Building a Portfolio Company Support Strategy

As a venture capitalist, your value goes beyond the capital you invest. It also lies in how you show up for founders. But not every founder wants the same thing. Some appreciate hands-on help, while others prefer space. For emerging managers running lean teams, the key is finding a balance that fits both your capacity and your founders’ expectations.

This Sydecar Session will unpack what “value-add” really means today and how to design a scalable support model that aligns with your thesis and resources.

You’ll hear from three panelists who represent the full spectrum of portfolio engagement:

• Mike Preuss, Founder & CEO of Visible VC, has spent over a decade helping thousands of founders and investors build trust through transparent, data-driven updates. He’ll share practical frameworks for measuring and communicating portfolio impact.
  
  

• Andrew Rea, Co-Founder & CEO of Taxwire, brings the founder’s perspective, including what kinds of investor support actually move the needle, and how managers can add value without overstepping. Having scaled and sold multiple startups, Andrew offers a grounded take on what founders really need from their investors.
  
  

• Cvic Innocent, Founder & GP of Frankenbuild Ventures, invests in hardtech and climate-focused startups. With a background spanning NASA, Harvard Medical School, and venture partnerships, she’ll discuss how deep technical expertise and cross-disciplinary networks can become a competitive edge in portfolio support.

Together, they’ll explore how to:

• Define the right scope of support based on fund size, team capacity, and strategy
  
  

• Identify high-leverage areas like customer introductions, hiring pipelines, and capital strategy
  
  

• Measure and demonstrate portfolio impact to founders and LPs

You’ll leave with a sharper framework for delivering portfolio support that is impactful, scalable, and aligned with your fund strategy.