Venture Capital: Access is Everything

January 12, 2023

Key Takeaways

1. Venture capital is an important driver of returns for leading endowments. Accessing venture capital managers that are likely to outperform takes time, networks, and expertise which create significant barriers to entry for individuals and small investors.

2. Investing on behalf of mission-driven organizations has resonated with the venture capital community.  The top managers often have a stable group of existing investors, and are only willing to add new investors if they support values-aligned missions. At GEM, our clients are a key differentiating aspect in this regard and something we are proud the investment community recognizes.

3. Selection is critical. Top quartile venture capital firms have added at least 14% above the S&P 500®, but the median fund has beaten the S&P by merely 2%.

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