How venture capital funds handle performing assets when lifecycles expire
Conversations about venture exits usually start with the portfolio company. Is the business ready? Is there a buyer? Yet as a fund ages, another question becomes equally critical: how long can the vehicle holding the com
Conversations about venture exits usually start with the portfolio company. Is the business ready? Is there a buyer? Yet as a fund ages, another question becomes equally critical: how long can the vehicle holding the company afford to wait? The Stears–Ventures Platform Africa Venture Capital Exit & Liquidity Report tracks 181 verified VC-backed exits across Africa between 2011 and 2026 . However, for a fund manager, the primary challenge rarely lies in underperforming investments. Instead, it stems from performing companies that retain meaningful upside but no longer align with the fund’s remaining life. This misalignment transforms an exit-timing issue into a residual portfolio paradox .
