Ryan Schlitt on everything private fundraising, the LP mindset right now and what successful PE firms are doing to raise capital

Introducing Ryan Schlitt

Ryan Schlitt CEO & Co-Founder Aviditi Advisors, a premier, independent alternative advisory firm servicing global alternative investment managers and investors. Ryan has over 20 years of financial experience as a senior management member of the leading private placement/advisory groups at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette, and Credit Suisse Securities. Before forming Aviditi, he had originated, executed, distributed, and been part of more than 325 capital raises, aggregating more than $480 billion.

What You Will Learn

The Private Equity Fundraising Checklist

Why Small Private Equity Funds Struggle Raising Capital

When to Start Worrying About Access to Capital

Breakdown

[00:00] Who is Ryan Schlitt?

[05:10] Common Mistakes by PE Firms and Their Portfolio Companies

[07:10] It’s Not When You Start, It’s When You Finish

[08:30] How to Prepare for Fundraising Success

[14:34] Why Some PE Firms Struggle to Raise Funds 

[18:07] Ryan Describes the Current Fundraising Climate

[22:28] Smaller Funds Struggling to Raise Capital

[25:56] Is Capital Moving Away from Private Equity?

[29:00] Future Trends in PE

[31:45] Ryan’s Go-To Self-Improvement Resources

[35:25] Parting Thoughts 

Fundraising in Private Equity

Private equity has been experiencing a robust fundraising environment with increased investor interest and significant capital commitments. According to Ryan, one notable trend has been the rise of larger fund sizes. Some firms have been able to raise increasingly substantial amounts of capital, with mega-funds (those with over $5 billion in commitments) becoming more common. Established private equity firms with proven track records have been particularly successful in attracting capital from investors.

However, that is not the case with emerging managers and smaller funds. Investors often prioritize track records and prefer investing in established firms with consistent performance. Although the industry continues to evolve, fundraising success still depends largely on factors such as investment track record, investment strategy, differentiation, and alignment with investor preferences.

How to Contact Ryan:

Ryan’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-schlitt-889896a/

Aviditiadvisors.com

​​Ryan’s Email: [email protected]

The Smartless Podcast: https://www.smartless.com/

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