Investing with emerging managers is a key component of TIFF’s investment strategy. By partnering with smaller and newer managers, TIFF is able to build relationships with up-and-coming talent, obtain access to the next wave of top funds, and negotiate fee breaks/discounts on behalf of TIFF’s clients. Trevor Graham, Head of Equities and Deputy CIO, sat down with two of TIFF’s emerging managers: Hamilton Helmer, co-founder and CIO of Strategy Capital, and Nathan Richey, Managing Partner of Bestige  Holdings. While Strategy Capital was once considered an emerging manager, it has established itself in the market and is a long-only US large cap public equities strategy. In contrast, Bestige is a fundless private equity sponsor focused on service companies.

Both firms highlighted the importance of having a reputable institutional investor to their success in raising additional funds and establishing a stable capital base aligned with their investment time horizons. For Strategy Capital, TIFF was their first institutional investor, which is key to attracting other institutional capital. Meanwhile, for Bestige, TIFF served as a key co-investor in several deals. Bestige is now raising their first commingled fund with a full track record to market.

Both funds gave the advice to pick the right investors for your investment strategy. TIFF was instrumental in helping them getting to the right investors.