E132: How Nichole Wischoff Raised a $50M Fund in 5 Months
01/24/25 • 29 min
Highlights: $50 Million Fundraise: How Nichole secured her fund’s anchor and achieved a first close in just two months.
Building Distribution Advantage: Leveraging social media and brand-building to access top founders and close deals.
Fund Size Challenges: Overcoming objections from institutional LPs and proving scalability.
Strategic Fundraising: Nichole's timeline, drip campaigns, and tactics to convert LPs at a 26% rate.
Community-Driven Success: The value of collaboration among emerging managers and fostering trusted relationships.
The Twitter Advantage: Nichole’s journey to building a massive online following and using it as a competitive edge.
Cringe Scales: Why embracing discomfort on social media pays dividends for fund managers.
Future Focus: Nichole’s advice for navigating relationships, building a firm, and standing out in the VC world.
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Guest Bio: Nichole Wischoff is the Founder and Managing Partner of Wischoff Ventures, a venture capital firm investing in early-stage startups. With deep operational experience at multiple high-growth companies and a proven track record in venture capital, Nichole has built her reputation as a leader in the emerging manager space. Known for her authenticity and strategic approach, she is passionate about building her firm and brand in public while supporting the next wave of groundbreaking founders.
Our podcast now receives more than 200,000 downloads a month. Interested in sponsoring an episode? Please email me at [email protected].
We’d like to thank @ReedSmith for sponsoring this episode!
#VentureCapital #VC #Startups #OpenLP
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SPONSOR: Reed Smith is a dynamic international law firm dedicated to helping clients move their businesses forward. With an inclusive culture and innovative mindset, Reed Smith delivers smarter, more creative legal services that drive better outcomes for their clients. Their deep industry knowledge, long-standing relationships and collaborative structure make them the go-to partner for complex disputes, transactions, and regulatory matters. Learn more at www.reedsmith.com.
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Stay Connected: X / Twitter: David Weisburd: @dweisburd Nichole Wischoff: @NWischoff
LinkedIn: David Weisburd: David Weisburd LinkedIn Nichole Wischoff: Nichole Wischoff LinkedIn
Links: Wischoff Ventures: www.wischoff.com
Questions or topics you want us to discuss on How I Invest? Email us at [email protected].
(0:00) Episode preview (2:08) Leveraging social media and brand for distribution advantage (4:31) Overcoming LP objections and scaling investments (6:49) Strategies for first close and securing anchor LPs (10:29) Identifying and engaging interested LPs (13:34) Insights into decision-making of top quartile LPs and endowments (15:52) Collaborating with emerging managers and building trust (19:43) Importance of the 80/20 rule in relationships (21:27) Strategies for building a Twitter presence and follower psychology (25:47) Tips for effective Twitter engagement and brand growth (28:28) Closing remarks
Highlights: $50 Million Fundraise: How Nichole secured her fund’s anchor and achieved a first close in just two months.
Building Distribution Advantage: Leveraging social media and brand-building to access top founders and close deals.
Fund Size Challenges: Overcoming objections from institutional LPs and proving scalability.
Strategic Fundraising: Nichole's timeline, drip campaigns, and tactics to convert LPs at a 26% rate.
Community-Driven Success: The value of collaboration among emerging managers and fostering trusted relationships.
The Twitter Advantage: Nichole’s journey to building a massive online following and using it as a competitive edge.
Cringe Scales: Why embracing discomfort on social media pays dividends for fund managers.
Future Focus: Nichole’s advice for navigating relationships, building a firm, and standing out in the VC world.
--
Guest Bio: Nichole Wischoff is the Founder and Managing Partner of Wischoff Ventures, a venture capital firm investing in early-stage startups. With deep operational experience at multiple high-growth companies and a proven track record in venture capital, Nichole has built her reputation as a leader in the emerging manager space. Known for her authenticity and strategic approach, she is passionate about building her firm and brand in public while supporting the next wave of groundbreaking founders.
Our podcast now receives more than 200,000 downloads a month. Interested in sponsoring an episode? Please email me at [email protected].
We’d like to thank @ReedSmith for sponsoring this episode!
#VentureCapital #VC #Startups #OpenLP
--
SPONSOR: Reed Smith is a dynamic international law firm dedicated to helping clients move their businesses forward. With an inclusive culture and innovative mindset, Reed Smith delivers smarter, more creative legal services that drive better outcomes for their clients. Their deep industry knowledge, long-standing relationships and collaborative structure make them the go-to partner for complex disputes, transactions, and regulatory matters. Learn more at www.reedsmith.com.
--
Stay Connected: X / Twitter: David Weisburd: @dweisburd Nichole Wischoff: @NWischoff
LinkedIn: David Weisburd: David Weisburd LinkedIn Nichole Wischoff: Nichole Wischoff LinkedIn
Links: Wischoff Ventures: www.wischoff.com
Questions or topics you want us to discuss on How I Invest? Email us at [email protected].
(0:00) Episode preview (2:08) Leveraging social media and brand for distribution advantage (4:31) Overcoming LP objections and scaling investments (6:49) Strategies for first close and securing anchor LPs (10:29) Identifying and engaging interested LPs (13:34) Insights into decision-making of top quartile LPs and endowments (15:52) Collaborating with emerging managers and building trust (19:43) Importance of the 80/20 rule in relationships (21:27) Strategies for building a Twitter presence and follower psychology (25:47) Tips for effective Twitter engagement and brand growth (28:28) Closing remarks
Previous Episode
E131: Can VCs Make Money in Deep Tech? w/Nick Shekerdemian
In this episode of How I Invest, I sit down with Nick Shekerdemian, entrepreneur, investor, and founding partner of The Venture Collective (TVC). A former Oxford student turned Thiel Fellow, Nick shares his journey of dropping out of university to pursue big ideas and how the fellowship helped shape his path in venture capital. We explore TVC's unique approach to portfolio construction, investing in deep tech and computational biology, and why thesis-driven investing is the future of venture capital. Nick also discusses challenges like founder breakups, scaling value-added strategies, and his thoughts on the next big shifts in technology and bio-defense.
Highlights: Thiel Fellowship: Why Nick left Oxford to join the fellowship and how it transformed his career.
Portfolio Construction: TVC’s concentrated approach to seed-stage investing and leveraging informational advantages to support founders.
Thesis-Driven Investing: Why Nick believes the future of venture capital lies in backing big, transformative ideas, especially in deep tech, computational biology, and AI.
Bio-Defense and Innovation: How advancements in AI and biology could revolutionize healthcare and address emerging bio-defense challenges.
Supporting Founders: The importance of transparency, setting micro-goals, and building trust for navigating challenges like founder breakups.
Opportunities in Deep Tech: Exploring transformative sectors like defense tech, healthcare personalization, and reindustrialization driven by sustainability and AI.
Shifts in Venture Capital: Nick’s prediction that rapid innovation will redefine the venture landscape in the next few years.
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Guest Bio: Nick Shekerdemian is the founding partner of The Venture Collective (TVC), a seed-stage investment firm focused on backing visionary founders tackling transformative problems. A former Thiel Fellow, Nick has built his career at the intersection of entrepreneurship and venture capital, with a deep passion for investing in ambitious ideas in deep tech, healthcare, and sustainability. He’s committed to supporting founders who think differently and aren’t afraid to challenge the status quo.
Our Podcast now receives more than 200,000 downloads a month. Are you interested in sponsoring an episode? Please email David Weisburd at [email protected].
#VentureCapital #VC #Startups #OpenLP #AssetManagement
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Stay Connected: Twitter: David Weisburd: @dweisburd
LinkedIn: David Weisburd: linkedin.com/in/dweisburd/ Nick Shekerdemian: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nshekerdemian/
Links The Venture Collective: https://theventurecollective.com
Questions or topics you want us to discuss on How I Invest? Email us at [email protected].
(0:00) Episode preview (1:10) Dropping out of Oxford and Thiel Fellowship Insights (4:01) Seed Stage Startup Portfolio Construction (5:58) Leveraging Informational Advantages (8:33) Scaling Value-Added Strategies for Startups (10:28) Reporting Cadence vs. Company Performance (11:42) Fostering Transparency with Founders (14:17) TVC's Alpha Sources and Thematic Investing (18:28) Deep Tech Investments and Defense Tech Excitement (20:02) Changing LP Sentiments and Non-Momentum Investing (22:40) Computational Biology as an Investment Opportunity (24:50) Contrarian Views on Venture Capital (26:15) The Future of Biodefense and Bioweapons (27:46) Call to Action for Problem Solvers (28:34) Closing remarksNext Episode
E133: Lessons from Investing in 2200 Startups (in 23 Minutes)
In this episode of How I Invest, I connect with Lorenzo Thione, Managing Director at Gaingels, one of the most active and inclusive venture syndicates in the world. Lorenzo discusses his philosophy on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), the democratization of venture capital, and his thoughts on the AI revolution. From his experience building a portfolio of over 100 investments to lessons learned from co-founding PowerSet, Lorenzo provides invaluable insights for investors and entrepreneurs alike.
Highlights: Philosophy on DEI: How the distribution of talent and opportunity shapes Gaingels' mission to bring inclusivity to venture capital.
Gaingels’ Approach: Investing in companies that prioritize diversity in talent, governance, and capital while enabling LPs to invest with as little as $1,000.
Venture Allocation: Advice for high-net-worth investors on diversifying their portfolios across stages, sectors, and liquidity horizons.
Lessons from Uber: Why Lorenzo passed on the Uber seed round and how it shaped his investment philosophy.
AI Investing: Insights into the evolution of AI, the importance of category-defining opportunities, and the impact of recent major investments in AI infrastructure.
Angel Investing: The importance of backing founders you know and trust, and how personal relationships can lead to better investment outcomes.
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Guest Bio: Lorenzo Thione is a serial entrepreneur, investor, and expert in Artificial Intelligence. Currently, as Managing Director of Gaingels, he leads investments in AI, deep-tech, and consumer tech, promoting diversity in venture capital. He co-founded Powerset, an AI-driven search engine acquired by Microsoft and integrated into Bing. Beyond technology, Lorenzo is a celebrated Broadway producer, with productions like "Hadestown" and "The Inheritance," earning multiple Tony Awards. He also co-founded StartOut, supporting LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs. Born in Milan, he holds an M.S. in Computer Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin.
Our Podcast now receives more than 200,000 downloads a month. Are you interested in sponsoring an episode? Please email David Weisburd at [email protected].
#VentureCapital #VC #Startups #OpenLP #AssetManagement
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Stay Connected: X / Twitter: David Weisburd: @dweisburd
LinkedIn: David Weisburd: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dweisburd/ Lorenzo Thione: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorenzothione/
Links: Gaingels: https://www.gaingels.com/
Questions or topics you want us to discuss on How I Invest? Email us at [email protected].
(0:00) Episode preview (2:52) Gaingels syndicate and low minimum LP investment strategy (5:15) Venture capital allocation advice for high net worth individuals (6:19) Diversification strategies within venture capital (8:37) Analyzing long-term venture capital returns (9:52) Gaingels investing access and strategic insights (13:03) Key lessons from early-stage angel investing experiences (16:56) Investing in AI and portfolio strategy considerations (19:37) SoftBank and Sam Altman's AI investment impact (23:29) Closing remarksIf you like this episode you’ll love
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