What should VCs actually look for in a fund administration partner?

In this episode of VC10X, we sit down with Shalin Madan, Co-Founder of Formidium - a global fund administration platform supporting venture capital, private equity, hedge funds, and alternative asset managers with over $33B+ in assets under administration.

We go beyond the surface-level checklist and unpack what truly matters when selecting a fund administrator - especially for emerging managers.

⭐ Sponsored by Podcast10x - Podcasting agency for VCs - https://podcast10x.com

Topics covered:

• The most overlooked due diligence question when choosing a fund admin

• Why business model sustainability matters more than branding

• How technology reflects internal discipline (and why “banning Excel” matters)

• The hidden costs of managing operations in-house

• Why durability is becoming more important than performance

• How LP scrutiny is evolving

• Why many funds and companies may not survive the next few years

Infrastructure is no longer back office — it’s strategy.

If you're building a fund designed to last 10+ years, this episode will change how you think about operations, risk, and long-term durability.

Timestamps:

(00:00) - The Hidden Costs of In-House Operations

(00:33) - Introduction to Fund Administration and Guest Shaleen Madan

(01:49) - Sponsor: Podcast 10X for VCs

(02:47) - Critical Due Diligence for Selecting a Fund Administrator

(04:16) - How a Tech Stack Signals Quality and Reduces Risk

(05:23) - Early Trends in Capital Flows and Investor Behavior

(07:39) - The Institutionalization of Family Offices

(09:09) - How Emerging Managers Can Handle Future Regulatory Changes

(11:12) - In-House vs. Outsourcing: A Former Fund Manager's Perspective

(13:54) - The Unique Operational Challenges of Crypto-Native Funds

(16:35) - How Back-Office Needs Differ Across Asset Classes

(20:09) - How to Properly Vet a Service Provider's Expertise

(21:33) - A Contrarian Take on Capital Flows and Market Dynamics

(26:56) - The Impact of AI on Pricing Power and Outsourcing

(29:18) - Key Questions LPs Should Ask About Operational Infrastructure

(31:36) - Lessons Learned from Rapidly Scaling a Business

(33:26) - Where to Find Shaleen Madan and Formidium

Connect with Shalin:

Website - https://formidium.com/

Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/shalin-madan-caia-b00239/

Podcast Links:

Prashant Choubey - https://www.linkedin.com/in/choubeysahab

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#VentureCapital #FundAdministration #EmergingManagers #PrivateEquity #VC10X

VC10X - What VCs Should Look for in a Fund Administrator - Shalin Madan, Co-founder, Formidium

VC10X - Investing, Venture Capital, Asset Management, Private Equity, Family Office