Sakkers established RedBlue Capital in 2021 after departing Maniv Mobility, initially launching a $5 million fund backed predominantly by family offices. The firm focuses on writing $50,000 to $100,000 checks to join existing rounds rather than leading them, helping portfolio companies connect with customers and lead investors. Across 28 investments from the inaugural vehicle, the firm achieved 15 markups and a net internal rate of return well above 50%, despite most gains remaining unrealized.
Key points
First-time venture managers secured only 4.5% of fundraising capital, setting the stage f…: First-time venture managers secured only 4.5% of fundraising capital, setting the stage for the worst debut manager environment in a decade.
RedBlue provides practical assistance and investor introductions while targeting real eco…: RedBlue provides practical assistance and investor introductions while targeting real economy sectors including manufacturing, logistics, and energy.
Early performance across 28 debut-fund investments has driven strong paper returns, thoug…: Early performance across 28 debut-fund investments has driven strong paper returns, though the firm has recorded only one acqui-hire exit.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
Entering into the world of venture capital has never been easy, especially as a first-time fund manager. But it’s especially daunting right now.
According to PitchBook data, firms raising their fourth fund “or later” captured a whopping 88.2% of U.S. VC fundraising dollars through the first three quarters of this year, while first-time funds captured a measly 4.5%. Just 81 first-time funds closed in the first nine months of 2026. That puts the year on track to be the worst for first-time managers in at least a decade, according to PitchBook’s estimate.
Olaf Sakkers has spent the past five years proving that difficult doesn’t mean impossible. He founded his fund RedBlue Capital in 2021 and closed its first fund with roughly $5 million in capital commitments in 2023. He has now held a first close on a second fund that he says will total at least $50 million.
Raised in South Africa, he studied anthropology at Princeton, focusing on global health and health policy, and wrote his thesis on HIV in his home country. He moved to Israel after graduating…
Officials report positive momentum from recent trade enforcement actions designed to resolve cross-border disputes with Washington. By curbing inbound flows of Asian metal, Mexican authorities aim to alleviate long-standing American market pressures and support bilateral negotiations. These targeted measures are strategically timed to advance critical agreements and stabilize regional industrial ties.
Creditors representing most of the airline's debt obligations have entered into a formal pact to coordinate their positions. The joint alignment allows these institutions to negotiate collectively regarding the carrier's capital structure and credit commitments. This shared stance ensures a unified approach among the financial firms holding the company's liabilities.
Confronted with surging interest expenses and expensive bond yields, the cloud provider is revamping how it finances massive computing buildouts. By tapping customer deposits and contract-backed credit, the company aims to sidestep costly public debt while supporting a massive order pipeline. This tactical pivot trades the stability of multi-year commitments for rapid cash flow and superior short-term margins.