A Launch Checklist for Emerging Manager Funds To Institutional Investors, the term “Emerging Manager” indicates a venture capital investor with less than ten years of investing experience, fewer than four funds, and under $1bb in assets under management (AUM). …

One of our favorite things about the early-stage investing ecosystem is our “pay it forward” culture. In the holiday spirit of giving, a few of our favorite Limited Partner (LP) investors have kindly shared their wisdom for emerging venture fund managers. We asked: “What piece of advice do you wish…

A critical component of establishing your fund’s differentiating investment thesis is how you articulate and execute your vision and strategy. Your vision is your desired outcome, and your strategy is the collection of resources used to reach the desired outcome. Vision and strategy share an iterative and mutually beneficial relationship…

Before an investor commits capital to a Fund Manager, it is common to conduct due diligence to evaluate potential risks and fit. Diligence helps investors sift through multiple investment opportunities to find the winners, by confirming the facts, profile, and abilities that could signal future success. …

Choosing a potential lawyer for your fund is an important decision, helping you formalize your legal structure while guiding you through the obligations of becoming a fund manager. Here are some criteria to use in interviewing and picking your fund’s lawyer. 1. Coverage Ask who will be your daily point-person…

As a new fund manager, it is critical to configure your fund’s basic setup *before* you begin fundraising and investing. A fund setup consists of a clear vision, a differentiated investment thesis, plus a long-term framework for fund structure and operations. Here are the basic steps to set up a…

As you build a new product for your business, be sure to conduct pre-launch customer discovery interviews to validate your ideas from the start, saving you the time and money by not building (or re-building) something no one wants. Here are the steps to successfully conduct your pre-launch customer discovery: Step 1. Select Your Customer …

When your company’s offering is ready to “go-live”, it is important to create a Go-to-Market (“GTM”) plan before launching publicly. A GTM plan is a comprehensive strategy that details how your offering will reach customers. …