PE FoF to GP... possible?
Title says it all.
Do you know many people who have made the transistion from a LP role at a FoF to being on the deal side working at a GP?
Title says it all.
Do you know many people who have made the transistion from a LP role at a FoF to being on the deal side working at a GP?
Career Resources
Have seen a couple of people do this but always coming from FoF programs that also did a lot of co-investing. 1 guy went to business school first and will be in a GP role after, but he did not have prior banking exp.
Very unlikely. Needs to be a LOT of co-invest and even then would be difficult. Came from FoF background and tried and failed. Went to B-School too and even then was hard without IB/ extensive deal experience. Decided to do IB at BB and maybe try for Sr. Assoc/VP down the line.
I just transitioned from a PE FoF to a LMM PE. But prior to the FoF, I worked at a growth stage fund so I have some direct investment experience but no IBD/M&A background. Have to say it takes a lot of efforts on building up the relationship and modelling / ppt skills. And also depends on what type of person the direct funds want to bring on - for my case they want someone familiar with investments more than a banking graduate.
Could you maybe talk a bit about why you made the transition?
in short no learning at all in FoF (just for my case - the team was poorly managed) and personally prefer direct investments.
Usually not if just FOF. Often based prior experience to FOF like what others have said eg low tenure at Co-invest focused FOF with a lot of co-underwriting plus top tier IB or GP experience previously.
I am curious why people on this forum seem to be obsessed with being a GP instead of an LP. Is it because of the prestige or comp and is being at a FoF actually that bad?
It is because of prestige and comp.
In addition to prestige and comp, a GP role is more active than an LP role. 
Nothing wrong with LP or FOF roles. Plenty of happy people doing a lower risk, lower stress role.
I made the move to a solid LMM shop from a FoF and had plenty of interview opportunities on that end of the market. Like others have said, it’s much easier to do if you’re at a place that is known for doing co-investments so that you have some form of direct deal experience to reference. I did not have prior banking experience, so financial modeling was a point of emphasis in every process I was in, as well as the ability to formulate an investment thesis. As you’ll learn, some FoFs actually do good diligence on direct deals which leads to a good experience for the junior team, whereas others literally just check the box and do the bare minimum.
What are some places that are known to have big coinvestment strategies?
Occaecati velit architecto ut sint consequatur expedita ad unde. Aspernatur natus aspernatur ipsum assumenda. Assumenda minima dolores nobis dolores voluptatem. Nostrum enim et sed ipsa sapiente et.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...