iConnections vs. S&P Global
Where Capital Meets vs.
Where Markets Are Measured
S&P Global is a financial data, ratings, and market intelligence provider behind S&P Capital IQ Pro and iLEVEL. iConnections is a LP-GP capital introduction platform with AI matching, structured meetings, and LP engagement signals.
These are different layers. This page explains where each delivers the most value.
iConnections vs. S&P Global at a Glance
| Aspect | iConnections | S&P Global |
|---|---|---|
| Core model | Year-round LP-GP capital introduction platform plus capital introduction events | Financial data, ratings, and market intelligence provider |
| Primary purpose | Connecting allocators and fund managers to move capital | Delivering data, analytics, and independent ratings across markets |
| Key products | AI matching, meeting scheduling, document sharing, behavioral signals, flagship Global Alts events | S&P Capital IQ Pro, iLEVEL (portfolio monitoring), credit ratings, With Intelligence (private markets) |
| Private markets tools | LP-GP engagement platform: profiles, mandate matching, two-sided introductions | Portfolio monitoring, valuations, and performance analytics for alternative managers and institutional investors |
| Relationship layer | Two-sided: LPs discover GPs and initiate meetings | Not a relationship or introduction platform |
| Best for | Running an alternatives fundraising pipeline | Research, ratings, benchmarking, and enterprise market intelligence |
Core model
| iConnections | Year-round LP-GP capital introduction platform plus capital introduction events |
| S&P Global | Financial data, ratings, and market intelligence provider |
Primary purpose
| iConnections | Connecting allocators and fund managers to move capital |
| S&P Global | Delivering data, analytics, and independent ratings across markets |
Key products
| iConnections | AI matching, meeting scheduling, document sharing, behavioral signals, flagship Global Alts events |
| S&P Global | S&P Capital IQ Pro, iLEVEL (portfolio monitoring), credit ratings, With Intelligence (private markets) |
Private markets tools
| iConnections | LP-GP engagement platform: profiles, mandate matching, two-sided introductions |
| S&P Global | Portfolio monitoring, valuations, and performance analytics for alternative managers and institutional investors |
Relationship layer
| iConnections | Two-sided: LPs discover GPs and initiate meetings |
| S&P Global | Not a relationship or introduction platform |
Best for
| iConnections | Running an alternatives fundraising pipeline |
| S&P Global | Research, ratings, benchmarking, and enterprise market intelligence |
How We’re Different
Two Different Questions
01
Intelligence about markets vs. access to people
S&P Global answers questions about the market: how an issuer is rated, how a sector is trending, how a benchmark has moved. iConnections answers a different question: which allocators want to meet your fund, and how do you get in front of them. One informs the conversation. The other creates it.
“iConnections puts the right LPs in one place and makes it easy to have focused, pre-qualified conversations that would normally take months to set up.”
GP Survey
02
Portfolio monitoring vs. live intent
S&P’s iLEVEL is a portfolio monitoring tool used by alternative managers and investors. iConnections captures what is happening with your fundraise: who viewed your profile, which allocators are searching your strategy, who downloaded your materials this week. It turns interest into a live pipeline signal.
“iConnections provides a year-round, highly efficient digital platform connecting us directly with qualified LPs for targeted discovery, meeting booking, and relationship nurturing.”
GP Survey
03
A layer that sits on top, not against
S&P Global and iConnections do not overlap. Firms use S&P Global data and ratings to inform how they position and diligence, and use iConnections to build the relationships and meetings that fundraising actually runs on. The research layer and the relationship layer work together.
“The structured meeting format enables meaningful, decision-oriented conversations that would otherwise take months to coordinate.”
GP Survey
Where S&P Global Shines
What S&P Global Does Best
Many of our members use both. Most members rely on tools like S&P Global for intelligence and iConnections for relationships.
S&P Capital IQ Pro
The platform research and diligence teams rely on: 60M+ private company profiles, 14M+ with financials, credit data, and market intelligence across asset classes.
iLEVEL portfolio management
Used by over 700 alternative asset managers and institutional investors for portfolio monitoring, valuations, and performance analytics.
Breadth across markets
From market intelligence to energy and commodities to mobility, S&P Global’s coverage spans far beyond alternatives.
How We’re Different
Understand the Market.
Then Meet It.
S&P Global answers: “What is happening across the market, and how is it rated?”
iConnections answers: “Which allocators want to meet my fund, and how do I run that pipeline?”
Market data, portfolio monitoring, and financial intelligence
S&P Global is purpose-built for this
A platform where LPs discover and engage your fund
iConnections is built for this
Both market intelligence and relationship infrastructure
Many firms use both
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
iConnections is the LP-GP capital introduction platform used alongside enterprise data subscriptions like S&P Global for the fundraising motion. S&P Global provides market data, ratings, and financial intelligence. What it doesn’t provide is a two-sided platform where allocators self-manage profiles, initiate meetings, and engage with your fund year-round. iConnections is built for that layer. Most firms keep their S&P Global subscription for research and use iConnections for direct LP engagement.
S&P Global provides market data, ratings, and financial intelligence. iConnections is a year-round LP–GP capital introduction platform. They address different needs and may be used together.
No, and it is not designed to. If you need benchmarks, or broad market data, that is what providers like S&P Global deliver. iConnections is where you build relationships and run allocator meetings.
Firms use S&P Global to inform positioning, and market context, and use iConnections to identify interested allocators, schedule meetings, and manage year-round engagement. Intelligence layer plus relationship layer.
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