Networking and investor events
How Top Investors Source Exclusive Deals
How Top Investors Source Exclusive Deals
Fund managers, sponsors and founders who want to find better deals or attract investors through relationships and reputation.
In their words
"It's not that hard to find deals. They're everywhere. It is extremely difficult to find good deals."
"If people want to work with you, they're willing to make concessions because they want to grow the pie."
"You really only need to do one good deal. You really only need one person to believe in you."
What you will hear
Deals come from relationships, and finding good ones is the hard part. That is where this Family Office Club panel starts. One panelist describes two kinds of deals. Some are simple growth capital needs, like a residential property already at 89% occupancy. Others are extraordinary, such as a fire-damaged hotel in Buffalo, New York with more than 6,000 rooms. That hotel deal came from a person met at a conference.
The other panelists focus on positioning. One guest says to be visible, be engaging and answer some inbound pitches, since a few are worth a look. Another says to be honest about your skill, build domain dominance and ask people for their best deal. That guest cites 300 early stage investments and admits the first 50 went badly. The closing comments say AI can build target lists, but relationships matter most.
Facts and figures
- One panelist described a residential property already at 89% occupancy as a straightforward growth capital deal with modest returns.
- The Buffalo, New York hotel in the story has more than 6,000 rooms and was damaged by a serious fire.
- One guest has made 300 early stage venture investments and says the first 50 went poorly.
Sources
From Richard C. Wilson's Centimillionaire Strategies YouTube channel: How Top Investors Source Exclusive Deals. 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.
The 5 big lessons
- Good deals are rare, not hard to find. The panel says deals are everywhere, but good ones are extremely difficult to find. One panelist cites a comment that only 0.1% of entrepreneurs are really worth investing in.
- Relationships produce the best deals. The Buffalo hotel opportunity came from someone met at a conference. The panelist also backs sponsors with proven success who are open about past mistakes.
- Be visible and respond to pitches. One guest advises replying to some of the pitches that arrive by LinkedIn or email, because there may be a diamond in there. Offering advice and free introductions can bring founders back later with more traction.
- Build domain dominance and be honest. A guest says most people overstate how good they are. Honest self-assessment, plus deep experience in one space, makes people come to you. That guest has made 300 early stage investments and learned from the first 50.
- Ask others for their best deal. When meeting people, ask about their best deal instead of spending all the time on what you are selling. Then surround yourself with people in that area.
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
Where do the best deals come from, according to the panel?
The panel says deals come from relationships fundamentally. One example is a hotel opportunity that came from someone met at a conference.
Should investors reply to unsolicited pitches?
One guest says to respond to some of them, even if not all. Some pitches are diamonds in the rough, and advice or introductions can bring those founders back later.
What role does AI play in sourcing deals?
A closing comment says AI may be good for generating the list of who to talk to. In the end, the speaker says relationships matter most.
Put this into practice with the family office fit check. See all networking and investor events resources.
