Fund finance has become one of the fastest evolving and most operationally demanding areas of private capital. As facilities grow in scale and complexity and as liquidity, regulation and lender dynamics continue to shift, managers are increasingly looking for smarter, more reliable ways to manage the operational burden.

In this episode of The Validus View, CEO Kevin Lester speaks with Laila Ismail, Fund Finance Advisory Associate and Conor Murray Product Lead, Fund Finance Ops about how fund finance has transformed in recent years, why operational challenges have intensified and how technology and expertise together are reshaping the way managers run their facilities.

The conversation traces the rise of fund finance from a “nice-to-have” to a critical tool for liquidity and portfolio flexibility, and explores how new entrants, tighter pricing and more bespoke structures are redefining the market. Kevin, Laila and Conor then share the story behind Fund Finance Ops, a purpose-built operating model developed in collaboration with clients to streamline processes, reduce manual risk and offer real-time visibility across facilities.

Looking forward, the team discusses how data, integration and AI will influence the next era of fund finance operations and why scalable, technology-enabled infrastructure is becoming essential for managers navigating an increasingly complex private markets landscape.

Key Highlights

• How fund finance has evolved from a convenience to a strategic necessity for private capital managers
• Why liquidity uncertainty, lender behaviour, and market structure have accelerated the need for more efficient operational processes
• The story behind Fund Finance Ops: how client demand, advisory insight, and technology development converged
• Real-world operational challenges: reliance on spreadsheets, reconciliation gaps, and growing facility volumes
• How real-time data and shared visibility help sponsors strengthen lender relationships and negotiate better outcomes
• The role of technology and AI in improving accuracy, documentation review, and scalability
• What the next chapter of fund finance will require as facilities expand, structures become more bespoke, and regulatory scrutiny increases