How I Invest Podcast – How Sophisticated LPs Evaluate Independent Sponsor Deals

Tom Duffy, Director, Private Market Client Solutions, at TIFF Investment Management, joined the How I Invest Podcast with David Weisburd to discuss TIFF’s strategy of investing alongside independent sponsors over the past decade and share key insights on how this market has evolved over time.

Key takeaways from the conversation:

  • The PE lower middle market remains an attractive and under-capitalized market segment. Given typical deal sizes and the ability to add value through improved strategy and operations, most independent sponsors invest mainly in this segment, yet it represents only a fraction of overall U.S. deal volume.
  • The independent sponsor market blends manager selection with deal selection. In our view, having a purpose-built team with a clear view of what defines an exceptional sponsor is essential for long-term market success.
  • TIFF has experience investing alongside independent sponsors and observing how certain sponsors evolve from deal-by-deal investing to institutional fund structures.

Listen on Apple -> 

Watch on YouTube -> 

Disclaimer: Tom Duffy, CFA, CFP, is a Director, Private Markets at TIFF Investment Management. All views expressed by him on this podcast are solely his opinions and do not reflect the opinions of TIFF. You should not treat any opinions expressed by Tom as a specific endorsement to make a particular investment. References to any securities are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. Any past performance discussed is not indicative of future results. Please keep in mind that investment in a fund entails a high degree of risk, including the risk of loss. Please note that the ads featured in this podcast are not endorsed by TIFF, and TIFF is not a sponsor of these ads.

How I Invest is hosted by David Weisburd, a Venture Capitalist who has raised over $2B+ in institutional capital and is passionate about connecting Limited Partners (Endowments, Pension Funds, and Family Offices) with General Partners. The podcast, by their definition, interviews the world’s leading institutional investors. 

Past performance is no guarantee of future results and the opinions presented cannot be viewed as an indicator of future performance. There is no guarantee that any particular asset allocation or mix of strategies will meet your investment objectives.

The materials are being provided for informational purposes only and constitute neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy securities. These materials also do not constitute investment, legal or tax advice. Opinions expressed herein are those of TIFF and are not a recommendation to buy or sell any securities. 

These materials may contain forward-looking statements relating to future events. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” or “continue,” the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology. Although TIFF believes the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, future results cannot be guaranteed. 

Swimming with Allocators Podcast – From Consumer Insights to AI Upside: How LPs Win in the Next Decade

Elizabeth Egan, Director, Private Markets, at TIFF Investment Management, joined the Swimming with Allocators podcast with Earnest Sweat and Alexa Binns to discuss TIFF’s philosophy for private markets investing and share key insights on how LPs will win over the next decade.

Key takeaways from the conversation:

  • Details create the edge: Most entrepreneurs know how to make a great pitch. So, how do you properly evaluate a deal? Successful investors are the ones who dive into the minutiae and truly understand the business’s core economics.
  • Go where scale can’t: TIFF has focused its investments on less efficient market segments where networks and relationships matter. “We want to stay focused on the smaller end so we can have a shot at generating true performance,” Egan explained.
  • Alpha Is Not Automated: In a world of increasingly commoditized capital and data accelerated by AI – differentiated returns come from judgment. As Egan explained, “machines can help you eat faster, but they can’t replace taste.”

Listen to the full podcast below:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3kZP0mLT0USTevcY21V8Yu?si=2683bfc39af14b37

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/from-consumer-insights-to-ai-upside-how-lps-win-in/id1713183207?i=1000740617477

YouTube: https://youtu.be/Hs0EQQoi1m8?si=J4zyVawHSJqCJilr

Disclaimer: Elizabeth Egan is a Director, Private Markets at TIFF Investment Management. All views expressed by her on this podcast are solely her opinions and do not reflect the opinions of TIFF. You should not treat any opinions expressed by Elizabeth as a specific endorsement to make a particular investment. References to any securities are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. Any past performance discussed is not indicative of future results. Please keep in mind that investment in a fund entails a high degree of risk, including the risk of loss. Please note that the ads featured in this podcast are not endorsed by TIFF, and TIFF is not a sponsor of these ads.

Swimming with Allocators is a podcast that dives into the intriguing world of Venture Capital from an LP (Limited Partner) perspective. Hosts Alexa Binns and Earnest Sweat are seasoned professionals who have donned various hats in the VC ecosystem. Each episode, we explore where the future opportunities lie in the VC landscape with insights from top LPs on their investment strategies and industry experts shedding light on emerging trends and technologies.

Past performance is no guarantee of future results, and the opinions presented cannot be viewed as an indicator of future performance. There is no guarantee that any particular asset allocation or mix of strategies will meet your investment objectives.

The materials are being provided for informational purposes only and constitute neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy securities. These materials also do not constitute investment, legal, or tax advice. Opinions expressed herein are those of TIFF and are not a recommendation to buy or sell any securities.

These materials may contain forward-looking statements relating to future events. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” or “continue,” the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology. Although TIFF believes the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, future results cannot be guaranteed.

CAIA Educational Alpha Podcast – Inside TIFF’s Evolution, Market Views, and Manager Access Advantage

Kane Brenan, CEO, and Anne Duggan, Managing Director, Client CIO Group, at TIFF Investment Management, join host Bill Kelly on the Educational Alpha podcast for a comprehensive conversation about TIFF’s mission, investment philosophy, and role in today’s evolving market landscape.

The conversation explores:
• TIFF’s origin story and 30+ year mission of delivering institutional-quality investment management to endowments and foundations.
• How TIFF continues to evolve—expanding from small institutions to larger, more complex organizations requiring customized portfolios.
• The firm’s access to what it believes to be top-tier private equity and hedge fund managers, driven by its longstanding industry relationships.
• TIFF’s investment philosophy and macro views, including strategic asset allocation, short-duration positioning, and perspectives on the U.S. dollar and long-term debt.
• The implications of the newly expanded endowment tax tiers, and how institutions may adapt portfolio strategies in response.
• Why liquidity is top of mind for nonprofit investors, and how private market exposure, secondary sales, and tax strategies are being re-evaluated.
• Why TIFF believes private equity remains compelling—even as many institutions pull back—and how current market sentiment may present attractive entry points.
• How TIFF approaches hedge funds as diversifying strategies requiring disciplined manager selection, risk management, and thoughtful portfolio construction.

Listen on Spotify→
Listen on Apple→

Disclaimer: Kane Brenan is the CEO, and Anne Duggan is the Managing Director, Client CIO Group at TIFF Investment Management. All views expressed by them on this podcast are solely their opinions and do not reflect the opinions of TIFF. You should not treat any opinions expressed by Kane or Anne as a specific endorsement to make a particular investment. References to any securities are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. Any past performance discussed is not indicative of future results. Please keep in mind that investment in a fund entails a high degree of risk, including the risk of loss. Please note that the ads featured in this podcast are not endorsed by TIFF, and TIFF is not a sponsor of these ads.

Educational Alpha is a podcast hosted by Bill Kelly, Founder and Managing Member of Educational Alpha, LLC. The show features candid conversations with senior leaders on capital allocation, investment innovation, and long-term thinking in finance.

The materials are being provided for informational purposes only and constitute neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy securities. These materials also do not constitute an offer or advertisement of TIFF’s investment advisory services or investment, legal or tax advice. Opinions expressed herein are those of TIFF and are not a recommendation to buy or sell any securities.

These materials may contain forward-looking statements relating to future events. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” or “continue,” the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology. Although TIFF believes the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, future results cannot be guaranteed.

Capital Allocators’ Investment Management Operations Podcast – A COO’s View on Building TIFF 2.0

David Brenner, COO at TIFF Investment Management, is featured on Capital Allocators’ Investment Management Operations podcast with host, Scott MacDonald.

The conversation explores:

  • David’s career journey from consulting to asset management to ultimately becoming COO at TIFF.
  • The transformation of TIFF from a product-centric to a solution-oriented investment firm (TIFF 1.0 to 2.0), while staying true to its mission-driven identity.
  • TIFF’s evolving board governance model, with the board serving as an active strategic partner in the firm’s transformation.
  • The importance of building strong, and scalable, operational foundations, especially in smaller organizations.
  • How data is elevated as a strategic pillar alongside people, process, and technology.
  • The role and integration of AI and automation in improving efficiency and decision-making.
  • How technology is reshaping how TIFF processes, accesses, and interacts with investment manager information.
  • How TIFF is responding to industry trends and client expectations.

Listen on Spotify →

Listen on Apple → 

Investment Management Operations of Capital Allocators is a podcast hosted by Scott MacDonald that dives into the operational side of the investment industry. Each episode features conversations with senior professionals across operations, compliance, legal, finance, and other non-investment roles—offering insight into how leading investment institutions are run behind the scenes. Website →

Past performance is no guarantee of future results and the opinions presented cannot be viewed as an indicator of future performance. There is no guarantee that any particular asset allocation or mix of strategies will meet your investment objectives.

The materials are being provided for informational purposes only and constitute neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy securities. These materials also do not constitute investment, legal or tax advice. Opinions expressed herein are those of TIFF and are not a recommendation to buy or sell any securities.

These materials may contain forward-looking statements relating to future events. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” or “continue,” the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology. Although TIFF believes the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, future results cannot be guaranteed.

How I Invest Podcast – Strategies Institutions Need

Brendon Parry, Head of Private Markets, Deputy CIO, and Managing Director at TIFF Investment Management is featured on How I Invest with David Weisburd.

The conversation explores:

  • TIFF’s Mission: How TIFF Investment Management supports nonprofits with specialized investment solutions.
  • Private Markets Expertise: Insights into early-stage venture capital, lower middle market buyout, and growth equity investments.
  • Partnership Approach: How TIFF collaborates with nonprofits of various sizes to customize portfolios and deliver long-term returns.
  • Legacy of Leadership: The influence of David Swensen, former Yale CIO, on TIFF’s investment philosophy.
  • Hidden Gem of Lower Middle Market PE: Learn how we believe the lower middle market’s less competitive landscape, coupled with operational improvement potential, makes it an attractive space especially when investing alongside independent sponsors.
  • Career Insights: Lessons from Brendon’s journey in private equity and investment management.

Listen on Apple -> https://apple.co/4hxDARA

Watch on YouTube -> https://youtube.com/watch?v=eVMgmzF0n9g

Disclaimer: Brendon Parry, CFA, is the Head of Private Markets, Deputy CIO at TIFF Investment Management. All views expressed by him on this podcast are solely his opinions and do not reflect the opinions of TIFF. You should not treat any opinions expressed by Brendon as a specific endorsement to make a particular investment. References to any securities are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. Any past performance discussed is not indicative of future results. Please keep in mind that investment in a fund entails a high degree of risk, including the risk of loss. Please note that the ads featured in this podcast are not endorsed by TIFF, and TIFF is not a sponsor of these ads.

How I Invest is hosted by David Weisburd, a Venture Capitalist who has raised over $2B+ in institutional capital and is passionate about connecting Limited Partners (Endowments, Pension Funds, and Family Offices) with General Partners. The podcast, by their definition, interviews the world’s leading institutional investors.

Past performance is no guarantee of future results and the opinions presented cannot be viewed as an indicator of future performance. There is no guarantee that any particular asset allocation or mix of strategies will meet your investment objectives.

The materials are being provided for informational purposes only and constitute neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy securities. These materials also do not constitute investment, legal or tax advice. Opinions expressed herein are those of TIFF and are not a recommendation to buy or sell any securities.

These materials may contain forward-looking statements relating to future events. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” or “continue,” the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology. Although TIFF believes the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, future results cannot be guaranteed.