Backing independent sponsors on a deal-by-deal basis is more than an investment strategy; it is an extended due diligence process. This approach provides deep, real-time insights into a manager's problem-solving skills under pressure, offering transparency that is impossible to achieve before a Fund I commitment.

Instead of just buying leads from partners like wholesalers or agencies, consider acquiring them. If your business has a more effective way to monetize that deal flow (e.g., higher margins, better LTV), you can generate more profit from their leads than they can. This turns a variable marketing expense into a profit-generating asset.

Large companies rarely make cold acquisition offers. The typical path is a gradual process starting with a partnership or a small investment. This allows the acquirer to conduct due diligence from the inside, understand the startup's value, and build relationships before escalating to a full buyout.

To determine if an event sponsorship is worthwhile, analyze its past sponsor lists. If the same companies consistently sponsor for three or more years, it's a strong signal that they are achieving a positive return on their investment, making it a safer bet for your own budget.

The independent sponsor model excels in the lower middle market by transforming founder-led businesses. Core value is created not just by growth, but by building out management teams and systems to de-risk the company, enabling it to be sold at a higher multiple.

In a world of commoditized capital, offering a full suite of solutions creates a competitive advantage. By providing fund investments, co-investments, secondary liquidity, and portfolio company debt, a firm becomes an indispensable strategic partner to PE sponsors, generating proprietary and superior deal flow.

To win highly sought-after deals, growth investors must build relationships years in advance. This involves providing tangible help with hiring, customer introductions, and strategic advice, effectively acting as an investor long before deploying capital.

The podcast Acquired strategically avoids sponsors from contentious spaces, like competing venture capital firms, because they don't "feel Switzerland enough." This principle of partnering with neutral, respected leaders ensures their sponsor choices don't alienate listeners or compromise their editorial independence.

“Partner Lifetime Value” reframes partnerships as long-term assets, not transactional wins. Companies committing to consistent, long-run partnerships achieve superior growth and profitability, creating a force multiplier effect far beyond standard customer lifetime value.