News Summary

Bradley Tusk, co-founder and managing partner at Tusk Venture Partners, has announced a significant shift in his investment approach. Tusk is moving away from the traditional venture capital (VC) model, having decided not to raise a fourth fund. Instead, he is adopting an ‘equity-for-services’ model, where he receives equity in startups in exchange for his expertise in navigating regulatory environments, legislative communications, and government procurement. This shift is rooted in Tusk’s past experiences, including his work with Uber, where he was compensated with equity for helping the company legalize ride-sharing across the U.S. Tusk’s decision comes in response to the challenges faced by the VC industry, including higher interest rates, decreased startup valuations, and limited IPO and M&A activity. Tusk believes this model allows him to focus on the work he loves while potentially making more money than through traditional VC methods. Tusk Venture Partners will continue to support its existing portfolio companies until the fund’s life cycle ends in 2031.