Author: Adeo Ressi

Adeo Ressi is CEO of Decile Group, powering the next generation of venture capital firms worldwide with an integrated offering of training, tools, and capital. Adeo has launched 14 venture capital funds and founded 11 startups, having nearly $2 billion in exits before 30.

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Decile Group launches the Fund Finder

Decile Group has helped launch more than 1,000 emerging venture funds by steadily removing costs, hassles, barriers of entry, and biases associated with fund formation.  Today, we are announcing the next pivotal step in our plan to help launch 10,000 new funds in the next decade, Decile Fund Finder.  This one-of-a-kind marketplace will allow high net worth limited partners to browse a directory of cutting edge emerging managers as they are raising and deploying brand new funds, built with Decile’s low-cost, low-administrative set up Start Fund product. These Start Funds are professional grade venture funds, but they are often less than $10 million, and can accept LP checks as low as $10,000, ushering a new age of the MicroLP, thanks to dramatically lower startup and administration costs.…
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Q1 2026 Venture Trends

It’s time for our quarterly trend survey, and we have a feeling once again it’ll be dominated by two letters: AI.  The final quarter of 2025 will be remembered as the moment venture capital finally catapulted into the modern era. . . well half of the industry did. Ironically, the other half of the industry that is supposed to be funding the future is refusing to jump into the future itself. This is to say nothing of what’s happening within venture capital portfolios, where everyone seems to agree that AI is a trend no one can afford to miss out on.  But that can’t be everything going on in the industry. This isn’t a community of group think. Fill in the survey and let us know what you are seeing.…
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Insights VC Lab Programs

Cohort 20 – The AI Cofounder Era

The era of doing everything yourself is over. Launch venture capital funds with an AI cofounder through VC Lab Cohort 20. Our agentic AI capabilities transform Decile Hub from a platform of tools into an intelligent partner that handles the operational burden of launching and running a venture firm. Cofound your VC with AI We are excited to announce VC Lab Cohort 20, the first accelerator program designed to help emerging managers launch venture capital firms with artificial intelligence as a true operational cofounder. The shift from AI tools to AI agents represents the most significant transformation in how venture capital firms operate since the asset class was invented. The traditional path to launching a venture firm required either hiring expensive associates to handle operational tasks or spending countless hours on administrative work yourself.…
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Insights Limited Partners LP Institute Resources

LP Institute Cohort 6

Invest in venture capital funds, Smarter than Ever with LP Institute Cohort 6. In an era where AI is transforming investment intelligence, our AI-powered training, platform, and personalized matching system enable limited partners to identify and back the highest-performing emerging managers with unprecedented precision. Smarter than Ever We’re excited to announce LP Institute Cohort 6, the accelerated program designed to help limited partners invest in venture capital funds. Smarter than Ever. We’re entering an unprecedented period where artificial intelligence is fundamentally transforming finance, driving deeper due diligence, and powering portfolio performance. The second half of 2025 presents one of the greatest opportunities in venture capital history for sophisticated limited partners to spot standout managers and discover tomorrow’s top talent today. Apply to Cohort 6 LP Institute Cohort 6 is the premier program for investing in venture capital funds.…
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Women in Venture Capital

The rise of female leadership in the VC industry Women in venture capital represent a growing force that is reshaping the investment landscape, with female general partners and managing partners increasingly launching funds, leading investments, and driving returns across the global ecosystem. The venture capital industry, which historically saw less than 5% of leadership positions held by women, is now experiencing a remarkable transformation as initiatives like Decile Group’s Female Venture 50 catalyze meaningful change. This shift reflects a fundamental truth: diverse teams make better investment decisions. Recent data from VC Lab’s 2024 cohort, provided by Decile Research focusing on new and emerging managers, reveals that 42% of graduating firms have at least one woman on the leadership team. This represents a dramatic increase from just a few years ago and significant progress across both solo and team-led fund structures.…
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How to Start a VC Fund in 2025

A comprehensive guide to launching your first venture fund Starting a venture capital fund means creating an investment vehicle that raises capital from Limited Partners (LPs) to invest in promising startup companies. In 2025, launching a VC fund has become more accessible than ever before, thanks to specialized programs, tools, and resources designed to help emerging managers navigate this competitive landscape. The venture capital industry is undergoing a remarkable transformation. There’s a growing trend toward specialist managers launching smaller funds averaging around $12 million that can deliver stronger returns through focused investment strategies. This shift has opened doors for new managers who bring unique insights, networks, and expertise to specific sectors or geographies. Programs like VC Lab, the world’s leading venture capital accelerator, have helped launch over 800 VC firms, with 65% based outside the US and 29% led by female General Partners (GPs).…
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Insights Venture Capital Trends

The Dangers of Groupthink: Q3 2025

The Venture Trends survey of 208 emerging venture capital managers worldwide reveals strong consensus around positive market dynamics and recovery signals in Q3 2025. The data, collected from fund managers across diverse geographies and investment stages, demonstrates remarkable alignment in optimistic trend identification. However, this consensus also presents an opportunity for more divergent thinking to uncover additional value in an increasingly competitive landscape. Q3 2025 Venture Trends Strong Market Recovery Confidence Among Managers The survey indicates robust confidence in market fundamentals, with 15.4% of managers identifying “AI of Everything” as the most significant positive trend—nearly double the second-highest category. Additional positive signals include autonomous agents (8.2%), IPO and M&A market reopening (6.7%), and increasing diversity among limited partners (4.3%), painting a picture of broad-based optimism about market conditions.…
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Insights Venture Capital Trends

Q3 2025 Venture Trends

The venture capital landscape today presents a fascinating study in contradictions. While AI dominance and autonomous agents are reshaping entire industries, creating unprecedented opportunities and mega-deals, the specter of an AI bubble looms large alongside growing concerns about artificial general intelligence. We’re witnessing a simultaneous reopening of IPO and M&A windows and an investment slowdown, with LPs both increasing and decreasing their commitments depending on the sector and stage. Government tailwinds are propelling climate tech and defense startups to new heights, yet regulatory pressures and geopolitical uncertainty are creating headwinds that threaten to derail promising ventures. What are the big Venture Trends? Which trends will define venture capital in Q3 2025? Cast your vote in our industry survey and help shape the narrative.…
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Insights VC Lab Programs

Cohort 19 – Faster than Ever

Launch venture capital funds faster than ever with VC Lab Cohort 19. In an era where AI is accelerating everything, our enhanced AI-powered platform and revolutionary Start Fund enable managers to move from concept to first investment in record time. Faster Than Ever We are excited to announce VC Lab Cohort 19, the accelerated program designed to launch venture capital funds faster than ever before in the history of the asset class. We are in an unprecedented period of technological acceleration where AI is fundamentally transforming how companies are built, funded, and scaled. The second half of 2025 presents the greatest opportunity in venture capital history for emerging managers who can move with speed and precision. Apply to Cohort 19 VC Lab Cohort 19 is the premier accelerator for launching venture capital funds in the age of AI-accelerated entrepreneurship.…
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The Perfect VC Fundraising Schedule

A detailed framework for organizing your time to maximize fundraising success Raising capital for a venture fund is often described as a full-time job, and with good reason. The most successful fund managers understand that effective fundraising requires not just dedication, but a meticulously structured approach to time management. In today’s competitive landscape, where emerging managers are raising an average of $14.5 million, every hour must be strategically allocated to maximize potential commitments from Limited Partners (LPs). Successful fund managers typically need to connect with 300+ potential LPs to secure 50 commitments, which is often the lowest number needed to close. For a $10 million fund target, managers need to close over $100,000 per week to reach this goal within a two-year timeframe.…
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Insights Resources

VC Fund Thesis

“[Fund Name] is launching a [$x MM] [Stage] venture fund in [Country/City] to back [Geography] [Sector/Market Companies] [with Secret Sauce]” In the competitive landscape of venture capital, a well-crafted fund thesis serves as the cornerstone of successful fundraising. Over 60% of new venture capital firms rely on the VC Investment Thesis template to articulate their investment strategy, demonstrating the power of a clear and concise thesis in attracting limited partners. This proven approach has helped emerging managers raise billions in committed capital across diverse markets and sectors. For first-time fund managers, the difference between successful fundraising and endless pitch meetings often comes down to how effectively they can communicate their investment strategy in a single, powerful statement. This article breaks down the essential components of a winning fund thesis and provides actionable guidance for crafting one that resonates with limited partners.…
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Insights Resources

AI for Venture Capital (VC)

How Artificial Intelligence is Transforming Venture Capital Operations Artificial Intelligence is fundamentally transforming the venture capital industry, automating repetitive tasks and augmenting human decision-making in unprecedented ways. From deal sourcing to LP communications, fund managers are discovering that AI tools can dramatically improve efficiency and effectiveness across their operations. This shift represents one of the most significant technological advances in venture capital since the adoption of CRM systems. As the venture capital industry embraces AI, Decile Hub has emerged as the leading platform for “AI for VC,” offering a comprehensive suite of purpose-built tools that address every aspect of fund management. The platform’s AI capabilities extend far beyond basic automation, providing sophisticated solutions for: Deal flow management and evaluation LP targeting and fundraising optimization Automated deal memo generation Intelligent email communications Advanced market research and data enrichment Comprehensive fund administration support Recent data shows that VC firms using AI-powered tools are seeing significant improvements in operational efficiency, with some reporting up to 40% time savings on routine tasks.…
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Insights Resources

Q2 2025 Venture Trends Results

The venture capital landscape is continuously evolving, and understanding trends is crucial for both investors and entrepreneurs. In a comprehensive survey conducted among over 100 venture capital General Partners (GPs) and Limited Partners (LPs) worldwide, respondents shared their perspectives on the most significant trends shaping the industry in Q2 2025. This global pulse check reveals a complex interplay of challenges and opportunities facing the venture ecosystem. ItemPercentage(-) Geopolitical Uncertainty7.5%(~) Sector: Deep Tech & Robotics Growth6.7%(~) Sector: AI & Machine Learning Growth6.3%(-) Cybersecurity Threats6.0%(+) Startup Talent Growth4.4%(~) Sector: Crypto & DeFi Growth4.4%(~) AI-Powered Investment Tools4.4%(+) Diverse Limited Partners4.0%(+) Valuation Decreases4.0%(~) Sector: FinTech Growth4.0%(~) Rise of Emerging Managers4.0%(~) Sector: Space Growth3.6%(+) LP Investment Growth3.2%(~) Sector: Health & Biosciences Growth3.2%(~) AI Regulation Increases3.2% Vote on the Venture Trends The survey methodology employed a straightforward voting system where participants identified key trends and categorized them as negative (-), positive (+), or neutral (~).…
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Problems with Getting K1s to LPs?

How Fund Administrators Impact Timely Year-End Reporting for VCs The annual K-1 distribution process has become a significant pain point for many venture capital firms, with some Limited Partners waiting well into Q2 or even Q3 to receive their tax documents. This growing frustration isn’t just about delayed paperwork – it’s about maintaining LP relationships, professional credibility, and operational excellence. Recent industry surveys show that nearly 40% of venture funds experience delays or errors in their K-1 distributions, largely due to inadequate fund administration support. The challenge has become more acute with the recent turbulence in the fund administration space. The failure of Assure, ongoing service issues with Carta, and frustrations with AngelList have left many venture firms scrambling to find reliable partners for their year-end reporting needs.…
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First Principles: VC’s Guide to Non-Consensus Deals

Because following the herd might lead you straight off a cliff If Silicon Valley venture capitalists were animals, they wouldn’t be the wise owls or cunning foxes they fancy themselves to be – they’d be Instagram-obsessed lemmings with Patagonia vests and All Birds sneakers. Much like how your entire friend group somehow decided to get into sourdough bread making during lockdown, VCs have an uncanny ability to simultaneously “discover” the same investment trends faster than teenagers clone TikTok dances. Picture this: A VC walks into a pitch meeting the same way my grandmother approaches new technology – with a mental checklist of patterns they recognize, desperately hoping it matches something they’ve seen before. “Oh, it’s like Uber but for _____” has become the startup equivalent of “Have you tried turning it off and on again?”…
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Emerging Managers Closing in Uncertain Times

How first-time venture fund managers are succeeding despite market uncertainty In an era marked by market volatility, geopolitical tensions, and economic uncertainty, successfully closing a first-time venture fund might seem like an insurmountable challenge. Yet three emerging managers have proven it’s not only possible but can be done with strategic precision and persistence. Their experiences offer valuable insights for new fund managers navigating today’s complex fundraising landscape. Through candid discussions with Jessica Kamada of Swizzle Ventures, Ali Jamal of First Check Ventures, and John Roberts of Boot64 Ventures, we uncover the tactical approaches and mindset shifts that enabled them to secure LP commitments despite headwinds like the crypto crash, Silicon Valley Bank’s collapse, and pre-election jitters. Their success stories demonstrate that uncertain times, while challenging, can actually present unique opportunities for emerging managers who approach fundraising with the right strategy and authentic positioning.…
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Insights Resources

How to Ask LPs for a Commitment

How venture capitalists can effectively approach limited partners for fund commitments For emerging venture capitalists, mastering the delicate art of asking Limited Partners (LPs) for capital commitments can be the difference between a successful fund close and a stalled fundraising process. While many first-time fund managers focus heavily on their investment thesis and track record, the actual mechanics of “the ask” often receive insufficient attention. Yet, this crucial moment in the LP relationship can significantly impact your fundraising success. The key to securing LP commitments lies in understanding that fundraising is fundamentally a relationship-driven process, not a transactional one. This article explores three proven approaches to structuring “the ask” – passive, access-based, and direct – and provides practical guidance on when and how to employ each strategy effectively.…
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Insights Next Gen VC

2025

The venture capital industry is at an inflection point, and Decile Group is leading the transformation. When I look at the state of venture capital today, I see an industry ready for change. The traditional barriers to entry are still too high, the tools are too complex, and launching and running a fund is needlessly difficult. This must change. Our vision for 2025 is clear and ambitious. We will democratize access to venture capital through training, tools, and capital. The future of venture is not about a small number of massive funds, but rather thousands of specialist managers who deeply understand their markets. Here are the key transformations we will drive: First, we are radically lowering barriers to entry. The old gatekeeping model of venture capital is ending.…
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2025 Q1 Venture Trends 

Emerging Trends for Q1 2025 As we head into Q1 2025, the venture capital and startup ecosystem is brimming with momentum. Accelerating developments in sectors like AI, deep tech, and health sciences continues to reshape the industry’s focus, while optimism abounds about the incoming U.S. Administration policy agenda, which promises to remove major regulatory hurdles that have been responsible for hampering and slowing down the pace of innovation.  Each quarter, VC Lab surveys Limited Partners (LPs), General Partners (GPs), emerging managers, and other industry professionals to gather actionable insights from the front lines of venture capital. This quarter, with over 400 responses, the survey uncovered transformative trends in key areas such as AI, deep tech, robotics, health and biotech, and liquidity.…
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Decile Hub Now Integrates with 5,000+ Apps

Decile Hub’s integration with Zapier transforms the leading venture capital operating system by connecting it with over 5,000 apps and tools. Now serving as the central hub, Decile Hub enables firms to maintain their preferred tools while ensuring all information flows through a single, reliable platform. “Venture capital firms have been juggling too many disconnected tools for too long,” says Adeo Ressi, CEO of Decile Group. “Our Zapier integration transforms Decile Hub into the central nervous system for VC operations, allowing firms to keep their favorite tools while maintaining a single source of truth.” What is Decile Hub? Decile Hub serves as the unified operating system for venture capital firms, providing an all-in-one platform that combines integrated CRM for LPs and deals, comprehensive deal flow management, multi-fund LP portals, real-time accounting, secure data rooms, and robust investor relations tools.…