Raise Your First VC Fund

Turn your personal story and motivations into a clear case for why you're the right GP for this fund.

Name the hurdles emerging managers face and address them in your narrative before LPs raise them.

Pressure-test your one-page thesis live, with feedback from someone who sits on LP committees.

Learn the traits LPs use to separate proactive managers from reactive ones.

Study real deck materials that signal a proactive strategy, and what LPs read into them.

Apply it to your own positioning so your fund stands out in a crowded market.

Weigh fee models, including front-loading, against your strategy and current market norms.

Link portfolio construction to fund size so your model tells one consistent story.

Learn what LPs check first in a fund model, and the mistakes that end the conversation.

Structure your fund opportunity step by step using my LP-tested pitch framework.

Avoid the presentation mistakes emerging managers make most often.

Get your deck reviewed live, from an LP's point of view.

Separate the documents LPs need from the ones that are nice to have.

Choose a data room provider and set up sharing that protects your confidentiality.

Present your materials so they're organised, professional and easy for LPs to review.

Understand the main LP types, from institutions to family offices and HNWIs, and what each looks for in a fund.

Learn how to identify and prioritise the LP prospects that fit your fund's focus, stage and strategy.

Practise in a mock LP meeting and learn the etiquette of approach, pitch and follow-up.