E104: How to Start a Single Family Office w/Justinas Milašauskas
Oct 17, 2024
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Justinas Milašauskas, Investment Manager at Willgrow, sheds light on the intricacies of single-family office investments. He discusses the risks and rewards of investing in spinouts, revealing how seasoned professionals seek independence. The conversation highlights the importance of quick decision-making and strong manager relationships in navigating the fragmented venture capital market. Justinas also shares key insights on portfolio diversification, ticket sizing, and the unique strategies necessary for both bear and bull markets.
Swift decision-making and strong relationships with fund managers are crucial for capitalizing on prime investment opportunities in current markets.
A dual investment strategy focusing on both emerging managers and direct investments enhances portfolio diversification while managing risks.
Deep dives
Investment Strategy and Market Timing
The investment strategy emphasizes the importance of swift decision-making and building strong relationships with top managers globally. By analyzing fundraising data, the firm recognizes that current market conditions resemble those seen in years following the global financial crisis, offering a prime opportunity for investment. Their active engagement in private markets, especially with a robust allocation of nearly 70%, reflects a belief in the long-term potential of these investments despite market fluctuations. The commitment to act quickly during these windows is aimed at capitalizing on high-quality opportunities before they become saturated.
Unique Positioning as an Emerging LP
Positioned as an emerging limited partner outside traditional financial hubs, the family office gains a unique perspective and approach to investing. The combination of having operating businesses in logistics and real estate allows for a more aggressive allocation towards illiquid assets. Additionally, their strategy involves a mix of direct investments and fund-to-fund allocations, showcasing flexibility and a comprehensive view of the venture landscape. This dual approach not only diversifies their investments but also aligns them closely with experienced institutional signals to strengthen their investment decisions.
Lessons Learned from Venture Capital Investing
Investment in venture capital has provided critical insights, particularly regarding ticket sizing and the significance of backing emerging managers. By focusing on small pre-seed and seed managers, the firm diversifies its portfolio while mitigating risks associated with early-stage investments. They have acknowledged the importance of validating track records when supporting spinouts to ensure the sustainability and growth of these emerging managers. The lessons learned emphasize a long-term commitment to building manager relationships and maintaining a disciplined approach to capital deployment, which is vital for sustained success.
Justinas Milašauskas, Investment Manager at Willgrow sits down with David Weisburd to discuss the risks and rewards of investing in spinouts, top lessons learned from investing in venture and private markets and lessons on investing in emerging managers and navigating fragmented markets.
The 10X Capital Podcast is part of the Turpentine podcast network. Learn more: turpentine.co
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SPONSOR:
Carta is the all-in-one suite for private fund operations. Carta’s software-based approach takes fund administration out of the spreadsheet and into the modern age with powerful solutions and intuitive interfaces, all on one platform. Their suite of products and expert services help funds at any stage with up-to-date insights and automated workflows to get them to the next level. Learn more at: https://z.carta.com/10xpod
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X / Twitter:
@dweisburd (David Weisburd)
@justi_nas (Justinas Milašauskas)
Questions or topics you want us to discuss on The 10X Capital Podcast? Email us at david@10xcapital.com
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TIMESTAMPS:
(0:00) Episode Preview
(1:45) The strategic advantage of operating businesses in portfolio construction
(3:19) Investment cadence and the importance of recognizing one's weaknesses
(5:25) Evaluating fund managers and the significance of their cap table
(6:26) Sponsor: Carta
(7:09) Investment strategies for spinouts and emerging managers
(9:40) The evolution of emerging managers and ticket sizing lessons
(11:12) Transition from public markets to private markets and the current investment climate
(12:47) Differentiating as an LP and perspectives on European investment geography
(14:24) Insights on investing in emerging managers and advantages of family office capital
(15:54) Closing remarks
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