The Data Minute

This week on The Data Minute, Peter sits down with David Zhou, Head of Investor Relations at Alchemist Accelerator and the host of Superclusters, for a deep dive into how LPs choose, and say no to, emerging managers.David shares what hundreds of GP conversations have taught him about building trust and avoiding the "sea of sameness.” They talk about why charisma can be learned, how LPs think about relationship-building versus returns, and why fund managers should spend less time pitching and more time listening. Plus: the strange origin of venture capital as we know it, the story behind a viral LP blog post, and how tracking birthdays, gifts, and “fun facts” can help you raise your next fund.It’s fast, it’s tactical, and it's exactly the kind of honest LP feedback GPs rarely get to hear.Subscribe to Carta’s weekly Data Minute newsletter: https://carta.com/subscribe/data-newsletter-sign-up/Explore interactive startup and VC data, with Carta’s Data Desk: https://carta.com/data-desk/Chapters:01:35 – LinkedIn bios, authenticity, and under-optimizing for SEO02:43 – Why David might remove “angel investor” from his profile04:50 – Saying “LP” out loud: the weirdness of deal flow labeling06:10 – Sourcing, picking, and winning: how LPs assess fund managers08:50 – What makes an “emerging” manager, really?10:13 – Should LPs invest in a firm—or just fund one?11:55 – The myth of quick markups, and why LPs think long13:23 – Pattern-matching vs. patience: how LPs develop taste14:55 – The Odysseus strategy: when to say no (even to great funds)17:47 – Why humility and honesty work better than fake urgency19:20 – Do some LPs still think venture capital is “art collecting”?21:10 – Helping LPs understand: is it worth being the educator?23:00 – First-time managers, first-time investors, and the long runway25:38 – Breaking into Middle Eastern LPs: no first meeting should be transactional27:45 – What hospitality looks like in cross-border fundraising29:20 – The power of thoughtful gifts—and CRM columns that matter31:14 – Should emerging managers stand out… or just be deeply human?32:32 – Whelming vs overwhelming: what LPs remember33:33 – Developing taste: why it matters for GPs too34:50 – The Dream High framework: who commands attention in a room?36:40 – Is charisma innate—or can it be learned?38:23 – Measuring growth in 15-year cycles40:00 – Common advice David gives insiders vs outsiders41:55 – Advice for “logo shoppers” and the risk of performative decks44:08 – Reality distortion fields and the allure of being “the only one”46:00 – Confidence vs clarity: do LPs actually buy better?48:18 – How many GPs does David see per year? (Spoiler: it’s hundreds)50:50 – The blog post that went viral: Non-Obvious Emerging LP Playbook53:40 – Do we need more VC funds? Just one kind.54:36 – Pre-seed is the new Series A—but we still need first-check investors56:50 – Off-thesis bets: what LPs actually tolerate58:04 – A 70-20-10 approach to fund strategy01:00:14 – The one pitch meeting structure David swears by01:02:15 – How GPs should actually ask for feedback01:03:25 – Tailoring follow-ups and ending meetings earlyThis presentation contains general information only and eShares, Inc. dba Carta, Inc. (“Carta”) is not, by means of this publication, rendering accounting, business, financial, investment, legal, tax, or other professional advice or services, and is for informational purposes only.  This presentation is not a substitute for such professional advice or services nor should it be used as a basis for any decision or action that may affect your business or interests. © 2025 eShares, Inc., dba Carta, Inc. All rights res

Lu Zhang Managing Partner of Fusion Fund joins Peter this week to talk about what it takes to scale an early-stage venture firm—and back game-changing companies—at the speed of today’s AI boom.Fresh off her oversubscribed $190M Fund IV raise, Lu talks about what most managers get wrong when pitching institutional LPs, what it takes to stand out in a bubble-driven market, and why true founder support means going way beyond capital. She opens up about her unique CXO and Super Founder networks, team-based investing philosophy, and how Fusion unlocks early commercial contracts—even from highly regulated enterprise buyers.If you’re looking to raise a fund, raise a round, or just understand how great institutional investors think, this is a must-listen.Subscribe to Carta’s weekly Data Minute newsletter: https://carta.com/subscribe/data-newsletter-sign-up/Explore interactive startup and VC data, with Carta’s Data Desk: https://carta.com/data-desk/Chapters:01:15 – Fund IV success: fusion in a $190M market moment02:14 – Why repeat founders are jumping back in03:32 – Different edges: repeat vs. first-time AI founders04:46 – Are we in a valuation bubble?07:10 – Fusion’s advice-first approach to early-stage rounds08:19 – CXO network as a go-to-market advantage09:44 – Why “revenue is the best capital”10:14 – Building founder loyalty through value creation11:33 – Handling tough decisions: shutdowns, M&A, and alignment14:38 – Distribution vs. recycling: how Fusion thinks15:15 – Fund structuring and reserving for multiple follow-ons17:05 – Matching long-term firm vision with scaling founder support18:12 – Working across sectors with deep research and reports19:31 – Beyond Silicon Valley: geopolitical signals + timing20:05 – What CXOs actually want from AI startups21:29 – Edge compute, vertical models & AI infrastructure22:24 – Enterprise readiness and compliance bottlenecks23:10 – The true cost of AI: what founders overlook24:18 – Portfolio growth stats: 20x revenue in one year25:04 – When small teams scale to $100M+27:15 – How to break into regulated markets with AI28:25 – Complying with data regulations by design29:12 – The upside of regulation-readiness for AI adoption30:18 – Foundation models & new healthcare openness30:57 – M&A momentum inside Fusion’s most recent exits32:14 – Fund IV hard cap decisions & LP allocation dynamics34:04 – M&A vs. IPO: timelines, outcomes & premiums35:07 – From angels to institutions: how Fusion’s LP base evolved36:01 – Building LP community with intention36:56 – Graduation moment: from emerging manager to fund IV37:47 – Why large LPs are warming to small fund strategies38:44 – Growing with consistency: keeping method > trend39:42 – The LP metric that matters: revenue at the portfolio level40:43 – Why clean marks and real revenue matter so much now41:17 – Has co-investor behavior changed post-2021?42:12 – Why Fusion’s map of investors is still highly consistent42:58 – Lightning round: sectors, geographies & support43:03 – Sector Lu’s most excited about? Healthcare & spaceThis presentation contains general information only and eShares, Inc. dba Carta, Inc. (“Carta”) is not, by means of this publication, rendering accounting, business, financial, investment, legal, tax, or other professional advice or services, and is for informational purposes only.  This presentation is not a substitute for such professional advice or services nor should it be used as a basis for any decision or action that may affect your business or interests. © 2025 eShares, Inc., dba Carta, Inc. All rights reserved.

Beezer Clarkson, Partner at Sapphire Ventures and co-host of Origins, shares insights into the evolving venture capital landscape. They discuss how emerging managers can stand out amid mega-funds and the role of technology in enhancing communication. Beezer emphasizes the importance of authenticity in narratives and effective communication with limited partners. They also dive into how AI tools are transforming the investment landscape and the critical need for adaptability in this competitive environment. Discover what LPs truly value and how new GPs can build lasting relationships.

Join Ed Sim, Founding Partner at Boldstart Ventures, as he dives into the world of inception-stage investing. He discusses the shift in startup dynamics post-AI boom and how early-stage funding has evolved. Ed shares insights on identifying promising founding teams before incorporation and the emergence of 'discovery rounds.' He emphasizes the importance of proprietary data and why software moats are becoming rare. With anecdotes from his experiences, Ed offers honest advice for founders grappling with key decisions in their entrepreneurial journey.

Liza Benson, Partner at Moderne Ventures, focuses on investing in real estate technology and fintech. She discusses the innovative Moderne Passport program designed to connect startups with industry leaders to drive growth. Liza highlights the misconceptions around tech's role in real estate and the challenges startups face in this conservative sector. She also shares insights on what Limited Partners seek today and the significance of metrics like DPI in investment strategy, emphasizing the shift from traditional to more impactful performance measurements.

In this engaging discussion, Brianne Kimmel, founder of Worklife Ventures, shares her insights on navigating the AI-first startup landscape. She highlights why renewals are becoming essential revenue streams and the need for startups to quickly adopt multi-product strategies. Brianne also emphasizes the evolving dynamics of founder-LP relationships, strategic hiring, and her thoughts on embracing failure. With a focus on personalized venture support, she explores how modern founders are reshaping capital raising and building enduring companies.

Welcome to a very special episode of The Data Minute. For the first time, Peter Walker (Head of Insights at Carta) is joined by an actual Founder and CEO, Anubhav Srivastava whose company Tactyc.io is now a part of the Carta family! Join them for an in-depth conversation that goes in two directions. First, for VCs, they discuss reserve ratios, recycling capital, forecasting, and the effect LP influence could have on your fund metrics. Second, Anubhav shares his experience on what it’s like to be acquired. If you're a founder wondering if it’s time to join something bigger, you won’t want to miss the advice and insight Anubhav brings to the entire process.Subscribe to Carta’s weekly Data Minute newsletter: https://carta.com/subscribe/data-newsletter-sign-up/Explore interactive startup and VC data, with Carta’s Data Desk: https://carta.com/data-desk/Chapters:00:00 Welcome02:06 An overview of Tactyc06:42 Solving problems in portfolio management9:08 What are the metrics that matter most?11:36 Reserves and recycling 18:07 Bigger impact? Initial or reserve investments?19:17 What do LPs wish more GPs told them?27:33 A founder’s thoughts on being acquired32:40 OutroThis presentation contains general information only and eShares, Inc. dba Carta, Inc. (“Carta”) is not, by means of this publication, rendering accounting, business, financial, investment, legal, tax, or other professional advice or services, and is for informational purposes only.  This presentation is not a substitute for such professional advice or services nor should it be used as a basis for any decision or action that may affect your business or interests. © 2024 eShares, Inc., dba Carta, Inc. All rights reserved.

In this week’s episode of The Data Minute, Peter Walker (Head of Insights at Carta) and Marie Drez (Venture Capital CFO) sit down for an insightful conversation on the crucial role of fund CFOs and how emerging managers can find one. This discussion is full of expert insights. Marie shares important lessons from the SVB crisis, questions to ask banking partners, and why, in the world of AI, great CFOs are more important than ever. Subscribe to Carta’s weekly Data Minute newsletter: https://carta.com/subscribe/data-newsletter-sign-up/Explore interactive startup and VC data, with Carta’s Data Desk: https://carta.com/data-desk/Chapters:00:00 Intro1:24 What does a fund CFO do? 5:37 How to manage valuation, auditing, and taxes10:45 What should be included in a fund’s valuation policy?15:17 What role do CFOs play in fundraising? 19:25 How to keep LP’s informed 20:45 Lessons from the Silicon Valley Bank collapse 25:46 Establishing a new banking relationship27:23 The role of AI and automation33:07 How to find a CFO35:35 Final thoughtsThis presentation contains general information only and eShares, Inc. dba Carta, Inc. (“Carta”) is not, by means of this publication, rendering accounting, business, financial, investment, legal, tax, or other professional advice or services, and is for informational purposes only.  This presentation is not a substitute for such professional advice or services nor should it be used as a basis for any decision or action that may affect your business or interests. © 2024 eShares, Inc., dba Carta, Inc. All rights reserved.

Aditi Maliwal, a Partner at Upfront Ventures and expert in seed and Series A investments, dives into the shifting dynamics of early-stage funding. She explores how AI is reshaping investment criteria and the importance of grit among founders. Aditi discusses the growing significance of specialized networks in venture capital and the rise of larger funding rounds. She also highlights the need for authenticity in communication between investors and founders, and shares insights on overlooked investment categories and the evolving landscape of startup funding.

In this episode of The Data Minute, Peter Walker (Head of Insights at Carta) is joined by Rex Salisbury (Founding GP, Cambrian Ventures) to discuss what’s developing in the fintech space, GPs calling more capital, and Rex’s idea on how to get into the tech industry.This conversation also covers Rex’s personal cheat sheet explaining why someone shouldn’t be a VC, and should instead start a career in tech or become a founder.Subscribe to Carta’s weekly Data Minute newsletter: https://carta.com/subscribe/data-newsletter-sign-up/Explore interactive startup and VC data, with Carta’s Data Desk: https://carta.com/data-desk/Chapters:00:00 Intro01:07 State of pre-seed and seed markets03:16 Comparing SaSS and fintech valuations06:34 The value of specialized funds08:52 Best places for early-stage fintech founders13:13 How are founders thinking about hiring?19:01 Should founders care about GP deployments?24:15 Are LPs rotating away from venture?27:19 The allure of going public28:11 Rex’s cheat sheet on getting into VC36:30 Why do so many MBAs want to be VCs?39:14 When will we have a $1B company with one employee41:20 OutroThis presentation contains general information only and eShares, Inc. dba Carta, Inc. (“Carta”) is not, by means of this publication, rendering accounting, business, financial, investment, legal, tax, or other professional advice or services, and is for informational purposes only.  This presentation is not a substitute for such professional advice or services nor should it be used as a basis for any decision or action that may affect your business or interests. © 2024 eShares, Inc., dba Carta, Inc. All rights reserved.