How to Evaluate a First / Second Time Venture Fund
Currently at a large-cap fund and in conversations with a small sub-$500M late-stage venture fund that spun out from a well-known institutionalized VC fund a few years back for a partner-track position (Senior associate / 1st Yr VP). How should I go about diligencing this opportunity? Trying to assess the high upside to get in early but also risk that I would be joining a relatively unknown fund if things don't work out. There has been a limited track record of exits to go off prior to next fundraise.
What are reasonable questions / requests to ask for / think about the risk-reward profile?
To evaluate a first or second-time venture fund, especially one with a limited track record of exits, here are some key areas and questions to focus on:
Fund Performance and Strategy:
Team and Track Record:
Fundraising and LP Base:
Portfolio and Pipeline:
Culture and Long-Term Fit:
Risk-Reward Profile:
Operational and Structural Details:
Market Positioning:
By asking these questions and analyzing the responses, you can better assess the risk-reward profile of joining this fund. Additionally, speaking with people in your network who are familiar with the fund or its partners can provide valuable insights.
Sources: Q&A: Principal at Early-Stage VC Fund, Troubled fundraising processes, Leaving Investment Sales for Small/New RE fund - sound worth it?, Venture Capital Salary versus BB and Private Equity, 20 Most Frequently Asked Questions - London Edition
Fund performance lol. Considering the performance of vintages the past few years, they might have trouble raising the next one
Generally the first fund when spun out of an institution does pretty well since they're pretty much executing on their previous deal flow. The second fund shouldn't be too difficult to raise if they deployed fund 1 quickly and were able to execute on their best ideas from their previous shop. Fund 3 is where things can get dicey since now LPs will be evaluating fund 1 against those of the similar vintage.
What Fund are they on right now?
Since you're at a more senior position you should be able to get more details into the following?
Finally, ask for founder references, or do you own backchannels. Keep digging until you get a backchannel that isn't positive and understand where they may be lacking.
The above is the right intellectual answer, but it is nearly impossible to judge 'emerging managers' on metrics alone for several reasons. Hell, some venture funds on Fund V have middling DPI.
There is also limited correlation between TVPI and DPI until year 7 of a venture fund. And if it's all driven by one company the fund can seem better than it is.
Single question I would ask: if they have endowments as their first LPs, it means that they have sophisticated LPs who allocate to venture regularly and know how to diligence VC funds. If they say our LP's are "Family Offices" and FOF - that is great but those can mean random FOs in Mississippi or sophisticated fund of funds. You want to know smart people have backed the company.
It's like if you were joining a AI startup today: you have no idea where things are going to go, if startups themselves can avoid disruption or where the dust settles. Revenue might be misleading and temporary indicator.
If it turns out Sequoia led the round AND metrics look decent and a few investments have graduated to the next round, you have a higher likelihood of success.
In my 30s, in VC. Skimmed the post and replied and it’s all missing the point. The way you evaluate it is the GPs who started the fund. They are the founders. It’s their baby. Do you look at them and judge them to be able to bring in winning dealflow? How will they do that? The point of late stage VC at the highest level is to get into the best deals because those are rare and pretty much everyone knows what those deals are. You secondarily need to know they have good judgment which is harder in my mind to evaluate as a candidate.
When I talk about dealflow it’s not only their personal ability, but their ability to diffuse that ability into an institution. That’s what makes a firm a good platform to be at beyond a place where some GPs hang a shingle and then vanish after 2-3 funds.
If you have no experience in venture it is very hard to evaluate the difference between a good and great GP. This is way hard to do in practice.
That's a fair point but I mean it more of "do they have 'that guy' energy"
Like Trump is "that guy" for the republican party
Does your VC firm have "that guy" or is just some random dude who isn't going to get things done
I say this not flippantly but vibes are a great indicator here
I would actually look at this a bit differently. If you're joining a VC firm (not founding one or as a senior GP), your role and responsibilities, and ability to be mentored, matter more than the quantitative success of the firm. Of course, it's better if you have carry and it becomes worthwhile, and the brand of the firm will improve if it has great multiples. But you can still build your career at a firm that doesn't do well, or conversely your career can stall even if your firm does well.
Building your own track record and network are the most important things to do as a junior person in VC. Some questions I would think about:
Ultimately, if you have the leeway to build your own founder and VC relationships, get credit for deals you source, and have good chemistry with the partners, it could be a fantastic opportunity to build your career for a few years whether or not it works out.
+1 to everything said after me. Thanks to @VC_since13 , @throwaway92, and the other commenter this is a helpful career advice thread. I wish I had this intel when I was starting out in VC.
Echoing @determined here. Great input and all valuable. Summarising: DD the company (GP, LP, Track record, standing with founders, access/win deals); DD the role (success factors and empowerment, development, exit). Ultimately, you may not have all the info and many items are highly subjective. So listen to your gut as well.
..and yeah, I wish I had this info before joining. You live and you learn.
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