20VC: How to Raise a Venture Fund from Deck to First Meetings to Final Close, Why Venture is a Young Person's Game and Why Multi-Stage Funds Have Not Ruined Seed with Rob Go, Co-Founder @ Nextview

Founding Journey

Rob Go's journey into venture capital began unexpectedly with a cold call from a VC firm while he was in business school. He recalls the early days of founding NextView, driven by the rise of seed funds and the opportunity to create a specialized fund outside the Bay Area 1. Rob emphasizes the importance of youthful energy in venture capital, stating, "Venture is a young person's sport," highlighting the competitive advantage of hustle and resourcefulness 1.

   

Partnerships

NextView's partnership structure is built on equality, with Rob Go and his partners sharing equal stakes in carry, salary, and governance. This alignment has been crucial for their long-term collaboration, preventing renegotiations and fostering a unified vision 2. Rob also highlights the generosity within the venture community, where sharing insights and connections is seen as a win-win, contrasting with the scarcity mindset that once prevailed in Boston's venture market 3.

   

Future Vision

Looking ahead, Rob Go envisions NextView as a blend of Benchmark's partner-driven model and YPO's ethos of communal excellence. He aspires for NextView to foster lifelong relationships with founders, creating a supportive and stable environment 4. Reflecting on past fundraising challenges, Rob notes that their fifth fund was the easiest to raise due to strong performance metrics, while the first and third funds posed significant hurdles, including the loss of an LP 5.