Sponsor Solutions

We provide catalytic seed investments to small, emerging, and diverse private equity firm founders to help launch and scale their investment firms. Our Sponsor Solutions strategy leverages the firm’s overall breadth and experience, including our $76 billion investment platform, multiple decades of experience investing in small, emerging, and diverse managers, and position as a leading private equity investor in the small- and middle-market.   

The Firm Founders' Handbook

Created in partnership between GCM Grosvenor and CalPERS, the Firm Founders’ Handbook seeks to lower barriers to entry for investor entrepreneurs by providing them with access to a suite of non-investment infrastructure support resources, key questions, and considerations required for successfully launching a firm.  

Demonstrated Experience

We have developed specific expertise in funding and supporting small, emerging, and diverse managers as part of our broad investment activity across alternative investments.

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of experience investing with small, emerging, and diverse managers

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small and emerging managers assets under management

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diverse managers assets under management**

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private equity manager relationships*

The GCM Grosvenor Elevate Strategy

In January 2023, we launched the GCM Grosvenor Elevate strategy with the goal of empowering investor entrepreneurs to successfully launch and scale their firms and build a more innovative and inclusive investment ecosystem.

By providing access to scale capital, support for non-investment infrastructure needs, and an opportunity to harness the networks and experience required to invest appropriately in emerging firms, we hope to generate attractive returns and catalyze meaningful opportunities for the next generation of small, emerging, and diverse firm founders in our industry."

Senior Leadership

If you are interested in speaking to a member of the team, please email [email protected]

Elizabeth Browne

Managing Director

Kevin Nickelberry

Managing Director

Related News and Insights

GCM Grosvenor Announces Launch of Sponsor Solutions Effort Focused on Seeding Small, Emerging, and Diverse Private Equity Firms; CalPERS Commits $500 Million to the Strategy

CHICAGO, Jan. 10, 2023 — GCM Grosvenor (Nasdaq: GCMG), a leading global alternative asset management solutions provider, today announced the launch of the GCM Grosvenor Elevate strategy (“Elevate”). The Elevate strategy is focused on making catalytic seed investments in small, emerging, and diverse private equity firm …

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Diverse Manager Investing: Poised for Sustained Momentum

We look at the significant growth of the diverse managers market, explore factors contributing to its momentum, and highlight some of the tailwinds supporting further investment in this vibrant marketplace.

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Diverse Manager Investing: Shining a Light on Potential Blind Spots

In our latest post, we shine a light on potential “blind spots” that may be hindering the flow of capital to diverse investment managers.

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Data as of March 31, 2023 unless otherwise noted.

* Data as of December 31, 2022.

** Data as of June 30, 2023.

Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. No assurance can be given that any investment will achieve its objectives or avoid lossesUnless apparent from context, all statements herein represent GCM Grosvenor’s opinion

Elizabeth Browne

Managing Director, Sponsor Solutions

Ms. Browne is co-head of the Elevate strategy as part of the Sponsor Solutions Business. In addition, she works on various strategic investing initiatives across the firm. Prior to joining GCM Grosvenor, Ms. Browne worked at RedBird Capital Partners, where she focused on investing in family and founder-led businesses, including transaction sourcing, company-building, capital raising, and co-investments. Before joining RedBird, she was a senior member of the investment team and head of business development for DNS Capital, a prominent Midwest family office, where she focused on investing in venture and private equity transactions across a range of industries and sectors. Earlier in her career, she held roles at Goldman Sachs, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, and The Chicago Council on Global Affairs. Ms. Browne earned a BA in Sociology with Great Distinction from McGill University and an MBA in Finance and International Business from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.  She sits on the Midwest steering committee for the Women’s Association of Venture & Equity (WAVE); is a member of the Private Equity Women Investor Network (PEWIN) and The Chicago Network; and founded the Chicago Women: Lift & Lead citywide interview series, in partnership with Chicago Scholars.

Kevin Nickelberry

Managing Director, Sponsor Solutions

Mr. Nickelberry is co-head of the Elevate strategy as part of the Sponsor Solutions Business. He was previously co-head of the firm’s private equity co-investment practice and was responsible for deal sourcing and investment underwriting activities. Mr. Nickelberry has over 24 years of private equity origination, execution and post-acquisition experience. Prior to joining GCM Grosvenor, Mr. Nickelberry worked at Investcorp International Inc., where he invested in middle market companies across multiple sectors, served as a Director for various portfolio companies and was a member of the firm’s Investment Committee. Previously, he executed growth equity and leveraged buyout investments at J.P. Morgan Partners and began his career in the investment banking division at Goldman Sachs. Mr. Nickelberry received his Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Morehouse College and his Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Northside Center for Child Development in New York City and UDR Inc.

Absolute Return Strategies

We offer clients a broad range of tailored solutions across strategies, including multi-strategy, macro, relative value, long/short equity, quantitative strategies, and opportunistic credit. Levaraging our large scale and presence in the industry, we are able to offer clients preferntial exposure to hard-to-access managers and seek to obtain terms that can drive economic and structural advantages.