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Emerging Managers

Emerging Managers

By: Scott Kelly
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Does Silicon Valley and Wall Street have a lock on the deal flow of capital into new innovative ventures? Is there a market for emerging fund managers to make a difference and a high return on investment with alternative capital fund models? Meet the venture capital market movers shifting exposure and funding to promising and refreshing innovative founders all over the globe right here on the Emerging Managers Podcast - the show exploring why new-to-you VC funds might be your next great investment.


With a venture market of 3200 funds and 1800 raising their first round, there are plenty of emerging fund managers just waiting for the right investment LP to hear them and explore growing together. Each week, discover actionable tips and valuable advice from up-and-coming fund managers looking for better opportunities and ways to compete in the venture capital market. Hear about their investment thesis and their process for finding right-fit founders and deals to unlock growth like never before.


Listen to VCs across the country and abroad with their different niche perspectives as they break down their origin stories, career experiences, and investment preferences. Learn how they got through their biggest struggles in life, how they mastered the ropes of VC funding, and how they continuously improve their strategies to get the best return on their buck.


Most importantly, they reveal exactly what they are looking for in a founder to invest in and investment partners to grow with, providing that much-needed roadmap to high returns. As these venture investors pull back the curtain to their business priorities and desires, you can see how to strategically refine and review their endeavor to find the best VC funding match.


Your host and guide to this fund manager exploration is Scott Kelly, CEO of business accelerator Black Dog Venture Partners and founder of VC Fast Pitch. He has been working on both sides, with entrepreneurs and investors alike, for more than three decades. Harnessing his innovative skills, vast experience training thousands of salespeople, and tapping into his vast network of investors, Scott helps founders and investors sustain and scale innovation. He is well-known as the organizer and MC of monthly investor-founder matchmaking events.


Scott is occasionally joined by co-host Tracy Hazzard, founder of the podcast production technology company, Podetize. Tracy’s experience as a speaker, podcaster, and Inc. Innovation columnist, as well as a successful female AI tech founder adds valuable insights to the show. Listen all the way through for Tracy and Scott to combine their unique perspectives and experiences with a post-analysis of their emerging fund manager guests.


Business owners, company managers, and start-up founders listen in as these Emerging Fund Managers highlight the strengths that will make you more attractive to highly sought-after venture capital.


Emerging Managers, investors and LPs… check out how your capital competitors are building trust with investors, rising above digital white noise in the market and emphasizing the strengths and differentiators in their funds. Get inspired to build a name for yourself so you can grab a piece or all the venture capital money flowing right now too.


Join Scott and Tracy in their pursuit to bridge the gap between managers and investors building a market rich with rewarding investment partnerships that will create innovative opportunities for years to come.


Be part of a movement that is shaping the future of venture capital and entrepreneurship. Join a community of innovators and visionaries who are redefining the investment landscape and driving positive change. Together, we can create a more equitable and impactful venture ecosystem.


Want to learn more about VC Fast Pitch, our Guests (or be our next guest) on the Emerging Managers Podcast? Go to https://emergingmanagerspodcast.com/ for more details.



Copyright 2025 | All Rights Reserved | Scott Kelly, https://emergingmanagerspodcast.com/
Economics Personal Finance
Episodes
  • Advantages Of A Hybrid Model With Daniel Laboe & Prabhakar “KP” Karri Of Nymbl Ventures
    Feb 5 2026

    Nymbl Ventures, a venture capital firm focusing on built technology, has a unique hybrid model that brings corporations and financial investors together towards success. Scott Kelly is joined by Daniel Laboe and Prabhakar “KP” Karri to share how this approach allows corporations to invest in a venture capital fund while maintaining the flexibility of their own corporate venture capital arm. They also explain how this hybrid model works best in the construction industry, which results in a good mix of entrepreneurs who get not only great investment capital but also great opportunities to grow and scale.


    Learn from the world's best VC Fund Managers at the Emerging Managers Podcast. Subscribe, rate, review, & share! https://emergingmanagerspodcast.com

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    31 mins
  • Winning Through Velocity With Jason Sherman Of Top Shelf Ventures
    Jan 29 2026

    One of the most important business metrics to keep an eye on is the speed at which your products are getting out and being bought by customers. Jason Sherman of Top Shelf Ventures shares how they guide early-stage alcohol and vice brands to success by monitoring their velocity or rate of sale. Joining Scott Kelly, he breaks down how to achieve significant growth in one of the toughest and most competitive industries right now and explores the true impact of getting celebrities as product endorsers. Jason also talks about the rise of THC beverages and why it could become the fourth pillar of the alcohol industry alongside wine, spirits, and beer.


    Learn from the world's best VC Fund Managers at the Emerging Managers Podcast. Subscribe, rate, review, & share! https://emergingmanagerspodcast.com

    Show More Show Less
    31 mins
  • Focusing On Pre-Exit Secondary Markets With Salman Azhar Of Azimuth Opportunity Fund
    Jan 22 2026

    In a pre-exit secondary market, the money is not going directly into the company but rather to the venture capital firm, with early-stage investors themselves selling the shares. Salman Azhar, a General Partner of Azimuth Opportunity Fund, joins Scott Kelly to discuss how to take advantage of this space. He shares how he helps growing companies get greater revenue while facing fewer risks along the way. Salman also emphasizes his industry-agnostic approach, how he values diversification, and how they identify opportunities through investor reports and board information from companies they previously backed.


    Learn from the world's best VC Fund Managers at the Emerging Managers Podcast. Subscribe, rate, review, & share! https://emergingmanagerspodcast.com

    Show More Show Less
    30 mins
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