Raise Capital in the Middle East with the 2019 US Commerce Dept Private Equity, Venture Capital & Real Estate Trade Mission
“Chad's trade mission was well run and his team was friendly and professional; not only that, he introduced us to a local LP that invested in our fund. It was a great cultural experience as well for us”
- Quona
For the past five years, the US Commerce Department has been providing US managers an opportunity to meet directly with active LPs around the world under the auspices of the International Trade Administration and with the help of US Embassies and Ambassadors (see photos of our delegations here). The goal of these Certified Trade Mission is to increase the foreign investment into funds based in or investing in the United States (the Virtual Mission is for non-US GPs).
Chad Gracia is the private sector Mission Leader for the Middle East. He built a career as a speechwriter for Saudi ambassadors and an advisor to the Saudi Royal Court, and in 2013 was asked by the Commerce Department to help recruit GPs and LPs for the missions in the Middle East. Since then, he has introduced more than 75 GPs to hundreds of active allocators in the Middle East, including sovereign wealth funds; banks, pensions and other institutions; and family offices in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, the UAE, Qatar and Oman. (He is a registered broker and has raised more than $1 billion for his clients, but takes no success fees from investments generated on these missions.) After each trip, participants share their experiences here.
Cocktail reception for US GPs at the Home of US Ambassador to Oman, after a long day of meetings with Omani LPs (May, 2017).
On the heels of a successful trips in fall 2018 and winter 2019, the team is now planning another Trade Mission of private equity and real estate managers to the region from October 19th-23rd. We will begin in Abu Dhabi meeting LPs, then visit Riyadh and Oman (during the day we'll meet with LPs and then head to a cocktail reception). As in the past, we will include cocktail receptions when our schedule allows, either at the home of US ambassadors or local HNWI. Early bird price until April 15th, 2019.
This October, we will be visiting Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Muscat and will provide introductions for our delegates to privately arrange meetings in places we aren’t visiting: Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and Jeddah, for instance. Here is the schedule:
Saturday, October 19th: Abu Dhabi (Optional Welcome Dinner)
Sunday, October 20th: Abu Dhabi, UAE (with Dubai LPs invited)
Monday, October 21st: Muscat, Oman
Tuesday, October 22nd: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (includes private dinner at ranch of Saudi investor)
Wednesday, October 23rd - Delegates disperse to other meetings in region (optional)
Thursday, October 24th - Delegates disperse to other meetings in region (optional)
The fee includes two delegates per each GP, but does not include airfare or lodging. You can register and pay at the link below; if you’d prefer to pay by money wire, please let me know and I will provide banking details and invoice.
Alternatively, if you'd like an introduction right away to the LP investors we met in Saudi Arabia, Oman and the UAE (as well as more than 100 active allocators through the GCC), please consider our Virtual Mission or Customized Road Shows. Links to registration are below.
Comments from 2018 Participants
"I was very impressed by the connections we made during our trade mission trip to Saudi Arabia and Oman with Gracia Group. I was particularly impressed by the investors we met, specifically that they were not simply sovereign wealth funds or other entities we would have found on our own. Rather, we were introduced to leading private businesses and family offices that we would not have identified otherwise. Chad Gracia's long history in the region has created a great network." - Tom Darden, Cherokee Funds
US Delegation Meeting local LPs on a 2018 US Commerce Department Certified Private Equity & Venture Capital Trade Mission.
"As a venture capital firm, Chad Gracia’s trade mission to the Middle East was very worthwhile for us. We had many productive meetings in a condensed time frame. It was a great use of our time, and we hope to attend the next one.” - Tom Tsao, Gobi Ventures
Meet Saudi and Other LPs Now
Tax changes in the US coupled with regional instability are making this year one of the strongest years in decades for GCC investment into the US. If you have any interest in expanding your LP base, the next few months provide an excellent opportunity to do so, and there is no more cost-effective or time-efficient manner than these trade missions.
Details are here -- the mission will take place October 19th - 23rd, 2019 and will provide you with personal introductions to more than 100 active LP allocators to US funds throughout the MENA region: sovereign wealth funds, pensions and other institutions, and family offices.
Learn More
- Testimonials from Your Peers
- Photos from Past Trade Missions
- Interview with US Commerce Department Official
- FAQ
Full In-Person Trade Mission
Ten GPs will be invited to join the 2019 mission. Early bird pricing for two firms available until April 15th.
Meet active allocators to private equity, venture capital and real estate funds. Our trade missions take place with the support of the US Commerce Department and local embassies, and offer an informal environment in which to meet LPs for one-on-one conversations.
Two delegates from each GP included.
Virtual Mission
Get introduced now to active LP investors in the Middle East through our Virtual Mission.
Twice each year we introduce American and other GPs to the same group of pre-screened LPs that we invite to our in-person trade missions. This is the most cost efficient manner to start your dialogue with Middle East LPs interested in allocating to international funds.