Firm or individual: who gets referral credit when a PE team makes the introduction?
Referral credit goes to the first valid referrer whose introduction leads to a verified company application within the attribution window, so at a PE firm it sits with whichever registered account introduced the company first. Firms can avoid overlap by choosing one account owner and routing every introduction through it.
Who gets referral credit, the firm or the individual?
Credit goes to the first valid referrer whose introduction leads to a verified company application within the attribution window. At a PE firm, the "referrer" is whichever registered partner account made that first valid introduction, which is why a firm may prefer to register one account centrally and route every introduction through it. The commercial terms for any partner are set only by the signed agreement and the published program terms, so confirm the entity name on that agreement.
This page is for operating partners and portfolio operations teams deciding how to register: as the firm, as individuals, or both.
What does first-valid-referrer attribution mean for a firm?
Attribution is about sequence, not seniority. The first valid introduction that leads to a verified application is the one credited, so two people at the same firm who introduce the same company on different accounts can create a conflict between themselves.
| Scenario | What happens | How to avoid trouble |
|---|---|---|
| Two partners at the firm each submit the same portfolio company | The earlier valid introduction is the one that counts | Agree internally who submits, and log it |
| An associate submits on a personal account | Credit sits with that personal account | Decide whether personal accounts are allowed |
| The company applies directly without your link | Your credit may not attach; the program rules decide | Send your referral link or submit the referral form first |
| A board member outside the firm also knows the CEO | The first valid referrer wins | Register before raising the topic |
| A firm account and an individual account both exist | The earlier valid introduction decides | Keep one source of truth |
Should the firm register centrally or should individuals register?
There are three common set-ups; choose the one that fits how your firm handles outside fees and conflicts.
| Set-up | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| One firm account | Funds with a clear policy and an operations lead | Clean attribution; needs an internal owner |
| Individual accounts | Independent sponsors and small teams | Simple; risk of overlap and unclear payee |
| Firm account plus named contacts | Larger platforms with several deal teams | Needs a routing rule |
Whichever you pick, write down who owns the account, who may submit introductions and where the reward is paid. Partner economics are set by the signed agreement and the published terms, so the entity named on that agreement matters. Your own compliance, legal and tax advisers can say whether payment should go to the management company, the fund or an individual. This is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Confirm with your own counsel, tax adviser or professional body before acting.
The 3-line routing rule for a PE firm
Write this into your portfolio operations playbook so attribution never depends on memory.
- One owner: a named person submits every introduction under the firm account.
- One log: each portfolio company is logged with date, sponsor contact and status before outreach.
- One payee: the legal entity that will receive the reward is the one on the agreement.
How to introduce a portfolio company step by step
- Screen with the company fit checker and the baseline on who qualifies.
- Confirm the authorized sponsor at the portfolio company; read interim CEOs in PE portfolio companies if leadership is in transition.
- Register under the entity that should be paid, using /register.
- Submit the company through the referral form or send the referral link so the company can apply itself.
- SourceX qualifies the company; the company completes its own inventory; price and terms are agreed with the company.
- If a deal closes, data is delivered and the company is paid; your reward follows SourceX's receipt of payment.
You never export or describe confidential records. Partners earn 25% of the eligible platform fees SourceX actually collects from the referred company's licensing deals, capped at $100,000 cumulative per referred company. The reward becomes payable only after the buyer pays and SourceX receives its fee; no reward is guaranteed. The reward is a share of SourceX's fee and is never deducted from what the company receives.
How do platform types change the answer?
Different portfolio profiles raise different questions. A business with many client-owned records, as in BPO and contact center platforms under PE, needs the rights check before anyone is introduced. For searchers and independent sponsors, see best industries for search funds. Each company is still introduced and assessed on its own merits.
What to say inside the firm
What this page does not decide
It does not set partner tiers, bonuses, minimums or exclusivity periods; those come only from the agreement and published terms. It also does not cover your firm's own policies on fees tied to portfolio companies or LP disclosure, which you should check before registering. For wider levers, read extended PE hold periods and value creation.
Next step
Decide the account owner and payee this week, then register as a partner and submit your first company. Start with the operating partner page for the wider playbook.
- Step 1Share your linkSend your personal link to a company you know.
- Step 2Company appliesThe company applies itself at /apply.
- Step 3Buyer selects and paysThe buyer selects and pays for the data and SourceX receives its fee.
- Step 4You get your rewardYour share of SourceX fees becomes payable.
Common questions
Can a firm and an employee both be credited for the same company?
Credit goes to the first valid referrer whose introduction leads to a verified application within the attribution window, so one introduction produces one credited referrer. To avoid a dispute inside the firm, decide in advance which account submits and make sure the payee on the agreement matches.
Does the firm need to register before contacting a portfolio CEO?
Registering first is safer, because credit depends on the first valid introduction. If the CEO applies directly without your referral link, the program rules decide whether any referrer is credited. Send the link or submit the referral form at the time you make the introduction.
Who receives the reward if an individual registers?
The payee is determined by the signed agreement and the published program terms, so register under the entity you want named there. If an employee registers on a personal account, the firm should settle in advance, with its own advisers, whether that arrangement fits its policies and tax position.
Does the portfolio company pay anything for the introduction?
No. The partner reward is a share of SourceX's fee and is never deducted from what the company receives. The company gets one all-in price with SourceX's fee included and no separate charges, and it is paid only if a deal closes.
Is the reward guaranteed once the company applies?
No. The reward is payable only after the buyer pays and SourceX receives its fee. An introduction, a meeting or a signed agreement alone does not trigger payment, and no reward is guaranteed. Rates and caps are set by the agreement and the published terms.
Related pages
- Check Company Fit for Data Licensing
- Which US businesses are a fit for a SourceX data licensing introduction
- How interim CEOs and CFOs in PE portfolio companies can spot a licensable records asset
- BPO and contact center platforms under PE: whose records are they?
- Best industries for search funds, and which hold licensable records
- Longer hold periods in private equity: how to keep creating value when the exit slips
Free resources
- Business valuation calculator — Enterprise and equity value from EBITDA, your multiple, cash and debt.
- Portfolio data opportunity scanner — Screen several companies in one session.
- Working capital calculator — Net working capital, current ratio and quick ratio.
- All free tools · MCP resource center
By SourceX Partnerships Team · Published 2026-10-09 · Updated 2026-10-09
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