VC 101: Why Venture Capital Makes Sense for RIAs

Chief Business Development Officer Jack Barlow explores the multifaceted benefits and considerations of incorporating VC into investment portfolios

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Alumni Ventures

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In the face of increasing competition, shifting investor preferences, and market volatility, Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs) are continually seeking innovative strategies to provide clients with a competitive edge. Incorporating venture capital (VC) investments represents a promising avenue for RIAs to transform client offerings and outcomes. In this on-demand webinar, we explore the multifaceted benefits and considerations of incorporating VC into investment portfolios, delving into aspects such as diversification, potential high returns, and the “alpha” of access.

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About Our Panel

Jack Barlow
Jack Barlow
Chief Business Development Officer, Alumni Ventures

Jack has over 20 years of experience in the asset management industry mainly oriented around the development and distribution of traditional private and open-ended alternative investment solutions to the wealth management community. He has worked across all major financial intermediary channels, including global private banks, national brokerages, registered investment advisers, and independent broker/dealers. Most recently, he helped lead BlackRock’s effort to bring its private market franchise to wealth including the launch of four evergreen solutions covering private credit, private equity, and hedge fund strategies. Prior to BlackRock, Jack was one of the original members of Blackstone’s Private Wealth Solutions team where he co-led the national account effort. Earlier in his career, he held corporate positions with Bank of America’s Alternative Investment Group, FleetBoston Financial, and management consulting. Jack has an Economics degree from Hobart College and an MBA from University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business.

Edward Tsai
Edward Tsai
Managing Partner, Alumni Ventures

Edward has 15+ years of investment experience in the U.S. and China, including a successful track record with investments such as Cruise Automation (acq. by GM), Life360 (IPO), Palantir (IPO), and Brave Software. In addition, Edward has served on the limited partner advisory committees at Cendana Capital and Ten Eleven Ventures, and he has deep operating experience at tech and cybersecurity companies. Most recently, he was Director of Investments at enterprise security company Qianxin, where he led $700 million in fundraising, ran multiple M&A deals, and managed a large investment portfolio. As Assistant GM for Qianxin, he also incubated their cybersecurity spinout fund Security Capital. At 360, he led International Investments and Strategic Development. He started his venture career as Vice President at DCM, a global early-stage VC firm managing $4 billion. He holds BS and MS degrees in Computer Science from UCLA, where he is a Kauffman Fellow (class of ’15).

Learn About Our Offerings for Wealth Managers

Alumni Ventures provides a range of solutions for wealth managers who want to maintain a competitive edge. Venture capital can bring multiple benefits to your clients’ alternative assets. Click below to discover more.

Contact [email protected] for additional information. To see additional risk factors and investment considerations, visit av-funds.com/disclosures.