Raising a fund, explained
Practical, numbers-grounded answers for fund managers.
What it costs, how long it takes, and how to run the raise.
Latest posts
How Much Does It Cost to Start a VC Fund?
A real 2026 breakdown of what it costs to start a VC fund — legal, fund admin, audit, GP commit, and fundraising — plus how emerging managers launch lean.
How Long Does It Take to Raise a VC Fund?
How long it really takes to raise a VC fund in 2026 — phase-by-phase timelines for first-time vs established managers, and what speeds up or stalls a raise.
How Many LPs Do You Need to Raise a Fund?
The funnel math behind a fund raise: how many LPs you need to contact to close a $25M fund, conversion benchmarks by LP type, and how to size your target list.
VC Fund Data Room Checklist for LP Diligence
A complete VC fund data room checklist for LP due diligence in 2026 — every document institutional LPs expect, how to organize it, and what to leave out.
How to Build an LP Pipeline to Track Fundraising
Build an LP pipeline that actually tracks your raise: pipeline stages, fields to log, CRM templates, weekly reviews, and how to import a clean, filtered LP list.
How to Build a VC Fund Pitch Deck for LPs: The 12-Slide Underwriting-First Structure (2026)
LPs underwrite the person, not the deal flow. Here is the 12-slide structure that pre-answers the six filters LPs use to pass on first-time managers.
What LPs Look for in a First-Time Fund Manager: The 6 Underwriting Filters (2026)
LPs can't underwrite a first-timer's returns, so they underwrite access, survival, and blow-up risk instead. Here are the 6 filters that decide the check.
Sovereign Wealth Funds That Invest in Venture Capital: The GP's Realistic Access Map (2026)
SWFs rarely write direct checks into small funds. Here is the real path: fund-of-funds, anchor managers, and a multi-fund relationship arc.
SPV vs Fund for First-Time Managers: Cost, Carry, and the LP Math (2026)
SPVs and funds pull from different LPs and price carry differently. Here's the cost, carry, and LP math first-time managers need before picking a structure.
LP Database for Emerging Fund Managers: Why a Filtered 150 Beats a List of 10,000 (2026)
A 10,000-name LP database is a liability for a Fund I. Here's how to filter it down to the ~150 LPs who actually back emerging managers.
How Long Does It Take to Raise a Fund From LPs: The 12-18 Month Reality (2026)
The 12-18 month LP fundraising timeline is real, but most GPs measure it from the wrong starting line. Here is the honest, phase-by-phase version.
How to Build a Targeted LP Prospect List: A 150-Name System That Actually Closes (2026)
A targeted 150-name LP list, segmented by type and check size before outreach, raises faster than a bloated 500-name spreadsheet.
Difference Between GP and LP in Venture Capital: The Divides That Decide Who Holds the Power (2026)
GP vs LP isn't manager versus investor. It's who carries unlimited liability, who lives on a 2% fee until carry hits, and who actually controls the fund.
How Much Do LPs Typically Commit to a Fund: Check Sizes by LP Type (2026)
First-time GPs chase a target fund size, but the number that actually decides whether you close is the average LP check, and it's smaller and more concentrated than most founders assume.
How to Find Limited Partners for a Venture Fund: The 7-Channel Sourcing System (2026)
A GP's system for sourcing LPs: which LP types convert fastest on a Fund I, where to find them by channel, and how to size the funnel to close.
List of Family Offices That Invest in Venture Capital: 40+ Verified LPs by Geography (2026)
A working list of family offices that invest in venture capital, organized by city and office type, with a sequencing plan for turning it into commitments.
Endowments That Invest in Venture Capital Funds: A GP's Targeting Playbook (2026)
Flagship endowments rarely anchor a Fund I. Here is where endowment venture capital actually flows, and a realistic 2026 playbook for reaching it.
Family Office vs Institutional LP: Which Should a First-Time Fund Chase First? (2026)
Most Fund I managers waste months chasing pensions that structurally cannot back them. Here is why family offices, not institutions, should anchor your first close.
Pension Funds That Invest in Venture Capital Funds: The GP's 2026 Targeting Playbook
Pensions are the last check to close, not the first. Here's how to target them through fund of funds, geography, and sequencing, not cold email.
How to Run a First Close for a Venture Fund: The 90-Day Playbook (2026)
A 90-day playbook for running a first close: funnel math for sizing, anchor LP strategy, data room prep, and the closing mechanics that get capital wired.
LP Update Email Template for Fund Managers: A Copy-Paste Framework That Drives Re-ups (2026)
A copy-paste LP update email template for fund managers, plus segmentation and cadence, so quarterly updates drive re-ups instead of just checking a compliance box.