How do you typically evaluate potential financing partners?
One question I ask every investor we work with is:
“How do you typically evaluate potential financing partners?”
Most capital providers forget that even though we’re the ones evaluating the deal, the other side is underwriting us too. It goes both ways. And the answer to this question is often the first signal of whether there’s real alignment.
It reveals what someone values most in a partnership. Some focus on speed. Others prioritize transparency or flexibility.
None of those are wrong. But the reasoning behind the answer shows how someone approaches collaboration, what they expect from the people they work with, and whether you’ll be able to meet those expectations. If you demand honesty, you have to be willing to deliver it as well.
This comes up often from a lending perspective, but it applies everywhere:
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GPs vetting LPs
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LPs vetting sponsors
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Co-GPs choosing each other
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Lenders partnering on deals
Everyone is underwriting someone, not just the deal.
So before entering a partnership, ask this question. It’s not only about what you’re looking for, but also about what they’re looking for in you.
What’s the one question you always ask before partnering with someone?
— Anna Kogan, LinkedIn