In this VNTR Podcast episode, we sit down with Russell Deakin, Chief Investment Officer and Managing Partner at Aceana Group.

With over 25 years of global experience in alternative assets — from private equity and venture capital to real estate, infrastructure, and renewable energy — Russell shares his journey of building a family office and investing worldwide.

We talk about:

• The origins of Aceana Group and the transition from angel investing to a structured family office.
• Venture capital strategies: seed, Series A, and co-investments with top managers.
• How to evaluate GPs, emerging managers, and the importance of trust and character.
• Insights into investing across the US, Europe, India, Latin America, and Singapore.
• Why co-investments and diversification are key for family offices.
• Work–life balance while constantly traveling the globe.

If you’re interested in family offices, venture capital, or international investing strategies — this episode is packed with practical insights.

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Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

00:15 Welcome Russell Deakin

00:57 How a Family Office Evolved Across Generations

02:44 Single vs Multi-Family Office Explained: Structure, Team & Global Reach

04:16 Why a Family Office Beats Going Solo in Investing

07:20 Co-Investing With Fund Managers: A Smarter Family Office Approach

11:15 The Key Traits LPs Look for in Emerging GPs

15:25 Evaluating Early-Stage VC: NAV Growth, IRR and DPI

20:03 Avoiding Direct Risk: How Funds Simplify Co-Investments

22:26 Are VC Management Fees Fair?

24:46 When LPs Should Use Fund of Funds: Diversification & Learning

26:41 Balancing Alpha & Safety: Fund of Funds in a Family Office Portfolio

31:22 The Minimum Portfolio Size for Venture Capital Success

36:26 Best Geographies for VC: US, Europe, India, and Beyond

39:48 Balancing Impact and Returns: Investing in Renewable Energy & Green Tech

43:37 Why Some Family Businesses Stay Local Instead of Going Global

45:24 Best Practices for Managing Family Office Connections Globally

49:10 Work-Life Balance Tips from a Traveling Family Office CIO

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Host:

Yuri G. Rabinovich

https://www.linkedin.com/in/byuric/

Guest:

Russell Deakin

Managing Partner at Aceana Group