Dakota Live! Podcast: Unlocking Alpha in Private Markets with Epic Funds

In this episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast, host Robert Morier sits down with Alec Garza, Managing Partner at Epic Funds, to explore how smaller, differentiated private market investments can drive superior risk-adjusted returns.

Epic Funds specializes on identifying and partnering with managers in niche, under-the-radar segments of private markets, collaborating through primary funds and co-investments to unlock distinct sources of returns and risk. Alec shares how his time at IWP Family Office shaped his investment philosophy, leading to the launch of Epic Funds and the development of a scalable due diligence process to underwrite hard-to-access, high-potential opportunities in private markets.

In this episode, we discuss:
✅ The challenges and advantages of small and emerging managers
✅ Where private credit and real assets fit in today’s evolving investment landscape
✅ The long-term approach to manager selection and building trust in due diligence
✅ The rise of continuation vehicles and evergreen funds—are they here to stay?
✅ Lessons from endurance sports that apply to investing

Alec also shares his firm’s competitive edge—leveraging network effects, pattern recognition, and a hands-on investment process to identify managers others may overlook.

Tune in to discover what it takes to succeed in private markets, why niche managers matter, and how patience, persistence, and deep research drive long-term investment success.