Online Event
[VC Lab] LP, GP, Founder Roundtable - How Capital Flows
Venture Flows 2026: How VC is changing and making it easier than ever to win capital.
Date
Jul 15, 2026
Time
08:00 am - 09:00 am
Address
Online Event
Join us for a practical roundtable on how capital is actually moving through venture in 2026, and what's driving that shift in the era of agentic VC. From fund operations to leaner emerging managers winning bigger checks, this discussion cuts through the noise on what LPs are backing now and where capital is flowing next.
You'll hear how AI tailwinds are reshaping deployment, plus what the rise of the agentic era means for fund economics and the managers winning in this environment. With Cohort 22 making it easier than ever to launch and run a fund, you'll leave with a clearer picture of what's working in today's market and how to position your fund to win. Don't miss this candid conversation on the new rules of venture capital.
Meet the panel
This roundtable brings an LP, GP, and founder perspective to the same table:
- Aaron Fitzgerald — Co-Founder & CEO, Mars Materials (the founder's seat)
Aaron is a three-time founder and Breakthrough Energy Fellow leading Mars Materials, a venture-backed climate startup commercializing NREL-developed technology that stores captured CO₂ in everyday products like carbon fiber and wastewater treatment chemicals. Named to the Grist 50, he brings a hard-won, capital-intensive founder's view of what it takes to raise and deploy in deep tech. - Karen Sheffield — Founder & Managing Partner, Pachamama Ventures (the GP's seat)
Karen spent 16 years as a Fortune 100 finance executive (Visa, PepsiCo, American Airlines) before founding Pachamama, which invests in U.S. early-stage climate tech. A VC Lab graduate, she offers an emerging manager's on-the-ground read on raising a fund and winning LP commitments in today's market. - Paul Rowland — COO, Environment Next (the capital allocator's seat)
Paul leads operations at Environment Next, a climate-focused organization channeling grants and capital into the ventures and platforms driving system-wide change. With prior leadership at Carbonfund.org and two decades running complex, multimillion-dollar international programs, he brings the allocator's lens on where climate capital is flowing and why. - Moderator: Kelly Schricker — Head of Programs, Decile Group
Kelly works inside the venture ecosystem every day at Decile Group, where she supports emerging managers across VC Lab, scouts deals, and has hosted many of the program's most popular sessions. A VC Lab community leader herself, she'll keep the conversation candid, practical, and focused on what managers can actually use.
About VC Lab
VC Lab (https://GoVCLab.com) is the leading venture capital accelerator worldwide for new and emerging managers.
900+ funds have successfully completed the program, building ethical and enduring venture capital firms around the world.
The program provides all the tools needed to launch a fund and close on capital in six months or less. Managers participate in weekly fund-building sprints, receive tactical advice from experienced domain experts, and join a collaborative, global community of peers.
VC Lab also develops essential fundraising skills and offers access to Decile Hub, the trusted venture platform for VCs to generate top decile returns.
Learn more at https://GoVCLab.com and apply to the program at https://FI.co/apply/vc
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