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LinkedIn Guide for Fund Managers

How to Use LinkedIn to Build Trust and Close Your Fund


How to Use LinkedIn to Build Credibility and Attract LPs

Why LinkedIn Matters for Fund Managers

Most LPs will check your LinkedIn before they take a call with you.
If your profile is weak, they'll pass.
If you're invisible online, they'll forget you exist.
If you're not building credibility, you're losing opportunities.
Here's the good news: LinkedIn is free, and the playbook works.
Recent results from managers who followed this guide:
→ Genevieve LeMarchal’s story post received 41,000+ impressions 
→ Joyce-Ann Wainaina’s story post received 23,000+ impressions 
→ Prateek Sharma’s story post received 16,000+ impressions 
What did they do?
  • Had optimized profiles
  • Commented from their personal accounts (not company pages)
  • Reshared and amplified posts about them
  • Posted their own content consistently
This guide will take you 10 minutes to read. If you execute on it, you'll see results.

A Note on 506(c) vs. 506(b) Funds

This guide is written for all fund managers, but there's an important distinction to understand:

If You're a 506(b) Fund Manager:

You cannot publicly solicit investors or advertise your fund. This means:
❌ Don't post "I'm raising a fund, invest with me"
❌ Don't include fund terms or minimum check sizes in public posts
❌ Don't publicly discuss your fundraise or ask for LP commitments
❌ Don't put LP-focused CTAs in your posts or profile
What you CAN do:
✅ Build your personal brand and credibility
✅ Share industry insights and thought leadership
✅ Discuss your background and expertise
✅ Network and build relationships (just don't solicit)
✅ Optimize your profile to look professional and credible
The goal for 506(b) managers is to build credibility and relationships so that when you have private conversations with potential LPs, they already trust you.

If You're a 506(c) Fund Manager:

You can publicly talk about your fund, your thesis, and that you're raising capital. This means:
✅ You can mention your fund and thesis in your profile
✅ You can post about your investment focus
✅ You can include CTAs like "Interested in [sector] exposure? Let's talk"
✅ You can publicly discuss your fundraise
Throughout this guide, you'll see [506(c) Only] markers for tactics that only 506(c) managers can use publicly.
Not sure which you are? Ask your fund administrator or legal counsel.

PART 1: Profile That Builds Credibility

Your LinkedIn profile isn't a resume. It's your professional landing page.
Before any LP takes a call with you, they'll check your LinkedIn. In 30 seconds, they'll decide if you're credible or not.
Here's how to pass that test.

What LPs Look For 

When an LP checks your profile, they're asking:
  1. "Is this person legit?" → Headline, experience, credibility signals
  2. "Do they have an edge?" → Domain expertise, differentiation
  3. "Do they know what they're doing?" → Professional presentation, activity
  4. "Are other people working with them?" → Social proof, recommendations
Your profile needs to answer these questions quickly.

Step 1: Headline That Signals Credibility

Your headline appears everywhere—search results, comments, DMs, connection requests. It's your first impression.
Bad headlines:
Founder | Investor | Advisor | Entrepreneur
Passionate about startups and innovation
These say nothing. LPs scroll past.
Good headlines:
[Role] at [Fund Name] | [Your Domain Expertise] | [Credibility Signal]
Examples:
  • "Managing Partner at Timber Ventures | 12 Years in Energy & Climate | Former McKinsey"
  • "GP at Nexus Capital | B2B SaaS Operator Turned Investor | 3 Exits"
  • "Founder at Meridian Fund | Southeast Asia Markets Expert | Ex-Grab, Ex-Stripe"
The formula:
[Role] at [Fund] | [Domain Expertise] | [Why You're Credible]
Note: Focus on your credibility and expertise, not on soliciting investors.
Estimated Time: 2 minutes

Step 2: About Section That Establishes Authority

Your About section should establish you as a credible expert in your domain.
Structure:
  1. Your area of focus and expertise (1 sentence)
  2. Why you have an edge in this area (2-3 sentences about your background)
  3. Your professional accomplishments (deals, companies, experience)
  4. How to reach you
Example:
I focus on early-stage companies in industrial decarbonization and climate tech.

WHY THIS SPACE:
I spent 12 years in McKinsey's energy practice advising Fortune 500 manufacturers on sustainability strategy. I've seen firsthand where corporate climate budgets are going—and which solutions actually get adopted.

BACKGROUND:
→ Led sustainability strategy for 20+ Fortune 500 manufacturers
→ Former board advisor to 3 climate tech startups
→ Published research on industrial decarbonization trends

Open to connecting with founders building in climate tech and operators in the energy transition space.

DM me or email: maria@timberventures.com
[506(c) Only] Addition:
If you're a 506(c) manager, you can add:
LOOKING FOR:
Investors: Interested in climate tech exposure? Let's talk → [link to book call]
506(b) managers should not include investor solicitation in their profile.
Estimated Time: 10 minutes

Step 3: Experience Section That Shows Track Record

Your fund should appear in your Experience section—and your previous experience should be reframed to show why you're qualified.
Fund Entry Example:
Timber Ventures | Managing Partner
2024 - Present

Early-stage investment firm focused on industrial decarbonization and climate tech. Leveraging 12+ years of experience advising Fortune 500 manufacturers on sustainability strategy.
Note: Keep the description focused on your expertise and focus area, not on fundraising or soliciting LPs.
Previous Experience (Reframe It):
Don't just list your old jobs. Show why they make you qualified in your space.
Before:
McKinsey & Company | Senior Associate
2015-2022
Advised Fortune 500 clients on strategy
After:
McKinsey & Company | Senior Associate, Energy Practice
2015-2022

Advised 20+ Fortune 500 manufacturers on sustainability strategy. Saw firsthand where corporate climate budgets are going—and which solutions get adopted.

This experience shaped my focus on industrial decarbonization.
Estimated Time: 10 minutes

Step 4: Make Sure You're Taggable (Critical)

If people can't tag you, they can't amplify your content. This kills your reach.
How to check:
  1. Click your profile icon → Settings & Privacy → Visibility
  2. Under "Visibility of your LinkedIn activity" → Mentions by others
  3. Make sure "Allow mentions" is ON
Test it: Ask a friend to tag you in a post. If it doesn't work, fix your settings.
Important: If LinkedIn says your profile is incomplete, it's incomplete. Don't argue with the tool. Fill in the gaps.
Estimated Time: 3 minutes

PART 2: Content That Builds Credibility

Posting on LinkedIn isn't about going viral. It's about building credibility and staying visible to your network over time.
Important for 506(b) managers: Your content should focus on thought leadership and expertise, not on soliciting investors or promoting your fundraise.
Here are content types that build credibility without crossing into solicitation.

Content Type: Industry Insight Posts

Share what you're seeing in your market. This establishes expertise without soliciting.
Template:
Talked to [X] founders this month in [sector].

Here's what I'm seeing:

[Trend 1]
[Trend 2]
[Trend 3]

The best companies right now are [pattern].

The ones that concern me are [red flag].

What trends are you seeing? Would love to hear other perspectives.
Why it works: You're demonstrating market knowledge and judgment without soliciting investors.

Content Type: Founder/Company Spotlight Posts

When companies in your space do well, share it. This shows you're engaged in your ecosystem.
Template:
Congrats to [Founder] and the team at [Company] on [achievement].

When I first met them, [what impressed you about the team/approach].

This is a great example of [trend or thesis you believe in].

Excited to see what they do next.
Why it works: You're building relationships and demonstrating you're active in your space.

Content Type: Background/Credibility Posts

Remind people why you're qualified to operate in your space.
Template:
I spent [X years] doing [relevant experience].

Here's what that taught me about [sector]:

[Insight 1]
[Insight 2]
[Insight 3]

This experience shaped how I think about [your area of focus].

What experiences shaped your perspective on [sector]?
Why it works: You're establishing authority without soliciting.

Posting Frequency

Minimum: 2 posts per week (Monday - Friday)
Ideal: 3-4 posts per week (Monday - Friday)
Timing: 6am-9am your time zone

PART 3: Engagement That Builds Relationships

Posting builds visibility. Engagement builds relationships.

The Amplification Playbook

When Decile Group (or anyone) posts about you or your fund, here's exactly what to do:
Step 1: Like the post (1 second)
Step 2: Comment from your PERSONAL profile
"Thanks for the feature! Happy to answer any questions in the comments."
⚠️ CRITICAL: Comment from your PERSONAL profile, not your fund's company page. Company page comments get significantly less reach and can actually hurt the post's performance.
Step 3: Reshare to your feed
Click Repost → Repost with your thoughts → Add 1-2 sentences about your background or perspective
Step 4: Tag relevant people
Tag your co-GP, colleagues, or people who should see the post

Daily Engagement Routine (5 Minutes)

  • Comment on 3-5 posts from people in your industry
  • Reply to every comment on your own posts
  • Like posts from founders and professionals in your space
Why comments matter: Your headline appears next to every comment. Every comment is visibility for your profile.

PART 4: What NOT to Do

❌ Don't put links in post body. Put links in comments. LinkedIn buries posts with links.
❌ Don't comment from your company page. Personal profiles get more reach.
❌ Don't post and ghost. Reply to every comment.
❌ Don't argue with your profile completion tool. If it says incomplete, fix it.
❌ Don't ignore feature posts about you. When someone posts about you, ENGAGE. Like, comment, reshare.
For 506(b) managers specifically:
❌ Don't publicly solicit investors. No "invest in my fund" posts.
❌ Don't post fund terms or minimums publicly.
❌ Don't put LP-focused CTAs in your profile or posts.
When in doubt, focus on building credibility and relationships, not solicitation.

The Bottom Line

LinkedIn works. But only if you work it.
The managers who follow this playbook:
  • Build credibility in their space
  • Stay visible to potential LPs and partners
  • Create relationships that convert to opportunities
You don't need to go viral. You need to be credible, consistent, and professional.
Start today.

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