E68: The Smithsonian Institution’s Venture Capital Edge

Jeff Smith, Managing Director of Private Investments at the Smithsonian’s endowment, sits down with David Weisburd to discuss the Smithsonian endowment’s advantage in accessing the best managers in venture capital. They also discuss the importance of continually allocating throughout cycles, knowing when to exit, and communicating effectively with LPs. They conclude by covering what Jeff looks for when evaluating new venture managers. (0:00) Episode preview (0:57) How Jeff’s startup experience influences his perspective as an LP in venture capital (1:54) Capital allocation, exit strategies, and market trends in VC (6:12) The Smithsonian endowment’s advantage in venture capital (11:17) Criteria for investing in venture managers (15:28) Smithsonian's venture strategy (19:55) Considerations for investing in first time funds (21:40) The mission of the Smithsonian and closing remarks