Author: Rodney Reisdorf

September 6, 2023 – Issue 5

Your Preferred Return has arrived.

🍁🍂 Fall is in the air and as we enter the magical time between summer vacations and the end of the year, we’re looking forward to a flurry of investment activity over the coming months. 💸🚀

In this issue, we look at the role of Artificial Intelligence in financial services (or maybe not depending on the SEC…), exciting upcoming events for investment professionals, and an in-depth interview with the Managing Partner of an impact investment fund from the DealFlow Network.

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Industry Insights

The Impact of AI in Investment and Financial Services: An Industry Transformation Faces Concerns from SEC

by Nasdaq

In an era of rapid technological advancement, artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming an inescapable force within financial markets.

Amid the burgeoning chatter, SEC Chair Gary Gensler has voiced concerns over the potential impact of AI on financial stability, drawing stark comparisons to the transformative roles the Internet and the Model T once played in shaping industries.

For the financial markets, will AI mean Artificial Intelligence or Artificial Investment?

💣 In a recent address, Gensler highlighted the potential for AI to be “the center of future crises, future financial crises.”

🔎 The SEC has launched an investigation to study AI’s implications and suggest rule changes that could help maintain market integrity and protect investors.

🦸‍♂️ AI could be a superpower for fund managers, equipping them to make informed, split-second decisions and granting a distinct edge in a fiercely competitive market.

👩🤖 Early indicators are showing cautiously optimistic trends, with hybrid models that combine human acumen and oversight with the power of AI’s computation prowess.

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Events

iGlobal 15th Independent Sponsors Summit
September 12th – 14th, NYC

Tuesday, September 12th – Capital & Cocktails

Join us for Capital & Cocktails, an exclusive networking event that will be held at The Campbell Bar, located in the historic Grand Central Terminal.

This cocktail reception will offer opportunities for independent sponsors to mingle with industry peers, potential partners, and influential figures.

Thursday, September 14th – Deal Flow Decoded

Join Verivend and Ilion Capital Partners for a luncheon workshop that will focus on how Independent Sponsors can unlock efficiency in their capital raising and deal management processes.  

Strategic Insights: Gain a deep understanding of the strategic principles behind efficient deal management and successful capital raising.

Optimizing Processes: Discover proven strategies for streamlining deal management processes, from due diligence to finalization, resulting in improved efficiency and reduced turnaround times.

Building Investor Relationships: Explore how cultivating strong relationships with investors, partners, and stakeholders can lead to consistent and high-quality deal management.

Technology and Tools: Learn about the latest technological advancements and digital tools that can revolutionize deal management, enhance collaboration, and provide data-driven insights for better decision-making and deal closings.

Register Here

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Jets & Capital
September 29th, Provo UT

Verivend is excited to be attending this invite only event that’s bringing together top Investors, Family Offices, and Fund Managers for an Exclusive night of High-Level Networking, Private Jet Tours, and Entertainment at a Private Aircraft Hangar in Provo, Utah.

Register Here

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IndustryR Insights

15 for 15: Official Podcast of the DealFlow Network

Guest: Fasil Kahn, Managing Partner at Acre Impact Capital

The DealFlow Network is LinkedIn’s premier networking community for deal professionals involved in the private equity, venture capital and M&A industries. Where private equity, venture capital and M&A industry deal professionals connect, share deal insights and find actionable deal flow.

Join the DealFlow Network

August 23, 2023 – Issue 4

Your Preferred Return has arrived.

As summer winds down and back-to-school season is upon us, we’re excited to be delivering the latest issue of The Preferred Return, brought to you by Verivend.

In this issue, it’s all about going back to school with fundraising tips for first-time fund managers, what ROI looks like after GPs eliminate the pain and effort of managing a fund, and what VC Firms are focusing on for the rest of 2023.

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Industry Insights

How First-Time Fund Managers Can Gain Fundraising Edge

by PitchBook

Fundraising in the private equity industry follows a familiar tale: Bulge bracket investment firms enjoy easy access to capital, while first-time fundraisers typically find it challenging to hit their targets.

Exceptions do exist, though.

So how can first-time fund managers gain a fundraising edge?

💰 During Q1 2023, emerging fund managers accounted for only 15% of all capital raised, while the other 85% was raised by experienced fund managers.

🧠 Experience and track record are common strengths among emerging GPs.

👯‍♀️ Co-investment opportunities allow GPs to enhance existing LP relationships and forge new connections.

🔬 Investors can be more attracted to specialist managers with unique expertise or a sector focus compared with generalists.

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ROI Realized

Hear how GPs describe the ROI they’ve realized with Verivend that’s saved them time, eliminated manual processes, and unlocked the ability to focus on the core value proposition of their businesses.

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Industry Insights

What’s Most Important to VC Firms in H2 2023?

In a recent LinkedIn poll, we asked VC Firms “Which of the following is most important to you for the rest of 2023?”

The majority of VC firms are focused on raising capital (48%) and generating deal flow (36%) for the rest of 2023.

While the VC fundraising climate was noticeably cooler earlier this year, these results point to a warming trend for the second half of 2023.

With both capital raising and dealflow efforts coming back into focus, it’s reassuring to see the rebound of VC begin, indicating an optimistic start to 2024.