Webinar
Masterclass Live! VC201: How We Evaluate a Deal
Watch an on-demand presentation hosted by Waterman Ventures Managing Partner Ludwig Schulze. In this session, you will discover the framework our team uses to evaluate promising startups, cover key documents, stages, and the basic principles of venture capital investing.
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Post Webinar Summary
In this webinar, Ludwig Schulze, Managing Partner at Alumni Ventures, provided an in-depth overview of venture capital, Alumni Ventures’ investment strategy, and the process of building diversified portfolios. He emphasized the firm’s reliance on co-investing alongside established venture funds, the use of a detailed scorecard for evaluating opportunities, and the importance of non-correlation between venture capital and public markets. The discussion highlighted Alumni Ventures’ commitment to supporting startups with strong leadership, traction, and capital efficiency. Schulze also outlined the mechanics of investing, including management fees, Qualified Small Business Stock (QSBS) tax benefits, and deadlines for discounted fees, encouraging participants to act before October 31st. Stacey Tsai detailed various investment options, including offshore and retirement fund investments, and offered personalized support for potential investors, ensuring accessibility and transparency throughout the process.
Waterman Ventures is Alumni Ventures’ fund for Brown alumni and friends of the community.
During this session, we will discuss:
- HomeUnderstanding the time horizon of venture investments
- HomePerforming due diligence and reviewing the typical types of materials available in a deal
- HomeWeighing some of the challenges, key risks, and how to factor those into the ultimate decision
- HomeTracking companies after investment and the purpose of portfolio monitoring
- HomeMore details about Waterman Ventures
Note: You must be accredited to invest in venture capital. Important disclosure information can be found at av-funds.com/disclosures.
About your presenters
Ludwig has been on all sides of venture — as an entrepreneur, corporate buyer of ventures, and venture capitalist. Before Alumni Ventures, he experienced the daily realities of entrepreneurship as Founder and CEO of a mobile payments venture that served over 12 million people. Earlier, at a Fortune 100 telecommunications manufacturer (Nokia), he held general manager and business development roles that included investing in and acquiring venture-backed businesses. His first experience in venture capital was with an $800 million global fund that focused on enterprise and mobile software both before and after the dot.com crash. Ludwig began his career as a strategy consultant with the Boston Consulting Group. He has a BA from Brown University and an MBA from Columbia. He lives in NYC with his wife and 2 teenagers.
Stacey Tsai has over 15 years of experience in finance. Prior to joining Alumni Ventures, she advised global families and executives on asset allocation and investment strategies. Stacey is a graduate of Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service. She received her MBA from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania and her MPA from the Harvard Kennedy School. She was also a U.S. Fulbright Scholar to Singapore.