In this conversation, Winter Mead, founder and managing member of CoolWater Capital, about his journey from studying innovation in grad school in England all the way to his work today helping emerging fund managers navigate the VC landscape. He shares insights about the importance of track records, persistence, and understanding the investment world. He also talks about how the market has changed significantly over a span of two years in relation to raising funds, especially for emerging managers, with detailed discussions about Winter’s various programs, Explore, Build, and CFO, and much more!
Timestamps
00:29 Venture Capital Journey: The Beginning
01:35 Transition to Private Equity and Venture Capital
02:12 Identifying Gaps in the Venture Capital Industry
05:16 Skills Acquired as a Limited Partner
11:41 The Birth of CoolWater Capital
12:06 The Role of Track Records in Fund Management
14:55 The Importance of Building a Strong Foundation for Fund Managers
18:43 The Evolution of Becoming a Fund Manager
23:42 The Significance of Back Office Operations in Fund Management
25:42 Scaling Up and Creating Operating Leverage
25:48 Understanding the Explore and Build Programs
26:12 The Importance of Commitment in the Build Program
26:50 The Flexibility of the Explore Program
27:39 Taking Team Risk in the Build Program
28:43 The Role of the Explore Program in Building Investment Track Records
30:06 The Need for Good Fund Managers
30:24 Challenges in the Early Stage Ecosystem
30:53 Emerging Themes in the Market
32:00 The Importance of Investment Thesis
35:31 Changes in the Market and Fundraising
39:48 The Impact of Market Changes on Fundraising and Investment Dynamics
49:36 Recruiting for the Build and Strategic CFO Programs
Winter’s Links
CoolWater Capital - https://www.coolwatercap.com/
Twitter – https://twitter.com/wintmead
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/wintermead/
My Links
Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes
YouTube: youtube.com/lifeselfmastery
Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal
How is CoolWater Capital helping the emerging fund managers with Winter Mead