BIG receives far too many submissions for offerings that are sponsor-friendly versus LP-friendly. Too often, we are sent funds/SPVs laden with fees, including asset/fund management, acquisition, disposition, loan guarantees, etc. We also see preferred returns below 8% and unfavorable waterfalls with promote-splits greater than 20% (limiting LP upside potential).

Especially for new sponsors, we prefer modest fees, a reduced (or not excessive) promote split, a consistent and verifiable track record, multiple risk mitigants, proof of track record, and fee discounts (if BIG collectively invests >$1M). Most importantly, BIG requires that your firm have an existing member who has previously invested with the sponsor and received an outstanding return ("member conviction"). If you bring us an opportunity that is great for you yet only mediocre for BIG's 900+ members, it will likely be passed on—quickly.

Applicants selected to present virtually are typically scheduled three months or more after the original screening call. Keep this in mind when applying.

The Boulder Investment Group (BIG) is a volunteer-run investment club, comprising 900+ investors interested in furthering their knowledge of alternatives and gaining access to attractive deal flow. 87% of members are QPs, and collective net worth exceeds $20 billion. Our members have invested over $1.3 billion in past offerings presented to BIG.

BIG does not charge annual membership dues. Rather, it functions thanks to a strong community of investor volunteers who refer their best performing sponsors, screen deal applications, and coordinate all aspects of showcasing the most promising opportunities.

BIG is steeped in the notion that a group of sophisticated investors with compatible financial goals can attract a greater number of choice opportunities than they can individually. Our presenters are not only fund managers, general partners, and company founders, but also respected asset-class experts.

While BIG members typically favor cash-flowing assets, we do consider higher-risk, illiquid investments. The main asset classes we favor include real estate, private equity, credit (fixed/alternative) income, and venture.

Note: BIG does not showcase any investment opportunities directly or indirectly related to cannabis.

BIG hosts nine virtual events per year, showcasing two specific offerings per event. We also share specific opportunities via email (BIG's 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.

Because members invest individually, BIG requires that presenting entities set minimums not to exceed $250,000. Many fund managers, general partners, and startup founders set their minimums at only $50,000-$100,000 to encourage try-it-and-see initial investments.

Complete the application carefully and thoroughly as incomplete ones will not be considered. A volunteer screening team will review your submission, determine appropriateness for BIG, and if affirmative, schedule a 40-minute screening call. The outcome will be (1) an invitation to present virtually via Zoom, (2) an offer to share your opportunity with relevant subsets of our membership via email (BIG’s One-Off program), or (3) a pass.

No offering will be considered for a virtual presentation unless one or more members of BIG has 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 will strongly recommend it to BIG. 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 recommend the entity as a future presenter. Assuming you can identify BIG members among your LP base, please verify that they will go to bat for you.

When filling out the application, keep in mind that your ultimate objectives are to secure a slot on BIG's presentation calendar and then earn a spot in our members' portfolios.

Application Fee: BIG's IT provider charges a $250 service fee to maintain the pitch application form and parse incoming data for BIG's Screening Teams. This fee supports the essential technology and SaaS tools that power BIG. This application fee will not apply toward the other fees below.

None of BIG’s screening coordinators or decision-makers involved in approving or denying your application receive any portion of the fee. BIG's screening teams are composed entirely of volunteers, ensuring that your application is reviewed fairly and without any financial incentive.

Presentation Fee: Entities selected to present cover their proportionate share of the $4,000 Zoom event costs (website maintenance, software licensing, SaaS tools, cloud storage, etc.). Fees are based on presentation time and breakdown as follows:

-Opener: $1,000
-Coheadliner: $2,000
-Headliner (w/ opener): $3,000
-Headliner (no opener): $4,000

One-Off Fee: If your offering is approved for email distribution only, the fee is $1,750.

Payments are made directly to BIG’s tech provider, Mountain Jet Media.

If you receive an invitation to present live, you will be offered a Zoom pitch slot as an opener (20 minutes), co-headliner (30 minutes), or headliner (45 minutes).

While certain past presenters have raised $100-plus million in equity and debt capital from BIG members, a typical range is $500,000 to $5 million.