Partner @SapphirePrtnrs - the LP arm of @SapphireVC. Sharing the LP perspective via @Open_LP. Free time: hiking, cooking & watching 49ers/Giants/Warriors!

Joined July 2016
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Big congrats again to @seedtosunflower!
Congrats to Liu Jiang team at @seedtosunflower on the close of Fund II! In a tough market for 1st time managers, Liu built something exceptional & we’re proud to be among Sunflower’s early LPs. We’re excited to support Sunflower’s mission to back technical founders from day zero—with discipline, clarity, & conviction. Onwards & upwards 🌻 📖 Read more: wsj.com/articles/sunflower-c…
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🎙️🆕Grateful to join @alexabinns & @EarnestSweat on @AllocatorsPod! We covered everything from evaluating emerging mngrs, navigating reserves, how @SapphirePrtnrs is supporting GPs through a complex market environment & the mission behind @Open_LP. Thanks for having me on! 🙏
10 Apr 2025
Is now the right time to start a venture fund? @LauraLPThompson says yes—if you lead with focus, data, & conviction. 🆕🎧 Laura joined @AllocatorsPod to share how @SapphirePrtnrs is approaching emerging managers, fund construction & reserve strategy in today’s market including: 📌 The realities of underwriting in today’s venture environment 📌 How Sapphire Partners balances emerging and established managers 📌 Characteristics of successful Fund I–III GPs 🎧 Listen to the episode: open.spotify.com/episode/7vx… #LPInsights #EmergingManagers #OpenLP #FundStrategy
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What separates a great VC from a true franchise fund? I joined my colleague @Beezer232 to unpack this Q her convo with Stephen Bluestein from Adams Street Partners on Origins. 🎧 Listen/subscribe wherever you get your podcasts below. #VC #Origins #OpenLP
17 Dec 2024
🆕🎙️ What makes a franchise fund in venture capital? It’s not just about a 5x or 10x “lights-out” fund. In today's Origins minisode, @Beezer232 & @lauralpthompson break down how the best firms earn (& keep) the right to win w the best founders. Here's what they uncovered:🧵
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QSBS is a game-changer for LPs, GPs & founders. In my latest blog, I explain how it can save millions in taxes for emerging managers, leading to significant savings. 💡 #VC #QSBS
8 Oct 2024
🧵💰Want in on the unspoken secret of making more money for GPs, LPs, and founders... In a brand new blog, @LauraLPThompson, Partner at @SapphirePrtnrs, breaks down QSBS: a powerful, often overlooked tax incentive that can significantly boost after-tax returns👇
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If you are a VC EM near Menlo next Thursday, come join :)
18 Jun 2024
📣Emerging VC Managers: If you're in Bay Area - you don't want to miss this IRL early-stage #VC networking event next Thurs, 6/27 w @SapphirePrtnrs, @EquiamVC, @EYnews & @CalSTRS, hosted by NASP NorCal & @CitizensBank. 💫Space is limited - reserve your spot today! lp.constantcontactpages.com/…
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Thank you, @jamescthorne, for including my perspective on the current fundraising environment and advantages of betting on emerging managers. 💪 Read more in @PitchBook below.
6 May 2024
“Where can you get really good returns? It’s the smaller fund sizes and emerging managers.” — @SapphirePrtnrs' @LauraLPThompson on whether LPs are missing out on potential upside by consistently choosing established fund managers over emerging ones in @PitchBook 👇 pitchbook.com/news/articles/… #VC #Fundraising
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Laura Thompson retweeted
We’re hiring an Associate to join our team of LPs at @SapphirePrtnrs in SF! 💫 Know someone fantastic w/ 1-3 yrs of relevant experience (LP backgrounds prioritized) in a financial analysis position at a fund investment firm, financial/VC firm, or a technology-focused corporate role? Encourage them to apply 👇 boards.greenhouse.io/sapphir… #fundinvesting
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We are hiring a VP and an associate! Please forward if you know anyone who might be a great fit for LP investing at @SapphirePrtnrs!
We’re hiring an Associate & VP to join the @SapphirePrtnrs team in SF! 💫 Know of any aspiring LPs or one looking to make their next move? 🔗Please share and encourage them to apply here: boards.greenhouse.io/sapphir… #VC #Hiring
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Looking forward to joining this powerhouse group of women on stage at the Women's VC Summit next year! If you're interested in learning about LPs - what they like & don't - join us in Half Moon Bay on 2/8. Details 👇
Heading to Half Moon Bay in Feb for the Women’s VC Summit? Hear from @LauraLPThompson, Partner at @SapphirePrtnrs, discussing LP relationship building & mgmt! 🗓 Thurs, Feb 8 | 12:25 PM - 1:00 PM PST 📋 Agenda: events.withintelligence.com/… 🔗 Register: events.withintelligence.com/…
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Emerging managers curious about how to stand out to LPs - next week I'll share the early signs of a successful fund manager that we look for at @SapphirePrtnrs what we like to see in a pitch deck w/ @500GlobalVC's @bedy in the first LP Webinar Series hosted by @vcunlocked!
6 Dec 2023
Don't miss the first LP Webinar Series hosted by @vcunlocked next week! Join @SapphirePrtnrs' @LauraLPThompson & @500GlobalVC's @bedy as they discuss how to stand out in the current climate & build relationships with #LPs. 🗓 Tuesday, December 12 🕘 11am -12pm PST 🔗events.500.co/fundraisingopp…
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Woot woot! Today, we announced that @SapphirePrtnrs is launching a new program to invest in emerging venture managers with a sole LP, @CalSTRS, the world's largest educator-only pension fund! 💥 Read more👇
[1/6] Today, we announced Sapphire Partners is launching a new emerging venture managers investment program with a sole LP, @CalSTRS, the world's largest educator-only pension fund! 👏🧵 More about our perspective & what this means for emerging managers: bit.ly/3sRmZV4
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We keep hearing about the #VC pacing slow down, but have seen less data on capital calls & any correlation. My colleague @EvanTarzian and I were curious, so we dug into our own emerging manager data. Our findings below! 👇
24 Apr 2023
New data on Capital Calls! ☎️ Everyone's talking about #VC pacing slow down, but we've seen less data around capital calls & how the past several quarters compare to ’20-‘21. 🧵@EvanTarzian & @LauraLPThompson dug into @SapphirePrtnrs’ early-stage mngr data & the findings are 🤯
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When the market shifts like this, getting "back to the basics" means different things to different managers - but opportunity funds don't always fall in this category. Thanks for including me in your piece, Marina Temkin, CFA! Alwa…lnkd.in/gYjapkyT lnkd.in/gjBhBW8U
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Nearly every early-stage venture manager I encounter has a reserve strategy incorporated into their fund model. But here's what's surprising... reserves aren't always a good thing! Here's my new blog on just that topic. sapphireventures.com/blog/di…
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Laura Thompson retweeted
“Who are your LPs?” This is a question I both hear and ask frequently. And while it’s a simple question on the surface, there are a lot of nuances. Many of which have been on my mind recently. #OpenLP
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Laura Thompson retweeted
With an uneasy market, how is venture fundraising faring? Sapphire's @Beezer232 shares her thoughts on the "cloudy" picture with @TechCrunch's @christinemhall. techcrunch.com/2022/04/11/a-…
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Laura Thompson retweeted
30 Mar 2022
Key prediction for European venture funds this year? "Specialist funds will proliferate and thrive," shares @ttm00n of @SapphireVC. sapphireventures.com/blog/sa… #OpenLP
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Laura Thompson retweeted
📣 GPs and LPs 📣 You can now follow #OpenLP on LinkedIn too and stay up to date on the ✨ LP perspective in venture✨! lnkd.in/gi3s-Yyq #OpenLP
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Come join the #OpenLP party over on LinkedIn too 😉
2 Mar 2022
Hey GPs and LPs - good news… You can now follow #OpenLP on LinkedIn too! Follow the page to stay up to date on the *LP perspective in venture*. 👍 linkedin.com/company/7941786…
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