George Askew & Sam Ettelaie: Breaking Down Barriers for Aspiring VCs | Episode 27

Nothing Ventured

On this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah sits down with George Askew and Sam Ettelaie, co-founders of Thema, a platform supporting emerging managers in launching venture capital strategies. They discuss fund structuring, regulation, and the impact of patient capital on the ecosystem. With Thema already attracting over 450 funds within weeks of launching, George and Sam shed light on the importance of backing those who aim to build management businesses. Tune in to gain insights from industry experts and explore the stories shaping the venture capital landscape. 🕒 Time stamps - 00:25 - Thema's Role in Supporting Emerging Managers 01:50 - The Challenges for Emerging Managers 03:19 - Fund Structuring and Regulation 05:03 - The Importance of Guidance for New Fund Managers 06:05 - Thema's Approach to Supporting Fund Managers 07:14 - The Need for Capital and Structuring Support 08:17 - The Role of LPs and the Fundraising Process 09:10 - The Ecosystem's Gatekeeping and Transparency 10:17 - Co-Investment Opportunities and LP Interests 11:42 - Supporting Underrepresented Emerging Managers 12:02 - Operator Backgrounds in Venture Capital 13:15 - The Genesis of Thema and Co-Founder Synergy 14:47 - The Return Profile for Emerging Managers 16:09 - The Importance of Fund Structuring 17:22 - The Market's Current State and Advice for Allocators 18:48 - The Risk Aversion in European Venture Ecosystem 20:19 - The Role of LPs in Supporting Emerging Managers 21:44 - The Value of Operator Experience for GPs 23:17 - The Importance of Differentiation for Emerging Managers 24:50 - The Patient Capital and Risk Aversion in Europe 26:48 - The UK Venture Ecosystem and Lessons from the US 28:08 - The Role of GP Seeding in the Emerging Manager Ecosystem 30:35 - The Evolution of Family Offices in Venture 32:11 - Final Advice for Emerging Managers 33:30 - The UK vs. US Emerging Manager Ecosystem 34:47 - The Potential of the UK Venture Ecosystem 36:36 - The Excitement for Emerging Managers and Innovation 38:24 - How to Connect with Thema and Closing Remarks