SWA’s Best of 2025 (Part 1)

This week on Swimming with Allocators, it’s a bonus episode as Earnest talks about the "Best of Season Three" on the show, highlighting memorable moments and insights from the year’s most popular shows. Topics include building intentionally diverse venture portfolios, the value of connecting distinct networks in the VC space, and innovative approaches to GP seeding and strategic partnerships for fund managers. Key takeaways for listeners are the importance of focusing on quality and flexibility over rigid investment categories, embracing discomfort to foster impactful professional connections, and looking beyond the largest funds to find unique opportunities and generate true alpha in venture capital. Don’t miss a look back at some of the best moments on the podcast in 2025.

Highlights from this week’s conversation include:

• Welcome and Introduction to the Best Of Episode (0:02)

• Honorable Mention: Joshua Berkowitz on Venture Portfolios (3:43)

• Embracing “A Mess by Design” in Portfolio Strategy (4:03)

• Kevin and Raudline on Network Building and Connectivity (9:41)

• The Value of Bridging Networks and Network Effects (12:36)

• Capital Concentration and Middle-Market Allocators (14:33)

• Trends in Venture Capital for 2025 and Beyond (17:35)

• Jason Howard on GP Seeding and Strategic Partnerships (22:25)

• Partnership Benefits and Advisor Roles for GPs (27:02)

• Final Thoughts and Takeaways (35:57)

Swimming with Allocators is a podcast that dives into the intriguing world of Venture Capital from an LP (Limited Partner) perspective. Hosts Alexa Binns and Earnest Sweat are seasoned professionals who have donned various hats in the VC ecosystem. Each episode, we explore where the future opportunities lie in the VC landscape with insights from top LPs on their investment strategies and industry experts shedding light on emerging trends and technologies. 

The information provided on this podcast does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available on this podcast are for general informational purposes only.

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