Now, more than ever, the words “certainty” and “predictability” and their antonyms “uncertainty” and “unpredictability” are being peddled in every corner of financial markets to illustrate varying degrees of vulnerability in the current economic environment. Standing back and marveling at the psyche of investors, it is hard to overlook how sentiments shift faster than a […]
Although I have heard numerous thoughtful arguments that stress otherwise, many generally view warm introductions as having a higher potential to yield desired outcomes than cold outreach. Many emerging managers approach me for insights on how to make headway in the tumultuous world of fundraising. The partialities of LPs cannot be generalized, and the last
Degrees of Separation Read More »
This past weekend, my wife and I caught consecutive television programs detailing the “WeWork” and “Theranos” sagas by pure happenstance. Before watching these shows, I was already fairly aware of the reports regarding events that transpired within these companies, how seemingly astute investors were drawn to the key individuals at the helm, and the general
The Walking Wounded Read More »
In investing, “information” remains the essential lifeblood. Even if you choose a contrarian route, you must still know what the conformists are doing to take the opposite path. Some claim they eliminate all external distractions and make decisions based on their self-tailored processes and preferences; however, you still need general market information to determine which
Overpromise, Underdeliver, Underexplain Read More »
In the past quarters or even years, it has been well publicized that first-time funds are experiencing what some describe as a nuclear winter when it comes to fundraising. It makes perfect sense that if relatively more seasoned funds with some semblance of a track record are having trouble raising subsequent funds, then first-time vehicles
During a mentoring conversation a few days ago, a young investment research analyst asked me how I determine a GP’s true motivations and evaluate whether these motivations are suitable for the long term. These questions are almost poetic in their deep simplicity, but quite complex to excavate. Any analysis of a GP or sponsor is
Product expansion is or will almost certainly be (at some point in the future) a real consideration for every GP who launches a maiden fund. From a business perspective, product proliferation makes a lot of sense. If you possess the people, processes, and data whose combination has been proven to create value, why wouldn’t you
A GP’s Family of Funds – Product Proliferation Musings Read More »
Consultants of all kinds have long understood that the fastest way to incur client displeasure is by making absolute statements. Human beings are wired to gravitate towards certainty, so promises or assertions of sureness from those in “expert” positions will generally attract attention, and with attention always comes increased scrutiny. It would be impressive if
Bombastic GP Statements That Draw More Attention Than Needed Read More »
All allocators who have been playing this GP due diligence game for a while have a memory bank of legendary stories that can be booted up at the drop of a dime. These stories (without divulging actual names, of course) are usually reserved for “you would not believe what happened today” conversations with spouses, enticing
LP/GP Horror Stories, Meltdowns and Crash Outs Read More »
When investment managers meet with potential investors, it is common knowledge that these investors are evaluating more than merely the manager’s strategy. They are also evaluating the organic atmosphere in the room, the level of mutual respect, the rapport among the GP team members presenting, the manager’s openness to various questions, the manager’s willingness to
