IPEM Paris is back for 2025, running September 24–26 at Palais des Congrès. With over 6,000 private markets professionals expected, including 1,300+ LPs and 900+ GP firms, this year’s theme is "Winning the Long Game." For Marketing & IR professionals, that translates to: how do you translate event presence into real fundraising and brand-building outcomes?

Much like we outlined in our SuperReturn International guide, just showing up at IPEM isn’t enough. Calendars fill up early, invitations pile up, and LP attention is finite. Below is a structured playbook, designed specifically for GPs, to help you approach IPEM Paris 2025 as a campaign, not just a conference.

Maximizing ROI: Tips for GPs to Get the Most Out of IPEM

Attending IPEM Paris is a significant investment, financially and strategically. With over 6,000 participants and 400+ exhibitors from around the globe, 9 different lounges throughout the Palais des Congrès, a rich event program featuring a new invite-only LP Congress, a series of panels, keynotes, summits dedicated to key asset classes and regions, breakout sessions led by industry leaders, and social events in the heart of the City of Light - IPEM Paris offers unmatched networking opportunities. Below are best practices tailored for brand builders & capital raisers in the private markets - to get the most out of IPEM Paris 2025:

• Plan Early: Lock in Meetings Before Paris

Don’t wait until September. The IPEM Networking Hub includes access to the attendee list, and a brand-new algorithm-powered Match Dashboard to give you smart suggestions of participating LPs that match your profile. IPEM’s networking tools have been available since June, giving participants over 3 months of direct outreach – 3,000 participants, including 1,000 LPs are already connecting in the IPEM Networking Hub!

See here for further details on how to make the most of the IPEM Networking Hub to contact other participants.

It’s very important to reach out to LPs early and let LPs in your network know you’ll be at the event. To ensure your targets are present, IPEM welcomes LP referrals if some of your prospects show interest to attend, just email investor@ipem-market.com.

Coupled by both LinkedIn and direct outreach, early networking ensures a successful event, get started now and prioritize:

Key LP targets from the attendee list.
The event communications kit personalized with the photo and logo of registered participants.
Panels, summits, or breakout sessions directly relevant to your fund.
Social events offering relaxed networking opportunities for all participants, such as:

The Opening Reception at Paris’ iconic Parc des Princes on Sept. 24th, sponsored by Dakota and Hogan Lovells;
Networking Drinks at the Palais des Congrès Sept. 25th, sponsored by Natixis Investment Managers; followed by
A Paris experience by night on rue Princesse in Paris’ Saint-Germain-des-Près neighborhood, sponsored by State Street;
And a Wrap Party on Sept. 26th to end things in style at the Hotel Le Méridien Etoile, sponsored by Société Générale

For additional visibility, a few sponsorship opportunities remain available, please email contact@ipem-market.com

• Maximize On-Site Visibility: Digital + Physical Presence

With thousands of attendees, visibility is your currency:

Use #IPEMParis2025 and #WinningTheLongGame on LinkedIn and X.
Follow IPEM on Linkedin and interact with their own live coverage of the event.
Tag co-panelists, speakers, and IPEM when posting insights or photos.
Use the professional photos from IPEM’s photographers in your communications, available in real-time in an online gallery, using AI to drive facial and logo recognition to find easily find relevant photos.
For speakers: loop in your marketing team early. Schedule prep calls, utilize communications kits and visual assets, agree on key messages, and repurpose content afterwards.

If not speaking, attend sessions aligned with your focus.

• Intelligent Meetings: Refining Your Approach Leveraging Data

Tools like Dakota Marketplace can help IR and marketing professionals sharpen their targeting:

Identify LPs active in your asset class before the event.
Prioritize prospects based on recent fund commitments or stated interest areas.
Cross-check scheduled attendees against Dakota’s insights to ensure no key contact is missed.

Practical Tip: Combine Dakota’s dataset with the IPEM attendee list to segment and prioritize your outreach. Focus your efforts on meetings with the highest potential strategic value.

“At IPEM, data is the difference. Use Dakota to identify key LPs, then work the IPEM attendee list to meet who matters most.”

— Gui Costin

• Leverage Networking Lounges and Social Events

IPEM Paris structures many opportunities for informal networking:

Make the most of the social events: Opening Reception (open to all), Networking Drinks (open to all), First-timer Breakfast (open to all first-time participants), Comms & Marketing Lunch (invite-only), Morning Boxing classes (open to all, registration required), Paris Experience by Night (open to all), Official Dinner (invite-only), and Wrap Party (open to all).

Outside of these, focus on the nine networking lounges throughout the Palais des Congrès, and the exhibitor floor including 400+ exhibitors. Position yourself where your asset class or geography focus is concentrated.

Bonus Tip: Many valuable LP chats happen not in meetings, but in corridors, lounges, or while grabbing a coffee.

Evenings often include private receptions, happy hours, and informal gatherings. Sponsor booths double as social hubs, and the hotel bar has become something of an unofficial “fifth track” at the event.

Be natural. If you’re a speaker, that’s an easy opener. If not, lead with curiosity: ask about what they’re seeing in the market, what they thought of a session, or whether they’ve seen anything surprising.

• Showcase Thought Leadership (During & After)

If you’ve secured a speaking slot, own the moment. Come to your prep call with clear goals and messaging. Know your “no-go” zones and areas you want to double down on.

After your session, keep the momentum going:

Post a thank-you and photo on LinkedIn
Tag your co-panelists and the moderator
Share any media quotes or photos the conference provides

Internally, repurpose what you said: panel insights can be the basis for a blog post, investor update, or piece of client content. One conversation on-stage can fuel months of positioning.

• Follow Up and Follow Through

IPEM Paris may feel like the finish line, but it’s actually the starting point for real conversations.

Within a week of the conference:

Send personalized follow-ups to those you met
Reference your conversation and propose next steps
Share materials or decks if requested
Add new contacts on LinkedIn with context (“Great to meet you at IPEM!”)

Hold a team debrief. Capture who met whom, what was said, and where there’s interest. If you spoke, review the replay made available to all participants with colleagues and gather feedback, it will make you better next time.

And if you’re thinking of speaking again, don’t wait, express your interest early and pitch fresh session ideas.

Curated Breakfast & Coffee Spots Near Palais des Congrès

Ideal for informal catch-ups before sessions start:

Le Congrès Maillot: Classic French brasserie, right next door.
Paul (inside Palais): Convenient for pastries and quick espresso.
La Terrasse Maillot: Casual café directly across the street.
Starbucks (venue lobby): Predictable but reliable.

For restaurants (with reviews) near Palais des Congrès, visit TripAdvisor here. You can also reach out to IPEM regarding hosting a side event here.

Extend Your Trip: Quick Weekend Getaways from Paris

For international visitors flying in for IPEM Paris, extending your trip over the weekend is a great idea. Here are top picks for 2–4 day trips, easily accessible by train or car, ideal for recharging before heading home:

Loire Valley (~1.5 hours by train): Explore châteaux, vineyards, and riverside dining.
Fontainebleau (~40 min by train): Royal palace, UNESCO forest, hiking and bouldering.
Reims and Épernay, Champagne region (~1 hour by TGV): Tour major Champagne houses and Gothic architecture.
Deauville / Normandy Coast (~2 hours by train): Beaches, casino, and marina vibes.
Strasbourg / Alsace (~2 hours by TGV): Franco-German charm, winelands.
Bordeaux or Lyon (~2–3 hours by TGV): Wine culture or gastronomy capital.
Ghent, Belgium (~3 hours by train): Canals, medieval architecture, Belgian beer. (Bruges is an alternative, +- 3 hours)

Pro Tips:

Book train tickets early.
Consider renting a car for Loire Valley or Normandy.

After Paris: Share Your Feedback with the Community

Private Equity Marketeer offers something no other platforms do: honest, crowd-sourced event reviews from GPs and LPs.

After IPEM:

Leave a review of your experience — the good, the bad, and the insightful
Read peer feedback to see how your experience compares
Join the community to stay in the loop on future events and recaps

If you’re not yet registered for IPEM Paris 2025, there’s still time, get your pass today.

Visit privateequitymarketeer.com/membership to join the community, contribute your review and read what others are saying.

How to Maximize ROI at IPEM Paris 2025: Your Guide to Navigating One of Private Capital’s Biggest Global Gatherings