Why Family Offices Might Be Your Most Overlooked Investor — And What You Need to Know

I’ve spent the better part of my career advising ultra-high-net-worth families—many of whom run their own family offices—on investments, planning, and how to preserve their wealth across generations. Along the way, I’ve also worked closely with entrepreneurs, especially those in biotech and deep tech, who are building the next wave of innovation.

One thing I’ve noticed: these two worlds don’t talk enough.

Family offices are sitting on billions of dollars. Many of them are looking to back meaningful ideas, patient capital strategies, and long-term visions that align with their values. Meanwhile, founders are out there—hustling, innovating, fundraising—but often defaulting to the same routes: venture capital, angels, accelerators.

And the family office path? It’s either invisible, intimidating, or misunderstood.

That’s why I’m writing this series. I want to bridge that gap—practically, tactically, and honestly.

Why This Matters

If you're a founder, especially in a sector like biotech, climate, or healthtech, raising money is never just about the science. It’s about finding the right kind of capital—capital that understands what you’re doing, aligns with your vision, and won’t demand a 10x exit in 24 months.

That kind of capital often comes from family offices.

The challenge is, they’re not on PitchBook. They don’t do Demo Day. They don’t tweet about their term sheets.

But when they invest, they can become your strongest allies. They move based on trust. They back what resonates with them. And if you connect with the right one, they may fund you again and again, not just once.

I’ve seen it happen. And I want to show you how it works.

What Is a Family Office?

Let’s get practical.

A family office is a private wealth management firm that serves one ultra-wealthy family—or sometimes several (in the case of a multi-family office). They manage the family’s investments, estate planning, philanthropy, and often their direct investments into startups or private funds.

There are two main types:

• Single-Family Office (SFO): Created and controlled by one family, often with a dedicated investment team. Think of it as a private firm managing one billionaire’s money.

• Multi-Family Office (MFO): Offers services to several wealthy families, sometimes through banks or independent firms.

Unlike VCs or institutional funds, family offices:

• Have no LPs. They invest their own money, which means fewer layers and more flexibility.

• Take their time. They can afford to be patient and may hold for the long term.

• Care about values. Many invest to align with family missions: health, climate, education, social impact, and legacy.

Some of them will write a check for $250,000. Others might commit $10 million. But in both cases, it’s usually based on relationships first, numbers second.

Why Most Founders Miss This Path

So why don’t more founders raise from family offices?

1. They treat them like VCs.Founders often send the same deck and “hockey stick” pitch. But family offices aren’t chasing unicorns; they’re looking for clarity, credibility, and connection.

2. They can’t find them.These investors don’t hang out where the tech crowd does. They’re on foundation boards, in wealth conferences, or behind the scenes of charitable causes.

3. They overlook the human side.These are families. Behind the capital is often a founder, a philanthropist, a parent, or someone with a personal story. Understand that, and your story resonates.

What’s Coming Next

This is just the beginning.

In the coming weeks, I’ll be releasing the rest of this series. Each post is designed to be short, honest, and practical—things you can actually use to raise smarter and build deeper investor relationships.

Here’s a preview of what’s ahead:

• The Psychology of a Family Office Investor

• How to Find and Reach Out to Family Offices

• Crafting a Pitch That Resonates Beyond Numbers

• Top Fundraising Mistakes Founders Make (And How to Avoid Them)

• Turning an Investor Into a Long-Term Partner

If you’re raising money—or just thinking about it—stick around.

And if you found this useful, feel free to share it with someone who’s navigating the same journey.