Investors to Know Stage: Citi Ventures invests across all stages with a focus on Series B and later. As put by their team, “Citi Ventures is committed to charting the unknown in a world of unprecedented change and disruption. We invest in innovative startups, and we work with our colleagues, clients, and the innovation ecosystem to experiment with next-generation technologies.” Notable investments: Some of Citi Ventures’ most notable investments include: C2FO Docker Honey 3. Amplify Partners Location: Menlo Park, CA – San Francisco, CA Focus: Amplify Partners focuses on companies building developer tools & computer infrastructure, machine learning & artificial intelligence, data & analytics, and cybersecurity. Related Resource: 15 Cybersecurity VCs You Should Know Stage: As put by their team, “Amplify is an early, early stage investor: we meet many of our founders well before they start their companies, or even settle on a product idea.” The Amplify team further goes on to state, “We believe that technical problems are best solved by the people who experience them firsthand. Our founders tackle what bothered them and their teams as practitioners. Empathy for your end user is much more powerful when you are your end user. From the start, Amplify has been working with engineers, professors, researchers, and open source project creators to help turn their bold ideas into beloved products and companies. Long live the technical.” Describe this venture capital firm and why they are a notable firm in Silicon Valley. Notable investments: Datadog Gorgias Primer 4. Accel Location: Palo Alto, CA – San Francisco, CA Focus: Accel is industry agnostic in their investment focus. Stage: Accel invest across all stages. As put by their team, “Accel is a leading venture capital firm that invests in people and their companies from the earliest days through all phases of private company growth.” Notable investments: 1Password Away Invision 5. UpHonest Capital Location: Give the location of this firm. Focus: List the industries of focus for this firm. Stage: Give the funding stage(s) this firm invests in. As put by their team, “UpHonest Capital is a sector agnostic early stage VC based in Silicon Valley. Our thesis is using our cross border network and information arbitrage to invest in tech driven founders in the U.S. and the next generation of high-impact Chinese and Chinese-American founders. We identify and invest in the next wave of early stage startups in consumer, enterprise and deeptech.” Notable investments: Ironclad Substack Instacart 6. Designer Fund Location: San Francisco, CA Focus: Designer Fund is industry agnostic. Stage: Designer Fund invest in early stage companies that “use design to improve health, sustainability, and prosperity for all people.” As put by their team, “Designer Fund invests between $100K – $1M in tech startups that are design leaders including Stripe, Gusto, and Omada Health. Designer Fund specializes in helping design products and scale design teams through their community of designers from companies like Apple, Facebook, Google, Airbnb, Pinterest, and Dropbox.” Notable investments: Some of Designer Fund’s most notable investments include: Framer Gusto Stripe 7. GSR Ventures Location: Menlo Park, CA Focus: GSR is focused on healthcare and healthtech companies. Stage: GSR is focused on early stage companies. As put by their team, “Founded in 2004, GSR Ventures is one of the world’s most successful early-stage venture firms, with over $3 billion under management. We are focused on early-stage digital health companies that leverage emerging technology to transform the healthcare landscape.” Notable investments: Alpha Glimpse Nimble 8. GGV Capital Location: Menlo Park, CA Focus: GGV Capital is industry agnostic. Stage: GGV Capital invest across multiple stages. As put by their team, “GGV Capital is a global venture capital firm focused on multi-stage, sector-focused investments. Recognizing that the talent to build great companies can come from anywhere, the firm invests in founders building category-leading companies around the world. Founded in 2000 with roots in Singapore and Silicon Valley, GGV has expanded with additional offices in San Francisco, Shanghai, and Beijing.” Notable investments: Airbnb Slack Opendoor 9. Expa Location: San Francisco, CA Focus: Expa is industry agnostic and focuses on “tech-enabled” companies Stage: Expa invests in early-stage startups and also helps launch companies via their studio. As put by their team, “We fund passionate founders that are building revolutionary, tech-enabled companies. We invest in startups at the earliest stages. Expa founders receive access to a global community of founders, startup resources, funding, and personalized support from our network of operators.” Notable investments: Metabase Kit Clyde 10. Artiman Ventures Location: Palo Alto, CA Focus: Artiman Ventures is industry agnostic Stage: Artiman Ventures focuses early-stage investments As put by their team, “Artiman is an early-stage sector agnostic venture fund with offices in Silicon Valley and Bangalore. We are seeking to invest in entrepreneurs building white space companies that have the potential to create or disrupt multi-billion dollar markets. As former entrepreneurs, we bring empathy, curiosity, passion, experience, and (occasionally) patience to the table. As investors, we bring capital plus access to a network that reflects the diversity of the firm and our portfolio. Artiman was founded in 2001 and has over $1 billion under management.” Notable investments: Aditazz Airwide ApplyBoard 11. Sapphire Capital Location: Menlo Park, CA – San Francisco, CA Focus: Sapphire Ventures invest in many areas: AI/ML B2B SaaS Crypto Cybersecurity Data & Analytics DevOps Fintech Healthcare Vertical SaaS Related Resource: 10 VC Firms Investing in Web3 Companies Stage: Sapphire Ventures is focused on growth and expansion stage companies. As put by their team, “Sapphire is a leading global technology-focused venture capital firm with more than $10.2 billion in AUM and team members across Austin, London, New York, Menlo Park and San Francisco. For more than two decades, Sapphire has partnered with visionary teams and venture funds to help scale companies of consequence. Since its founding, Sapphire has invested in more than 170 companies globally resulting in more than 30 Public Listings and 45 acquisitions.” Notable investments: Box Chargebee DocuSign 12. Corner Ventures Location: Palo Alto, CA Focus: Corner Ventures is industry agnostic Stage: Corner Ventures invest in growth stage companies. As put by their team, “Corner Ventures is a venture capital firm investing in companies as they hit the inflection point of growth, supporting founders and companies as they transition from promising startups to category-defining leaders. Founded in 2004 as DAG Ventures, DAG Ventures was rebranded Corner Ventures in 2018 by its founders as the firm’s next chapter.” Notable investments: Instawork Grubhub Yelp 13. K9 Ventures Location: Palo Alto, CA Focus: As put by their team, “We do not follow a sector strategy like other venture firms. Instead, we look for either core new technologies or radically new markets.” Stage: K9 Ventures is focused on pre-seed and early-stage investments. K9 wants to be the first institutional check. As put by their team, “K9 Ventures is a technology-focused Pre-Seed fund based in Palo Alto, California. We believe that extraordinary things are possible when great teams come together around technology. We primarily invest at the pre-seed stage, when the founding team is established and just starting to build the product, but we sometimes invest even earlier and engage with founders when they’re just thinking about the idea and haven’t yet incorporated their company. K9 wants to be the first institutional/professional capital raised by the companies we invest in. This means we typically engage with companies either when they have raised no capital at all (preferred) or when they have raised only friends' and family money. If a company is going through an incubator/accelerator, then that’s probably already too late for K9 to engage.” Notable investments: Twilio Lyft Card.io 14. Tribe Capital Location: San Francisco Focus: Tribe Capital is focus agnostic. Stage: Tribe Capital is stage agnostic. As put by their team, “Tribe Capital is a venture capital firm focused on capturing a perpetual edge in venture and crypto using data science. The team is made up of investors, engineers and scientists who use data to model venture-backed private companies. The San Francisco-based firm has approximately $1.5 billion in assets under management.” Notable investments: Bolt Docker Kraken Network with investors in Silicon Valley with Visible As we mentioned at the beginning of this post, we often compare a venture fundraise to a traditional B2B sales and marketing funnel. Just as sales and marketing teams have dedicated tools, shouldn’t a founder managing a fundraise and their current investors? Raise capital, update investors and engage your team from a single platform. Try Visible free for 14 days.

Investor Reporting Meaning & Definition Put simply, the definition of investor reporting is the act of sharing key qualitative and quantitative data with your financial investors. Investor reporting can look different for different companies, depending on the company stage and vertical. A pre-revenue company may share a light, qualitative investor report, while a publicly traded company is obliged to share an in-depth report covering everything from executive compensation to granular financials. Whether a company is just 2 founders in a garage or 30000 employees spread across the globe, investor reporting is a vital part of running a successful business. Investor reporting can also take place outside of a physical report. The function of investor reporting, or an investor relations team, also covers board meetings, press conferences, releasing financial data, etc. For a publicly traded company, the meaning of investor reporting involves more regulation and knowledge of government policy. Whereas a startup will communicate directly with their investors, an investor reporting team at a publicly held company primarily deals with analysts who are responsible for providing an opinion to the public on the potential of investment in said company. At a startup, or privately held company, the meaning of investor reporting slightly changes. Instead of focusing on sharing financial and legal information for the public to make an investment decision, privately held companies often focus on engaging and leveraging their investors. Unlike a publicly held company, a privately held company is not legally obliged to report to their investors. However, the numbers show that companies who have taken on venture capital it is beneficial to practice investor reporting. According to our data, companies that regularly communicate to their current investors are twice as likely to raise follow-on funding. Outside of the increasing the likelihood of raising follow on funding reporting to your private investors has other benefits. Chances are if you have accepted venture capital, the venture capitalist and partners at the firm can offer you a wealth of knowledge, experience, and introductions. By practicing investor reporting, founders can build a relationship with their investors and increase their chances of receiving help, time, and introductions from their investors. Related Resource: How to Build a Strong Investor Relations Strategy Investor Reporting Software While most startup founders and leaders know they should be sending investor reports, it can often get lost in the shuffle of building a great product, repeatable sales process, and attracting top talent. To help combat this, there are several solutions and products that help relieve the stress of investor reporting and build a professional and repeatable investor reporting process. The most common investor reporting solution is a simple email update template. These are generally sent on a monthly or quarterly basis and include a recap from the previous period, important company key performance indicators, big wins, losses, and asks for your investors. Visible Updates are a solution to bring a professional, beautiful, and engaging touch to your investor updates. Visible allows you to connect your key data, build beautiful charts, and add qualitative data to create beautiful investor updates. Send your Visible Investor Updates via email, slack, or PDF. In turn, we’ll provide engagement statistics to see how your investors are interacting with your Updates. Visible also allows founders to segment different groups of investors and different stakeholders. For example, a founder may want to send a more in-depth investor report to their board members and maybe a liter version to their less engaged investors. Investor reports can also be used as a means to nurture potential investors. No matter how you define investor reporting, it can be a vital—and often overlooked—aspect of building a strong venture-backed business. Investor Email Templates and Examples Investor Relations Examples As mentioned above, investor relations and reporting can take different forms. Investor relations examples vary greatly from public to private companies, and from early stage to growth stage companies. We’ve highlighted a few of our favorite investor relations examples below. For the examples, we’ll share they are generally intended to be sent on a monthly basis. We’ve also created a library of great investor relations examples. Related Resource: Investor Relationship Management 101: How to Manage Your Startups Interactions with Investors Monthly Update Email Templates Our standard startup investor reporting example The standard investor reporting template by the team at Visible. What we have found to be best practices for investor reporting collected from our users and investor thought leaders. Techstars Minimum Viable Investor Update Email Template In the “Minimum Viable Investor Update”, Jens Lapinski, Former Managing Director of Techstars METRO, lays out 3 items that he finds most useful in his portfolio company updates. Founder Collective “Fill-in-the-blank” Investor Update Email Template An investor Update template for busy founders put together by the team at Founder Collective. Simply fill out the bolded sections and have your investor Updates out the door in no time. Kima Ventures Investor Update Email Template A monthly update email template put together by Jean and the team at Kima. Quickly fill in the quantitative and qualitative data Kima finds most useful. GitLab Investor Update Email Template A 6 part monthly update email template put together by the team at GitLab. Built for investors to quickly read and locate the information that is most relevant to them. Shoelace: Investor Update Email Template A monthly update email template based off of Reza Khadjavi’s, Founder & CEO of Shoelace, investor update email used to wow investors. Coding VC: Investor Update Email Template A monthly investor update email template from Leo Polovets, the general partner at Sosa Ventures, consisting of 5 sections that can be repeated on a monthly basis. Y Combinator Investor Update TemplateA monthly investor update email template from Aaron Harris of Y Combinator focusing on major KPIs and asks for your investors. Other Monthly Update Email Templates Outside of regularly sending your investors monthly email templates, founders will also want to send other stakeholders email reports. This can include your team, individual business units, advisors, clients, etc. We’ve highlighted a few of our favorite stakeholder update email templates below: The CEO Note Template An Update to share information across your company using different methods and styles used by leaders like Marc Benioff, Scott Dorsey, and Kyle Porter. Fred Wilson: The Weekly Update Email A template based off of Fred Wilson’s Weekly Email intended for founders to share what’s on their mind, what happened the past week, and what’s on the schedule for the upcoming week. All-Hands Team Update Email Template An Update template intended to share before your next All-Hands meeting or share after to summarize the meeting. Largely based off of Square’s Town Hall meetings and is broken into 3 major categories; The Team, Mission & Goals, and Agenda & Questions. Pre-Board Meeting Update Email Template A Pre-Board Meeting Update Template that you can share with your board to help you make the most of your meeting time. By sending over a quick packet before your next meeting it will allow everyone to have time to prepare and come ready to discuss the topics that truly matter to the business. V2MOM Monthly Update Email Template V2MOM is a management process and acronym standing for vision, values, mission, objectives, and measures. Portfolio Management Software for Investors While it falls on the shoulders of founders and company operators to report to their investors, it is also important for investors to engage their portfolio companies and transform their portfolio company data into valuable information. A quick reminder from investors to their portfolio companies can help increase the odds of receiving an investor report or data from portfolio companies. Staying on top of portfolio companies allows investors to lend a hand to help the company with their challenges, in turn increasing their portfolio companies’ value. To help investors stay on top of their portfolio, and report to their own investors, there is portfolio management software for investors. At Visible, we have created our own portfolio management software for investors, Visible for Investors. Using portfolio management software, investors can easily lend a hand to their companies and turn their data into actionable reports that can be shared and used across the portfolio. In turn, investors can use this to manage their own investors or limited partners. Investor software generally operates like a traditional customer relationship manager with the customer being their portfolio companies and founders. Our Portfolio Management Software. Visible for investors is investor software to help stay engaged with your founders right from your pocket. Using portfolio management software be the value-add investor that you want to be. Tap into your experience, network, and resources to jump in and help your investments when you see indicators that they may be struggling. Managing an entire portfolio can be tough. Using our portfolio management software easily centralize all of your vital information in one place. From sentiment to investment memos, you’ll be able to customize your Visible instance to your needs. Using automated update request, create your own unique investor report to your firm. Automatically send update requests to your portfolio companies, with scheduled follow-ups, to receive consistent data across your portfolio. Prompt for key metrics, files, operating information and qualitative updates. Investor Management Software Everything we build at Visible is focused on the founder. To help complete the investor Update request founder’s can take advantage of our existing investor management software to tap into our learnings and resources. Easily use our integrations and API to automatically fulfill any investor request. Investor reporting has never been easier with the combination of our investor engagement software and portfolio management software for investors. What is Investor Relations? According to the National Investor Relations Institute, “Investor Relations is a strategic management responsibility that is capable of integrating finance, communication, marketing and securities law compliance to enable the most effective two-way communication between a company, the financial community, and other constituencies, which ultimately contributes to a company’s securities achieving fair valuation.” As we discussed earlier, investor relations can take different forms depending on the owners of the business. Investor relations for a publicly held company will greatly vary than the investor relations for a privately held, venture-backed business. While not required, the benefits of investor relations for a privately held company are instrumental in the growth and health of the company. Sending a simple email update, or creating an investor relations website, allows privately held companies to tap into their investors’ network, experience, knowledge, and ultimately additional capital. At a publicly traded company investor relations is legally obliged to have an internal investor relations team, meet certain requirements, and have the information audited. Often a larger team, the investor relations department is responsible for hosting an investor relations website for the public to access their key information to gather as much information as possible before investing. According to Investopedia, “IR teams are typically tasked with coordinating shareholder meetings and press conferences, releasing financial data, leading financial analyst briefings, publishing reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and handling the public side of any financial crisis.” Benefits & Importance of Investor Relations On the public side, the importance of investor relations is pretty clear. The role is to provide the analyst with vital and required information who in turn who provide public opinion on the company as an investment opportunity. By creating internal audits and becoming the source of truth between all business units. IR can manage an analyst’ expectations in turn influences the overall investment community showing the importance of investor relations in a big way. On the flip side, we have investor relations for privately held companies. In the total opposite fashion, privately held companies are in no way obliged to release their financials and meet any requirements from their investors. However, the benefits and importance of investor relations for a startup can be monumental in the company’s growth and health. The biggest benefit of investor relations is the likelihood of raising additional capital. Venture-backed businesses who send their investors monthly reports are twice as likely to raise follow on funding. As Jason Calacanis, famous angel investor, puts it; “There is another really awesome reason to keep investors updated: they didn’t give you all of their money — they have more! They want to give you more!” Another benefit of investor relations? The investors have likely been in the same situation or encountered it with other investments. At the end of the day, an investors job is to make investments that generate returns for their investors. By using investor relations to share bad news, your investors can step in and help get your company back on track with their depth of knowledge, experience, networks, and capital. All in all, the importance of investors relations at a venture-backed company is vital when it comes to attracting additional capital and talent. Investor Relations Salary and Jobs Since the Public Company Accounting Reform and Investor Protection Act, was passed in 2002 the marketplace for investor relations jobs has greatly increased. An investor relations manager job can cover different facets of a business, but generally involve supporting the release of financial information, investor reports, and legal diligence. Investor relations responsibilities are vital to the life of a business from both the legal and operational standpoint. Investor relations jobs are often found as a subset of the companies public relations or finance department. From a legal standpoint, an investor relations manager is responsible for fulfilling legal requirements and financial documentation. Investor relations managers take company financials and data to turn them into compelling data stories that can be shared with analysts and eventually the public. Investor relations managers need to determine what data will affect the public shareholders and present that in an understandable and compelling way. From an internal standpoint, an investor relations manager is responsible for managing crisis and collecting feedback and passing that along to upper management. As CFI puts it, “Communication is also a two-way street; the IR department is also responsible for forwarding input from significant stakeholders of the company to management. During times of crisis (financial or otherwise), the IR department will advise management with a goal to preserve the company’s relationship with its investors, as well as to mitigate any damage to share prices.” According to Salary.com, an investor relations managers salary typically falls between $100,000 and $140,000. Of course, investor relations salary fluctuates depending on experience, education, certifications, etc. On the flip side, there are also investor relations firms that publicly traded companies can use to take on their investor relations responsibilities. The investor relations salary at a company or at an investor relations firm tend to be in the same range. A couple of popular investor relations firm include, KCSA Strategies, Liolis, and Al Petrie Advisors. Related resource: Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) Analysis: The Purpose, Formula, and How it Works

For many founders, reaching out cold to potential investors is their only option to engage with a potential investor. However, most VC funds are skimming through hundreds of deals every month so it is crucial to put together a brief email that will grab their attention. Jonah Midanik, GP at Forum Ventures, joined us yesterday and broke down a great format for reaching out cold to potential investors: Lead with your strength  You only have 2-3 sentences to grab the attention of a potential investor. As Jonah puts it, “Regardless of round this is always true, lead with your strength.” Your strength could be you were employee #3 at Facebook, you had a consulting business in the domain, a specific metric, etc. Why is your company going to be big  Explain not what your company is but why it is an intriguing investment opportunity. As Jonah put it, “A VC wants to understand why your company is going to be big and why you are the person to do it.” 3 proof points A combination of metrics or other things that prove your company is an intriguing opportunity. These could be specific metrics, customer logos, previous experience, a big-name investor, etc. In addition to cold outreach, Jonah covered all things fundraising for pre-seed and seed-stage founders. Check out the recording here.

With more SaaS companies entering the market, the more SaaS venture capital options we have seen emerge. In order to help you navigate the space, we’ve laid out some helpful information for SaaS founders who are currently looking to scale their businesses and raise Venture Capital. We’ve also put together a list of VC firms with a proven track record of investing in SaaS startups. Using data from our investor database, Visible Connect, we highlight investors across different stages (if you’re looking for only seed-stage investors check out our list of 60+ Active Seed Stage SaaS Investors). Related Resource: Top SaaS Products for Startups You can check out our entire database of SaaS investors here. The Current State of SaaS The SaaS market is currently characterized by rapid growth, technological innovation, and intense competition. SaaS companies that can develop products to meet the evolving needs of businesses and users in a fast-changing landscape are in for a win! The SaaS market is one of the fastest-growing industries globally. The rise of cloud computing has accelerated the growth of the industry, as more businesses look to adopt software solutions that are delivered over the internet. This has led to the development of a wide range of SaaS products that cater to different industries. One of the notable trends in the SaaS market is the increasing adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technologies. SaaS companies are leveraging AI and ML to develop products that can automate processes and provide more personalized experiences for users. This trend is expected to continue, with the global AI market projected to reach $190 billion by 2025. Another trend is the growing importance of data privacy and security. As more businesses move their operations online, there is an increasing need for SaaS products that can provide secure and reliable data storage and management. SaaS companies are investing heavily in cybersecurity to meet this demand, and this has led to the development of new products that offer advanced security features. In terms of competition, the SaaS market is becoming increasingly crowded, with new players entering the market every day. This has led to a focus on differentiation, with SaaS companies looking to develop unique products that can stand out in a crowded market. The rise of open-source software has also increased competition, as businesses can now build their own software solutions using existing code. Related resource: 11 Top Industry Events for SaaS Startups SaaS Metrics Metrics play a crucial role in the success of SaaS startups, and they are especially important when it comes to securing funding from investors. Investors look for companies that can demonstrate strong growth potential and profitability, and metrics provide a way to measure these factors. Here are some of the key metrics that investors will be looking at: Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR): MRR is the amount of revenue that a SaaS company generates each month from its recurring subscriptions. Investors will be looking for steady and predictable growth in MRR, as this indicates that the company has a solid customer base and is generating recurring revenue. Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC): CAC is the amount of money a SaaS company spends to acquire a new customer. Investors will be looking for companies with low CAC, as this indicates that the company has an efficient customer acquisition strategy. Lifetime Value (LTV): LTV is the total amount of revenue that a SaaS company can expect to generate from a customer over the course of their lifetime. Investors will be looking for companies with high LTV, as this indicates that the company has a strong customer retention strategy. Churn: This measures the percentage of customers who cancel their subscription each month. It’s important to keep churn as low as possible to maximize the lifetime value of customers. Monthly Active Users (MAU): This measures the number of unique users who engage with the product each month. It’s important to track this metric to ensure that the business is growing and that users are finding value in the product. To improve these metrics, SaaS founders should focus on developing a strong product and providing excellent customer service. They should also invest in marketing and sales strategies that are tailored to their target audience. To present these metrics to investors, SaaS founders should be prepared with clear and concise presentations that demonstrate the company’s growth potential and profitability. Related Metrics Resources: [Webinar Recording] Using SaaS Metrics to Build Your Fundraising Narrative with Forum Ventures Download Your SaaS Metrics Template: Our SaaS Metrics Template automatically calculates your key SaaS metrics like MRR, ACV, churn, CAC, payback period, and more. Simply enter in your new customer data and the template will handle the rest. Our Ultimate Guide to SaaS Metrics What VCs Look For in SaaS Companies Growth is the key to attracting investment, increasing revenue, and expanding market share. The SaaS industry is highly competitive, and startups must grow quickly to stay ahead of the competition. VCs want to see that your SaaS startup is gaining traction in the market. This can be demonstrated through metrics such as: Customer acquisition Retention Expansion Revenue growth Provide insights into effective customer acquisition strategies, such as content and value-driven marketing, paid advertising, and referral programs. Acquiring new customers is essential, but retaining them is equally important, as it is cheaper to retain existing customers than to acquire new ones. Expansion can come in the form of upselling or cross-selling to existing customers, or expanding into new markets. Scalability is another important factor as VCs are looking for startups that have the potential to grow rapidly and become market leaders. It’s important to have a business model and infrastructure that can support this growth and scale efficiently. By achieving growth through these means, SaaS startups can demonstrate their ability to scale and attract investment, which is critical for continued success. The Role of Technology for a SaaS Startup Technology plays a crucial role in scaling a SaaS business, as it enables companies to automate processes, analyze data, and optimize their operations. Data analytics is key to understanding customer behavior, user engagement, product performance, identifying trends, and making data-driven decisions. By leveraging tools and analyzing this data, SaaS companies can identify areas for improvement, make data-driven decisions, and optimize their products and services to better meet customer needs. For example, data analytics can help companies identify which features are most popular with users, which marketing campaigns are most effective, and which customer segments are most valuable. Automation plays a crucial role in scaling a SaaS business, as it enables companies to streamline their operations, reduce costs, improve efficiency, and can free up time and resources to focus on more strategic initiatives. Cloud infrastructure enables companies to scale their operations, as it provides the flexibility, scalability, and security needed to support a growing customer base. By leveraging cloud computing services like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud Platform, companies can easily scale their infrastructure up or down based on demand, without the need for significant upfront investments in hardware. SaaS Success Stories & How They Got There The success of these SaaS startups can be attributed to their ability to provide innovative solutions that met the needs of their target customers. Their fundraising strategies, customer acquisition tactics, and product development processes all played a crucial role in achieving their goals and building sustainable businesses. In terms of product development, all of these companies focused on building products that were easy to use and provided real value to their customers. They also prioritized customer feedback and made regular updates to improve their products based on user needs. Slack is a communication platform that has revolutionized the way teams work together. Slack’s success can be attributed to its user-friendly interface, integrations with other tools, and its focus on collaboration. Slack raised a total of $1.4 billion in funding before going public, and its customer acquisition tactics included word-of-mouth marketing, referrals, and a freemium model. Zoom is a video conferencing platform that has seen explosive growth in recent years. Zoom’s success can be attributed to its simplicity, ease of use, and reliability. Zoom raised $751 million in funding before going public, and its customer acquisition tactics included viral marketing through free trials and referrals. HubSpot is a marketing automation platform that provides a range of tools to help businesses grow. HubSpot’s success can be attributed to its all-in-one platform, user-friendly interface, and inbound marketing approach. HubSpot raised $375 million in funding before going public, and its customer acquisition tactics included content marketing, SEO, and social media marketing. DocuSign is a digital signature platform that enables businesses to sign and manage documents electronically. DocuSign’s success can be attributed to its ease of use, security, and convenience. DocuSign raised $518 million in funding before going public, and its customer acquisition tactics included partnerships with other software providers, targeted advertising, and a free trial offer. Resources For SaaS Founders Developing a Successful SaaS Sales Strategy 20 Best SaaS Tools for Startups VCs Investing in SaaS Companies SaaStr Fund Location: Palo Alto, California, United States About: SaaStr is the world’s largest community of SaaS executives, founders, and entrepreneurs. To continue expanding and serving the community, SaaStr has grown its offerings to include regional and global events, a co-selling space, an investment fund, and an automated e-learning platform. Investment stages: Seed Popular investments: Gorgias, RevenueCat, MaestroQA To learn more, view their Visible Connect Profile. Related Resource: 14 Venture Capital Firms in Silicon Valley Driving Startup Growth 500 Startups Location: Mountain View, California, United States About:500 Startups is a global venture capital firm with a network of startup programs headquartered in Silicon Valley. Investment stages: Seed, Series A Popular investments: LottieFiles, Butlr Technologies, Flat.mx To learn more, view their Visible Connect Profile. Frontline Ventures Location: London, England, United Kingdom About: We back B2B SaaS companies with international ambition. Whether you’re at an early stage with sights on the US, or at a later stage looking to the rich potential of Europe, we can help you get where you want to go. Investment stages: Pre-Seed, Seed Popular investments: Localyze, Koyo, Qualio To learn more, view their Visible Connect Profile. Atlanta Ventures Location: Atlanta, Georgia, United States About: We empower SaaS entrepreneurs to achieve their potential through community, content, and capital. Investment stages: Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A Popular investments: Terminus, MessageGears, Greenzie To learn more, view their Visible Connect Profile. VenTech Location: Paris, Ile-de-France, France About: Ventech is a global early-stage VC firm based out of Paris, Munich, Berlin, Helsinki, Shanghai and Hong Kong with over €900m raised to fuel globally ambitious entrepreneurs and their visions of the future positive digital economy. Since inception in 1998, Ventech has made 200+ investments. Investment stages: Seed, Series A Popular investments: Believe, Vestiaire Collective, Botify To learn more, view their Visible Connect Profile. Molten Ventures Location: London, England, United Kingdom About: We invest in Europe’s tech leaders at Series A and beyond to make more possible. More from hardware, more from software, more from healthcare, more for consumers… the hardest tech problems are just the biggest business opportunities. Investment stages: Seed, Series A, Series B Popular investments: CoachHub, FintechOS, Lyst To learn more, view their Visible Connect Profile. Shasta Ventures Location: Menlo Park, California, United States About: We invest in Europe’s tech leaders at Series A and beyond to make more possible. More from hardware, more from software, more from healthcare, more for consumers… the hardest tech problems are just the biggest business opportunities. Investment stages: Series A, Series B Popular investments: Partly, Tally, Data.world To learn more, view their Visible Connect Profile. Seedcamp Location: London, England, United Kingdom About: We invest early in world-class founders attacking large, global markets and solving real problems using technology. We are running our Investment Forum process entirely online and are proactively investing in European companies across pre-seed and seed who are building the breakout businesses of tomorrow. Investment stages: Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A Popular investments: CyberSmart, Treecard, Meilisearch To learn more, view their Visible Connect Profile. 1517 Fund Location: San Francisco, CA About: 1517 supports teams with pre-seed and seed funding for technology startups. Investment stages: Seed, Pre-seed Popular investments: Space Perspectives, Presso To learn more, view their Visible Connect Profile. 2048 Ventures Location: New York City, NY About: First and foremost, we always want to meet exceptional founders with a compelling vision and strong founder-market-fit, regardless of the space they are building in. We look for companies that are differentiated and defensible through data and technology. Investment stages: Pre-seed Popular investments: Koffie Labs, Mealco, Ware Check size: $300K-$600K To learn more, view their Visible Connect Profile. Acceleprise Location: San Francisco, CA About: Acceleprise invests in early stage B2B SaaS and enterprise technology companies and unifies the global technology community through mentors. Investment stages: Pre-seed, Seed, Series A Check size: $50K-$1M Thesis: There are many founders who have great ideas in B2B, but don’t know enough about Sales and GTM to scale. With the help of top operators in our network from the likes of Salesforce, Cisco, Gainsight, Zuora, and more, we can help. To learn more, view their Visible Connect Profile. Active Capital Location: San Antonio, TX About: Active Capital is a venture firm focused on leading seed rounds for B2B SaaS companies outside of Silicon Valley. Investment stages: Pre-seed, Seed Check size: $100K-$1M Thesis: Active Capital is a venture firm designed to lead seed rounds for B2B SaaS companies outside of Silicon Valley. To learn more, view their Visible Connect Profile. Album VC Location: Provo, UT About: Album VC is a venture capital firm that invests in early-stage technology ventures, shaping the future of technology and culture. Investment stages: Seed, Series A, Series B Check size: $500K-$5M Sweetspot Check Size: $1.25M To learn more, view their Visible Connect Profile. Bessemer Venture Partners Location: San Francisco, CA About: Bessemer Venture Partners is the world’s most experienced early-stage venture capital firm. With a portfolio of more than 200 companies, Bessemer helps visionary entrepreneurs lay strong foundations to create companies that matter and support them through every stage of their growth. Investment stages: Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A, Series B, Growth Check size: $100K-$50M Sweetspot Check Size: $15M To learn more, view their Visible Connect Profile. Boldstart Ventures Location: New York, NY About: Boldstart Ventures is a first check investor for technical enterprise founders. Investment stages: Pre-Seed, Seed Check size: $250K-$2.5M Sweetspot Check Size: $1.5M To learn more, view their Visible Connect Profile. Connetic Ventures Location: Covington, KY About: Connetic is reinventing the VC industry by turning tables on intuition and biases to a more data-driven approach Investment stages: Pre-Seed, Seed Check size: $100K-$800K Sweetspot Check Size: $100K Thesis: We use proprietary data and machine learning to create a diversified portfolio of high-potential startups To learn more, view their Visible Connect Profile. Forum Ventures Location: San Francisco, CA About: Forum Ventures is the leading early-stage fund, program and community for B2B SaaS startups based in New York, San Francisco, and Toronto. With over 400 portfolio companies globally, Forum founders have gone on to raise $600M+ in follow-on funding from funds like Andreessen Horowitz, Bessemer Ventures, Serena Ventures, Kleiner Perkins, CRV, 8VC, Founders Fund, Menlo Ventures, Bowery Capital, FirstRound Capital Salesforce Ventures, SV Angel, and many more. Investment stages: Early stage To learn more, view their Visible Connect Profile. Frontier Ventures Location: Cupertino, CA About: Frontier Ventures invests in early-stage internet companies with network effects and connects them with global markets. Investment stages: Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A, Series B Check size: $5M Thesis: We invest in technology businesses with network effects. We believe that network effects create the strongest barriers to entry for technology businesses. To learn more, view their Visible Connect Profile. Growth Street Partners Location: San Francisco, CA About: Growth Street Partners is an investment firm that provides SaaS and technology-enabled services to grow your sales & marketing. Investment stages: Series A, Growth Check size: $3M-$5M To learn more, view their Visible Connect Profile. Harlem Capital Location: New York, NY About: Harlem Capital is an early-stage venture firm that invests in post-revenue tech-enabled startups, focused on minority and women founders. Investment stages: Seed, Series A, Series B, Growth Check size: $500K-$1M Thesis: Women or POC founders (no deep tech, bio, crypto, hardware) To learn more, view their Visible Connect Profile. High Alpha Location: Indianapolis, IN About: High Alpha creates and funds companies through a new model for entrepreneurship that unites company building and venture capital. Investment stages: Seed, Series A, Startup Studio Check size: $1M-$3M Thesis: Scalable Enterprise Cloud Businesses To learn more, view their Visible Connect Profile. Kickstart Fund Location: Cottonwood Heights, UT About: Kickstart is an early-stage VC fund based in Utah. Investment stages: Pre-Seed, Seed Check size: $200K-$2M Sweetspot Check Size: $1M To learn more, view their Visible Connect Profile. Related Resource: The Rise of Venture Capital in Utah: A Look at Utah’s Top 10 VC Firms M25 Location: Chicago, IL About: Early-stage VC investing in startups headquartered in the Midwest across a wide variety of industries. Investment stages: Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A Check size: $250K-$500K Sweetspot Check Size: $350K Thesis: Midwest HQ, tech-enabled, and any industry except therapeutics/pharma or vices To learn more, view their Visible Connect Profile. Matrix Partners Location: San Francisco, CA About: Matrix Partners works with visionary founders of early-stage startups to amplify their potential. Their general partners blend deep experience with personal commitment to support founders from start to success. Investment stages: Seed, Series A, Series B Check size: $5M-$20M Sweetspot Check Size: $12M Thesis: Matrix Partners works with visionary founders of early-stage startups to amplify their potential. To learn more, view their Visible Connect Profile. Moai Capital Location: San Mateo, CA About: Moai Capital is a Silicon Valley seed capital firm, founded and managed by Brian Jacobs. Investment stages: Pre-Seed, Seed, Series Check size: $25K-$100K Thesis: Seed Capital for Impassioned Entrepreneurs To learn more, view their Visible Connect Profile. Mucker Capital Location: Santa Monica, CA About: MuckerLab is a venture capital firm specializing in incubation, pre-seed, seed, start-up, early-stage, and Series A investments. Investment stages: Accelerator, Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A Check size: $100K-$4M Thesis: We partner with exceptional entrepreneurs to provide their earliest institutional funding and work with them side-by-side to help launch and scale their new ventures. To learn more, view their Visible Connect Profile. Newark Venture Partners Location: Newark, NJ About: Newark Venture Partners is an early-stage venture fund based in Newark, NJ. Investment stages: Seed, Series A Check size: $250K-$2M Sweetspot Check Size: $1M To learn more, view their Visible Connect Profile. NXTP Ventures Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina About: NXTP Ventures backs early-stage technology companies led by extraordinary entrepreneurs throughout Latin America. Investment stages: Seed, Series A, Series B Thesis: We partner with high-impact, visionary founders early on in their journey as one of the first sources of institutional funding to help build their companies into future market leaders with long-term competitive advantages. To learn more, view their Visible Connect Profile. Point Nine Capital Location: Berlin, Germany About: We invest globally with a focus on early-stage B2B businesses, particularly in SaaS, marketplaces, and crypto. Investment stages: Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A Check size: $500K-$5M Sweetspot check size: $1.25M Thesis: We’re looking for dedicated, passionate entrepreneurs who are committed to building large internet companies. To learn more, view their Visible Connect Profile. Precursor Ventures Location: San Francisco, CA About: An early-stage venture firm focused on classic seed investing. Investment stages: Seed Check size: $100K-$300K Sweetspot check size: $250K Thesis: We invest in people over products at the earliest stage of the entrepreneurial journey. To learn more, view their Visible Connect Profile. PreSeed Ventures Location: Lyngby, Denmark About: As a notable early-stage investor PreSeed Ventures lived well over 400 journeys alongside Danish startups like Vivino, Trustpilot & Lunar. Investment stages: Pre-Seed, Seed Thesis: We might be just another early stage VC. We’re no alchemists, but we know our craft by heart. We lived well over 400 journeys, alongside young guns, moms, dads, outliers, big egos and eccentrics – the best kind if you ask us. We worked closely with them all – long term, and we can say without a shadow of doubt that we know startups way beyond metrics and facts. Only invest in Danish companies. To learn more, view their Visible Connect Profile. Tiny Capital Location: Victoria, Canada About: Tiny Capital makes investments in both private and public companies and have a base of permanent capital from a family office. Investment stages: Seed Check size: $100K-$50M Sweetspot check size: $3M Thesis: We start, buy, and invest in wonderful internet businesses. To learn more, view their Visible Connect Profile. Related Resource: 10 Venture Capital Firms in Canada Leading the Future of Innovation How To Target the Right SaaS Investors With the average VC + founder relationship being 8-10 years, it is important you are selective about what investors you are adding to your cap table. Learn more about finding the right SaaS investors for your business below: 1. Build Your Ideal Investor Profile To Narrow the Search At Visible, we think of a VC fundraise similarly to a traditional B2B sales and marketing funnel. You are bringing investors into your top of funnel, nurturing them throughout a raise, and hopefully closing them at the bottom of the funnel. Just like any sales process starts by defining your ideal customer, the same can be said for an investment process. Location: Understand where an investor is based and if they invest globally or locally. Industry focus: Might sound obvious but make sure an investor is actively investing in your space and has experience in your sector. Investment stage focus: As you likely noticed in our list above, VC firms can range from small, early-stage checks to huge, late-stage checks. Make sure your size and stage align with the investors you are pitching. (if you’re looking for only seed-stage investors check out our list of 60+ Active Seed Stage SaaS Investors) Current portfolio: Understanding a VC funds current portfolio can help you (1) see what type of companies they are investing in (2) make sure they have not invested in any competitors and (3) can use it as a source to see if you know any current founders for a reference check and introductions. Fund age: While it might be less obvious knowing a fund age will help you determine where you fit into their lifecycle. If they are nearing the end of their fund/capital, chances are they might not be able to offer the support as an earlier investment. Deal velocity: VC funds oftentimes have differing strategies. Some might invest in deals at a rapid rate while others might be extra diligent and invest in a handful a year. If you’re in need of capital asap, make sure you are paying attention to their deal velocity. Related Resource: Building Your Ideal Investor Persona 2. Get a Meeting With Your Top Candidates Generally, there are 2 umbrella strategies to get an introduction to a potential investor: Cold Outreach Warm introductions Most investors will tell you they prefer a warm introduction. As a founder, it is your job to make this happen. Turn to your immediate network and see if you can find your way in via warm introduction. Look to other founders, current investors, mentors, and peers. Sometimes a warm introduction is not possible and that is 100% okay! Cold outreach can work well when crafted and leveraged correctly. For cold outreach, check out our blog post, 5 Strategies for Cold Emailing Potential Investors. 3. Come Prepared With a Powerful Pitch Deck and Questions Once you have built your list of investors and defined your strategy for reaching out. You will likely need resources to share and build interest — the most common is the pitch deck. Different investors will have different opinions but chances are an investor will likely want to see a pitch deck or some data before a meeting. If you are lucky enough to land a meeting check out our post, “First Meeting with a Potential Investor? Ask These 5 Questions.” Related Resource: How to Nail Your First Investor Pitch with Lolita Taub & Eric Bahn Use Visible to find investors, track your raise, share your pitch deck, and understand how investors are engaging with your raise. Give it a free try for 14 days here. Related Resource: 11 Top Venture Capital Firms in Boston Start Your Next Round with Visible We believe great outcomes happen when founders forge relationships with investors and potential investors. We created our Connect Investor Database to help you in the first step of this journey. Instead of wasting time trying to figure out investor fit and profile for their given stage and industry, we created filters allowing you to find VCs and accelerators who are looking to invest in companies like you. Check out all our investors here and filter as needed. After learning more about them with the profile information and resources given you can reach out to them with a tailored email. To help craft that first email check out 5 Strategies for Cold Emailing Potential Investors. After finding the right Investor you can create a personalized investor database with Visible. Combine qualified investors from Visible Connect with your own investor lists to share targeted Updates, decks, and dashboards. Start your free trial here.

Raise capital, update investors and engage your team from a single platform. Try Visible free for 14 days. Building a startup is a journey. Over the course of your journey, chances are the thought of liquidity events will creep into your mind. Understanding liquidity events and having a game plan when your startup is close to an event can help speed up the process. Related Resource: A Quick Overview on VC Fund Structure To learn more about liquidity events and how to prepare your startup for one, check out our post below: What is a liquidity event? As put by the team at Corporate Finance Institute, “A liquidity event is a process by which an investor liquidates their investment position in a private company and exchanges it for cash. The main purpose of a liquidity event is the transfer of an illiquid asset (an investment in a private company) into the most liquid asset – cash.” Depending on the type of event and makeup of your business will dictate the small details of your liquidity event. Learn more about specific types of liquidity events below: Types of liquidity events Liquidity events can come in different shapes and sizes. Understanding the different outcomes will help you game plan and prepare your business for the proper event. Going public An initial public offering (IPO) or going public is the typically startup ending in Hollywood. As put by the SEC, “Going public typically refers to when a company undertakes its initial public offering, or IPO, by selling shares of stock to the public, usually to raise additional capital. Going public is a significant step for any company and you should consider the reasons companies decide to go public. After its IPO, the company will be subject to public reporting requirements.” Getting acquired Getting acquired is also a potential liquidity event for startups. For many founders, this is typically the most thought-through process. As put by the team at Investopedia, “An acquisition is when one company purchases most or all of another company’s shares to gain control of that company. Purchasing more than 50% of a target firm’s stock and other assets allows the acquirer to make decisions about the newly acquired assets without the approval of the company’s other shareholders.” As an acquisition is ultimately selling your business, you need to understand the motivators for companies making acquisitions. For example, companies might be motivated by a few of the following reasons: Enter New Markets — Companies making acquisitions might be interesting in operating in a new geographic or vertical market. Growth — Companies making acquisitions might want to use your product or service as a growth strategy for their current business. New Technology — Companies making acquisitions might want to lean into your technology instead of building it in-house. Remove Competition — Companies making acquisitions might want to reduce their competition. Secondary market transactions As put by Investopedia, “The secondary market is where investors buy and sell securities they already own. It is what most people typically think of as the “stock market,” though stocks are also sold on the primary market when they are first issued.” Over the past few years, secondary markets specific to startups and private help companies have begun to find their way into the marketplace. Realistic timeline for liquidity events Putting a timeline on a liquidity event is difficult and will greatly vary from business to business. Depending on your business, the type of liquidity event, and current market conditions will impact the timeline. Related Resource: Calculating Your Quick Ratio First things first, you need to have a product or service that is attractive to the public markets, a company, or a secondary market. The next steps will greatly vary depending on the market and the liquidity event type. For example, going public can take years with the legal requirements and work. On the flip side, an acquisition can move quickly if the company is motivated and dedicated to moving quickly. Learn more about preparing for a liquidity event below: Tips for startups close to a liquidity event If a liquidity event is on the horizon, check out a few of our tips to prepare below: 1. Look at the liquidation preferences As put by the team at Investopedia, “A liquidation preference is a clause in a contract that dictates the payout order in case of a corporate liquidation. Typically, the company’s investors or preferred stockholders get their money back first, ahead of other kinds of stockholders or debtholders, in the event that the company must be liquidated.” Related Resource: Current Ratio and Liquidity Ratio Checking out the contract to understand the liquidation preferences is a must to make sure you can properly communicate this with your board members and stakeholders. 2. Understand and look for a clawback clause As put by the team at Paycor, “A clawback clause is a provision within a business or employment contract that allows—under a prescribed set of circumstances—an organization to reclaim incentive or bonus funds previously paid to an employee.” This is particularly important when looking at different bonus and payout structures. For example, if you had a goal to grow 10% over the next year and initially reported 13%, you’d get your payout. However, after an audit you found the actual growth rate to be 9%, you may have to pay back your bonus. 3. Consider tax implications Each liquidity event will come with its own set of tax implications and legal requirements. As always, we recommend consulting with a lawyer and financial team when evaluating your different tax implications. Related Resource: A User-Friendly Guide to Startup Accounting 4. Know the pros and cons of each liquidity event Of course, each liquidity event comes with its own set of pros and cons. Check out a few examples below: Going public Pros: Raising capital Exposure from the public listing Allow individuals to exit Cons: Added disclosure for public investors Increased rules and regulations Getting acquired Pros: Access to capital Additional resources Allows individuals to exit Cons: Operational confusion Impact on current team members Connect with investors today with Visible Building relationships with your current and potential investors will allow you to move quickly when it comes time for a liquidity event. Keeping your investors in the loop will allow them to lend a hand when it comes to strategy, introductions, and more. Raise capital, update investors, and engage your team from a single platform. Try Visible free for 14 days.

This guide incorporates content from Visible’s webinar on the same topic hosted with guest Sara Zulkosky from Recast Capital. You can watch the full recording here. Raising a venture fund is hard. General Partners (GPs) first have to find and then nurture relationships with potential investors, also known as Limited Partners (LPs). Then they have to build a persuasive enough case as to why the LP should entrust them as stewards of the LP’s capital for about 10 years — that’s the timeline if things go according to plan. When looking at it from this perspective, it makes sense why the VC fundraising process can take a year or in some cases even a few years. Now throw in the challenge of not having prior experience raising a fund and the pursuit of becoming a GP sounds even more daunting. However, with the help of programs like Recast Capital and VC Labs, emerging managers have access to more support than ever to close on their first, second, or third fund. Plus, according to a report from Cambridge Associates emerging managers are outperforming established funds which bodes well for GPs trying to make their case to LPs. This article breaks down the fundamentals of raising a venture fund for emerging managers. Understanding Different Types of LPs Just like when starting a company, it is critical for GPs to find product market fit for their fund. The customers of the fund are LPs who are not only looking for a return but oftentimes are also interested in market insights, access to deal flow, and even impact. To set yourself up for success in finding the right LPs, it’s crucial to invest in getting to know your customers and their pain points. Diana Murakhovskaya (The Artemis Fund) recommends… “…ask questions like a startup would do if they were doing customer discovery. You need to learn about them (LPs) first. What drives them? What are they interested in besides returns? Treat LPs as individuals and not just a check.” (Source: How to Source and Connect with LPs). There are four major types of LPs that exist: High Net Worth Inviduals, Family Offices, Institutional LPs (including pensions and endowments), and Sovereign Wealth Funds. The chart below outlines the Pros and Cons of the different LP types from the perspective of an emerging manager. To summarize, high-net-worth individuals and family offices are typically the best fit for emerging managers. They’re more nimble and able to write smaller check sizes which is good because the typical fund size for emerging managers according to Recast Capital is $10 – $30 M. (Source: Webinar Recording Fundraising Best Practices for Emerging Managers) Alternative LP types that shouldn’t be ruled out and that are becoming more common include corporations, banks, and fund of funds. Sara Zulkosky from Recast Capital encourages emerging managers to widen their lens a bit and consider exploring these alternative types of LPs. How to Find LPs Tap into Your Immediate Network A great place to start fostering relationships with potential investors is by tapping into your current network. Communicate your goals and why you’re passionate about them with people already in your network but be sure to avoid violating General Solicitation laws. Don’t approach these conversations with a check in mind but rather to seek feedback on your thesis and approach. Even if no one in your immediate network may be able or interested in investing in your fund, there may be people willing to make an introduction to someone who is. Foster Your Peer Network Building out your peer network is important not only for fundraising but also for knowledge exchange, support, and emotional well-being — as stated before — fundraising is challenging and it’s helpful to have others in your corner who understand what you’re going through. While GPs targeting the exact same sector, stage, and thesis might be considered competition, any GP with an adjacent approach can be a great source of support and even introductions. Consider joining different communities of emerging managers such as Recast Capital, VC Lab, Women in VC, All Raise, or starting your own round table if you don’t already have a peer group in place. The maxim holds true that rising tides raise all ships. Use LinkedIn LinkedIn is a powerful tool to find new contacts and leverage your existing network. While Family Offices are traditionally opaque, an easy search for ‘Family Office’ or ‘Private Family Office’ in people’s job titles results in people supporting different functions of this type of investor. From there, it’s always best to see who your second-degree connections are to understand if someone can make a warm introduction on your behalf or as Sara Zulkosky stated it’s also ok to “shoot your shot” and send a cold message. Tips for Cold Emails: Keep it short, sweet, and to the point. Always take the time to personalize it when you can. Flattery works. We’re all human and we all like it when people take the time to get to know what interests us. Use Databases While not free, if you can get access to PitchBook or Prequin these can be good sources to better understand the investment activity of LPs. You’ll be able to get an understanding of which LPs invested in certain funds (if it was disclosed) and for how much. Drawing LPs to you Some LPs seek out GPs so it’s a great idea to create thought leadership content that demonstrates your expertise. These can be articles that communicate your conviction around your thesis and the sectors in which you’re investing. It’s also a great idea to share this content with LPs via email after you meet with them to stand out from other GPs. While some GPs have created a robust social following by investing in content for twitter and LinkedIn, Sara Zulkosky stated this isn’t necessary and you should choose activities that are aligned with your personal brand and your fund’s brand. Keeping Track of LPs We’ve covered how to find LPs in general and which types of LPs at a high level might make sense for your fund. These potential investors should be considered your ‘top of funnel’ LPs and you should keep track of them in the first stage of your fundraising pipeline. Learn how to build a fundraising pipeline in Visible here. Visible recommends tracking LPs in 6-8 pipeline stages to stay organized. In this article Roseanne Wincek at Renegade Partners shared she used the following pipeline stages for her fundraising process: Cold Lead Warm Lead Scheduling First Meeting Data Room Second Meeting(s) References Docs Learn about how to keep track of LP’s in your fundraising pipeline in Visible by booking some time with our team. How to Qualify LPs Next, it’s important to qualify LPs based on certain criteria to make sure you’re running an efficient fundraising process. Appropriately qualifying LPs will save both you and LPs a lot of time in the long run. Here are some example criteria you can use to qualify LPs: Check Size — Make sure the LP is able to write check sizes that will work for the size of the fund you’re raising Thesis of Firm — Understand whether the LPs have a vested interest in your space Room for Emerging Managers — Newer LPs often have more open slots for emerging managers as a part of their investment strategy Vision Alignment — Does the LP understand and align with your vision What does an ‘Ideal’ LP look like While the points above are mandatory to appropriately qualify an LP, here are some other traits to look for in an ideal LP. They’re someone you’d want to engage with regularly for at least 10 years. They’re able to be patient with returns. They can offer valuable support in a way that will benefit you or your fund. What to Ask During a First Meeting with an LP The first meeting is not just for the LP to get to know you — it’s also a great time for you to show you’ve done your homework by asking thoughtful questions to the LP. Sara from Recast Capital’s advice to GP’s.. “You should always feel comfortable asking LPs questions to start the conversation and LPs should always be willing to answer them…Don’t feel shy. Definitely ask these questions because you’ll get a very good sense a few minutes in whether this is worth your time.” Here is a list of example questions GPs should feel comfortable asking LPs in a first meeting: Could you tell me more about your investment strategy? Where do you want to be spending your time as it relates to your investment strategy? What’s the size of your private portfolio? Are you currently making new commitments? What’s your typical check size? What does your process look like to invest in an emerging manager? Have you ever invested in an emerging manager? What’s the smallest fund you’ve invested in? The LP Diligence Process The length of the diligence process depends on the LP organization and how much red tape there is internally. If an organization is small, nimble, and enthusiastic about your fund, it could take just a month but this is rare. The diligence process from Institutional LPs usually takes about 6 months. It can take even longer if advisors and consultants are involved. Do your part to keep the diligence process streamlined by having your LP Data Room set up in advance. Related resource: What to Include in your LP Data Room. Visible supports Data Rooms for Emerging Managers — learn more. Nurturing Relationships with LPs It’s important to remember that LP’s have a lot of inbound interest to manage. For this reason, it’s a great idea to go the extra mile to stand out to LPs by following the tips below. Demonstrate you’re an excellent communicator It’s a great idea to get into the habit of sending monthly fundraising updates to potential LPs that you’d like to build deeper relationships with. Check our Visible’s LP Fundraising Monthly Progress Update for inspiration. Here’s what Elizabeth “Beezer” Clarkson, Partner at Sapphire Partners and institutional LP had to say about best practices for reaching out, building, and maintaining relationships with institutional LPs… “Clear and consistent communication is imperative in helping create a strong GP/LP relationship. LPs want to know you’re in touch with your portfolio and you have a full assessment of its health: cash runway, pacing information, ownership, who was in the round, why you did the deal, how you found it, and how the company is doing. Some folks do routine newsletters, Zooms, or recordings – whatever works for you. Once a quarter is sufficient, and it’s always good to offer to stop by and visit when in town.” (Source: “Ask an LP” with Beezer from Sapphire Partners) Prove your sector expertise by sharing thought leadership content Sara Zulkosky from Recast Capital recommends taking the time to write your own thought leadership pieces that focus on the sectors that you want to invest or your thesis. Include these articles in your monthly updates or send a one-off email to an LP after a meeting to further demonstrate your expertise. You can also use the content you’ve written as a reason to follow up with an LP who may have ghosted you after a first meeting. “I wanted to follow up with a recent article I wrote that was a continuation of the conversation we had last month…”. Do what you say you’re going to do LPs are only human after all and every single one of us respects the people in our lives who are true to their word. If you said you were going to do something or follow up with a resource, do it. This is both a powerful and easy way to build rapport. Use Visible’s fundraising CRM to stay on top of when it’s time to follow up with a contact. Learn more here. Know your metrics like the back of your hand — and how to communicate them Even if this is the first time you’re raising a fund you will be expected to understand the core VC Fund Metrics and why they matter to LPs. Take the time to make sure you understand your fund model in and out and how the variables affect return possibilities. Related Resource: VC Fund Performance Metrics 101 (and why they matter to LPs) Add bottom-of-the-funnel LPs to current LP Updates And finally, a suggestion from Sara at Recast is to add the LPs with a serious interest, your ‘bottom of funnel’ LPs, to your current committed LP communication list. It’s a great way to make them feel special (because they are) and bring them into the folds of how you communicate and what you share with current LPs. Concluding Thoughts Raising a venture fund, especially for first-time managers, can seem like a daunting challenge. However, over time emerging managers are being recognized by both Limited Partners and startup founders as the best way to bring about positive change in the venture industry. Visible provides professional fundraising tools for ambitious fund managers with its Emerging Manager Fundraising Toolkit.

Today we’re celebrating National Women’s Day in the U.S. and so it seems fitting to share some research that highlights the power of women working in Venture Capital. A recent study in Harvard Business Review demonstrates that VC firms that increased the number of female partners by 10% experienced a 1.5% increase in fund returns each year and had 9.7% more profitable exits. This is a significant improvement considering only ~29% of VC investments have a profitable exit. Given this data, it’s shocking that women make up just 8% of the VC industry to date. Thankfully, groups like Women in VC, Allraise, and Recast Capital are working to change this. Keep reading for tips to measure and improve gender equity across your portfolio. 1) Use Formulas to calculate % Female Employees Most firms are already collecting the metric ‘Total Headcount’ from their portfolio companies. Consider collecting ‘Number of Female Employees’ on a quarterly or annual basis and using formulas to calculate ‘% Female Employees’ across your portfolio. 2) Set up a Portfolio metric dashboard to benchmark gender equity across your portfolio In a few clicks, Portfolio metric dashboards tell you the total, minimum, maximum, and median values for any metric and also let you benchmark companies against portfolio quartiles. Learn more. 3) Create a ‘Female (co)founded’ segment to keep track of gender diversity across your deals You can set up any custom segment in Visible and use them to slice and filter your data. Ready to explore using Visible to measure gender equity across your portfolio? Meet with Visible More Resources on Women in VC: The Rise of Women-Led VC Firms (+ a List to Keep an Eye on) The Other Diversity Dividend How the VC Pitch Process is Failing Female Entrepreneurs The “Daughter Effect” in VC