Single Family Office Strategy: VC, Co-Investments & Global Diversification | Russell Deakin

In this VNTR Podcast episode, we sit down with Russell Deakin, Chief Investment Officer and Managing Partner at Aceana Group.

With over 25 years of global experience in alternative assets — from private equity and venture capital to real estate, infrastructure, and renewable energy — Russell shares his journey of building a family office and investing worldwide.

We talk about:

• The origins of Aceana Group and the transition from angel investing to a structured family office.
• Venture capital strategies: seed, Series A, and co-investments with top managers.
• How to evaluate GPs, emerging managers, and the importance of trust and character.
• Insights into investing across the US, Europe, India, Latin America, and Singapore.
• Why co-investments and diversification are key for family offices.
• Work–life balance while constantly traveling the globe.

If you’re interested in family offices, venture capital, or international investing strategies — this episode is packed with practical insights.

VNTR is building the world’s largest investor community by sharing lessons, hosting events, and offering opportunities. Active VC investors can join by claiming a free investor account at https://app.vntr.vc/

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

00:15 Welcome Russell Deakin

00:57 How a Family Office Evolved Across Generations

02:44 Single vs Multi-Family Office Explained: Structure, Team & Global Reach

04:16 Why a Family Office Beats Going Solo in Investing

07:20 Co-Investing With Fund Managers: A Smarter Family Office Approach

11:15 The Key Traits LPs Look for in Emerging GPs

15:25 Evaluating Early-Stage VC: NAV Growth, IRR and DPI

20:03 Avoiding Direct Risk: How Funds Simplify Co-Investments

22:26 Are VC Management Fees Fair?

24:46 When LPs Should Use Fund of Funds: Diversification & Learning

26:41 Balancing Alpha & Safety: Fund of Funds in a Family Office Portfolio

31:22 The Minimum Portfolio Size for Venture Capital Success

36:26 Best Geographies for VC: US, Europe, India, and Beyond

39:48 Balancing Impact and Returns: Investing in Renewable Energy & Green Tech

43:37 Why Some Family Businesses Stay Local Instead of Going Global

45:24 Best Practices for Managing Family Office Connections Globally

49:10 Work-Life Balance Tips from a Traveling Family Office CIO

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Host:

Yuri G. Rabinovich

https://www.linkedin.com/in/byuric/

Guest:

Russell Deakin

Managing Partner at Aceana Group