All Things Fundraising

In this episode of the Rainmaker Podcast, Michele Colucci, founder and managing director of DigitalDx Ventures, joins Gui Costin to discuss how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing healthcare diagnostics—and how her firm is leading the charge. With a background spanning law, technology, entrepreneurship, and venture capital, Michele brings a multidisciplinary approach to investing in early-stage diagnostic companies that leverage AI and data to detect disease earlier, more accurately, and with less invasiveness.

Michele describes the mission of DigitalDx: to identify startups that enable faster, more accessible diagnostics for major diseases, particularly in areas like neurology where early detection is critical but traditionally difficult. She explains that the human body is essentially a data problem—and that by harnessing AI, it becomes possible to detect issues long before symptoms appear. One of the firm’s standout investments includes an FDA-approved over-the-counter syphilis test with a 10-minute result time.

She walks listeners through the firm’s investment criteria, focusing on statistically significant sample sizes, scalability, and team coachability. DigitalDx looks for companies under a $20 million pre-money valuation and plays an active role post-investment, often joining boards and supporting portfolio companies through major growth milestones. Michele emphasizes the power of deep bench support—her team includes experts from NVIDIA, Stanford, Siemens, and more—alongside an innovative “Entrepreneur in Residence” program and a fellowship that sources global deal flow while nurturing underrepresented talent in venture capital.

DigitalDx distinguishes itself not just by investing capital, but by offering founders access to a robust, highly experienced network that helps de-risk startups across science, regulatory, reimbursement, and go-to-market strategies. Michele also touches on the importance of aligning passion with professional purpose, both for her team and young professionals entering venture capital. Her leadership style prioritizes conviction, team ownership, and positivity, steering away from zero-sum thinking and toward collaborative problem-solving.

As Michele reflects on market headwinds, she points to fundraising as a current challenge but emphasizes that conviction-driven investors—those looking ahead to where innovation is going, especially at the intersection of AI and healthcare—are best positioned for long-term success.

This episode offers a powerful look into how visionary leadership, deep domain expertise, and a mission-driven model can reshape the future of healthcare investing.

Tired of chasing outdated leads? Book a demo to see how Dakota Marketplace simplifies your fundraising process with accurate, up-to-date investor data. 

In the Dakota Live! 167 call, our team interviewed Frank Valle of Marquette Associates, who shared insights on fixed income investing, manager evaluation, and Marquette’s approach to OCIO portfolio construction. The Dakota Investments team also covered the Boston metro area. The Key Account discussed was NEPC.

Tired of chasing outdated leads? Book a demo to see how Dakota Marketplace simplifies your fundraising process with accurate, up-to-date investor data. 

In Episode 10 of the Dakota Research Podcast, we cover the latest in private equity—from fundraising momentum and major deals to key people moves. Highlights include Goldman Sachs’ new PE fund for high-net-worth investors, HarbourVest’s $500M platform launch, and Rocket Companies’ $9.4B acquisition of Mr. Cooper Group. We also spotlight Pophouse Entertainment’s €1.2B debut fund and Investindustrial’s €4B flagship close.

This episode’s deep dive focuses on the consumer sector: why it’s appealing to private investors and how firms are building value. We explore strategies like buy-and-build, brand acceleration, and digital transformation, plus themes like health and wellness, personalization, and social commerce. We also highlight top consumer-focused firms—Forerunner Ventures, VMG Partners, L Catterton—and examine the risks shaping the space, from CAC inflation to shifting trends.

Tired of fragmented data slowing you down? Book a demo of Dakota Research to centralize critical investment data and intelligence to simplify your decision-making process.

In this episode of the Dakota Fundraising News Podcast, Pat and Konch highlight job moves including Sam Johnson joining Gresham Partners, two Northern Trust vets joining Endeavor Advisors, and Soltis naming Jeffrey Harris as head of M&A. On the RIA side, Stifel completed its acquisition of part of B. Riley’s wealth unit, LPL alum Scott Bloom launched Wealthetic, and Exponent Wealth debuted in Utah.

Institutionally, Oklahoma Teachers’ and Police Pensions outlined 2025 pacing plans, Austin Firefighters terminated Highclere, and TRS of Texas and Border to Coast made new commitments across real estate, energy, and PE. Fundraising highlights include Campbell Global closing a $1.5B timberland fund and the launch of Halo Experience Co., a $1B tech/sports fund led by Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith and Accel’s Ryan Sweeney. 

Tired of fragmented data slowing you down? Book a demo of Dakota Research to centralize critical investment data and intelligence to simplify your decision-making process.

Click here to book a demo today ➡️ https://www.dakota.com/calendar-researchpage

In this episode of Dakota Research, Chris LeRoy sits down with Jeff Weller, Co-CEO of Lion Real Estate Group, to discuss the firm’s value-add investment strategy in multifamily real estate across high-growth Sunbelt markets like Texas, Georgia, Tennessee, and Colorado. Jeff shares how Lion acquires and repositions distressed assets, enhances value through strategic renovations, and leverages long-term financing to maximize returns. He also highlights Fund III ($300M-$500M), recent acquisitions, and why 2024-2025 presents one of the best real estate investment opportunities since the Great Financial Crisis. Plus, insights into market trends, future investment themes, and Lion’s long-term vision.

Tired of fragmented data slowing you down? Book a demo of Dakota Research to centralize critical investment data and intelligence to simplify your decision-making process.

In this episode of the Dakota Fundraising News Podcast, Konch covers job changes including Antonella Carranco joining Cortes Capital, David Wilson moving to JANA, and Etienne Dion joining iA Global AM. On the RIA side, LPL is acquiring First Horizon Advisors’ $16B platform, Cerity Partners picked up Raleigh-based Cook Wealth, and Raymond James recruited an $828M RBC team. 

Institutionally, Franklin and Falmouth retirement systems are running searches, while Virginia, Rhode Island, and Baltimore ERS made new commitments across real estate, private equity, and credit. On the fundraising front, Andros Capital closed a $1B energy fund and Trive Capital Fund V raised $2.7B, with backing from LAFPP and Florida SBA.

Tired of fragmented data slowing you down? Book a demo of Dakota Research to centralize critical investment data and intelligence to simplify your decision-making process.

In Episode 30 of the Emerging Manager Growth Show, we dive deep into the consultant channel and how emerging managers can effectively build relationships, get on the radar, and plant seeds for future allocations.

Gui Costin and Dan DiDomenico break down the three key consultant categories—dedicated emerging manager consultants, large firms with EM programs, and OCIOs who value early-stage access. The conversation emphasizes the power of cold outreach, the importance of consistent communication, and how to build a flywheel that drives long-term growth.

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to deepen your consultant engagement, this episode offers actionable insights on structuring your outreach, attending the right events, and leveraging every meeting to grow your brand.

Tired of chasing outdated leads? Book a demo to see how Dakota Marketplace simplifies your fundraising process with accurate, up-to-date investor data. 

In this episode of the Rainmaker Podcast, host Gui Costin welcomes Doug Krupa, Managing Director and Head of Global Wealth Solutions in the Americas at KKR. Doug shares the story of his career—from his early days as a financial advisor working with New York City firefighters to leading one of the most innovative wealth distribution platforms at KKR. His passion for making private markets more accessible stems from those early experiences, where he saw firsthand how institutional allocations to private equity contributed to long-term success.

Doug walks listeners through the structure and mission of his team at KKR, which has grown significantly since he joined in 2019. Focused on intermediaries like financial advisors and RIAs, his team has developed evergreen investment solutions across asset classes, delivering institutional-quality strategies in a more accessible format. He emphasizes a localized, relationship-driven approach, with team members embedded in major metro markets across the U.S.

Communication and process are at the heart of Doug’s leadership style. KKR’s wealth team operates with a high level of collaboration, leveraging instant messaging, a custom CRM, and content centralization platforms to share real-time insights, content, and KPIs across channels. Weekly sales meetings and monthly all-hands calls ensure the team stays aligned, while quality interactions, new advisor penetration, and sales versus budget remain key performance indicators.

Doug also discusses how his team prioritizes rapid communication of what’s working (and what’s not), and the importance of tracking structured client feedback through CRM. His leadership philosophy centers around curiosity, responsiveness, and removing roadblocks for his team. He likens himself to a “chief agitation officer,” continually challenging the status quo to improve transparency, technology, and product innovation.

For young professionals entering investment sales, Doug encourages a relentless curiosity, a willingness to ask “why,” and involvement in product development and messaging—skills that not only build credibility but also fuel long-term career growth. He stresses the importance of education, noting that broader adoption of private markets relies on helping advisors and clients better understand the asset class.

This episode is a must-listen for distribution leaders and sales professionals seeking to scale their efforts, adopt a tech-forward sales strategy, and drive long-term engagement through thoughtful innovation.

Tired of chasing outdated leads? Book a demo to see how Dakota Marketplace simplifies your fundraising process with accurate, up-to-date investor data. 

In Episode 9 of the Dakota Research Podcast, we cover the latest in private equity news and trends—from BlackRock’s new public-private model portfolios to Olympus Partners’ $3.5B fund close and OpenAI’s record-breaking $40B raise. The episode’s deep dive explores the IPO pipeline, breaking down the steps of going public, pros and cons, and key 2025 trends. We also highlight notable IPOs like Klarna, Hinge Health, and CoreWeave. Whether you’re tracking fundraising, deal activity, or market shifts, this episode delivers actionable insights to help you stay informed and ahead in private markets.

Tired of fragmented data slowing you down? Book a demo of Dakota Research to centralize critical investment data and intelligence to simplify your decision-making process.

Click here to book a demo today ➡️ https://www.dakota.com/calendar-researchpage

In this episode of the Dakota Fundraising News Podcast, Konch spotlights key job moves and deal activity across the institutional and wealth landscape. Elise Angelich joins Cliffwater in LA from JSF Financial, while Con Michalakis is named CIO at Funda SA after nearly three years at Hostplus. On the RIA front, Cerity Partners is acquiring $1.8B AUM West Coast Financial, and EP Wealth enhances its Northern California footprint with the acquisition of Peninsula Wealth. Institutional highlights include search and allocation updates from Howard County, Holyoke, and Alameda County, and new commitments from Vermont Pension, STRS Ohio, and Ohio Police & Fire. PGIM Real Estate also makes headlines with the $2B close of its first global data center fund. 

Tune in for the latest in fundraising momentum across RIAs, pensions, and private markets.