How do you measure and communicate your return on investment to your limited partners?

1 ROI vs. IRR

One of the most common metrics that you and your LPs will use to evaluate your performance is the return on investment (ROI), which is the ratio of the net profit to the initial investment. However, ROI does not take into account the time value of money, which means that it does not reflect the timing and frequency of cash flows between you and your LPs. That is why you also need to use the internal rate of return (IRR), which is the annualized rate of return that equates the present value of the cash inflows and outflows. IRR is a more accurate measure of your profitability and efficiency, as it reflects how well you are allocating and deploying capital over time.

2 Multiple vs. MOIC

Another way to express your ROI is by using the multiple, which is the ratio of the total value of the investment to the initial investment. The multiple can be calculated based on different valuation methods, such as the market value, the book value, or the exit value. The multiple can also be adjusted for cash distributions, such as dividends or interest payments, to obtain the net multiple. A related metric is the multiple of invested capital (MOIC), which is the ratio of the total value of the investment to the total amount of capital invested, including follow-on investments. MOIC is useful to compare your performance across different investments, as it accounts for the different amounts and timings of capital injections.

3 TVPI vs. DPI

While the multiple and the MOIC are useful to measure your overall ROI, they do not tell you how much cash you have actually returned to your LPs. To measure your realized returns, you need to use the total value to paid-in capital (TVPI), which is the ratio of the sum of the distributions and the residual value to the paid-in capital. The TVPI shows you how much value you have created for your LPs per dollar invested. The distributions to paid-in capital (DPI), which is the ratio of the distributions to the paid-in capital, shows you how much cash you have returned to your LPs per dollar invested. The DPI is a measure of your liquidity and exit performance, as it reflects how well you have converted your investments into cash.

4 Benchmarking and Reporting

To communicate your ROI to your LPs effectively, you need to not only use the right metrics, but also compare them with relevant benchmarks and report them in a transparent and timely manner. You can use different types of benchmarks, such as industry averages, peer groups, or public market equivalents, to show how you are performing relative to the market and your competitors. You can also use different types of reports, such as quarterly updates, annual reports, or fund audits, to provide your LPs with detailed and accurate information about your portfolio, your strategy, and your results. By benchmarking and reporting your ROI regularly and consistently, you can build trust and confidence with your LPs and demonstrate your value proposition as a venture capitalist.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?