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- ๐ Aleksandra shares her experience from EAIS2026! ๐ฑ๐บ (opens in a new tab)
๐ Aleksandra shares her experience from EAIS2026! ๐ฑ๐บ
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- ๐ September at Mara. (opens in a new tab)
๐ September at Mara.
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- ๐ฅ Missed our latest Mara & Friends session? You can now watch the recording. ๐ We recently brought together Aleksandrina Ikonomova... (opens in a new tab)
๐ฅ Missed our latest Mara & Friends session? You can now watch the recording. ๐ We recently brought together Aleksandrina Ikonomova from Pisana Labs and our Aleksandra Lazareviฤ for a conversation on how VC funds can unlock value beyond their biggest winners and explore liquidity opportunities across their portfolios. A few key takeaways from the conversation: ๐ก ๐๐จ๐ญ ๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐ฒ ๐ง๐๐๐๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ ๐ ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐๐จ๐ซ๐ง ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐ ๐ฏ๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐. Understanding where liquidity opportunities may exist across the wider portfolio can be just as important as focusing on the biggest winners. ๐ก๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฉ ๐ญ๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฌ. Before exploring a secondary transaction, understanding the shareholding structure, investor rights and preferences can make a significant difference to what is actually possible. ๐ก ๐ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐๐๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ค๐๐ฒ. Secondary opportunities require thoughtful conversations with founders and stakeholders, particularly when navigating timing, pricing and investor alignment. ๐ก ๐๐ข๐ช๐ฎ๐ข๐๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ง ๐๐ ๐ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ญ๐๐ ๐ข๐ ๐ญ๐จ๐จ๐ฅ. For funds, creating liquidity from existing portfolio companies can help return capital, manage fund dynamics and potentially create more flexibility for future investments. If you missed the session, the full recording is now available below ๐ ๐ฅ Watch the full conversation: https://lnkd.in/dTcuAEbU And a big thank you to everyone who joined us live and contributed to the discussion! #VC #VentureCapital #PrivateMarkets #Secondaries #Liquidity #FundManagement #Investing #Mara
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- What happens to the companies in a VC portfolio that arenโt failures, but arenโt obvious winners either? Not every company is a fa... (opens in a new tab)
What happens to the companies in a VC portfolio that arenโt failures, but arenโt obvious winners either? Not every company is a failure. But not every company is an obvious winner either. And as GPs face increasing pressure around DPI and realisations, there is a growing question around what happens to the โmiddleโ of the portfolio, and whether there is still value and liquidity to unlock. Thatโs what weโll be exploring in our upcoming conversation: ๐๐๐ฒ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ข๐ง๐ง๐๐ซ๐ฌ: ๐๐ง๐ฅ๐จ๐๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ข๐ช๐ฎ๐ข๐๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ข๐จ Weโll dive into: โ How investors identify companies with unrealised potential โ Why good companies can become difficult to sell โ The role of cap tables and shareholder structures โ How to navigate the founder conversation when a company needs a different path โ Where new capital can come from โ And when structures such as SPVs can help create a pathway to liquidity A practical conversation for VC fund managers, GPs, LPs, family offices and private market investors thinking about portfolio value beyond the headline winners. ๐ 6th of October 2026 โฐ 5PM BST ๐๏ธ Save your spot: https://luma.com/cf5cx6rj If youโre thinking about portfolio value, DPI and liquidity, this is a conversation you wonโt want to miss. Aleksandra Lazareviฤ is hosting this session with Aleksandrina Ikonomova from Pisana Labs. Register below ๐ https://luma.com/cf5cx6rj
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- ๐ Check out our Summer Edition Newsletter! (opens in a new tab)
๐ Check out our Summer Edition Newsletter!
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- With the excitement of the FIFA World Cup 2026โข - Canada, Mexico and the United States now behind us, it's the perfect time to rev... (opens in a new tab)
With the excitement of the FIFA World Cup 2026โข - Canada, Mexico and the United States now behind us, it's the perfect time to revisit the highlights from our ๐๐ง๐ฅ๐จ๐๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐ฏ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ: ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ฑ๐ญ๐ซ๐ ๐๐ข๐ฆ๐ event, co-organised with Cognitive Creators this past May. ๐ A huge thank you to our outstanding panellists, Samir Beg Ceric, Massimo Marinelli and Alex Gough, for sharing their expertise and perspectives on the evolving investment landscape in sport and to our moderator Aleksandra Lazareviฤ. ๐ฌ Watch the aftermovie here: https://lnkd.in/eVxCzpV7
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- ๐ At Mara, we believe the best conversations happen when great people come together. We were pleased to host Womankind Sessions an... (opens in a new tab)
๐ At Mara, we believe the best conversations happen when great people come together. We were pleased to host Womankind Sessions and support this important discussion on building trustworthy AI. Thank you to everyone who made it such a memorable evening.
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- Last week, we hosted the ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฎ ๐๐น๐๐ฏ Secondaries Debate in London, bringing together a select group of LPs, family offices, and priv... (opens in a new tab)
Last week, we hosted the ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฎ ๐๐น๐๐ฏ Secondaries Debate in London, bringing together a select group of LPs, family offices, and private market investors to discuss one of the most dynamic areas of today's market: ๐๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐. The conversation focused on where investors are seeing the most compelling opportunities across the secondaries landscape, spanning venture, late-stage/pre-IPO, and buyout strategies. A big thank you to our speakers for sharing their insights and perspectives: ๐ Joe Schorge, Founder of Isomer Capital โ Venture Secondaries ๐ Jamie Su, Founder of Varen Partners โ Late-Stage Venture / Pre-IPO ๐ Steven Nicholls, Partner & Head of GP Solutions at Hollyport Capital โ Buyout Secondaries Beyond the market insights, what stood out most was the quality of the discussion among attendees. As liquidity needs, portfolio management priorities, and investment opportunities continue to evolve, secondaries are becoming an increasingly important part of the private markets ecosystem. At ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฎ ๐๐น๐๐ฏ, our mission is to bring LPs together to exchange ideas, build meaningful relationships, invest personal capital, and contribute to thought leadership across private markets. It was fantastic to see that mission come to life through such an engaged and thoughtful group. Thank you to everyone who joined us and contributed to the discussion. We look forward to continuing the conversation at future ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฎ ๐๐น๐๐ฏ gatherings. #PrivateMarkets #Secondaries #PrivateEquity #VentureCapital #MaraClub
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- At Mara, we believe some of the best conversations happen in intimate rooms, with thoughtful people, around ideas that matter. Thi... (opens in a new tab)
At Mara, we believe some of the best conversations happen in intimate rooms, with thoughtful people, around ideas that matter. This summer, weโre bringing together our community of investors, founders and partners for the second edition of The Womankind Ventures Sessions an evening of candid conversation on how AI is reshaping access, outcomes and opportunity across the industries that touch all of our lives. Hosted on the rooftop of the Mara offices, the evening will spotlight four founders building with depth, conviction and real-world impact across healthcare, legal, HR and education: ๐ธ Sandra Falque, Jules stories ๐ธ Faye Cheung, PhD, Mindframe ๐ธ Hannah Peet, Candidly ๐ธ Elena Tsalanidis, Deeligence Together, weโll explore what it means to build responsibly at the frontier of change, and how founders are applying AI not for novelty, but to solve meaningful problems at scale. This gathering also marks the debut of a new chapter for Womankind Ventures. Andrea Sommer Weโre looking forward to welcoming familiar faces and new ones alike for an evening of thoughtful conversation above the city. ๐ Sign up here: https://luma.com/izzj03p4
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- Thank you to everyone who joined our Deal Structuring Masterclass for Venture Funds hosted by Mara in partnership with Isomer Capi... (opens in a new tab)
Thank you to everyone who joined our Deal Structuring Masterclass for Venture Funds hosted by Mara in partnership with Isomer Capital. It was a fantastic discussion on one of the most important aspects of venture fund management: how fund structuring can create flexibility across the investment lifecycle. ๐ A special thank you to Sasha Batica, CFA and Joe Schorge for sharing practical insights, real-world examples, and perspectives from working closely with venture managers navigating fundraising, deployment, and portfolio construction. Together, we explored: โ Warehousing strategies to secure and hold deals ahead of a fund close โ Feeder funds and how managers are broadening and diversifying their LP base โ Co-investments: when they make sense and how to structure them effectively One of the key themes from the session: there is no universal playbook. The right structure depends on a managerโs strategy, LP mix, timing, and long-term objectives. If you missed the session, or would like to revisit the discussion, you can watch the webinar recording here: ๐ฅ https://lnkd.in/efkK9-WN Weโre grateful to everyone who joined, asked thoughtful questions, and contributed to the discussion. Looking forward to continuing the conversation around practical solutions for emerging managers, solo GPs, and venture funds building their next vehicles. #VentureCapital #EmergingManagers #VentureFunds #PrivateMarkets #FundStructuring #VC
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- ๐ Month of events. Check out what's new. (opens in a new tab)
๐ Month of events. Check out what's new.
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- ๐จ Emerging managers, solo GPs, and venture funds: structuring matters more than ever. The difference between moving quickly on a g... (opens in a new tab)
๐จ Emerging managers, solo GPs, and venture funds: structuring matters more than ever. The difference between moving quickly on a great deal and missing it often comes down to how your fund is structured. Thatโs why Mara is teaming up with Isomer Capital for a tactical masterclass on deal structuring for venture funds focused on practical approaches managers can use across the fund lifecycle. Weโll break down: ๐น Warehousing strategies: how to secure and hold deals ahead of your next fund close ๐น Feeder fund: how to broaden and diversify your LP base without adding unnecessary complexity ๐น Co-investments: when to use them, how to structure them, and how managers are leveraging them effectively This wonโt be theory. Youโll hear practical frameworks you can apply immediately, real-world case studies from Isomer and its portfolio of funds, and lessons from managers actively navigating similar fundraising and structuring challenges. Whether youโre actively raising, investing, or thinking about your next vehicle, this session is designed to help you structure with more flexibility and confidence. ๐ Wednesday 3rd of June 2026 - 3PM ๐๏ธ Register here: https://luma.com/ttjkg7ub
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- ๐ Deal spotlight๐ Kimi (Moonshot AI)๐ A few months ago we supported a clientโs investment into Kimi (Moonshot AI), a Beijing-based... (opens in a new tab)
๐ Deal spotlight๐ Kimi (Moonshot AI)๐ A few months ago we supported a clientโs investment into Kimi (Moonshot AI), a Beijing-based company building at the forefront of frontier artificial intelligence and large language models. ๐ Highlighting Kimi (Moonshot AI), one of Chinaโs leading AI labs developing advanced foundation models and AI-native products for the next generation of intelligent systems. ๐ค Partner: Jamie Su @dunchun Chen ๐ Recent highlights: Kimi (Moonshot AI) continues to scale rapidly through its Kimi model family, gaining significant traction across prosumer and developer ecosystems. The company has attracted backing from major investors including Alibaba Group, Tencent, IDG Capital, @Gaorong Capital, Meituan, China Mobile International Limited, 5Y Capital, Monolith Management and @Long-Z Investment. Kimi (Moonshot AI) sits within the new wave of frontier AI companies emerging globally, focused on building large-scale foundational models capable of powering reasoning, coding, multimodal interaction, and AI agents. Its Kimi models have quickly become some of the most widely adopted open-weight AI systems globally, positioning the company as a major player in the evolving global AI ecosystem. We helped Jamie Su with an SPV for his LPs to invest in the deal. ๐ Make Mara your deal execution partner for setting up SPVs.
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- Aleksandra's reflections from VC Summit London 2026. (opens in a new tab)
Aleksandra's reflections from VC Summit London 2026.
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- Last week we had a fantastic Tuesday evening at the 3rd edition of Unlocking Investment Opportunities in the Business of Sport: Th... (opens in a new tab)
Last week we had a fantastic Tuesday evening at the 3rd edition of Unlocking Investment Opportunities in the Business of Sport: The Extra Time. The conversation highlighted an important shift. Sport is no longer simply about team ownership. It is increasingly a global investment ecosystem spanning infrastructure, media, technology, fan engagement, and data. From due diligence and post acquisition realities to the trends shaping sports investing, the discussion was insightful, candid, and energised by a room full of investors, operators, and industry leaders. ๐ Thank you to everyone who joined and contributed to such an engaging exchange. The future of sport investing is evolving quickly, and we are excited to be part of the conversation.
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- ๐ Deal spotlight๐ Anthropic ๐ A few months ago we supported a clientโs investment into Anthropic, a US-based AI company building fr... (opens in a new tab)
๐ Deal spotlight๐ Anthropic ๐ A few months ago we supported a clientโs investment into Anthropic, a US-based AI company building frontier foundation models with a strong focus on safety, reliability, and enterprise deployment. ๐ Highlighting Anthropic, one of the leading frontier AI companies developing large language models designed for safe, steerable, and high-performance use across enterprise and developer ecosystems. ๐ก Founders: Dario Amodei, Daniela Amodei ๐ค Partner: we facilitated multiple clients invest in SPV holding shares ๐ Recent highlights: Anthropic has continued rapid scaling across its Claude model family, with strong enterprise adoption globally and ongoing advancements in model capability, alignment research, and API infrastructure. Anthropic has attracted a wide and highly diversified investor base across venture capital, strategic technology investors, and global financial institutions, reflecting the strategic importance of frontier AI infrastructure. Key investors include GIC, Coatue Management, @D.E. Shaw Ventures, Dragoneer Investment Group, Founders Fund, ICONIQ Capital Group, Microsoft, NVIDIA, Sequoia Capital, Lightspeed Venture Partners-us, BlackRock, Blackstone, Fidelity Investments, T. Rowe Price, Qatar Investment Authority, Temasek, and General Catalyst. This breadth of participation highlights the convergence of leading venture firms, sovereign wealth funds, and global technology and financial institutions behind the next generation of foundational AI systems. We helped multiple clients with an SPV for their LPs to invest in the deal. ๐ Make Mara your deal execution partner for setting up SPVs.
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- What does it take to build a venture fund in todayโs market especially in sectors as fast-moving and noisy as AI and deep tech? Jo... (opens in a new tab)
What does it take to build a venture fund in todayโs market especially in sectors as fast-moving and noisy as AI and deep tech? Join us next Wednesday for a candid conversation with Shahryar Barati, Founder & Managing Partner of Project Ventures, an emerging VC investing in deep tech and AI opportunities connected to the Imperial ecosystem. Weโll explore the journey from thesis to launch, how to identify real opportunities amid the AI hype cycle, and what it takes to build differentiated access to exceptional founders. Weโll also discuss a broader question: how can venture investing become more accessible? From fund structure and investor participation to community-building, weโll examine what a more inclusive and engaged model of venture capital could look like. ๐ Looking forward to an honest discussion on the future of venture and innovation. Sign up here: https://luma.com/bdqpw9im
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- Thank you Massimo Marinelli for being a great panellist and sharing the post event feedback! We are looking forward to many more i... (opens in a new tab)
Thank you Massimo Marinelli for being a great panellist and sharing the post event feedback! We are looking forward to many more in the future. ๐
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- Meet the moderator for the Unlocking Investment Opportunities in the Business of Sport: The Extra Time, co-hosted by Cognitive Cre... (opens in a new tab)
Meet the moderator for the Unlocking Investment Opportunities in the Business of Sport: The Extra Time, co-hosted by Cognitive Creators and Mara. โ Aleksandra Lazareviฤ is a Marketing Executive at Mara, with over six years of international experience across private investment, e-commerce, public sector advisory, and non-profit organisations. She specialises in strategic growth, investor engagement, and business development within regulated environments, working closely with senior stakeholders and leadership teams on market expansion and governance-led initiatives. Aleksandra holds an MSc in Management from University College London, a double-degree in International Sales & Marketing and International Business, as well as a Corporate Finance certificate from HEC Paris. Outside of work, she is a passionate tennis player with a strong interest in the evolving intersection of sport, business, and investment. Date: 19th May | Time: 5:30 PM Location: HEC Paris UK House ๐ Register your interest here: https://luma.com/bfu5qv17
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- Due Tomorrow: โUnlocking Investment Opportunities in the Business of Sport: The Extra Timeโ, hosted in collaboration with Cognitiv... (opens in a new tab)
Due Tomorrow: โUnlocking Investment Opportunities in the Business of Sport: The Extra Timeโ, hosted in collaboration with Cognitive Creators and Mara. At this exclusive panel of investors and sports industry leaders, weโll discuss: โช๏ธThe state of sport investments in 2026, the expected impact of the Football World Cup โช๏ธWhat happens post-investment? โช๏ธBack to the future - new sports, new leagues, new geographies โช๏ธDigital Due Diligence - how data is enabling transparent evaluation of the investment opportunities โช๏ธSPVs in sport investments - allowing more investors to be part of the game ๐ We look forward to welcoming you there! More information about the event: https://luma.com/bfu5qv17
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- Meet the panelists for the Unlocking Investment Opportunities in the Business of Sport: The Extra Time, co-hosted by Cognitive Cre... (opens in a new tab)
Meet the panelists for the Unlocking Investment Opportunities in the Business of Sport: The Extra Time, co-hosted by Cognitive Creators and Mara. โ Massimo Marinelli is the Founder of Berkida Ventures, a specialist investment and advisory firm, and an Operating Partner at Corrum Capital, an independent private investment platform focused on the Sports, Media, and Entertainment sectors. Through Berkida, he partners with private credit investors and family offices on strategic investments, financings, and acquisitions across professional sport, content, gaming, and IP-driven businesses. Recent work includes football club acquisitions and financings, as well as advising entrepreneurs on the sale of video gaming and gaming-related companies. Previously, Massimo was CEO and a board member of Aser Ventures, overseeing a portfolio that included Leeds United Football Club, Eleven Sports (now part of DAZN Group), Gen-Z music agency Creed Media, and production company Neo Studios. He also served on the Board of Leeds United during its time in both the English Championship and the Premier League. Earlier in his career, Massimo spent 15 years in investment banking in London and New York, most recently as Managing Director and Head of EMEA Media & Internet at UBS. Massimo holds a degree in Economics from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Date: 19th May | Time: 5:30 PM Location: Central London ๐ Register your interest here: https://luma.com/bfu5qv17
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- ๐ Deal spotlight ๐ Seat Unique ๐ A few months ago we supported The Players Fund on a follow on investment into Seat Unique, a UK b... (opens in a new tab)
๐ Deal spotlight ๐ Seat Unique ๐ A few months ago we supported The Players Fund on a follow on investment into Seat Unique, a UK based platform building at the intersection of live entertainment, ticketing, and premium hospitality experiences. Having previously invested through the fund and brought investors including @Harry Kane, @Jack Whitehall, and Ben Stokes into earlier rounds, this latest investment reflected continued conviction in the companyโs growth and trajectory. ๐ Highlighting Seat Unique, a marketplace unlocking official premium tickets and hospitality experiences for live sport, music, and entertainment events. ๐ก Founder and CEO: Robin Sherry ๐ค Partner: The Players Fund, Fergus Bell, Ruari Bell ๐ Recent highlights: Seat Unique has continued to scale its partnerships across major venues, clubs, and event organisers, strengthening its position as a leading platform for premium live event experiences across the UK and Europe. Seat Uniqueโs investors include Nickleby Capital (lead investor), The Players Fund, Accelerate Ventures, Hampton Finance Limited, and Active Partners, alongside notable angels such as @Richard Flint, @Simon Murphy, and high profile athletes including @Harry Kane, @Ben Stokes, @Jessica Ennis-Hill, and @John Terry. Additional supporters include Sir Clive Woodward and @Chris Kamara. Seat Unique is building a more transparent and accessible layer for premium live entertainment, connecting fans directly with official hospitality and premium seating allocations. By working directly with rights holders and venues, the platform unlocks inventory that has traditionally been fragmented or difficult to access, improving both distribution and the overall fan experience. We helped The Players Fund with an SPV for their LPs to invest in the deal. ๐ Make Mara your deal execution partner for setting up SPVs.
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- Only 5 days remain until the third edition of our Panel Series. As we count down, weโre looking back at some great moments and the... (opens in a new tab)
Only 5 days remain until the third edition of our Panel Series. As we count down, weโre looking back at some great moments and the people who made this event such a memorable experience. Weโre excited to bring the conversation back once again. Kindly note that this is a private, invite-only event, and attendance is limited to guests on the list. If youโd like to join us, register your interest here: https://luma.com/bfu5qv17 Date: 19th May | Time: 5:30 PM ๐ Location: Central London
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- Missed Syndicate Playbook Webinar #4? We explored one of the most important, and often misunderstood parts of running a syndicate:... (opens in a new tab)
Missed Syndicate Playbook Webinar #4? We explored one of the most important, and often misunderstood parts of running a syndicate: how to commercialise it sustainably. Joined by Oliver Rye (Hersir Ventures), Daniel Mician (DMQ Global), and Jonathon Ilett (Revenue Syndicate), the discussion covered how experienced syndicate leads approach fees, carry, SPV costs, LP alignment, and the evolving models shaping the space today. Key themes from the session: โข What LPs are actually willing to pay โข Balancing alignment with long-term sustainability โข Common early-stage syndicate mistakes โข Emerging hybrid and revenue-share structures A big thank you to everyone who joined live. ๐ Watch the full recording here: https://lnkd.in/extu6Fbc More sessions in the Syndicate Playbook series coming soon.
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- Meet the panelists for the Unlocking Investment Opportunities in the Business of Sport: The Extra Time, co-hosted by Cognitive Cre... (opens in a new tab)
Meet the panelists for the Unlocking Investment Opportunities in the Business of Sport: The Extra Time, co-hosted by Cognitive Creators and Mara, welcoming back a familiar voice to the panel. โ Samir Beg Ceric is an investor, entrepreneur, and senior executive recognised for pioneering the digitalisation of the sports industry. A former elite athlete and football club chairman, he has championed innovations in fan engagement, sustainability, MedTech, and AI in sport. He recently launched a global sports investment platform and is Chairman of Ceric & Co, a 7th-generation family office built on values of trust, creativity, and principled leadership. Date: 19th May | Time: 5:30 PM Location: Central London ๐ Register your interest here: https://luma.com/bfu5qv17
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