Analytics has led to a revolution in how we approach many aspects of modern life, from how we field a baseball team to when is the right time to send a tweet. And now data and analytics are reinventing how LPs view Venture Funds and how those funds invest. Our guest today uses powerful analytics to help her clients participate in Venture investing at scale, Jamie Rhode, CFA is Principal at Verdis Investment Management, a large Family Office. The analytics she uses and how she communicates with the GPs she invests in are the focus of today’s episode. It’s a fascinating look at putting emotions aside when investing to maximize returns.
About Jamie Rhode:
Jamie Rhode is Principal at Verdis Investment Management, focused on venture capital, private equity, and hedge fund investment sourcing and due diligence.
She joined Verdis from Bloomberg, where she held roles in both equity research and credit analysis. Jamie is a licensed Chartered Financial Analyst, and earned her bachelor’s degree from Drexel University.
In this episode we discuss:
(01:27) Jamie’s journey into investing
(03:14) A history of Verdis Investment Management
(06:20) How Verdis’ approach to venture investing has evolved through the use of analytics
(10:37) Not needing to be the first investor in a geography
(12:23) Fund sizes they prefer based on their data
(17:12) Why Jamie thinks follow-on reserves are a flawed investment strategy
(20:22) The data around being overly focused on valuation as a GP
(23:06) The value to LPs of recycling
(23:56) How shots on goal and consistency of investment is more important than finding winners
(25:30) The infrastructure Verdis has to monitor its portfolio
(28:52) Qualitative factors that Verids uses to evaluate investments when there is little data
(32:40) Does the current market still support the data they have been using
(36:14) Data around the importance of VC Brand
(39:47) What Jamie’s deal funnel looks like and how she manages her meetings
(42:27) Why Family Offices are typically very private
(43:32) The effect of the current market on Jamie’s investing
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How LPs are Using Data to Guide Investment Decisions with Jamie Rhode of Verdis Investment Management