The New Guard of Fundraising

Who We Are

New Guard Partners is a boutique private markets placement and advisory firm dedicated to serving two key groups:

  1. Sector specialists raising first, second, or third fund vehicles.
  2. Institutional allocators, the essential backbone of the industry.

 

Founded by Matt Zuckerman, who brings more than 13 years of private markets and fundraising expertise, and Vanya Kovacheva, CFA, CAIA, who has over 15 years of experience investing in private markets, including a decade at a major U.S. public pension fund, New Guard Partners is built upon the shared vision and combined experience of its founders.

The firm has created a unique sourcing and deal evaluation structure through its independent investment committee to serve the needs of LPs and, by extension, the GPs that we work with.

We know from experience that it is going to take more work and more focus to compete in the new environment.

⁠New Guard’s Approach

Our process is designed to leverage an independent IC of LPs to stress test all opportunities we consider

We will always maintain a client roster of no greater than 5

We aren't afraid to constrain our mandate to exclusively serving emerging managers

We build custom strategies through a labor-intensive process for each of our clients

We consider the motivations and incentives of all stakeholders in everything we do

We bring both urgency and tranquility to what is by definition a chaotic process

We always listen intently

We realize how lucky we are to work in this industry, and always operate with gratitude

Who We serve

Private Equity Funds i-iii

spinouts / Potential Spinouts

Independent Sponsors

Our Team

Matt Zuckerman

Managing Partner

Former Firm

Rede Partners 

Goldman Sachs

Education

Georgetown University

University of Oxford

Vanya Kovacheva, CFA

Partner, Head of manager due diligence

Former Firm

Missouri State Employees’ Retirement System (Senior Investment Officer – Private Equity)

Education

Otto von Guericke University

Rochester Institute of Technology

Christian Mortensen

Vice President

Former Firm

Sweetwater Private Equity

Goldman Sachs

Education

Georgetown University

University of Manchester

Ethan Stuart

analyst

Former Firm

Signature Estate & Investment Advisors

Goldman Sachs

Education

Georgetown University

University of Manchester

Investment Committee

Vanya Kovacheva, CFA

Chair of Investment Committee 

Former Firm

Missouri State Employees’ Retirement System (Senior Investment Officer – 
Private Equity)
Education

Otto von Guericke University – Magdeburg


Rochester Institute of Technology

Sean McKeon

Investment Committee Member

Current Firm

Moontower Group

Former Firm

Cambridge Associates

Cloverlay

Education

Boston College


University of Oxford

Lela Prodani, CFA

Investment Committee Member

Current Firm

Credit Suisse Pension Fund

Former Firm

Granger Management Holdings

Mercer

Education

Webster University


Ron Heinz

Investment Committee Member

Current Firm

Stafford Capital Partners

Former Firm

Sweetwater Private Equity

fill

Education

Villanova University