Join Trevor Loy, Managing Partner at Flywheel Ventures and Stanford Lecturer, for a fireside chat with Zach Ellis Jr., GP of South Loop Ventures and VC Unlocked 2024 alum, who recently achieved a successful close of his first venture capital fund. Gain firsthand insight into the key steps, challenges, and strategies involved in launching and successfully raising your debut VC fund.

What you'll learn

In this session, you'll hear directly from a first-time fund manager who successfully closed Fund 1, sharing the critical steps, challenges, and strategies that made it possible.

• Navigating the Fundraising Process: Step-by-step guidance on the stages from initial outreach to final closing
• Lessons Learned: Practical advice and hard-won lessons directly from an emerging fund manager who successfully closed Fund 1 in 2025
• Keys to Successful LP Relationships: Effective tactics for attracting, communicating with, and securing commitments from limited partners (LPs)