VC in 33: Why is Diversification Important in Venture Investing?

VC in 33 Seconds

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Alumni Ventures

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Venture capital thrives on a few big wins. In this short explainer, learn why successful VC strategies focus on large, diversified portfolios—typically 50 to 200 companies—to manage risk and increase the odds of capturing breakthrough returns.

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Venture capital is a hits-driven business. This quick explainer shows why a large, diversified portfolio — often 50 to 200 startups — is key to reducing risk and maximizing chances of returns.

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Michael Collins
Michael Collins
CEO, Alumni Ventures

Mike has been involved in almost every facet of venturing, from angel investing to venture capital, new business and product launches, and innovation consulting. He is the CEO of Alumni Ventures and launched AV’s first alumni fund, Green D Ventures, where he oversaw the portfolio as Managing Partner and is now Managing Partner Emeritus. Mike is a serial entrepreneur who has started multiple companies, including Kid Galaxy, Big Idea Group (partially owned by WPP), and RDM. He began his career at VC firm TA Associates. He holds an undergraduate degree in Engineering Science from Dartmouth and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

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  • You can find the full transcript below:

    Michael Collins:

    Venture capital is a hits business. And so the numbers really support having a very large and diversified portfolio. That’s going to de-risk your portfolio, but it’s also going to give you that shot to capture that kind of once in a lifetime opportunity. So most of the data says you want a venture portfolio that has the very least 50 companies in it, and more likely something like a hundred or 200 companies. Alot of people decide the best thing to do is put some money into diversified funds.

This communication is from Alumni Ventures, a for-profit venture capital company that is not affiliated with or endorsed by any school. It is not personalized advice, and AV only provides advice to its client funds. This communication is neither an offer to sell, nor a solicitation of an offer to purchase, any security. Such offers are made only pursuant to the formal offering documents for the fund(s) concerned, and describe significant risks and other material information that should be carefully considered before investing. For additional information, please see here. Example portfolio companies are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not necessarily indicative of any AV fund or the outcomes experienced by any investor. Example portfolio companies shown are not available to future investors, except potentially in the case of follow-on investments. Venture capital investing involves substantial risk, including risk of loss of all capital invested. This communication includes forward-looking statements, generally consisting of any statement pertaining to any issue other than historical fact, including without limitation predictions, financial projections, the anticipated results of the execution of any plan or strategy, the expectation or belief of the speaker, or other events or circumstances to exist in the future. Forward-looking statements are not representations of actual fact, depend on certain assumptions that may not be realized, and are not guaranteed to occur. Any forward-looking statements included in this communication speak only as of the date of the communication. AV and its affiliates disclaim any obligation to update, amend, or alter such forward-looking statements, whether due to subsequent events, new information, or otherwise.