Deal sourcing
How an investment firm finds new opportunities, through its network, outbound research, inbound applications, and introductions.
What it is
Deal sourcing is the top of the funnel for a fund. It covers every way an opportunity reaches the team before anyone decides whether it is worth a meeting.
Main channels
- Network. Founders, co-investors, and advisors who send deals the firm’s way.
- Intermediaries. Bankers and brokers, especially in private equity.
- Outbound. Research-driven outreach to companies that fit the thesis.
- Inbound. Applications through the website, events, or cold email.
How to track it
Every deal record should answer two questions: where did this come from, and who brought it in. In Attio, that means a source attribute with fixed options and a record reference to the introducer, so you can filter deals by person rather than by name typed into a note.
Outbound sourcing adds another layer. Enrichment tools such as Clay can build target lists and push them into Attio, where they enter the pipeline at a sourced stage.
Why it matters
Without source data, a firm cannot tell which relationships and channels produce its best deals. With it, partners know who to thank, who to spend more time with, and which channels are a waste of effort.
On this site