Pitch BIG

We require a consistent, verifiable track record—and most importantly, a BIG member who has previously invested with your firm and would invest with it again. Exceptions are rare.

Applicants selected to present virtually are typically scheduled within three months of the initial screening call. We can accommodate tighter timelines with special-situation one-offs.

When filling out the application, keep in mind that your ultimate three objectives are to: (1) secure a pitch/one-off slot on BIG's calendar, (2) earn a spot in our members' portfolios, and (3) develop a long-term relationship with BIG.

In most cases, no offering will be considered for a virtual presentation unless one or more members of BIG have already invested for at least one year and will serve as a reference. The requirement isn't just having a BIG member who has invested with your entity, but an investor who will be an advocate—a champion for your application who trusts your firm and is willing to vouch for it.

We have had applicants who met the requirement of having a BIG investor, but when we contacted them for a reference, they were reluctant to vouch for the firm as a future presenter. Assuming you can identify BIG members among your LP base, please verify that they will go to bat for you.

Note: you cannot list yourself as the referring member for a pitch application.

You do not need to be a member to present; however, 75% of past presenters eventually become members to gain access to BIG's deal flow. The most successful sponsors—in terms of capital raised—are active members of BIG.

While BIG members typically prefer cash-flowing vehicles, we do consider higher-risk, long-term, illiquid investments. The core asset classes we seek out and commit capital to include real estate, private equity, private credit, and venture.

The real estate sub-sectors BIG regularly showcases include multifamily, infrastructure, and industrial. Within private equity, growth companies and buyouts are well received. Within credit, real estate lending and corporate debt are popular. Within venture, we gravitate toward smaller, thesis-driven funds.

Note: BIG does not showcase investment opportunities related to cannabis.

Because members invest individually, BIG encourages sponsors to set minimums at $100,000 and sometimes as low as $50,000. Minimums cannot exceed $250,000.

BIG requests fee discounts (25-100 bps) if member-committed capital achieves certain thresholds, typically $1M, $3M, and $5M. Offering fee discounts has proven to be in the best interest of past sponsors in terms of historical capital raised from BIG. If an applicant passes screening, fee discounts will be requested.

To be considered, sponsor terms generally need to be in line with structures our membership has favored historically—including preferred returns at or above 8% and promote splits at or below 20%. This reflects patterns in what our members have chosen to invest in; it is not a BIG recommendation on deal terms.

If you submit an opportunity that is great for your firm yet only mediocre for BIG, it will likely be passed on… quickly.

Application: BIG's IT provider, Mountain Jet Media (MJM), charges a $250 service fee to maintain the pitch application form and screening database. This application fee will not apply toward presentation fees.

Presentation: Entities selected to present live or via a one-off will incur a $2,500 tech/ops fee. This payment is also made directly to BIG’s tech and operations provider, MJM. This fee supports the essential technology and SaaS tools that power BIG, including our member portal, website maintenance, software licensing, cloud storage, and development.

Note: None of BIG’s screening coordinators or decision-makers receive any portion of the above fees. BIG's screening teams are composed entirely of volunteers, ensuring that your application is reviewed fairly and without financial incentive.

BIG hosts nine virtual events per year, showcasing two sponsors/offerings per event. We also share specific opportunities via email (BIG's Special Situations One-Off program) when a presentation is not possible due to insufficient lead time or when the investment will appeal to only a subset of our membership.