All Things Fundraising

The Dakota Research Podcast, with Pat Tighe and Chris LeRoy, covers key trends in the private fund space. The episode starts with private equity news, including earnings, fundraising highlights, major deals, and industry job changes. The deep dive segment focuses on the growth of secondaries. Discussion includes market cap reporting from Blackstone, KKR, and Apollo, as well as real estate and infr...

In this episode of the Rainmaker Podcast, Gui Costin interviews Eric Green, Chief Investment Officer at Penn Capital, about the firm’s innovative approach to small-cap investing. With over 25 years of experience, Eric explains Penn Capital’s Complete Capital Structure Analysis™, a strategy that examines a company’s entire capital structure, from secured debt to equity, to uncover value and manage...

In this Rainmaker Podcast episode, Gui Costin interviews Brian Maute, Head of U.S. Wholesale at DWS, about his career journey, leadership philosophy, and sales strategies in asset management. Brian highlights the importance of career longevity, institutional knowledge, and building strong client relationships. He shares how DWS uses a team-centric, client-focused approach, supported by CRM systems...

The Dakota Rainmaker Sales Coaching program helps investment sales professionals develop a repeatable and effective sales process, focusing on four key areas: setting aligned sales plans, targeting the right audience, delivering impactful pitches, and building a strong follow-up system. Led by Gui Costin, Founder of Dakota, the program leverages 25 years of industry experience to enhance sales pro...

In Episode 27 of the Emerging Manager Growth Show, we focus on Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs), debunking myths and exploring opportunities for emerging managers. Key topics include fundraising timelines, the importance of differentiation, and leveraging relationships with RIAs of all sizes. Learn about RIA structures, major aggregators, and early adopters, along with practical tips for buil...

The Dakota Rainmaker Sales Coaching program helps investment sales professionals develop a repeatable and effective sales process, focusing on four key areas: setting aligned sales plans, targeting the right audience, delivering impactful pitches, and building a strong follow-up system. Led by Gui Costin, Founder of Dakota, the program leverages 25 years of industry experience to enhance sales pro...

In this episode, Dan DiDomenico, President of Dakota, interviews Nancy Vailakis, Principal of Ancram IRBD, about navigating the challenges of the private funds industry. With over 18 years of experience, Nancy shares insights on fundraising strategies, adapting to market shifts, and building long-term investor relationships. She highlights the growing demand for niche strategies, the importance of...

In this Rainmaker Podcast episode, host Gui Costin interviews Jeff Carlin, CFA, Senior Managing Director and Head of Global Wealth Advisory at Nuveen. Jeff shares his career journey and insights into Nuveen’s innovative approach to wealth distribution. Key takeaways include Nuveen’s shift to de-channelized sales structures, focusing on advisor segmentation and building efficient, team-oriented fra...

This episode explores fundraising strategies for emerging managers, debunks myths about engaging with public pensions, and highlights Emerging Manager Programs. Key insights include the importance of direct outreach, compelling storytelling, and understanding unique EMP criteria across pensions.

In this episode of the Rainmaker Podcast, host Dan DiDomenico welcomes Rob Logan, Managing Director and Head of Distribution for Retirement Investments at Principal Asset Management. With nearly 30 years at Principal, Rob shares his expertise in sales leadership, team development, and navigating today’s competitive investment landscape. Rob provides an overview of Principal’s growth, managing $513...

In this episode of the Rainmaker Podcast, host Gui Costin interviews Wayne Kimmel, CEO of SeventySix Capital, a venture capital firm transforming the sports industry through technology and innovation. Founded in 1999, SeventySix Capital has invested in companies like SeamlessWeb and Take Care Health Systems before pivoting to focus on sports. Kimmel highlights the firm’s mission to back entreprene...

The Dakota Rainmaker Sales Coaching program helps investment sales professionals develop a repeatable and effective sales process, focusing on four key areas: setting aligned sales plans, targeting the right audience, delivering impactful pitches, and building a strong follow-up system. Led by Gui Costin, Founder of Dakota, the program leverages 25 years of industry experience to enhance sales pro...

In this Rainmaker Podcast episode, Gui Costin interviews Valentine Whittaker, Director at Epic Funds, who shares insights from his 20-year career in private markets. Valentine discusses his role in managing investor solutions at Epic, where he combines sales, investor relations, and business development. He emphasizes a highly organized, process-driven approach to sales, leveraging tools like Dako...

In EMG Show Episode 25, the focus is on leveraging consultant channels for emerging managers, highlighting the importance of continuous outreach and targeting consultants dedicated to sourcing and supporting emerging managers. The episode breaks down key groups: emerging manager consultants, large consultants with dedicated emerging manager programs, and OCIO groups that engage early in managers’...

In this Rainmaker Podcast episode, Gui Costin speaks with Jane Greenfield, head of consultant engagement at Vanguard. Jane discusses her 23-year journey at Vanguard, a client-owned investment firm managing over $9 trillion in assets. Emphasizing Vanguard's client-first culture, Jane explains how their unique structure drives long-term relationships, fostering a collaborative and client-center...

In this episode of the Rainmaker Podcast, host Dan DiDomenico speaks with Frank Riccio, Head of U.S. Wealth Solutions Sales at First Eagle Investments. Frank shares insights from his 20+ years of leadership experience in the financial industry, including his current role at First Eagle, where he oversees daily operations and drives sales strategy. Frank highlights First Eagle’s 160-year history an...

The Dakota Rainmaker Sales Coaching program helps investment sales professionals develop a repeatable and effective sales process, focusing on four key areas: setting aligned sales plans, targeting the right audience, delivering impactful pitches, and building a strong follow-up system. Led by Gui Costin, Founder of Dakota, the program leverages 25 years of industry experience to enhance sales pro...

In this episode of the Rainmaker Podcast, Mark Clewett, President and Managing Partner of Conestoga Capital Advisors, shares insights into his career and the growth of his firm. He discusses joining Conestoga in 2006 when it was a small firm with $200 million in assets and only seven employees. Today, Conestoga manages over $8 billion in assets, focusing on small- and mid-cap growth equity strateg...

In Episode 24 of the EMG Show, the focus is on family office wealth trends, fundraising strategies, and investment opportunities for emerging managers. Key insights include the growth of wealth within family offices and their role as direct investors, often in specific sectors like small businesses and real estate. The discussion emphasizes the importance of proactive outreach, as family offices a...

The Dakota Rainmaker Sales Coaching program helps investment sales professionals develop a repeatable and effective sales process, focusing on four key areas: setting aligned sales plans, targeting the right audience, delivering impactful pitches, and building a strong follow-up system. Led by Gui Costin, Founder of Dakota, the program leverages 25 years of industry experience to enhance sales pro...

In this Rainmaker Podcast episode, Gui Costin interviews Mark Allan, Managing Director at New Republic Partners, about the challenges and opportunities in alternative investments. Allan, with a background in hedge funds, discusses the rise of private fund managers across asset classes like credit and real estate, and the growing need for RIAs and family offices to navigate these opportunities. He...

In this episode of the Rainmaker Podcast, host Gui Costin interviews John Halaby, Executive Vice President and Head of Distribution at Harbor Capital. Halaby shares insights from his 32-year career in financial distribution, highlighting his leadership philosophy of building trust and fostering a team-first culture. He explains Harbor Capital's distribution strategy, which involves partnering...

Episode 23 of the Emerging Manager Growth Show focuses on how RIAs can market themselves by presenting unique investment ideas through cold outreach. Key strategies include consistent city scheduling, targeted emails, quarterly webinars, and creative events to engage clients. The episode also highlights upcoming conferences for emerging managers and the importance of maintaining a consistent brand...

In this episode of The Rainmaker Podcast, host Dan DiDomenico interviews Damion Hendrickson, Managing Director of AGF Investments’ U.S. business. Damion shares his strategy for expanding the firm’s presence in the U.S., focusing on the shift toward separately managed accounts (SMAs) and model portfolios while streamlining the firm's fund lineup to focus on one key ETF offering. He emphasizes...

In this episode of the Rainmaker Podcast, host Gui Costin interviews Kirsten Pickens and Ryan Robertson, co-heads of U.S. distribution at FS Investments. Kirsten shares her career journey, highlighting her passion for empowering women and diverse talent in the finance industry. Ryan, a former NBA player, discusses how the teamwork and competitive drive from his basketball days have influenced his...