Dakota Research Podcast

In this episode of the Dakota Fundraising News Podcast, we cover new job changes at major pension funds, including PSERS and OPTrust, and spotlight freshly launched RIAs like Evergreen Wealth Partners and Cambria Wealth Management. Hear consultant updates from Sacramento County, RFP activity out of Florida’s Pembroke Pines Pension Fund, and major investment moves by Illinois’ State Universities Retirement System. We also share the latest fundraising efforts from Quantum Capital, Partners Group, and Eastend Ventures — plus a reminder to register for our next Dakota Cocktails event.

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In this week’s Dakota Fundraising News Podcast, Lara Galloway joins Elevation Point as head of growth alongside Melinda Brodbeck as head of corporate communications, Saibal Mukherjee takes on equities manager research at Mercer, Hunter Brackett becomes public equity portfolio manager at the NC Department of State Treasury, and Pierre Duran joins Trinity University to oversee private markets. Hub International acquires Veripax Wealth Management as part of its $178B RIA network expansion, while The Quick Group and Alteris Capital Partners both debut new RIAs with over $100M in assets. On the institutional front, Louisiana TRS selects Hamilton Lane and StepStone to lead its private markets consulting, with an RFP open for $10B+ AUM co-investment managers, and Chicago Teachers’ outlines $170M in real estate and infrastructure pacing plans. Jacksonville’s large cap value manager vote is postponed, Fresno County commits $100M+ across four managers, and Texas TRS makes $895M in new allocations across private equity, real estate, and infrastructure. BharCap Partners raises $1.1B for Fund II, with backing from LAFPP, and Mekong Capital announces plans for a $200M regenerative agriculture fund launching in 2026.

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In this week’s Dakota Fundraising News Podcast, Ryan Gardner joins Texas A&M Foundation as Assistant Director of Investments, Isla Chu steps in as Director of Investments at Michigan State University, and Laura Walker moves to NEPC as Consultant after her tenure at Reinsurance Group of America. On the RIA front, Andy Knowles launches Knowles Private Wealth with Raymond James, Tempo Wealth debuts in Ohio serving executives from public companies, and Strive Retirement Group opens in Florida with a focus on corporate retirement plans. Institutionally, Oregon PERS staff recommends extending Meketa’s real estate consulting contract, and Boston Retirement System issues a $90M real estate RFP with a secondaries-focused private equity search coming in July. Somerville allocates $25M across AEW and Invesco, Hartford commits $5M to Mesirow’s value fund while reviewing its real estate lineup, and Arkansas Teacher Retirement commits $80M across Arlington Capital Partners VII and Great Hill Equity Partners IX.

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In Episode 16 of the Dakota Research Podcast, we explore the rapidly expanding space economy, a $2 trillion opportunity redefining infrastructure, defense, and global connectivity. From reusable rockets and smallsat constellations to in-space manufacturing and orbital logistics, space is moving from moonshots to market-making.

We break down the investment landscape—highlighting government-backed defense initiatives, private capital pouring into infrastructure and satellite networks, and M&A across launch, logistics, and Earth observation sectors. The episode also features recent deals and notable players like SpaceX, Rocket Lab, VAST, and Planet Labs.

Plus, we unpack themes that matter to institutional investors: dual-use technologies, sovereign space strategies, and the role of space in ESG, communications, and data infrastructure.

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In this week’s Dakota Fundraising News Podcast, Tom Borghard joins Yale Investments as director, Vivek Jindal is named CIO at Caprock, and Jonathan Grushkin becomes CIO at Sanford Health after roles at Cleveland Clinic and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. In RIA news, Mariner Wealth Advisors acquires $1.4B Taurus Asset Management, expanding its sports advisory capabilities, while EP Wealth adds $900M Buffington Mohr McNeal, and Michael Breitfeller launches The Breit Group in North Carolina. On the institutional front, Medford Contributory Retirement issues an $8M passive equity RFP, and Sweden’s FTN begins market research for a global tech equity mandate. Orange County Employees Retirement commits nearly $294M across nine funds, including Castlelake and Hg Saturn 4, while Louisiana and Houston pensions invest in Stripes VII and TPG AG Credit Solutions, respectively. On the fundraising side, AlpInvest closes a $4.1B co-investment fund backed by over 185 LPs, including Kentucky Teachers, and Thoma Bravo completes a $34.4B buyout cycle, including its Europe fund.

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In this week’s Dakota Fundraising News Podcast, Diego Liechti is appointed head of investments at Switzerland’s PKG Pensionskasse, Henry Mercer joins Withum Wealth as CIO, and Partners Group names Anastasia Amoroso chief investment strategist for private wealth. On the RIA side, Arax Investment Partners acquires $4B Schechter Investment Advisors in a major Midwest expansion, San Diego-based advisors launch Arv Private Wealth with LPL, and $225M Desert Sky Advisors joins Steward Partners in Arizona. In institutional news, the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority issues an RFP for a $14M opportunistic private credit mandate, and Montana Board of Investments allocates $50M to Accolade Beaverhead while reviewing real assets strategy. Denver Employees Retirement Plan adjusts equity targets following an asset liability study, and Dallas-Fort Worth Airport Board makes over $34M in new commitments across equities, private credit, and co-investments. North Carolina Retirement Systems also made $825M in commitments to Ares, Hg, and BCP. On the fundraising front, Antares and Ares raise over $1.2B for a private credit continuation fund, and Cantor Fitzgerald announces a gold-protected Bitcoin fund with a five-year horizon.

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In Episode 15 of the Dakota Research Podcast, we dive into the evolving world of co-investing—how LPs are gaining direct deal exposure, cutting fees, and strengthening GP relationships. From traditional buyouts to infrastructure and private credit, co-investments are reshaping portfolio strategies across the private markets.

We explore key structures, benefits, and risks, as well as data from StepStone and Goldman Sachs showing co-investments’ rise among institutional investors. The episode also highlights strategies from leading firms like HarbourVest, Ardian, Pantheon, Adams Street, and AlpInvest. We close with real-world case studies, including ArcLight’s natural gas pipeline co-investment and Niobrara’s stake in Polar Semiconductor.

Whether you're a fund allocator, family office, or institutional investor, this episode unpacks the co-investment landscape and how it fits into broader asset allocation goals.

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In this week’s Dakota Fundraising News Podcast, André Mehta joins Michaud Capital Management as senior managing director to lead client success and investment strategy, while Ronald Meraz takes on the role of regional director at Citigroup overseeing over 275 branches across California and Nevada. BNP Paribas sees leadership changes in Southeast Asia as See Piu Chua departs and the Malaysia team expands under Sean Tay. On the RIA front, LPL Financial adds $330M Merrill Lynch advisor Mai Park, Raymond James recruits a $205M team from Janney, and Carson Group fully acquires $365M SRQ Wealth, marking its 25th wholly owned office. The City of Philadelphia delayed its vote in the private markets consultant search, with Meketa, Verus, and Marquette as finalists. Arkansas Public Employees Retirement System finalized six infrastructure secondary fund options including Blackstone, Pantheon, and Partners Group. On the investment side, LACERS committed $75M across three funds including a new relationship with Mavik Real Estate, TCDRS committed $50M to H.I.G.’s small-cap fund, and Santa Barbara County Employees’ closed two $7.5M commitments to Novacap and High Street.

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In this week’s Dakota Fundraising News Podcast, Humberto Garcia de Alba is named CEO of BBVA Global Wealth Advisors, Peter Mistina joins QP Global Family Offices as VP of Investments, and Bruno Saintonge takes on a senior private markets role at Quebec’s $3B RRCEGQ pension. On the RIA side, Focus Financial is merging $35B Kovitz into $140B Focus Partners Wealth in a major hub firm consolidation, while former UBS advisors launch GLR Partners and ex-Choreo advisors establish XRSM Wealth under Mariner Independent. Institutionally, Quincy Retirement is running a $10M private equity search and Mendocino County prepares a real estate search, while CalSTRS revealed nearly $3B in second-half 2024 commitments, including to Thoma Bravo, Summit Partners, and CVC. Additional allocations came from LAFPP, LACERA, and others. On the fundraising front, Archway Capital is targeting $100M for its second opportunity fund, and Carlyle plans to expand its Japan team to support deployment of a $2.96B buyout fund.

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In this week’s Dakota Fundraising News Podcast, Chad Oviatt joins First National Bank as CIO, Bola Olusanya is named CIO at MacArthur Foundation, and Sean Olesen heads to the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Hightower Advisors makes its first 2025 deal with a strategic investment in $3.8B Lindbrook Capital, marking the final transaction under outgoing CEO Bob Oros, while Raymond James adds a $450M UBS breakaway team, and MPact Capital launches in Charlotte with a digital asset-backed impact strategy. On the institutional side, IL SURS is gathering info for diversifying strategies, Manchester approved a shift toward equities, and Kern County allocated $150M each to securitized strategies from Schroder and Guggenheim, while also investing $150M with Chilton Capital. Minnesota SBI made over $900M in commitments across Advent, Blackstone, TA Realty, TPG, and ECP, and Chicago Teachers and Louisiana School Employees’ also reported new private market allocations. Meanwhile, BlackRock’s Global Infrastructure Partners eyes a $10B raise, DFJ Growth closed $1.2B, and Crestline wrapped up its Direct Lending Fund IV with $3.5B.

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