Olaf Sakkers Secures $50 Million First Close for RedBlue Capital Fund

Olaf Sakkers has held a first close on a second fund totaling at least $50 million for RedBlue Capital, pressing forward as PitchBook data indicates first-time and emerging managers face the worst fundraising climate in at least a decade through the first three quarters of 2026.

The Bottom Line:

Firms raising their fourth fund or later captured 88.2% of U.S. VC fundraising dollars through the first three quarters of 2026, while first-time funds captured just 4.5%, according to PitchBook data.
Only 81 first-time funds closed in the first nine months of 2026, putting the year on track for the worst for first-time managers in at least a decade.
RedBlue Capital closed its first fund with roughly $5 million in capital commitments in 2023 and has now secured a first close on a second fund targeting at least $50 million.

Entering the venture capital ecosystem has historically proven difficult for first-time fund managers, but current market mechanics have intensified the barrier to entry. PitchBook data reveals that institutional limited partners, such as endowments and pension funds, tend to gravitate toward established brands because their risk model is built to “avoid getting a zero.”

Before launching RedBlue Capital in 2021, Sakkers served as an equal partner in Maniv’s economics, managing the day-to-day investment operations and supporting Israeli entrepreneurs who transitioned their cybersecurity expertise into the automotive sector. His strategy relies on writing smaller checks ranging from $50,000 to $100,000, mostly joining deals led by other investors rather than leading them.

This approach allows the firm to execute a higher volume of transactions and secure a position as “the last investor that they take” by offering tangible value, such as connections to customers and lead investors like Thrive Capital and Andreessen Horowitz.

“It’s a long-term game of building trust, demonstrating performance over time,” Sakkers says.

RedBlue targets what Sakkers calls the “real economy,” encompassing robotics, logistics, manufacturing, and energy. Of 28 investments, he says that 15 have been marked up, citing a net internal rate of return of “significantly above 50%,” though with just one exit—an acqui-hire—most gains from the fund remain on paper and unrealized.

Public records support part of Sakkers’ story. In August, HappyRobot—which received early backing from RedBlue—secured a $150 million Series C round at a valuation of $1.2 billion. Westmag emerged in June with an $11 million seed led by Andreessen Horowitz.

Flai built upon its 2025 seed by securing a $27 million Series A, while Humble Robotics—a $24 million seed round that included participation from RedBlue—recently announced a $51 million Series A led by Obvious Ventures earlier this month.

To maintain operational efficiency with a team consisting of himself and his lone full-time principal, based in New York, Sakkers built a custom database using Claude Code to log relationships, meeting notes, and introductions.

While physical-world companies have long exit timelines, Sakkers says even a $50 million to $100 million fund can sell stakes on the secondary market. Recent vintages show that smaller venture capital vehicles ranging from $1 million to $10 million consistently achieve higher peak net TVPI performance than larger funds of $100 million or more, according to Carta data.

“Life is short, and regrets last forever,” he says.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational and market analysis purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Always consult with a certified financial professional before making investment decisions.

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