Emerging Managers Play A Team Sport
Fund One + One = Three
Being an emerging fund manager is hard.
It’s like starting a race an entire lap behind everyone else while running through a downpour that makes it nearly impossible to see.
When Joe and I started Daring Ventures, we knew we didn’t know what we didn’t know. One of those things that we didn’t know is that we couldn’t figure this out alone. And thankfully, we didn’t have to.
One of the most energizing things about this journey has been how generous the emerging manager community is.
There’s no gatekeeping. No me versus you.
It feels more like a team. It reminds me of playing volleyball at Rice. Whether the experience was good, hard, or painful, we went through it together. We had a shared bond that made us stronger than we would have been individually.
The emerging manager community works the same way, and that support has shown up for us in three distinct ways.
Advice from those a few steps ahead. Other emerging managers who have successfully closed their first funds have so many insights to share.
Christy Johnson at Fireroad gave us honest feedback on emerging manager programs and whether they’re worth the time.
Brett Calhoun at Redbud VC shared what worked for him during outreach, how to find the right LPs, and how to maintain momentum throughout a long fundraise.
Kevin Moore at Serac Ventures explained how he has built a firm behind his fund and the ways he has adapted through his successful raise.
These conversations helped us refine and iterate on our strategy quicker compared to if we went at it alone.
Introductions without hesitation. Finding LPs is hard. Finding LPs who invest in Fund Is and back solo or co-GP led funds is even harder. Yet several emerging managers offered to make introductions on our behalf without us even asking:
Jessica Karr at Coyote Ventures
Ashley Ryder at VamosVentures
Jack Euston at Fountain Health Partners all opened doors for us.
That generosity is rare and we don’t take it for granted.
Collaboration on deals. The emerging manager community is also the best at sourcing together and co-investing. In 2025, we made five investments and had the opportunity to work alongside:
Zach Ellis at South Loop Ventures
Paige Finn Doherty at Behind Genius Ventures
Rachel ten Brink at Red Bike Capital
Samara Hernandez at Chingona Ventures
We all want one another to succeed, and that shows up in how we share deals and back each other’s conviction.
This community isn’t just nice to have. It’s a strategic advantage. The relationships we’ve built give us better access to deals, sharper thinking on fund strategy, and warm introductions to aligned LPs. For a young fund, that network is everything.
The more emerging managers we meet, the more I realize how special this community is. We share a common bond and lived experience. We support each other through the highs and lows of this trying but wonderful journey.
To all the emerging managers who have helped us along the way: thank you. And to those we’ll meet this year: we can’t wait to pay it forward.