Expanding Your Capital Raising Opportunities
Your journey starts here.
Why Consider the Retail Channel?
Emerging companies generally self-fund or rely on friends and family to raise the necessary capital. However, scaling a business often requires more capital than those sources can provide. Some companies may choose to raise money directly from accredited investors, while others want to explore opportunities in the retail channel. Raising capital through independent broker-dealers and RIAs can provide a vehicle to drive substantial revenue over time. When you work through a broker-dealer or RIA, you have access to their advisors and investors, significantly expanding your reach through a single point of contact. However, entering this channel can be expensive, and growing your brand takes time. This is why it is essential to have a channel expert guide you. The process is complex and relationship-dependent, so working with SGS can help ensure you enter the market with long-term success in mind. If you opt to raise money directly with accredited investors, we can develop a strategy for that as well.
We leverage deep industry relationships and proven expertise to guide sponsors entering and expanding within the independent broker-dealer and RIA channels. Our team has decades of experience supporting successful capital raises—developing strategies, building national account relationships, and driving the activities that advance offerings. By partnering with us, sponsors gain an experienced ally who understands how to position products, navigate due diligence, and build lasting distribution relationships that drive results.
About SGS
Who We Help
We work with emerging alternative investment sponsors to lay the foundation for success in the retail channel.
How We Do It
By leveraging our decades of experience and strong industry relationships, we work with you to create an effective and sustainable distribution system to raise capital in the retail channel.
What’s In It For You?
The ability to create a reliable income stream that requires lower returns than institutional capital can help you achieve your growth objectives.
National Accounts & Wholesaling Strategy & Services
At Sponsor Growth Solutions, our national accounts and wholesaling services help emerging alternative investment sponsors expand distribution and drive capital raising through the independent broker-dealer and RIA channels. Led by Heidi Wheatley, who has over 20 years of financial services experience and has played a key role in raising hundreds of millions of dollars, and Melissa Wendt, who brings nearly 20 years of sales strategy expertise — including driving 70%+ regional sales growth with complex products — SGS offers targeted relationship development, consultative business development, and strategic execution to secure and grow your selling syndicate.
Growth &
Learning Focus
Explore resources designed to help you learn, grow, and excel in every step of your journey.
Our Story
Sponsor Growth Solutions (SGS) was founded with a clear mission: to support and guide sponsors seeking to raise capital in the independent broker-dealer and RIA channels. Having witnessed firsthand how a lack of industry-specific knowledge can delay or derail even the most promising offerings, our founder created SGS to be a trusted resource—helping sponsors navigate the retail landscape with greater clarity, confidence, and efficiency. We believe that when sponsors are equipped with the correct information and a thoughtful go-to-market strategy, they can reduce costly missteps, accelerate their timeline, and begin raising capital sooner. Our team is passionate about helping more sponsors access this channel successfully—and ultimately build scalable, enduring capital-raising platforms.
Explore Engagement Options
LAUNCH
Formulating & Executing a Launch Plan
for Companies Not Yet in the Industry
For companies considering entering the industry, we work with you to develop a strategy for market entry. This involves understanding the competitive landscape, structuring your offering to attract interest, and avoiding common mistakes. We can help you gain efficiencies by leveraging our relationships and positioning your brand and product offering for success.
CALIBRATE
Fine Tuning Operations for Early
Stage Sponsors
For sponsors who have already joined the channel, we can optimize the processes and services you have in place. By evaluating your product structure, marketing and sales strategies, business operations, investor relations, and team structure, we can make recommendations to improve and enhance your product sales and support services. Our goal is to help you increase your exposure and gain additional traction within your selling syndicate.
REFINE
On Going Support
When our initial engagement ends, our commitment to your success continues! We can schedule monthly, quarterly, or annual check-ins to discuss opportunities and challenges to help you stay on track.
Broker - Dealer / RIA Services
Providing Access to Emerging
Alternative Investment Sponsors
Regarding alternative investments, many financial advisors and investors instinctively gravitate toward established sponsors with long histories and proven track records. However, while these larger sponsors may provide a sense of security, emerging alternative investment sponsors offer a unique set of advantages that can make them an attractive choice for forward-thinking firms, advisors, and investors. Working with any sponsor requires a thorough vetting to help ensure their potential aligns with your expectations. It is important to note that emerging does not mean inexperienced. Often, emerging sponsors have raised significant capital outside of the channel, have audited financials, highly experienced teams and proven track records.
