20VC: Lessons from 32 Years of Fund Investing | Why Exits Will Be Larger & Funds Sizes Bigger | Top Reasons to Turn Down Potential Fund Investments | Fees, Carry, Deployment Pace; What Do LPs Inspect When Fund Investing with David Clark, CIO @ Vencap
Mar 25, 2024
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Venture capital expert David Clark shares insights on fund investing, top reasons to decline VC investments, and keys to success for fund managers. Explore the changing landscape of venture returns, challenges in LP roles, and strategies for navigating the complexities of venture investing.
Align fund sizes with expected future exit sizes for long-term success in venture capital investing.
Prioritize partnership evolution and succession planning for sustained success in the industry.
Recognize and promote talent within teams that drive value in sourcing and nurturing high-potential investments for long-term performance.
Deep dives
Understanding Fund Performance and Fund Size Comparison
Comparing the potential fund returns with fund sizes is crucial for long-term investment success. By analyzing historical data, it was revealed that 45 investments resulted in billion-dollar returns to single funds. The key insight is to align current fund sizes with expected future exit sizes, typically after 10 to 15 years, when companies mature and provide liquidity.
Success Factors in Venture Capital Industry
Longevity and success in the venture capital industry are attributed to recognizing the significance of partnership evolution and succession planning. Firms that efficiently handle generational transitions prioritize the firm's collective growth over individual interests. Establishing a culture that values fresh perspectives and continuous development is essential for sustained success.
Value Driver Identification in Portfolio Management
Identifying the value drivers in a portfolio involves assessing those responsible for sourcing top-tier companies and their strategic involvement. Recognizing and promoting talent within teams based on their contributions to identifying and nurturing high-potential investments is crucial for long-term performance.
Thorough Diligence and Continuous Evaluation Process
Maintaining a rigorous evaluation process for manager re-ups involves ongoing diligence and performance tracking. Allocating diligence efforts towards confirmatory assessments rather than reactive inquiries ensures proactive risk management and accountability. Continuous re-up evaluations include performance benchmarking, reference checks, and investment recommendations to uphold investor trust and comprehensive oversight.
Assessing Manager Performance with Benchmarks
Managers are evaluated with benchmarks, comparing fund performance over three-year periods using metrics like IRR, TVPI, and DPI. This assessment prompts discussions with managers about strategies for improving fund performance, such as balancing liquidity events and generating returns from different types of investments.
Lessons in Deployment Timelines and Fund Performance
Maintaining a diversified fund deployment strategy over time is crucial to fund success. Deploying capital too quickly can lead to poor outcomes, emphasizing the importance of spreading investments over a three-year period for optimal results. Learning from past mistakes, the podcast highlights the significance of time diversification in achieving strong fund performance.
David Clark is the CIO of Vencap, one of the leading fund of funds in the venture landscape. David has been at Vencap for 32 years and has been an LP his entire career.
In Today's Episode with David Clark We Discuss:
1. From Unemployed Student in Love to Leading LP:
How did a girlfriend lead to David taking his first steps into the world of fund investing?
What does David know now about fund investing that he wishes he had known when he started?
2. Is Being an LP Harder than Ever Before:
Does David agree with Doug Leone, "venture has transitioned from a boutique high margin business to a low margin commoditised industry"?
Does David agree with Ryan Akinna @ MIT, "it is harder than ever to be an LP"?
Does David think that venture returns will worsen in the coming years?
Has the denominator effect for LPs gone? Do LPs have liquidity today?
3. What Makes the Best Performing Funds:
What are the single biggest commonalities in managers that did a 3x net DPI fund?
Of managers with a 3x net fund, how many had a single company return the fund?
How do the best firms do generational transition?
How do the best firms take cash off the table and sell part or all of their position?
4. Five Things LPs Hate In Potential VC Investments:
What are the two most common reasons David will turn down a manager?
How does David feel about the varying fee and carry levels?
How does David feel about the compression of deployment times of funds?
How does David feel about managers increasing fund size so significantly on every cycle?
5. Fund Sizes, Exits and Concentrating Returns:
Why does David believe exit sizes will increase and fund sizes could be even larger?
Why does David think that despite the above, the concentration of returns will be even smaller?
Is David concerned by the IPO window being largely shut and the increased regulation on M&A?
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