In this episode, I introduce our brand new Capital Raising Playbook, which gives you a step-by-step plan to build your pipeline, pitch investors, and raise your first $1 million.
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About Fund Playbook
Learn how to launch your own private fund or real estate syndication with Fund Playbook. In each episode, Jimmy Atkinson shares insights on syndicating deals, raising capital, and entrepreneurship.
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Episode Summary
In this episode, Jimmy lays out a step-by-step capital raising playbook designed specifically for first-time private fund or real estate syndication managers. Drawing on his experience advising over 100 fund managers who have raised over $1 billion in capital, Jimmy shares what it really takes to raise your first million—from positioning and branding to execution and follow-up.
Raising that first million is often the hardest. You may have a solid deal and interested investors, but if you don’t have a system in place, the process can feel like guesswork. This episode provides a roadmap that removes the guesswork and sets fund managers up with a repeatable process.
Step 1: Nail Your Positioning
Jimmy kicks off by emphasizing the importance of positioning. Before making your first investor call, you must be crystal clear on three key questions:
- What is your investment thesis?
- Who is your ideal investor?
- Why should someone trust you with their capital?
Having concise and compelling answers to these questions sets the foundation for your messaging and targeting.
Step 2: Build a Minimum Viable Brand
You don’t need a fancy logo or flashy marketing—but you do need to look credible. Jimmy recommends creating:
- A clean one-page landing page or executive summary
- A simple, professional pitch deck (4–12 slides)
- Clear and consistent messaging across platforms like LinkedIn, email, and YouTube
Credibility and clarity build trust, which is critical in early-stage fundraising.
Step 3: Create a Simple Capital Raising Funnel
Fundraising isn’t about mass outreach—it’s about warm, one-on-one conversations. Jimmy recommends:
- Starting with a lead list of 200–300 warm contacts
- Reaching out personally (no mass emails!)
- Booking calls and making conversational pitches
He also teases the idea of using lead magnets to build beyond your warm network—an approach he’ll explore in a future episode.
Step 4: Know Your Numbers
To raise $1 million with an average check size of $100K, you’ll need around 10 investors. Jimmy walks through sample funnel math:
- 200–300 leads → 50–60 calls → 5–10 conversions
It’s work—but not rocket science. Consistency and clarity matter more than perfection.
Step 5: Handle Objections Like a Pro
Objections are a sign of interest, not rejection. Jimmy outlines how to handle three common ones:
- No track record → Reframe by sharing experience, alignment, and partnerships
- Market risk → Emphasize conservative underwriting and cash-flowing assets
- Liquidity concerns → Be transparent about lockups and highlight communication and reporting
Step 6: Follow-Up Like It’s Your Job
Most emerging fund managers drop the ball on follow-up—and that’s where deals die. Jimmy stresses:
- Prompt follow-up after every interaction
- Ongoing cadence of emails, updates, and value-driven touchpoints
- Tracking progress using a spreadsheet or basic CRM
The fortune, he says, is in the follow-up.
Conclusion
The six-step playbook is simple, repeatable, and designed for those starting from scratch. With consistent execution, Jimmy believes any emerging manager can raise their first million—and from there, momentum builds.
Listeners are invited to download the companion guide at fundplaybook.com/capital for templates and next steps.