Tue, Aug 4, 2026
A A A
Welcome Guest
Free Trial RSS pod
Get FREE trial access to our award winning publications
Alternative Market Briefing

As venture capital overheats, investors stress caution

Friday, June 14, 2019

Bailey McCann, Opalesque New York:

As venture capital valuations continue to rise, delegates at the recent Opalesque North America PE/VC Roundtable argue that we've reached a point in the cycle where it is prudent to be very selective about investment opportunities. The combination of rising valuations and rising dry powder puts pressure on VC managers to invest, which could lead to less discipline. Some managers are turning to specialization in response to higher valuations, they argue that this route can ensure discipline and more consistent returns.

"Venture capital is very interesting for us, but it's one of those areas right now that is very expensive, so it's hard for the underlying funds to find things and investments that are not already fully priced," said Christopher Zook, Chairman and Chief Investment Officer at CAZ Investments. He adds that as investors, they're willing to invest in an opportunity that is fully priced as long as the business model executes, which makes it important to work with managers that can be trusted and have a long track record of success in venture capital.

His thoughts were echoed by Ronen Schwartzman, CIO at the Cooper Family Office. "We absolutely pay attention to the valuations of the companies we invest in and will not invest at any price," he said.

Schwartzman looks for strong managers but has also built relationships with other family offices and will invest early in specific deals as well. "We typic......................

To view our full article Click here

Previous Opalesque Exclusives                                  
Previous Other Voices                                               
Access Alternative Market Briefing

 



  • Top Forwarded
  • Top Tracked
  • Top Searched
  1. Other Voices: Nvidia extraordinary growth and the challenge of sustaining demanding valuations over time[more]

    Antonio Di Giacomo, Senior Market Analyst at XS.com, writes: Nvidia has established itself as one of the most extraordinary growth companies in the global technology sector. Over the past two fiscal years, its revenues have risen from levels close to $60 billion annually to well above $120 billi

  2. And, finally: Time to share it with the people[more]

    From Newsoftheweird: Leavenworth, Washington, has become a tourist destination because of the Bavarian theme businesses have adopted there, NPR reported. One shop, the Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum, houses the world's largest nutcracker collection, thanks to 101-year-old Arlene Wagner. Wagner sta

  3. Opalesque Exclusive: Private Markets Evergreen Funds - An Insider's View[more]

    Matthias Knab, Opalesque for New Managers: Private Markets Evergreen Funds: What Investors Need to Know Before They Dive In The democratization of private markets is well underway. Structural barriers t

  4. 755 Unicorns, $8 Trillion: Fifth Era maps the autonomous digital economy[more]

    Matthias Knab, Opalesque for New Managers: Fifth Era Partners, a specialized asset manager focused on the convergence of Internet, AI/Agentic and Blockchain technologies, has released the findings of its 13th Bia

  5. Opalesque Exclusive: Governance, Scale, and Boutique Resilience in a Consolidating Hedge Fund Industry[more]

    Matthias Knab, Opalesque for New Managers: The hedge fund industry has undergone significant consolidation in recent years, with capital increasingly concentrated among large multi-strategy platforms. Yet boutique m