[Virtual] Founder Spotlight: Inside the VC & LP Relationship, and How It Can Impact You as a Founder with Wendy Li from Ivy Invest (Fall 25)

​As a founder, you respond to economic incentives, and it's no different for VCs. 

​VCs, like founders, need to raise capital to build their products - the investment funds that deploy dollars into startups like yours. The ultimate source of that capital often comes from institutional LPs like endowments, foundations, and pension funds. This relationship shapes everything from hold periods to exit timing to follow-on investment capacity. Understanding how LP pressures influence VC decision-making can help founders navigate fundraising, growth expectations, and liquidity events more strategically. Join us as we decode the VC-LP dynamic and what it means for you as a founder.    

​Speaker Bio:

​Wendy Li is the co-founder and Chief Investment Officer at Ivy Invest, a fintech investment platform bringing an endowment-style portfolio to everyday investors. Before Ivy Invest, Wendy was Managing Director of Investments at the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation, where she built the Investment Office from the ground up and managed a $4 billion portfolio, specializing in a diverse range of asset classes. Prior to Mother Cabrini Health Foundation, Wendy was Director of Investments at UJA-Federation, where she oversaw a $1 billion endowment and a $400 million pension plan. Wendy began her career in the Investment Office at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Columbia University and is a CFA charterholder.

​About Founder Spotlight:
This session is part of our Founder Spotlight series. It's a space for founders to showcase something cool they’re working on. Whether it’s a product demo, a behind-the-scenes look at their journey, or lessons learned, these sessions are meant to be informal, insightful, and founder-led. Join us to learn, ask questions, and support your fellow founders.