How do you find the best resources for portfolio management?

1 Know your goals and criteria

Before you start looking for resources, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve and how you want to measure your performance. Your goals and criteria should align with your fund's strategy, thesis, and stage. For example, if you are an early-stage fund, you might focus on finding product-market fit, validating assumptions, and supporting founders. If you are a later-stage fund, you might prioritize scaling, profitability, and exit opportunities. Your goals and criteria should also reflect your risk appetite, return expectations, and diversification needs.

2 Follow the industry trends and best practices

One of the best ways to find resources for portfolio management is to stay updated on the industry trends and best practices. You can do this by reading blogs, newsletters, podcasts, and reports from reputable sources, such as venture capital associations, research firms, media outlets, and thought leaders. You can also attend events, webinars, and courses that cover relevant topics, such as market analysis, valuation, due diligence, governance, and exit strategies. By following the industry trends and best practices, you can learn from the experiences and insights of other venture capitalists and experts.

3 Network with peers and mentors

Another valuable source of resources for portfolio management is your network of peers and mentors. You can leverage your connections with other venture capitalists, investors, founders, advisors, and industry professionals to exchange ideas, feedback, and referrals. You can also join or create communities, groups, and forums that are focused on portfolio management and related issues. By networking with peers and mentors, you can benefit from their knowledge, perspectives, and support.

4 Use data and analytics tools

Data and analytics tools are essential for portfolio management, as they help you track, measure, and optimize your investments. You can use data and analytics tools to monitor the performance, progress, and potential of your portfolio companies, as well as the market trends, opportunities, and risks. You can also use data and analytics tools to compare your portfolio with benchmarks, peers, and competitors, and to identify areas for improvement or intervention. Some examples of data and analytics tools are PitchBook, Crunchbase, Mattermark, and Visible.

5 Learn from your portfolio companies

Finally, one of the most important resources for portfolio management is your portfolio companies themselves. You can learn a lot from your portfolio companies by engaging with them regularly, listening to their feedback, and observing their challenges and successes. You can also leverage their expertise, network, and resources to enhance your own portfolio management skills and capabilities. By learning from your portfolio companies, you can build trust, rapport, and synergy with them, and ultimately increase your chances of achieving your goals and criteria.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?