N&Q: Family office backs venture fund; family biz Vaude wins award; family office appointment

Venture legend launches new fund linked to family office

Dick Kramlich, one of America’s most successful venture fund managers who co-founded New Enterprise Associates almost 40 years ago, is launching a new fund connected to his family office, Green Bay Advisors. A CNBC report said the new fund, Green Bay Ventures, plans to raise $130 million and invest in “startups developing technology and products in manufacturing, energy, transportation, logistics, real estate and communications”. Green Bay Ventures is being launched with Anthony Schiller, who helped Kramlich launch his family office in 2011. Casey Tatham, who runs finance for the family office, is also involved in the new initiative, according to the report. New Enterprise Associates backed many successful startups, including Groupon, 3com and Buzzfeed.

Pritzker Group appoints senior investment partner

Ray Roberts joined the Pritzker Group, the investment office of Tony and J.B. Pritzker, at the beginning of 2017 as an investment partner in its private capital division. Roberts joined from Madison Dearborn Partners, where he oversaw more than $8 billion in US and international transactions. He holds an MBA from Harvard. See Ten of the Most Powerful People in Family Offices…

Family business Vaude wins award for its family friendliness

Vaude, the mountain sports supplier, has won the AT Kearney Family Award in Germany. The award was given to the second generation family business and was based on the results of an employee survey on family friendliness conducted by AT Kearney in Germany.