Today we are happy to welcome Philipp von dem Knesebeck, Co-Founder of Blue Future Partners, a European European-based Hybrid Venture Capital Fund of Funds. Blue Future Partners (BFP) is a day-one partner to emerging fund managers (GPs) globally, currently with investments across over 15 startup hubs spanning 3 continents, incl. the US, Europe, Israel, and Asia-Pacific.
Prior to co-founding Blue Future Partners in 2015, Philipp spent five years running the Venture Capital activities of a European Family Office from 2011 to 2015. There he started building substantial expertise in both fund and direct investments in early and growth–stage companies. His investment focus was predominantly in the software and internet space with geographic exposure ranging from the US to Europe and Asia-Pacific.
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00:00:00 - Introduction
00:02:07 - From Being an Entrepreneur in Publishing to Venture Capital
00:03:35 - Diversification and Concentration in Fund of Funds
00:05:10 - Portfolio Diversification and Risk Management
00:06:24 - Reflections on Fund of Funds Strategies
00:08:03 - Investing in Emerging Managers
00:09:28 - Ticket Sizes and Portfolio Performance
00:10:54 - Factors Affecting Emerging Fund Managers' Success
00:12:19 - Fund Size and Strategy
00:13:57 - The Importance of Partnership in VC
00:15:24 - The Solo GPs, Key Person Clauses and Portfolio mgmt through crises
00:17:02 - The Importance of Liquidity in the Financial System
00:18:41 - Fundraising Environment Trends
00:20:44 - Fundraising Confidence and Investor Classes
00:22:17 - Investing in the US vs Europe
00:25:48 - The European VC Opportunity
00:27:18 - The VC Experience Gap: US vs. Europe
00:28:56 - Successful Firms in Europe
00:31:14 - Importance of Portfolio Construction
00:32:59 - The Importance of Discipline and Taking a Step Back
00:34:56 - Top Tips for Emerging Managers in Fundraising
00:36:55 - The Misleading Allure of Venture Capital
Upcoming events
📺 Virtual events we’re hosting
Winning in The Secondaries Boom | 📆 Oct 31, 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM CEST
🤝 In-person events we’re attending
If you’re thinking of attending, hit us up, we’d love to connect.
Expand North Star in Dubai | 📆 15 - 18 October | 🌍 Dubai
Web Summit | 📆 13 - 15 November | 🌍 Lisbon
GoWest | 📆 6 - 8 February | 🌍 Gothenburg
Super Venture | 📆 4 - 6 Juni | 🌍 Berlin
Nordic LP Forum & TechBBQ | 📆 September | 🌍 Copenhagen
EUVC #229 Philipp von dem Knesebeck, Blue Future Partners