Overview
Martin Partners is a placement agent and fundraising advisory firm headquartered in Chicago. The firm advises alternative asset managers on primary fundraising across private equity, private credit, real estate, and infrastructure strategies, with deep relationships across the North American institutional investor community.
Chicago is home to one of the densest concentrations of institutional capital in the United States, with major corporate pension funds, insurance companies, endowments, and family offices headquartered in the metropolitan area. Martin Partners’ Chicago base provides natural connectivity to this investor community, and the firm has leveraged this geographic advantage to build a strong LP network.
The firm’s team includes professionals with backgrounds in institutional investing, fund management, and advisory services. Their investor-side experience informs how they position managers and prepare fundraising materials, ensuring that GP stories resonate with the analytical frameworks and evaluation criteria that institutional LPs actually use.
Martin Partners maintains a focused mandate roster, prioritizing quality of engagement over volume. This approach ensures that each GP receives senior-level attention throughout the fundraising process and that the firm’s LP relationships are not overextended by competing mandates.
Fundraising Capabilities
Martin Partners provides comprehensive fundraising advisory services, including strategy assessment, materials development, LP targeting, roadshow management, and closing support. The firm’s process begins with a detailed evaluation of the GP’s investment track record, team composition, strategy differentiation, and market positioning.
The firm’s LP network is anchored by strong relationships in the Midwest and extends across North America. Martin Partners covers public pension plans (including state and municipal systems), corporate pension funds, endowments and foundations, insurance companies, and family offices. The firm’s proximity to major Midwest allocators gives it scheduling and relationship advantages that coastal placement agents may not enjoy.
In private equity, Martin Partners works with mid-market buyout, growth equity, and sector-focused managers. The firm understands the mid-market fundraising dynamics, where LP due diligence processes tend to be more hands-on and relationship-driven than in the large-cap segment.
In private credit, the firm advises direct lending, mezzanine, and specialty finance managers. Credit strategies have been a growing area of focus as institutional allocations to private credit have expanded. Martin Partners also handles real estate and infrastructure mandates, covering both equity and debt strategies.
For emerging managers, Martin Partners provides practical guidance on the operational and structural requirements of institutional fundraising. The firm’s experienced team can help first-time fund managers navigate the transition from investing professional to fund manager, addressing questions around fund terms, governance, back-office infrastructure, and LP reporting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Martin Partners based?
Martin Partners is based in Chicago, Illinois. The firm's Midwest location gives it strong connectivity to the significant concentration of institutional investors in the Chicago area and broader Midwest region, including corporate pension funds, endowments, and family offices.
What strategies does Martin Partners place?
Martin Partners advises on fundraises across private equity (buyout, growth equity), private credit (direct lending, mezzanine), real estate, and infrastructure strategies. The firm works with managers across the mid-market spectrum and has experience with both established platforms and emerging managers.
Does Martin Partners have relationships outside the Midwest?
Yes. While Martin Partners benefits from strong Midwest-based LP relationships, the firm maintains an LP network that extends across North America. The team covers public pension plans, corporate pensions, endowments, foundations, and family offices nationwide, with additional select international relationships.
