The document provides insights from a 2016 survey of limited partners (LPs) regarding their views on venture capital (VC) and fundraising activities, indicating a return to pre-recession levels, though still below 2000 peaks. Despite expressing concerns about over-funding and high valuations in the VC market, 70% of LPs remain positive about venture capital as a long-term asset. Additionally, the survey reveals growing interest in direct investments and opportunity funds, with a focus on maintaining or cautiously increasing investment pace in venture capital.

1. LP Outlook on Venture Capital 2016
1
LP Survey Data
@msuster

2. LP contributions to the VC industry is back to pre-recession highs
(but still well below the 2000 peak)
2
US VC fundraising activity
0
65
130
195
260
$0
$15
$30
$45
$60
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Capital raised ($B)
# of funds closed
237
258
193187
134
150
118
184178
193
162
$35$34
$20
$24$25
$19
$12
$33$34
$37
$22
162
193
178 184
118
150
134
187 193
258
237
Source: PitchBook 2015 Annual U.S. Venture Industry Report.

3. 3
US VC funds annualized cash flow by year
-$60
-$40
-$20
$0
$20
$40
$60
$80
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Contributions ($B)
Distributions ($B)
Net Cash Flow ($B)
17
-11
-5-5
-11
-18
-6-6
-13
-16
8
-11-11
34
26
30
24
19
1011
27
22
11
7
28
1011
-18
-27-29-28
-25
-21
-29
-33
-28
-24-23
-20-21-22
-11 -11
8
-16
-13
-6 -6
-18
-11
-5 -5
1 -1
17
Distributions haven’t made up for a decade of negative cashflows. Markups
don’t pay the bills
Source: PitchBook 3Q 2015 PE VC Benchmarking Report.

4. The good news is that only 7% of LPs believe they will cut back on venture
programs with 26% of funds looking to increase exposure
4
4%
22%
67%
7%
Source: Upfront Survey Jan 2016, 73 LPs.
How would you describe your fund’s current
allocation to VC?
About the right allocation
Aggressively growing venture Too much allocated to venture
Trying to grow our venture program

5. 40% of LPs have a full bench, 40% looking to add, 20% looking to cut back
5
3%
38%
40%
19%
Source: Upfront Survey Jan 2016, 73 LPs.
How would you describe your fund’s current outlook
on VC managers?
Cutting back on managers
Aggressively add new managers to
our program
Pragmatically add managers to
our program
Happy with our existing roster

6. But LPs expressed caution, too. Nearly 75% of LPs have concerns about
investment pace, valuation levels and burn rates of underlying companies
6
6%
68%
26%
Source: Upfront Survey Jan 2016, 72 LPs.
How would you describe your fund’s outlook on your
existing (VC) managers activities?
Very happy with investment activities of
our existing managers
Deeply concerned about the market behavior
A bit concerned by pace, valuation
creep and burn rates

7. 61% of LPs believe that VCs are coming back to market to raise money at too
quick of a pace - a reflection of anxieties of the over-funding of portfolios
7
61% 15%
24%
Source: Upfront Survey Jan 2016, 72 LPs.
How would you describe your fund’s outlook in your
existing (VC) managers funding (and fund raising) pace?
Managers come back at a normal
cadence and it hasn’t changed much
Managers have been coming back more quickly
than in the past and we’re fine with this
Managers have been coming back more
quickly than in the past and it concerns us

8. Even if some short-term concerns, 70% of LPs still bullish on VC as a great
long-term asset
8
30%
69%
1%
Source: Upfront Survey Jan 2016, 71 LPs.
How would you describe your current views on
venture capital overall?
We’re even more bullish about VC than in the past
We still think VC a great long-term asset class.
At current levels, Venture Capital is
starting to feel over-funded

9. And 82% of LPs are likely to maintain their existing investment pace
9
10%
82%
8%
Source: Upfront Survey Jan 2016, 73 LPs.
How would you describe your likely investment pace
in venture over the next 3 years?
We’re likely to increase our investment pace
We’re likely to keep the same investment pace
We’re likely to slow down our investment pace

10. It seems clear that “direct investments” are becoming a more important part
of the LP asset mix for nearly 40% of LPs.
10
1%
17%
21%
44%
17%
Source: Upfront Survey Jan 2016, 72 LPs.
How would you describe your fund’s position on
direct investments
We do some directs. It’s opportunistic.
Unlikely to ever be meaningful
Direct investments are the only reason we fund VC managers in the
first place
We never do direct and never will
We think direct is a very important
strategy for us
Doing more direct investments and this is
becoming an important part of our
strategy

11. Overwhelmingly LPs have been supportive of “opportunity funds” provided
they are done pragmatically and with favorable economics
11
3%
82%
15%
Source: Upfront Survey Jan 2016, 73 LPs.
How you would describe your fund’s outlook on
growth / overage / opportunity funds?
We only do core funds
We’ve been very active in the growth / overage /
opportunity fund
Done with a pragmatic approach &
favorable economics we’re favorable

12. While the market for Seed Funds grew enormously in the past 7 years, many
LPs still express some concerns about capacity and market crowding
12
23%
66%
11%
Source: Upfront Survey Jan 2016, 70 LPs.
What is your fund’s outlook on the seed market?
Seed delivers the highest potential returns and we’ll
continue to invest heavilyThere are too many seed funds and we’re worried they
won’t have enough capacity
We fund seed VCs but we’re very
discerning on which ones we’ll fund

13. Unsurprisingly half the market is looking for a balance of seed, A/B and
growth funds. 1/3rd focuses mostly on A/B
13
17%
50%
33%
Source: Upfront Survey Jan 2016, 72 LPs.
What is your fund’s outlook on traditional Series A/B
venture capital?
We prefer to focus on traditional A/B venture
We think traditional VCs are being squeezed
We want a healthy mix of seed funds,
A/B and growth VCs

14. Also it’s not too surprising that LPs are most cautious about growth stage
funds - in particular concerns about late-stage valuations
14
68%
32%
Source: Upfront Survey Jan 2016, 71 LPs.
What is your fund’s outlook on later stage venture
capital / growth equity?
We like growth stage but want a healthy balance of
seed, A/B and growth
We’re worried that the growth stage is
the most over-valued part of the market

15. 73 LPs surveyed, part 1
15
Fund type
0
10
20
30
9
445
23
28
Fund size
0
10
20
$0-250M $250-750M $750M-1.5B $1.5-5B $5-10B $10B+ Blank
4
16
7
18
3
11
14
Which of the following best describes your focus on VC?
0
25
50
Only VC Mostly VC Very diverse Not much VC
2
42
10
19
Foundation or
Endowment
Fund of
Funds
Family
Office
Discretionary
Advisor
Insurance
Company
Other
Survey respondent geography
0
15
30
NorCal SoCal NE US Other US ROW Blank
2
4
28
11
6
22
Source: Upfront Survey Jan 2016.

16. 73 LPs surveyed, part 2
16
Position
0
20
40
60
Partner / MD Analyst to Principal Blank
1
18
54
How long has your firm been investing in VC (years)
0
20
40
0-3 3-10 10-20 20+
1
23
30
16
3
How long has your firm existed (years)
0
20
40
0-3 3-10 10-20 20+
38
1614
5
Personal investment experience (years)
0
20
40
0-3 3-6 6-10 10-15 15+
27
23
15
44
Haven’t invested
much in VC
Source: Upfront Survey Jan 2016.

17. LP Outlook on Venture Capital 2016
17
LP Survey Data
@msuster