Investors & Operators · 2026-06-04 · 1h 31m
Alex Russ is the Head of Americas for Evercore’s Private Funds Group. He advises PE sponsors on fundraising strategy, LP positioning, and market navigation, with a focus on helping managers differentiate themselves in an increasingly competitive capital environment. Hilary LaBrash is a Managing Director in Evercore’s Private Funds Group, where she works closely with emerging and established managers on fundraising preparation, messaging, and investor strategy. Topics: Fundraising Environment in 2026 First Close Strategy & Fund Sizing 360 Feedback & LP Pre-Wiring What Differentiates a GP Emerging Manager Playbook ...and so much more. Top Takeaways You only get one first impression with LPs. Alex and Hilary emphasized that many Emerging Managers rush into market before the story, team, or positioning is fully ready. In a crowded fundraising environment, LPs rarely “reset” their perception later. If you show up to that first meeting half-prepared, LPs may start questioning readiness, infrastructure, and execution. LPs care about organizational health more than most GPs realize.
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