Is it appropriate - as a conversation starter e.g. at a conference in 1:1 conversation - to ask an LP (Corporate Corporate VC HNWI or Family office) what their investment focus is and if they only make direct investments or also invest in first time funds (without speaking about the fund thesis to avoid public solicitation)? If they ask us we can then lead the conversation over to what we work on?
You should try to build some rapport before you discuss the topic. Then, the questions should be something like this:
1. Do you invest in new mangers?
2. How many have in invested in last year?