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

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.comTopics 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 yearsInfrastructure 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 FormidiumConnect 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/choubeysahabSubscribe to VC10X newsletter - https://vc10x.beehiiv.comSubscribe on YouTube - https://youtube.com/@VC10X Subscribe on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vc10x-investing-venture-capital-asset-management-private/id1632806986Subscribe on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7F7KEhXNhTx1bKTBFgzv3k?si=WgQ4ozMiQJ-6nowj6wBgqQVC10X website - https://vc10x.comFor sponsorship queries, reach out to [email protected]#VentureCapital #FundAdministration #EmergingManagers #PrivateEquity #VC10X