IVCA Education Session Preview: Moderator Jim Dugan on ‘Fundraising Market Conditions & Best Practices’ Firm
Another valuable IVCA Education Session is coming up on May 28th, 2026. The topic will be “Fundraising Market Conditions & Best Practices,” moderated by Jim Dugan of OCA Ventures, with the panel being Chris Maduri of Eaton Partners, Rishi Chhabria of The Vistria Group and Jim TenBroek of Growth Catalyst Partners.
Jim Dugan is the Founding Managing Partner of OCA Ventures, focusing on investments in Fintech, InsurTech, EduTech, marketplaces and data analytics across many verticals. Mr. Dugan currently serves the boards of various portfolio companies, including Ocient, Alembic, MPP, The MOM Project, Prisidio, ArcherEDU, SpotHero, SnapSheet, Impossible Objects, Roq.ad, and Falcon Insurance Group. Mr. Dugan has over 30 years of corporate finance, capital markets, and Venture Capital investment experience.
In addition, Jim Dugan serves on various non-profit Boards such as USOPF, NU Wave, 1871, Illinois Institute of Technology, and HCHS HardShip Endowment Fund, among others. Mr. Dugan is a longtime member of the IVCA through OCA Ventures, and was the 2013 recipient of the IVCA Fellows Award, as well as the 2024 recipient of The Stanley C. Golder Award.
As a preview to the IVCA Education Session “Fundraising Market Conditions & Best Practices,” the IVCA interviewed moderator Jim Dugan.
IVCA: You are sitting on a panel with a lot of experience and expertise. What points of view can audience participants expect from this panel?
Jim Dugan: The theme of the panel, ‘Fundraising Alts’ during highly volatile markets, feels very appropriate and timely given the current market conditions. Some characteristics to consider …
All time high market indices, yet bimodal distribution of Magnificent Seven, everything AI and Defense Tech versus rest of market following three years of low DPI from Venture Capital and Private Equity.
Yet the large unfunded capital commitments to those funds are such that LPs may be lean on resources to feel comfortable making larger new fund commitments, especially with non-bank debt funds / private credit markets under assault for underlying credit worthiness, in addition to ongoing war and geopolitical threats.
All together, it’s a precarious time which presents both risk and opportunity, thus we feel an ideal topic for IVCA members.
IVCA: What is generally happening in the world economies and within the environments of the firms themselves, in your perspective, that has generated more cautious investing from LPs and GPs?
Dugan: Note what I mentioned above, and in addition that fund managers also are grappling with the natural growth and succession of firms which tend to happen more or less at the end of each major economic cycle … so GPs who embrace next generation professionals and invest in their tutelage should be positioned well for next cycle.
IVCA: As the whole of the economic engine is facing the implications of Artificial Intelligence, how theoretically could that affect general fundraising?
Dugan: AI is impacting every major facet and functional area of investing, including identifying new qualified investors who may not have surfaced through prior traditional relationship building.
Examples of the functional impact of AI includes processing information flow, adhering to compliance and managing LPA docs, in addition of course to the AI investing strategies themselves. We are excited to discuss during the panel the examples of AI implementation related to fundraising and deal sourcing.
IVCA: Finally, in your long association with the Illinois Venture Capital Association, how have these Education events generated both camaraderie and new thought?
Dugan: Among the many tremendous benefits to IVCA membership are these panels, and the opportunity to share with your community, brainstorm, and contemplate your own strategy and tactics.
On some days we collaborate and on other days we compete, yet we all swim in the same ocean of opportunity. The occasion to network is an important component for our alts investment industry’s continued growth and evolution.
The IVCA Education Session “Fundraising Market Conditions & Best Practices” will take place on May 28th starting at 1pm at The Conference Center at UBS Tower, One North Wacker Drive in Chicago. For details and to register, click here.