Evolving the VC Model

May 21, 2025 / Monica Zent
Venture Legal 6

Speaking at a tech conference, Sarai Bronfeld, Partner at NFX, was quoted in the press as saying that the world of venture capital is changing very quickly. Large American funds are now operating less like traditional investors and more like private equity firms. Instead of waiting a decade for returns, they are actively shaping opportunities and creating markets themselves. These shifts are particularly relevant for the legal tech sector, where investors are influencing how innovation develops and how startups adapt to new funding structures.

This evolution also carries important implications for any legal service provider looking to scale. As venture capital firms adopt more complex strategies, the traditional boundaries between venture, private equity, and secondaries begin to blur. For founders, this could mean fresh opportunities to secure growth capital, but it also introduces new challenges around liquidity and long term planning. Understanding these changes will be vital for companies seeking to attract funding and position themselves for success in an environment where capital is being deployed in new ways.

In the edition of Venture Legal, I explore some of the key ways the VC model is evolving, including:

  • Becoming RIAs and changing how firms are structured
  • Placing greater focus on secondaries as an investment path
  • Adopting private equity strategies to increase control and returns
  • Exploring opportunities with digital assets such as cryptocurrencies
  • Considering the possibility of VC firms launching their own IPOs in the near future

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Venture Legal, Ed. 6: Evolving the VC Model