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frequently asked questions
How is PilotShip Partners compensated and how long is a typical engagement?
What's the difference between capital introduction services, traditional placement agents and in-house marketing?
Why does PilotShip Partners focus on the top of the funnel as its fundraising approach?
What is capital introduction services?
Capital introduction services play a pivotal role in connecting alternative fund managers with qualified institutional investors whose mandates align with their investment strategies. At PilotShip Partners, we act as the essential conduit between high-caliber fund managers seeking capital and sophisticated allocators searching for compelling investment opportunities tailored to their specific objectives.
Our approach to capital introduction goes beyond generic marketing—we deliver targeted, relationship-driven fundraising support that prioritizes strategic alignment and timing. By facilitating meaningful introductions at the right moment, we empower both fund managers and allocators to navigate the fundraising landscape with greater efficiency, paving the way for successful capital allocations and long-term investment partnerships.
Who We Work With
How We Work
what we do
What's the difference between capital introduction services, traditional placement agents and in-house marketing?
What is capital introduction services?
How is PilotShip Partners compensated and how long is a typical engagement?
Capital introduction teams like PilotShip Partners focus on matchmaking for a transparent, flat fee. Traditional placement agents typically charge a percentage of the capital raise, and demand exclusive, multi-year agreements. They're more involved throughout the entire fundraising process—but all at a significantly higher cost.
In-house marketing gives you direct control over investor relationships, but it also means carrying the expense of full-time staff, regardless of your fundraising activity. That’s why many fund managers choose a hybrid approach: leveraging their internal team to nurture existing relationships while partnering with PilotShip to expand access to new investors.
Why does PilotShip Partners focus on the top of the funnel as its fundraising approach?
Who We Work With
How We Work
what we do
What's the difference between capital introduction services, traditional placement agents and in-house marketing?
How is PilotShip Partners compensated and how long is a typical engagement?
Why does PilotShip Partners focus on the top of the funnel as its fundraising approach?
What is capital introduction services?
PilotShip operates on a transparent flat-fee consulting model rather than the percentage-based success fee typical of placement agents.
Our standard engagement runs for 12 months, allowing sufficient time to develop a strategic approach, identify appropriate investors, and conduct targeted outreach campaigns. This period gives managers enough runway to establish momentum while avoiding the multi-year commitments common with traditional placement agents.
Many clients choose to continue on a month-to-month basis after the initial term, recognizing that institutional fundraising often unfolds over longer timeframes. This approach makes our services accessible to managers across the AUM spectrum while ensuring we're motivated to provide objective guidance focused on long-term relationships.
Who We Work With
How We Work
what we do
What's the difference between capital introduction services, traditional placement agents and in-house marketing?
How is PilotShip Partners compensated and how long is a typical engagement?
What is capital introduction services?
Why does PilotShip Partners focus on the top of the funnel as its fundraising approach?
At PilotShip, we believe the greatest impact in capital raising begins at the top of the funnel. Drawing on decades of fundraising experience, we've seen that capital introduction—when executed strategically—serves as a powerful force multiplier. By expanding your reach and amplifying your story, our fund marketing approach complements existing efforts and functions as team extension.
The multiplier effect unlocks key advantages: wider investor funnels create multiple allocation pathways; each conversation provides market intelligence enabling pitch optimization; applying feedback improves conversion rates at each stage; initial commitments attract additional investors; and current fund investors frequently become anchors in subsequent funds, creating an expanding ecosystem that amplifies your capital base over time.
Who We Work With
How We Work
what we do
How does PilotShip source and vet managers?
What preparation do fund managers need before engaging with institutional investors through capital introduction services?
How do established funds with in-house marketing teams benefit from additional capital introduction services?
What types of alternative managers does PilotShip Partners work with?
PilotShip Partners selectively works with exceptional alternative investment managers across private equity, venture capital, hedge funds, long only, credit, and real estate strategies. We support quality managers at all stages – from first-time fund managers launching initial vehicles to established firms with billions in assets seeking to diversify their investor base.
We partner with investment managers whom we believe have the talent and track record to manage substantially more capital than they currently oversee. As dedicated advocates, we actively promote each client's distinct value proposition to help them reach their fundraising goals. Our clients share a commitment to disciplined investment processes, a strong performance history, and professional investor relations.
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Our manager selection process combines thorough due diligence with practical assessment of allocator fit. We source managers through industry relationships, referrals from existing clients and allocators, and direct outreach to teams with compelling investment approaches. Our vetting process examines quantitative elements (performance history, risk metrics, AUM trajectory) and qualitative factors (team experience, operational infrastructure, strategic differentiation).
We conduct extensive interviews with investment teams, comprehensive background checks, review documentation, and analyze strategy performance across market cycles. We assess whether managers have realistic expectations aligned with their development stage and current market conditions. This disciplined approach safeguards our credibility with institutional investors and ensures we engage only with managers demonstrating quality and rigor required.
What preparation do fund managers need before engaging with institutional investors through capital introduction services?
How do established funds with in-house marketing teams benefit from additional capital introduction services?
How does PilotShip Partners source and vet managers?
What types of alternative managers does PilotShip Partners work with?
Who We Work With
How We Work
what we do
Fund managers need strong fundamentals in place before engaging with institutional investors through capital introduction services. They must have compelling performance and track records that demonstrate their investment process effectiveness, along with clear strategic positioning and professional-quality marketing materials that meet institutional standards.
Equally important is a professional approach to investor relations with proper operational infrastructure and systematic communication processes.
When managers have strong performance, clear strategy, and professional marketing materials ready, we can effectively leverage our institutional networks to broaden their reach and champion their unique value proposition to qualified investors who align with their fund profile.
How does PilotShip source and vet managers?
What types of alternative managers does PilotShip Partners work with?
What preparation do fund managers need before engaging with institutional investors through capital introduction services?
How do established funds with in-house marketing teams benefit from additional capital introduction services?
Who We Work With
How We Work
what we do
Established funds with in-house marketing teams often partner with PilotShip Partners to amplify their reach and deepen their access to institutional capital.
We function as a seamless extension of your resources, leveraging our extensive allocator network to broaden your prospect funnel—without the overhead of additional permanent staff.
While your team focuses on managing existing relationships, we complement those efforts by sourcing and engaging qualified new prospects, accelerating pipeline development, and providing candid market feedback.
The result is powerful synergy: expanded coverage, enhanced efficiency, and greater momentum behind your capital raising efforts.
How does PilotShip source and vet managers?
What types of alternative managers does PilotShip Partners work with?
What preparation do fund managers need before engaging with institutional investors through capital introduction services?
How do established funds with in-house marketing teams benefit from additional capital introduction services?
Who We Work With
How We Work
what we do
What does the typical process look like if we choose to work together?
What types of investors & allocators does PilotShip Partners have relationships with?
How does working with experienced capital introduction specialists increase the likelihood of raising capital and meeting AUM goals during fundraising?
What fundraising support services should alternative fund managers expect beyond initial investor introductions?
Beyond quality introductions, PilotShip Partners provides strategic guidance on targeting appropriate allocators and positioning your fund effectively. We offer market intelligence on investor preferences, conference strategy, roadshow planning, and pitch material refinement for different investor segments.
Our comprehensive capital introduction services include CRM consulting, marketing best practices, and systematic follow-up protocols. This creates a multiplier effect extending your reach while your team focuses on portfolio management
As a trusted third party with deep allocator relationships, we provide candid feedback to help you focus resources on the most promising fundraising opportunities.
Who We Work With
How We Work
what we do
What does the typical process look like if we choose to work together?
What types of investors & allocators does PilotShip Partners have relationships with?
How does working with experienced capital introduction specialists increase the likelihood of raising capital and meeting AUM goals during fundraising?
What fundraising support services should alternative fund managers expect beyond initial investor introductions?
Once we finalize the engagement, onboarding typically takes about a month. This begins with a Zoom teach-in where our team learns about your fund and strategy. We'll work together to create a fund summary for use in our capital introduction services outreach and marketing materials.
Next, we develop an initial list of targeted institutional investors based on your fund's profile and current allocator mandates. You'll review and approve this list to ensure no overlap with existing relationships. We then begin personalized outreach, sharing your materials and facilitating capital introductions with interested investors.
Throughout the process, we provide ongoing fundraising support, investor insights, and capital raising assistance to help refine your approach.
Who We Work With
How We Work
what we do
What does the typical process look like if we choose to work together?
What types of investors & allocators does PilotShip Partners have relationships with?
How does working with experienced capital introduction specialists increase the likelihood of raising capital and meeting AUM goals during fundraising?
What fundraising support services should alternative fund managers expect beyond initial investor introductions?
PilotShip Partners maintains relationships with over 2,200 institutional investors and allocators globally, with our network comprising of family offices, endowments and foundations, fund of funds, RIAs, pensions and consultants.
Geographically, 85% of our allocator relationships are based in the United States, with the remaining 15% located across Canada, Latin America, and Asia, and we're actively expanding our presence in Europe.
We cultivate long-term relationships with these investors through consistent communication and a deep understanding of their evolving mandates and allocation preferences so we can offer well-timed, relevant introductions instead of generic outreach that wastes time.
Who We Work With
How We Work
what we do
What does the typical process look like if we choose to work together?
What types of investors & allocators does PilotShip Partners have relationships with?
How does working with experienced capital introduction specialists increase the likelihood of raising capital and meeting AUM goals?
What fundraising support services should alternative fund managers expect beyond initial investor introductions?
Working with experienced capital introduction specialists significantly increases your likelihood of meeting fundraising goals by broadening your investor pipeline. Our fundraising experts connect you with qualified prospects, multiplying potential capital sources. We know which allocators are actively deploying capital to strategies like yours, saving months of meetings with ill-suited institutions.
Our established allocator relationships mean recommendations receive serious consideration rather than being filtered out as unsolicited pitches. While some introductions convert quickly, others develop over time – planting seeds for future allocations as mandates evolve. This expanded pipeline of immediate and future opportunities dramatically increases your probability of reaching AUM targets, especially in challenging markets where quality fundraising support becomes invaluable.
Who We Work With
How We Work
what we do
