How I Invest with David Weisburd

Latest Episodes:

E33: Charmel Maynard, CIO of University of Miami on Building a Venture Book Jan 16, 2024

Show notes

Charmel Maynard, CIO of University of Miami, sits down with David Weisburd to discuss asset allocation, diversification strategies, and the process of assessing venture funds. The conversation also covers unique VC challenges, tracking emerging managers, and the importance of diversity in asset management. The Limited Partner podcast is part of the Turpentine podcast network. Learn more: turpentine.co (0:00) Introduction and Charmel's role as CIO of University of Miami (5:11) Asset allocation and diversification strategies in investment (8:37) Charmel's first venture into venture capital and building relationships (15:05) Assessing venture funds: DPI, TVPI, and diligence process (20:06) Unique challenges and strategy considerations in venture capital (26:09) Tracking emerging managers and the myth of proprietary deal flow (28:10) Charmel's journey to CIO and the importance of diversity in asset management (34:23) Sponsor: The Limited Partner Podcast newsletter

E32: Ashby Monk, Stanford Professor on How to Become a Billionaire in Private Equity Jan 11, 2024

Show notes

Ashby Monk, Executive and Research Director at Stanford sits down with David Weisburd to discuss the role and operation of asset owners like pension funds, endowments, and more. They delve into compensation in these fields, the state of pension funds in the US, and their impact on private equity. We’re proudly sponsored by Bidav Insurance Group, visit lux-str.com if you’re ready to level up your insurance plans. The Limited Partner podcast is part of the Turpentine podcast network. Learn more: turpentine.co (0:00) Introduction and discussion about billionaires in the alternative industry (2:05) Conversation about studying a $140,000,000,000,000 asset class (8:23) Conversation about compensation in pension funds and asset management (15:50) Sponsor: Bedav Insurance Group (16:16) Differences in pension plan strategies and asset allocation (24:56) The role of unions in pension plans (29:10) The journey of starting a private equity fund (37:11) Celebrating entrepreneurial individuals in institutions and foundations (40:43) Advice for venture capital managers starting out: From angel investing to fund 1 (50:08) David Weisburd asking about Ashby's tool sold to Atapar (55:57) David Weisburd thanking Dr. Russell Reed and Ashby Monk for their participation in the podcast

E31: David Friedberg on How To Build a Billion Dollar Startup Jan 09, 2024

Show notes

David Friedberg sits down with David Weisburd to discuss the role of concentrated capital, venture capital's future, and the impact of capital saturation. Friedberg shares his experience joining Ohalo, the evolution of investment strategy, and the transition from VC to operator. We’re proudly sponsored by Bidav Insurance Group, visit lux-str.com if you’re ready to level up your insurance plans. The Limited Partner podcast is part of the Turpentine podcast network. Learn more: turpentine.co (0:00) Introduction and discussion on venture performance vs public companies (1:18) Guest Introduction: David Friedberg's early career and lessons learned (7:59) The power of big thinking in companies like Google and Tesla (14:08) Challenges and counter incentives in venture capital (16:39) Sponsor: Bedav Insurance Group (21:27) The power law of returns and talent concentration in successful companies (28:15) The changing definition of 'founder' and the challenge of institutional foundry programs (34:02) The importance of investing in winners and adjusting portfolio construction (37:12) Introduction to Ojalo: mission, business model and global impact (42:03) Transitioning from investor to operator: pros, cons and psychological impact (45:33) Words of wisdom for founders, operators, and investors and critique of LPs' approach (48:06) Introduction of the Limited Partner Podcast newsletter

E30: Alan Feld, Co-Founder of Vintage Investment Partners on How to Handle Succession in VC Jan 04, 2024

Show notes

Alan Feld sits down with David Weisburd to talk about his experience founding Vintage, the significance of product-market fit in VC, and how Vintage has thrived over two decades. They discuss the impact of personal history on investment decisions, building an enduring VC firm culture, and engaging with General Partners. They also touch on successful GP cultures, investment allocation, and VC-LP relationship transparency. (0:00) Introduction and Alan's journey to founding Vintage (6:37) Importance of product-market fit and sector-based fund structure in venture capital (8:57) Sponsor: Bedav Insurance Group (9:46) Lessons learned from managing and growing Vintage over 20 years (17:05) Role of personal history in shaping successful entrepreneurs and investment decisions (21:29) Building an enduring venture capital firm: Culture, succession, and economic sharing (28:27) Regrets, reflections, and Vintage's approach to engaging with General Partners (33:40) Cultures at GPs that consistently return alpha and importance of humility and honesty (41:30) Allocating investments, follow-on investing, and the value of transparency in VC-LP relationships (46:36) Wrap-up: Reflections on building a lasting venture fund

E29: Lo Toney, Plexo Capital on How He Raised Capital from Google, the Ford Foundation, Mass Mutual Jan 02, 2024

Show notes

David Weisburd interviews Lo Toney about his transition from angel investor to fund manager, his role at Plexo Capital, and his approach to working with founders. They discuss the importance of patience in early-stage investments, the diligence process for managers, and the strategy behind selecting LPs. We’re proudly sponsored by Bidav Insurance Group, visit lux-str.com if you’re ready to level up your insurance plans. The Limited Partner podcast is part of the Turpentine podcast network. Learn more: turpentine.co (0:00) Evaluating young firms and the role of GP (1:00) Introduction to the guest, Lo Toney and his journey to Plexo Capital (9:34) Transition from angel investor to fund manager (11:44) Sponsor: Vidal Insurance Group (14:58) Importance of delivering DPI and patience in early stages of investment (20:21) Diligence process for a manager that's on strategy and importance of feedback for GPs (26:44) Role of a VC and the approach to working with founders (32:37) Building an LP base: the journey from GV to Alphabet and the strategy behind selecting LPs (40:27) Managing GP-LP relationships and deciding on future fund inclusion (45:37) Assessing diversity within venture capital and the impact of fund/check sizes on returns (48:40) Introduction of GPX: A platform for transitioning investors to fund managers (54:29) Global perspective and investment scope of Plexo Capital and closing remarks

E28: Roland Reynold, Industry Ventures on Investing $7 Billion into Startups & Venture Funds Dec 14, 2023

Show notes

Roland Reynolds, Senior Managing Director at Industry Ventures, sits down with David Weisburd to discuss being one of the first investors in emerging managers and how he uses secondaries to drive alpha. We’re proudly sponsored by Bidav Insurance Group, visit lux-str.com if you’re ready to level up your insurance plans. (0:00) Episode Preview (1:40) Overview on Industry Ventures (4:21) Industry’s direct and secondary focus on emerging managers (9:28) Episode Sponsor: Bidav Insurance Group (10:17) How to evaluate secondary fund opportunities (16:46) Industry’s portfolio construction (21:52) How direct investments return risk adjusted alpha (23:44) The importance of knowing macroeconomic headwinds (25:05) The history of Industry Ventures (27:46) Why Roland likes extension rounds (30:58) Utilizing SPVs for pro-rata allocations (34:14) Starting a relationship with a direct investment? (35:18) Why every emerging manager needs a PPM (39:37) What is operational due diligence? (43:47) Closing thoughts

E27: Fernando Pontaza of Invariantes on Why 25% IRR is the Gold Standard in Venture Dec 12, 2023

Show notes

Fernando Pontaza, Co-Founder of Invariantes sits down with David Weisburd to discuss setting up the first Guatemalan Venture Capital Fund and why he targets a 25% IRR. We’re proudly sponsored by Bidav Insurance Group, visit lux-str.com if you’re ready to level up your insurance plans. (0:00) Episode Preview (1:25) The genesis of Invariantes, the first Guatemalan venture fund (3:11) The fund strategy (5:19) How Fernando won over Latin American investors (6:57) Powerlaw distributions and how they impact returns (8:36) Episode Sponsor: Bidav Insurance Group (9:48) The importance of smoothing out returns (10:55) What to look for in a fund manager (12:30) How to build LP/GP relationships (14:47) Common mistakes when investing in emerging managers (18:46) Diligencing co-investments (21:58) Is signal important? (23:30) The importance of open communication (24:57) The purpose of the LPAC (25:41) Best practices when fundraising in Latin America (28:02) The dangers of direct deals (33:58) How to reach Fernando

E26: Winter Mead of Coolwater on Building the YC for GPs Dec 08, 2023

Show notes

Winter Mead, Founder and CEO of Coolwater Capital sits down with David Weisburd to discuss the importance of emerging managers and how Coolwater Capital is building the YC for GPs. We’re proudly sponsored by Bidav Insurance Group, visit lux-str.com if you’re ready to level up your insurance plans. (0:00) Episode Preview (1:01) Genesis of Coolwater Capital (3:11) Learnings from Hall Capital (4:24) Why venture is fundamentally different than other asset classes (5:10) The proliferation of venture capital (8:45) What is Coolwater Capital (9:53) How Coolwater scaled their emerging manager program (13:20) Avoiding adverse selection (14:15) Episode Sponsor: Bidav Insurance Group (14:57) Operator vs Founder mentality (16:15) GP Mentality (21:30) Coolwater Academy (24:53) How Coolwater helps emerging managers (25:47) Common mistakes emerging managers make (28:49) Minimum viable dataroom emerging managers need (33:38) Operational Due Diligence (35:43) Is there an ideal follow-on policy? (42:39) Coolwater’s mission (44:05) How to find committed GPs (44:33) LP value add

E25: Jeff Galvin, CEO of Addimmune on Finding a Cure for HIV Dec 06, 2023

Show notes

Jeff Galvin, CEO of Addimmune, sits down with David Weisburd to discuss cell and gene therapy, and how Addimmune is working on a functional solution for HIV. We’re proudly sponsored by Bidav Insurance Group, visit lux-str.com if you’re ready to level up your insurance plans. (0:00) Episode Preview (2:21) Jeff’s background (5:08) Teaching at MIT as a teenager (8:22) What is gene therapy? (11:53) Episode Sponsor: Bidav Insurance Group (12:39) Gene therapy success stories (16:11) What is HIV? (20:14) AGT103 and the quest for a functional HIV cure (23:22) AGT103’s Phase I results (29:43) How gene therapy could revolutionize pharmaceuticals (30:52) How to contact Addimmune

E24: Joshua Berkowitz of Berkocorp on Why LP's Should Care about IRR% not TVPI Nov 30, 2023

Show notes

Joshua Berkowitz of Berkocorp, sits down with David Weisburd to discuss investing in venture capital as a family office and why all investors should care about IRR (and not TVPI). We’re proudly sponsored by Bidav Insurance Group, visit lux-str.com if you’re ready to level up your insurance plans. (0:00) Episode Preview (1:27) Joshua’s background (3:25) How venture fits within a family office (4:22) “Everyone’s an IRR investor” (5:41) How to invest in venture and manage capital calls (8:02) Why time diversification is important (10:42) The importance of always being in market (12:44) How to find and evaluate venture managers (14:41) GP strategy fit (15:52) Episode Sponsor: Bidav Insurance Group (16:45) How to predict whether a manager can pick a powerlaw company (17:34) Joshua’s powerlaw GPs (18:48) Messy (or diversified) portfolio (21:04) Aiming for 20% IRR (22:22) Why Joshua likes diversified over concentrated (24:01) GPs need to be “rough around the edges” (26:25) The difference between early and late stage collaboration (27:27) The different ways to win (29:09) Can anyone beat Sequoia and Andreessen? (29:45) Generational transfers (31:05) Founder vs Operator CEOs (32:44) How Joshua diligences emerging managers and what you need in a dataroom (40:41) Portfolio construction (41:25) How to communicate with LPs (48:56) Joshua’s view on follow-on strategy (52:05) The difficulty of succeeding across all stages (54:30) Change in graduation rates (56:17) Venture investing mistakes to avoid (57:50) How to approach co-investments (1:01:31) Dexa.ai (1:01:54) Why Joshua is a great LP

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