LP Michael Kim on Why He Doesn't Like Special Deals
Sep 9, 2023
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Michael Kim, Investor at Cendana Capital, discusses travel plans, shifts in the seed stage venture landscape, the role of secondary markets, challenges faced by founders-turned-VCs, and negotiating better terms between LPs and venture fund managers.
Despite the changing landscape of seed stage venture, Sandana Capital has adapted its investment approach to stay competitive and has seen success in generating significant returns for its investors.
Increased competition in the seed stage space has led to a shift in seed round sizes and composition, with larger initial investments from multi-stage firms and a focus on hands-on support from seed funds.
Deep dives
Fund of funds investing in seed stage funds
Michael Kim is the founder of Sandana Capital, a fund of funds that primarily invests in seed stage funds. Sandana Capital has recently raised $470 million across four different pools, including a flagship US fund, an international fund, a small co-investment fund, and a managed account with the University of Texas. Despite the changing landscape of seed stage venture, with larger fund sizes and increased competition, Sandana Capital has adapted its investment approach to stay competitive and has seen success in generating significant returns for its investors.
The changing dynamics in seed stage investing
Michael Kim discusses the evolving dynamics in seed stage investing. He highlights the increase in seed round sizes and the larger initial investment checks made by fund managers. This shift has led to larger seed funds, driven by higher initial check sizes and the need for additional reserves for portfolio companies. However, Kim anticipates that seed funds may scale back in size in the coming years, as it becomes harder to achieve high returns on larger funds. He also notes the increased competition in the seed space, with more seed funds and multi-stage firms entering the arena.
The impact of valuations and competition on seed stage investing
Kim explores the impact of valuations and competition on returns in the seed stage space. He discusses the changing composition of seed rounds, where multi-stage firms can come in with larger investments at higher valuations, while seed funds focus on providing hands-on support to portfolio companies. He believes that increased competition has not necessarily led to skyrocketing valuations, as founders are more educated and transparent about the fundraising process. Kim also highlights the importance of building relationships and networks within the seed stage ecosystem to access quality deal flow.
Connie & Alex talk to Michael Kim of Cendana Capital, which has just raised $470 million to back seed and pre-seed VC funds.
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