March 19, 2025

E82: Fundraising in Bear Markets: How Nichole Wischoff Closed $50M [How I Invest]

29 minutes

This week on Turpentine VC, we’re dropping an episode from David Weisburd’s “How I Invest Podcast” with Nichole Wischoff of Wischoff Ventures. Nichole discusses her impressive $50 million fundraise, closed in a bear market, sharing her strategy, brand-building efforts, and tips on leveraging social media to attract investors.

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RECOMMENDED PODCAST:

🎙️How I Invest with David Weisburd

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-i-invest-with-david-weisburd/id1697772657

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2MHgyKMmJgznPI66MLxZfC

YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCncFI0XEvTu7k4er6BgVN9g

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LINKS:

Wischoff Ventures: https://www.wischoff.com/

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X / TWITTER:

@NWischoff

@DWeisburd

@eriktorenberg

@TurpentineVC

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TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Intro

(00:35) Nichole Wischoff’s $50 million fundraise

(01:46) Building a brand and distribution

(02:50) The power of media in venture capital

(05:21) Fundraising strategies and challenges

(13:50) Sponsors: Oracle | Squad

(17:01) Leveraging relationships and networks

(22:39) Building a Twitter following

(29:37) Conclusion and contact information

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HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE EPISODE:

Nichole Wischoff raised $50 million for her fund in five months during summer 2024's tough market.

Her strategy focused on a first close of 50% by May and final close in August, creating momentum.

Performance matters: her previous funds were top decile performers, providing essential credibility.

$38.5M of the $50M came from just six LPs, with Sendona anchoring at $15M.

Brand building through social media gave her the ability to "get on the phone with anyone" after two years.

She got everyone in the data room simultaneously with a clear timeline, creating competitive pressure.

After securing first close, she emailed everyone still in the pipeline to create urgency and force decisions.

For social media success, she recommends authentic opinions and willingness to be wrong publicly.

She narrowed relationships from 50 fund managers down to 8-10 truly trusted partners (the 80/20 rule).

Always fundraise when you need capital, not based on market timing or what other GPs say.

...more

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By Erik Torenberg

4.6

2121 ratings