The latest perspectives from OpenLP, a resource for the venture community to hear from a diverse group of LP and GP voices.
LP & GP Voices
How Elite Endowments Invest in 2024
By David Weisburd
Renee Hanna, Managing Director of Investments at Baylor University, sits down with David Weisburd on the 10X Capital Podcast to discuss how Baylor University balances allocation between public and private investments, how its private investments are built around returns hurdles, and thoughts on appropriately sizing commitments.
Is it time to rethink VC classifications beyond just emerging vs established? Farooq Abbasi, Founder and General Partner at Preface Ventures, introduces the concept of 'developing managers'—firms that are evolving and delivering consistent returns but still have significant growth ahead.
VenCap International PLC’s David Clark shares his point of view on small vs large funds: LPs need to optimize for quality, not for size. The best managers can consistently deliver outperformance at scale, with greater predictability and lower volatility.
You're Not the Same Fund Manager You Were When You Started
By Charles Hudson
Charles Hudson, Managing Partner at Precursor Ventures, reflects on a fund manager’s journey, driving home the point that time, experience, and changing circumstances reshape who you are as a VC fund manager—and that’s a good thing.
The Evolving Landscape of Venture Capital: Are Emerging Managers DOA?
By Frank Rotman
If 30-50% of venture firms disappear... What will it take for emerging managers to survive and thrive? QED Investors’ Frank Rotman shares his thoughts on the growing consolidation in VC, highlighting challenges for EMs to differentiate themselves in an increasingly competitive landscape dominated by larger firms.
Finding Pattern Breakers & Winners from Seed to Growth with Mike Maples & Jai Das
By Nick Chirls & Beezer Clarkson
Nobody knows enterprise investing like Sapphire Ventures’ President and Partner Jai Das, and Floodgate Co-founder and Partner Mike Maples Jr. is often credited with pioneering seed investing as we know it. Together, they join Nick Chirls, GP at Asylum Ventures, and Beezer Clarkson, LP at Sapphire Partners, to share how they pick winners at their respective stages, seed and growth.
From VC-backed Founder to Angel to Institutional Investor with Jack Altman
By Nick Chirls & Beezer Clarkson
Where is an investor willing to take more risk: As an angel investing your own money - or institutional VC taking on LP capital? Nick and Beezer asked Jack Altman, Founder of Lattice and GP at Alt Capital, in a recent episode of the Origins Podcast.
Minisode: Jack Altman’s VC Career Arc and the Launch of Asylum Ventures
By Nick Chirls & Beezer Clarkson
In a bonus minisode, Beezer and Nick go inside their conversation with Jack to dig into his journey from VC-backed founder to angel investor to institutional VC—and how different work as a founder is from investor. Plus, Nick gives a full debrief on his launch of Asylum Ventures, offering advice for aspiring GPs.
Four Criteria for Startups and VC Investors When Evaluating Secondaries Options
By Nate Leung
Nate Leung, Partner at Sapphire Sapphire Partners, shares insights in a recent Secondaries Investor byline by PEI Media on four key questions for startup founders, employees, LPs and GPs to ask before considering secondaries.
A Comparison Between Sapphire Partners' DPI Analysis & Carta’s
By Beezer Clarkson
In light of Carta's recent VC fund performance report, Beezer Clarkson shares an insightful data analysis and lessons learned comparing early DPI data from Sapphire Partners to Carta's corresponding cohorts.
Alchemist Accelerator's David Zhou recently shared a list of must-read timeless resources for investors, reflecting on the value of timeless content amidst the constant influx of content out there, including LP Laura Thompson's widely-read blog on venture reserves (Sapphire Partners).
Investors still can’t get enough of AI. That’s the most obvious takeaway from a quick glance of funding numbers for the just-completed third quarter. In Q3, AI-related startups raised $18.9B.
3 Charts: Startup Founders & VCs Find More Equal Footing
By James Thorne
Investors hoping for a steep drop in early-stage startup valuations have so far been disappointed, but prices for these companies are cheaper than they first appear—signaling an era for better returns may be on the horizon.
Pear Wants to Empower Up-and-Coming VCs with its New Emerging Managers in Residence Program
By Marina Temkin
Pear will bring three pre-seed and seed venture funds into their offices for collaboration, invest $250K, facilitate LP intros, and provide early access to companies in Pear’s accelerator.
Launched in 2012, Sapphire Partners is a Limited Partner seeking to invest in elite early-stage venture capital funds, across the U.S., Europe, and Israel.
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