FamilyOffice10x - How this single family office (SFO) invests in the top GPs? - Slava Darkhaev, VP, Matrix Capital

Mar 10, 2026

28:22

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"What does it actually take to get a family office to back you? In this episode, Prashant sits down with Slava Darkhaev, a family office investor based in Cyprus who deploys into emerging VC managers and direct deals across the US market.

Slava breaks down how he evaluates first-time fund managers, what a real competitive edge looks like versus a rehearsed pitch, and why network quality matters far more than network size. They also get into portfolio construction, co-investment strategy, the emerging markets opportunity, and the biggest mistakes fund managers make when fundraising.

⭐ Sponsored by Podcast10x - Podcasting agency for VCs - https://podcast10x.com

Topics covered:

— What "right to exist" really means for a fund manager

— How to evaluate GPs before they have a track record

— Why the VC power law makes network everything

— LP book vs. direct co-investments — how to run both

— Diversification as upside management, not downside protection

— India, Southeast Asia & Latin America — the emerging market thesis

— The #1 fundraising mistake GPs make repeatedly"

If you're a GP raising your first or second fund — or an LP trying to build a smarter allocation strategy — this one is for you.

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