All Things Fundraising

In Episode 41 of the Emerging Manager Growth Show, Gui Costin and the Dakota team break down the consultant channel — what it is, how to navigate it, and why it should complement rather than anchor your distribution strategy. The episode walks through Dakota's three categories of consultants, from emerging manager-dedicated firms to large consultants with formal programs to OCIO groups that i...

We cover RIA acquisitions by the likes of Choreo, Cerity Partners, and First Manhattan. We also share updates on commitments from and. On the search front, we highlight activity from Plymouth County Retirement Association, Dahab Associates, and Public Employees' Retirement System of Mississippi. We’ll also cover fundraising from Canyon Partners, Inhouse, and Phoenix Group — plus a reminder to...

We cover newly launched RIAs like Ocean Path Advisors, Madson Wealth Advisors, and Stephen Smith Financial. We also share updates on commitments from Maine Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS), Texas County & District Retirement System (TCDRS), and University of Alabama System Endowment. On the search front, we highlight activity from Lexington Policemen's and Firefighters' Pen...

In this special episode of The Rainmaker Podcast, Gui Costin is interviewed about his book Be Kind. He reflects on early leadership missteps marked by volatility and ego, and the turning point that reshaped his approach to culture and accountability. Gui challenges the belief that high performance requires harshness, arguing instead that kindness and hard standards can coexist. He draws a key dist...

In Episode 26 of the Dakota Insights Podcast, we explore how family offices are evolving into fully institutional capital platforms—and why this shift is reshaping private markets. Drawing from Dakota’s 2025 Global Family Office Report, we examine how improved liquidity in 2025 accelerated professionalization, earlier diversification, and formalized governance. Family offices are no longer passive...

Master sales with four game-changing principles: Focus on what matters, target the right people, craft the perfect pitch, and follow up like a pro. Packed with actionable tips, this guide helps you turn meetings into deals—fast! 💼🔥 Tired of chasing outdated leads? Book a demo to see how Dakota Marketplace simplifies your fundraising process with accurate, up-to-date investor data. 

In this Dakota Research Interview, Dr. Andrew Hohns, Founder and CEO of Newmarket Capital and Battery Finance, explains how the firm is redefining private credit by integrating Bitcoin into real estate and asset-backed lending. He discusses how Bitcoin-backed loan structures can help investors protect purchasing power, reduce credit risk, and generate inflation-resilient returns without taking on...

In this episode of The Rainmaker Podcast, Gui Costin sits down with Michael Sidgmore, Partner and Co-Founder of Broadhaven Ventures and Founder of Alt Goes Mainstream, to unpack one of the most important structural shifts in asset management today: the convergence of private markets and private wealth. Michael begins by walking through his path from growing up outside Washington, D.C., to studying...

In Episode #40 of the Emerging Manager Growth Show, Gui Costin and the Dakota team explore how the rise of new media is reshaping fundraising and why content has become a critical growth lever for emerging managers. The discussion blends practical fundraising advice with timely market insights, covering how managers can use content marketing more effectively, what family offices are prioritizing t...

In this special edition of the Rainmaker Podcast, host Gui Costin sits down with Spencer Lovejoy, Co-Founder and CEO of the National Squash League (NSL), and BG Lemmon, co-owner of the Philadelphia Lightning, to unpack what it takes to build a modern sports league from the ground up, and why squash is uniquely positioned for a team-based reinvention. The conversation opens with Spencer’s journey f...

In this episode of Dakota's Fundraising News Podcast, we cover newly launched RIAs like Bright Advisors, BayTrust Wealth Management, and Farmers Asset Management. We also share updates on commitments from The State of Wisconsin Investment Board (SWIB), The Wayne County Employees Retirement System, and Delaware Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS). On the search front, we highlight activ...

In this Dakota Research Interview, Chris LeRoy and Alex DeMarco sit down with Kelsea Alexander, Director, and Michael Balcom, Managing Director in the Industrial Group at Crow Holdings Capital, to discuss the firm’s long-standing approach to industrial real estate investing and development. Drawing on Crow Holdings’ 75-year history and deeply tenured leadership team, the conversation highlights ho...

In this episode of The Rainmaker Podcast, Dakota Founder and CEO Gui Costin sits down with Adam Rosen, founder of an email marketing agency that helps startups, unicorns, and large enterprises generate sales through cold email. The conversation offers a practical, experience-driven look at how cold outreach has evolved, and why it remains one of the most effective tools in modern sales when execut...

In this episode of the Rainmaker Podcast, Gui Costin sits down with Larry Pokora, Managing Director on the Investor Relations team at Tilden Park Capital, to unpack a 30+ year career spanning traditional asset management, alternatives, and institutional fundraising. The conversation moves from Pokora’s blue-collar upbringing in Pittsburgh to his hard-earned perspective on what actually drives long...

In Episode 25 of the Dakota Research Podcast, we examine how the RIA market is entering a new phase of institutionalization—and why this shift is fundamentally changing capital allocation, distribution, and platform economics across wealth management. We break down how RIAs are evolving from advisor-led practices into coordinated allocation platforms, with investment authority increasingly concent...

Master sales with four game-changing principles: Focus on what matters, target the right people, craft the perfect pitch, and follow up like a pro. Packed with actionable tips, this guide helps you turn meetings into deals—fast! 💼🔥

In this episode of Dakota's Fundraising News Podcast, We cover acquisitions by Azimut Group and newly launched and registered RIAs including Cohen Capital Advisors and MFT Wealth Management. We also share updates on commitments from the Fairfax County Educational Employees’ Supplementary Retirement Plan, the Delaware Public Employees’ Retirement System, and the State of Wisconsin Investment B...

In this episode of the Rainmaker Podcast, Gui Costin sits down with Nate DaPore, Founder of Roo Capital, to explore how an operator’s mindset, disciplined sales execution, and hands-on value creation have shaped a differentiated venture capital platform. DaPore’s story begins with early exposure to sales and entrepreneurship out of necessity. Paying his own way through college, he convinced a car...

In Episode 39 of The Emerging Manager Growth Show, Gui Costin breaks down how banks and broker-dealers fit into an emerging manager’s fundraising strategy—and how to engage them effectively. Gui explains why execution matters more than market conditions, emphasizing early-year planning, disciplined outreach, and consistent activity as the true drivers of momentum. He debunks common myths around ne...

In this episode of The Rainmaker Podcast, Gui Costin sits down with Andrew Fentress, Co-Founder of ACRES Capital, to discuss his career path, the formative experiences that shaped his leadership style, and the lessons he carries forward from multiple market cycles. The conversation blends personal background with practical insights on sales, investing, and long-term platform building. Fentress beg...

In this episode of Dakota's Fundraising News Podcast, we cover newly launched RIAs like Valorem and acquisitions by Wealth Enhancement. Hear updates on commitments coming from The Sacramento County Employees Retirement System (SCERS), The Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund, and The School Employees Retirement System (SERS). Hear updates on searches coming from The North Attleboro Contributory...

In this episode of Mastering Salesforce for Investment Firms , Gui Costin and Tim Dolan discuss how Salesforce can be used as a true leverage tool for investment sales teams when configured and adopted correctly. They highlight best practices such as consistent activity logging, disciplined pipeline management, and the use of past activity reports to drive follow-ups and prioritize opportunities,...

Master sales with four game-changing principles: Focus on what matters, target the right people, craft the perfect pitch, and follow up like a pro. Packed with actionable tips, this guide helps you turn meetings into deals—fast! 💼🔥

In today's episode of the Dakota Fundraising News Podcast, we cover RIA activity including acquisitions by Constellation Wealth Capital and Wealthcarte Capital Management as well as newly launched RIAs like Willow Creek Capital Management. Hear updates on commitments coming from LSERS, Ohio Police and Fire Pension Fund and Montana Board of Investments. Hear updates on searches coming from Fir...

In this episode of the Rainmaker Podcast, Gui Costin sits down with Brian Willer, Senior Vice President and National Sales Manager of Institutional Business Development at Federated Hermes, to discuss leadership, communication, and the operational discipline required to scale an institutional sales organization. Willer begins by reflecting on his early background growing up in Maine with no direct...