How to Choose Between Expert Network Firms
3 Min Read
A PE Firm’s Evaluation Guide
When it comes to expert networks, firms like GLG and AlphaSights are known for their large database sizes and high call volumes. However, anyone who has spent time conducting private equity due diligence knows that a larger database doesn’t necessarily equate to better insights.
Most traditional expert networks rely on breadth, not depth. They cast a wide net, sending over a long list of potential advisors for your firm to sort through. That’s noise, not diligence.
If your investment theses are nuanced, you need real insights from industry experts, and conversations that actually move your conviction forward.
Key Takeaways
- The best expert network isn’t the one with the biggest list, but the one that can find operators who directly match your diligence angle.
- PE diligence demands long-term, strategic advisors who pressure-test assumptions and stay with you through the process.
- Choose a partner that strengthens your internal network and elevates your entire diligence approach.
Moving Past the Megaphone Model
If you’ve ever taken a call where the “expert” clearly skimmed your thesis 10 minutes beforehand, you know exactly why the volume-first model fails PE teams.
The traditional model that larger global expert network firms follow is simple. They cast a wide net and hope a relevant expert has something meaningful to offer. The problem with this approach is that investment teams are left sifting through shallow expert interviews and mismatched backgrounds.For private equity firms looking to partner with an expert network, the true differentiator is how effectively they can identify, vet, and secure the exact operator your investment thesis requires.
Vetting Depth vs. Database Size
Forget the size of a database. The most critical question to ask is, “How do you find the right expert?”
Push potential partners on their sourcing process. How do they approach expert matching? Do they:
- Run a basic keyword search and toss over whoever matches the title?
- Dig deep into your thesis and then hunt for operators who are a perfect match?
For middle-market PE teams tackling niche sectors, that difference can make or break an investment. The best expert for your thesis is not always the one a database surfaces first—it’s the operator someone actually went out and found for you.
Transactional Calls vs. Strategic Partnership
Before choosing an expert network, carefully examine their approach. Are you buying a single call? Or a partner who supports you through the entire diligence arc?
A call transcript isn’t enough; you need conversations that reveal expert knowledge and judgment, not surface-level feedback.
The strongest partners in the expert network industry operate on a “River Guide” model. They connect your firm with private equity experts, seasoned advisors who help you navigate diligence, pressure-test assumptions, and often support your work throughout the entire process.
If a firm can’t support you beyond one-off phone calls, they’re not built for serious diligence.
The Shortlist Interrogation: Questions to Ask
When you’re evaluating expert network companies, use these questions to separate vendors from true partners:
- How do you identify advisors in very niche spaces? You want a sourcing process, not a keyword search.
- Walk me through how you find leaders who aren’t already sitting on GLG’s, AlphaSights’, or every other network’s rosters. If they can’t answer this clearly, there’s a chance they’re recycling the same names other companies have on file.
- Beyond the call, what other strategic assets do you provide? Look for capabilities like comprehensive market maps or sourcing board-level operators.
- How do you help us build our own proprietary network for future opportunities? The right partner helps you own relationships, not rent them.
Your Diligence Demands More Than a Directory
Tegus, Third Bridge, and the rest of the volume-based players serve a purpose. However, a deep dive into PE diligence requires personalization, precision, and advisors who are vetted to a level that those bigger expert network firms can’t deliver.
Work with a partner who elevates the conversation. The right expert network helps you forge partnerships with strategic advisors who can tighten your thesis, pressure-test ideas, and deliver insights that fundamentally de-risk your investment.
Why Apex Leaders Is Built for Serious PE Diligence
As a leading expert network provider serving private equity, Apex Leaders operates more like the specialist consulting firms PE teams trust, providing rigor, precision, and strategic partnership through every stage of diligence.
For genuine conviction, don’t settle for a directory. Contact Apex today and work with a partner built for diligence.
Anyone can get you an expert call. We get you the right one.