What are the most frequent mistakes made at an AGM and how to avoid them?

An AGM or Investor Day is a fund’s annual in-person event for its LPs. Its highest-value use is as a marketing opportunity: to engage LPs, convert prospects and build future vintages. Accellency, which specialises in designing AGMs and Investor Days, sees funds forfeit that value through five recurring mistakes.

• 1How can a fund’s AGM support its next fundraise?
• 2Why do LPs lose interest during fund AGMs?
• 3How do you keep LPs engaged at an AGM?
• 4How do you prepare speakers for an AGM?
• 5How does Accellency help funds run high-impact AGMs?

Key Takeaways

Accellency specialises in designing and delivering AGMs and investor days for investment funds, drawing on 200+ GP advisory mandates and clients managing $3.5tn in AUM, to engage LPs and support fundraising.

The five most frequent AGM mistakes, and how to avoid them

“AGMs are invaluable opportunities to engage LPs, convert prospects into clients, and lay a strong foundation for future vintages.” Romain Richemont, Managing Partner, Accellency

1How can a fund’s AGM support its next fundraise?

A fund’s AGM supports its next fundraise when it operates as a flagship marketing opportunity rather than a reporting exercise. Existing investors can no longer be taken for granted: nearly 80% of LPs declined to re-up with at least one manager last year, and 88% expect to refuse a re-up in the year ahead. A well-run AGM is a rare chance to re-earn that commitment, converting prospects into clients and deepening relationships with existing investors, on the day and beyond. Accellency identifies five practices that determine how much value a fund captures from its AGM, spanning preparation, content, format, networking and delivery.

2Why do LPs lose interest during fund AGMs?

LPs lose interest in an AGM for three reasons:

• It repeats what they already know. LPs arrive having seen the charts, read the reports and analysed the metrics, so another round of the same numbers adds little value.
• It gives them no active role. A long, presentation-heavy agenda where LPs listen without participating disengages the room, surfaces no questions and sends LPs away unconvinced, a negative impression they share with other investors.
• Its speakers fail to convince. Speakers who are unprepared, uncompelling or unsure of their message lose the audience. A presentation is only impactful when the person delivering it is confident.

3How do you keep LPs engaged at an AGM?

Across the AGMs Accellency designs, three sets of practices keep LPs engaged: forward-looking content, dialogue and networking.

Deliver forward-looking content

• Include thought leadership sessions to share the fund’s deep knowledge in industry trends, geopolitical shifts and macro dynamics.
• Invite external industry experts to provide outside perspectives, confirm the market tailwinds you claim to profit from, and add depth to discussions.
• Organise LP panels to foster dialogue among investors.

Design the AGM as a two-way dialogue

• Appoint a master of ceremonies to host the event, ensuring seamless transitions.
• Incorporate several Q&A sessions, live polling and interactive digital tools that keep LPs involved in the conversation.
• Break the programme into shorter segments and alternate speakers, adding pace and letting different experts field specialised questions.

Create time for peer connection

• Build in networking opportunities such as coffee breaks, lunches and dinners, which are often as valuable as the formal programme.

4How do you prepare speakers for an AGM?

Speakers are prepared through scripting, training and rehearsal. The goal is for speakers to carry the story, not the slides. In Accellency’s experience the most common mistake is over-investing in the deck and under-investing in the people delivering it. Public speaking rewards practice: a speaker’s energy, tone and body language should lead the presentation, with the visuals in support. Three practices build that readiness:

• Script all presentations, for accurate timing, consistent messaging and maximum impact.
• Provide public speaking training, so speakers hold the room and land their key messages.
• Rehearse at the venue D-1, to refine delivery, sharpen coordination and ensure a seamless flow.

5How does Accellency help funds run high-impact AGMs?

Accellency designs and delivers end-to-end AGMs and LP investor days, turning the event into a genuine fundraising asset rather than a reporting obligation. This covers the full scope: project management from inception to retro-planning, event strategy, content and slide production, and speaker coaching. Every element is shaped by a team with deep private market expertise and dedicated specialists across sectors including real estate, technology, healthcare, retail and consumer, energy and infrastructure. Funds including Eurazeo, Jeito, Chorus Capital, Infravia, and Silverfleet have engaged Accellency to transform their AGMs and raise the profile of their GP platform.