Educational Workshop: Introduction to Capital Raising in Real Estate

About the Workshop

A 2-hour live workshop for emerging sponsors, operators, and founders who want to understand how capital flows in real estate—and how to position themselves credibly with investors.

Most people think capital raising is about pitch decks, cold emails, or having the “right story.”

In reality, capital raising is about understanding how investors think, how deals are structured, and how trust is built over time.
 

This 2-hour introductory workshop distills the core mental models from Thesis Driven’s Fundamentals of Capital Raising course into a clear, practical overview designed to help you stop guessing—and start speaking the language of real estate capital.
 

You’ll learn how capital actually flows between LPs, GPs, and partners; why some sponsors raise easily while others struggle; and what investors are really underwriting when they evaluate a deal or a team.

This session is designed as a fast, high-signal on-ramp—whether you’re preparing to raise your first deal, thinking about raising a fund, or simply want to understand how real estate capital works.
 

You'll Learn How To:

Understand how real estate capital actually works

Break down who the real decision-makers are, how capital is allocated, and what drives investment behavior across LPs, family offices, and institutions.
 

Learn the difference between “raising money” and earning trust

Understand why capital raising is a long-term credibility game—not a one-off pitch—and how sponsors build repeat relationships.
 

Decode common deal structures

Get a plain-English overview of LP equity, JVs, co-GP structures, and platform capital—and why structure matters as much as returns.
 

Avoid the most common fundraising mistakes

Learn why cold outreach, over-marketing, and weak positioning kill credibility—and what to do instead.
 

Assess where you are in the capital journey

Clarify whether you’re best positioned for friends-and-family capital, strategic partners, family offices, or institutional LPs—and what to do next.
 

Questions about the workshop?
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The Workshop Will Cover

How Capital Flows in Real Estate

• Who LPs actually are (and aren’t)
• How capital allocators think about risk, return, and trust
• Why real estate fundraising is different from startups and VC
   

The GP–LP Relationship

• What investors underwrite beyond the numbers
• Track record vs. credibility vs. alignment
• Why most first-time sponsors misjudge investor expectations
   

Common Capital Structures (Explained Clearly)

• LP equity vs. JV equity
• Co-GPs and operating partners
• Platform capital and strategic capital
• Promote, fees, and alignment basics
   

Why Most Fundraising Fails

• The “pitch deck trap”
• Over-reliance on cold outreach
• Misaligned structures and messaging
• Treating capital like a transaction instead of a relationship
   

What Comes Next

• What it actually takes to raise your first deal
• When it makes sense to raise a fund
• How to think about building a long-term capital base