Who are the right people to approach as potential LPs?
I'm raising my first fund. Who should I add to my list of potentials?
Great first step. For a first fund, prioritize people who know you and your domain and can move quickly:
- High‑net‑worth individuals: former colleagues, founders you’ve helped, operators in your sector, angels
- Family offices with your thematic/geographic interest
- Experienced angels who may prefer being micro‑LPs in a specialist (see “Micro LP vs Angel”: https://decilegroup.com/articles/micro-lp-vs-angel)
- Emerging‑manager LPs who back niche expertise and access
- Successful founders (especially those you can help with portfolio synergies)
- Your existing co‑investors and LPs from funds you’ve backed as an LP
- Corporates/strategics only if tightly aligned and able to move at seed speeds
Build a targeted list by thesis fit, access, and check size. Warm introductions, clear deadlines, and consistent follow‑up help convert early closes (see “3 P’s of Getting Signed LPAs”: https://decilegroup.com/articles/getting-signed-lpas).
- High‑net‑worth individuals: former colleagues, founders you’ve helped, operators in your sector, angels
- Family offices with your thematic/geographic interest
- Experienced angels who may prefer being micro‑LPs in a specialist (see “Micro LP vs Angel”: https://decilegroup.com/articles/micro-lp-vs-angel)
- Emerging‑manager LPs who back niche expertise and access
- Successful founders (especially those you can help with portfolio synergies)
- Your existing co‑investors and LPs from funds you’ve backed as an LP
- Corporates/strategics only if tightly aligned and able to move at seed speeds
Build a targeted list by thesis fit, access, and check size. Warm introductions, clear deadlines, and consistent follow‑up help convert early closes (see “3 P’s of Getting Signed LPAs”: https://decilegroup.com/articles/getting-signed-lpas).
50 Confidant Leads Fast
Your goal: Generate your first 50 confidant leads in 20 minutes using only your existing network.
- Aim for 50 names quickly.
- Speed > perfection. You can refine later.
- When you begin outreach, be mindful of General Solicitation.
My Network
Former bosses
Former coworkers
Former clients or customers
Your closest friends
Your immediate family (parents, siblings + their partners)
Extended family (aunts, uncles, cousins)
Your parents’ friends
Your spouse/partner’s network
Advisors/mentors
Founders you’ve backed or helped
Angel investors you know
People who have asked you for career help
Friends who have successful businesses
People you’ve served on a committee or board with
People in your adult sports leagues, golf, tennis, pickleball or golf club
Parents from your kids’ school
Neighbors you actually talk to
Experts you’ve hired (designers, lawyers, accountants)
People you vacation with / have dinner with
Alumni groups (university, high school, fraternity/sorority)
LinkedIn connections (filter by: CEO, founder, investor, VP, partner)
Former teammates (sports, clubs, etc.)
Your goal: Generate your first 50 confidant leads in 20 minutes using only your existing network.
- Aim for 50 names quickly.
- Speed > perfection. You can refine later.
- When you begin outreach, be mindful of General Solicitation.
My Network
Former bosses
Former coworkers
Former clients or customers
Your closest friends
Your immediate family (parents, siblings + their partners)
Extended family (aunts, uncles, cousins)
Your parents’ friends
Your spouse/partner’s network
Advisors/mentors
Founders you’ve backed or helped
Angel investors you know
People who have asked you for career help
Friends who have successful businesses
People you’ve served on a committee or board with
People in your adult sports leagues, golf, tennis, pickleball or golf club
Parents from your kids’ school
Neighbors you actually talk to
Experts you’ve hired (designers, lawyers, accountants)
People you vacation with / have dinner with
Alumni groups (university, high school, fraternity/sorority)
LinkedIn connections (filter by: CEO, founder, investor, VP, partner)
Former teammates (sports, clubs, etc.)