The Competition Among Emerging Venture Funds: An Unavoidable Reckoning
Unprecedented numbers of venture capital funds have been launched in recent years, each vying for a lucrative, long-term position. Indeed, PitchBook data reveals a staggering 10,000 funds attempting to raise capital, with 45% of these being emerging fund managers, or firms with fewer than three funds.
The Struggle for Limited Venture Capital
These emerging funds are battling for a mere 16% of the total capital that limited partner investors are willing to spend on venture capital. This marks a decrease from the previous decade’s 23%, prior to the surge of interest in venture capital during the pandemic years. Consequently, more funds are competing for fewer dollars, creating a challenging environment.
Emerging Managers Navigate the Storm
Despite these obstacles, many emerging managers have managed to navigate this challenging landscape successfully. They acknowledge the difficulties of fundraising, both for themselves and their founders, and have had to resort to creative solutions to survive. For instance, some firms have had to reduce their fund targets to secure deals and start deploying their funds. Collaborating with the larger, multistage firms is also a crucial strategy to avoid missing out on promising deals.
The Intricacies of Fundraising for Emerging Managers
Moving from being an entrepreneur to an investor, Joanna Drake, co-founder and managing partner at Magnify Ventures, discovered that fundraising for a startup differs significantly from fundraising for a fund. Despite having an impressive resume with three successful venture-backed exits, she found the process of raising capital for an emerging fund complex and challenging.
Raise Global: A Community for Emerging Fund Managers
Frustrated by the complexities of raising capital, Drake, along with Ben Black, founded Raise Global. This community aims to connect emerging fund managers with ‘forward-thinking’ limited partners who are keen to invest in the emerging manager category but lack the resources or time to conduct due diligence independently. Over the past decade, Raise Global has grown to include hundreds of fund managers with assets under $200 million.
Emerging Managers: Diversity and Geographic Dispersion
One exciting trend observed through Raise Global is the increased diversity and geographic dispersion among the new set of emerging managers. They are not just confined to Silicon Valley but are spread out globally. Furthermore, these emerging managers are managing to break barriers and raise larger funds in the $100 million range, a feat previously considered rare.
Emerging Managers and Bigger Firms: A Symbiotic Relationship
Emerging managers play a crucial role in the venture capital ecosystem, especially in their relationship with bigger firms. These managers, often working at the top of the deal-flow funnel, help larger venture capital firms discover promising companies. They back these companies before they gain the attention of larger investors. This ability to spot potential early on makes emerging managers invaluable to the larger firms.
Emerging Funds: The Road Ahead
However, the road ahead for many emerging funds may not be smooth. With the VC winter lasting longer than expected, a shake-out is imminent. Not all these funds will survive, and some may be absorbed by other funds or hire their best investors. But this thinning of the herd will ultimately strengthen those with staying power, allowing them to grow stronger with less competition for deals.
As the landscape of the venture capital ecosystem continues to evolve, the role of emerging managers will become increasingly significant. Their ability to spot potential early on, to specialize, and to form symbiotic relationships with larger firms positions them well for the future. Despite the challenges, the increasing diversity and geographic dispersion of these managers suggest a promising future for the venture capital industry.
