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Goldman Sachs to buy US venture firm for $965m

Goldman Sachs has agreed to acquire Industry Ventures, a San Francisco-based investment firm managing US$7 billion in assets, for up to US$965 million.

The deal includes US$665 million in cash and equity, plus up to US$300 million based on performance through 2030. All 45 employees are expected to join Goldman, with the acquisition set to close in Q1 2026.

The move aims to strengthen Goldman’s US$540 billion alternatives investment platform.

Founded 25 years ago, Industry Ventures focuses on secondary markets and venture capital investments, with over 1,000 deals and stakes in more than 700 venture firms.

Goldman said the acquisition will expand opportunities for clients in the alternatives space as venture funds seek non-traditional exits amid a slowdown in IPOs and M&A.

🔗 Source: TechCrunch

🧠 Food for thought

Implications, context, and why it matters.

Continuation funds surge amid structural hurdles for venture firms

  • Continuation fund (a follow-on vehicle moving one or more portfolio companies into a new fund to extend ownership while offering liquidity to current investors) volume in venture and growth grew from $2.5 billion in 2023 to over $9 billion in 2024, with $15-20 billion expected in 2025 amid longer waits before IPOs or M&A plus fund lives now 14-20 years vs. the usual 10+2 1.
  • Smaller venture managers struggle, since few secondary buyers and advisers focus on venture 2. Advisers lack venture know-how, since Private Equity (PE) playbooks do not fit 2.
  • Picking targets is tricky, since companies need cash to reach profitability 2. Return hurdles exceed buyouts, which can force discounts that Limited Partners (LPs) dislike and trigger fears of a down round (a financing at a lower valuation than the prior round) 2.

Software providers can streamline multi-asset continuation workflows

  • Multi-asset continuation vehicles are more common in venture than single-asset deals given early-stage bets 1. Examples include General Catalyst; Insight Partners; Lightspeed Venture Partners; New Enterprise Associates; Trinity Ventures 1.
  • These deals need LP advisory committee (LPAC) approval for asset transfers and add accounting needs for in-kind transfers (distributing shares instead of cash), noncash distributions, and rollover investor recognition 13. Software for cap table management (ownership tracking), fund administration, or valuation tools can make those steps easier 3.
  • Raising a continuation vehicle often takes about nine months with bankers, fairness opinions, and legal plus compliance work 1.

Recent Goldman Sachs developments

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