Online Event
[VC Lab] What LPs Actually Want
LPs are choosing specialists learn exactly what they want from Fund I managers and how to win.
Date
Jul 23, 2026
Time
08:00 am - 09:00 am
Address
Online Event
LPs have spoken and specialists are winning. In this VC Lab session, we cut through the noise and reveal exactly what limited partners look for when backing first-time fund managers with a focused thesis.
From track record framing to thesis alignment, discover how specialist managers are standing out in a crowded market and earning LP commitments that generalists can't. If you're building a fund, this is the blueprint you can't afford to miss. RSVP now to secure your spot.
Meet the speakers
Meet the speakers
This session brings together experienced operators and investors to unpack what LPs actually want from aspiring, new, and emerging managers:
- David Shefler - Investor & Advisor to early-stage founders; Advisor, Daybreak Lab
David spent a career building partnerships, scaling innovation, and navigating global markets before shifting his focus to purpose-driven impact. Today he actively invests in and advises early-stage founders working on meaningful problems in health, sustainability, and resilience, and serves as an Advisor to Daybreak Lab alongside a range of nonprofit and community leadership roles. He brings an investor-and-operator's view of what it takes to back founders who build with intention. - Gary Gitelson - Founder, Prohana, Inc.
Gary is a 25-year software veteran and engineering leader who has built and scaled teams at Cisco, Google, and VMware, as well as at two consumer-electronics startups. Founder of Prohana, he is also an active angel and venture investor (Band of Angels, IASV Seed Ventures) who advises and mentors startups and engineering leaders. He brings the investor's lens on what separates a fundable team from the rest. - 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
Local Partners
Related Events
Applications are now open
Build your startup with AI agents doing the work
Join the FI Agentic Program: an AI-powered curriculum, world-class mentors, and free AI agents to turn your idea into a fundable company.
9,000+ companies launched since 2009
Turn your idea into the next unicorn
Our programs helped launch Udemy, Esusu, and thousands more, with a portfolio worth an estimated $20B. Yours could be next.
200+ cities and 95 countries
Join the world's largest agentic company builder
A global network of founders, mentors, and investors building enduring companies, with free AI agents to help you do the work.
