Networking and investor events
Capital Raising Tools and Strategies from Founders and Fund Managers
Top Capital Raising Strategies and Tools from Founders, Fund Managers & Family Offices
Founders, sponsors and fund managers who want practical, low-cost ways to find investors and keep their trust.
Said on the call
"I found in-person events are the best way to talk to investors. I think email has, what, a 2 or 3% open rate."
"You do pick a sponsor when times are good, but you really end up learning if your choice was a good one when times aren't so good."
"You meet with investors, you learn what they're interested in, and you figure out the questions that they have."
What this talk covers
A panel of founders and fund managers at a family office event describes what works for raising capital. One speaker says in-person events beat email, which they estimate at a 2 or 3% open rate. Another says honest, conservative estimates earned trust, and the largest investor made an additional $2 million investment after watching results.
Other speakers cover media coverage, with over 400 stories driving investor interest, and webinars that walk investors through underwriting. Gideon says relationships come first and that regular updates matter most when plans change. He also uses ChatGPT to draft marketing material and scripts. One panelist reports about 80% of investors coming back to reinvest over six years.
Facts from this talk
- One company has been covered over 400 times by major media and was named to Time magazine's best inventions list.
- One panelist reports that about 80% of investors have come back to reinvest over the last six years.
- The Family Office Club plans 30 in-person events in 2026 and has hosted 300 live events over 18 years.
Sources
From Richard C. Wilson's Centimillionaire Strategies YouTube channel: Top Capital Raising Strategies and Tools from Founders, Fund Managers & Family Offices. Quotes come from the video captions, lightly edited for readability. Figures are the speakers' own estimates and experience.
General education only. Not legal, tax or investment advice.
Talk to a securities attorney to explore options around investor communication rules, co-sponsor arrangements and marketing and solicitation. Do not use AI to write your own legal agreements.
Five points worth keeping
- Meet investors in person. One speaker finds in-person events the best way to talk to investors. They estimate email has about a 2 or 3% open rate, and say a text asking for money is unwelcome.
- Be honest and conservative. A panelist describes giving conservative estimates and then beating them. The largest investor started small and later made an additional $2 million investment.
- Teach investors how the deal works. An oil and gas sponsor records an evergreen webinar for each co-sponsored deal that walks through underwriting. New contacts get the link, and their information is collected.
- Use the media to reach new people. One company has been covered over 400 times by major media. The speaker says this brought investors who would not be met at conferences or found through tools like Pitchbook or Crunch Base.
- Communicate most when plans slip. Gideon says sponsors are really tested when times are not good. He advises communicating more often, explaining the strategy and the pivot, and says he uses ChatGPT to save time on drafts and scripts.
Related questions
- Which investor conferences are worth attending for fundraising?The conferences worth your time have real investors on stage, a team that has run many events, and plenty of time to meet people in person.
- How do I close a funding round?I close a funding round by focusing on investors who fit the opportunity and moving each interested prospect through clear, consistent follow-up.
- What documents do investors request during due diligence?Prepare a clear, organized package covering your operations, investments, compensation, team, and track record.
Questions about this video
Why do the speakers prefer in-person events to email?
One speaker estimates email has about a 2 or 3% open rate and says texting to raise money turns people off. They say you have to be in front of people and talk to them.
How does an oil and gas sponsor educate investors?
For every deal they co-sponsor, they record a webinar style video that explains the underwriting process. The video is evergreen, so new contacts are sent to it and can watch when they like.
How does Gideon use ChatGPT?
He says it does not write his articles. He tells it what he wants to convey and it gets him started on marketing materials and scripts, such as one for an explainer video.
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