Cost Of Capital - What Are Investor Relationships Worth?

[Bryan Hancock]

We're working on some marketing features for our crowdfunding platform and I was hoping some of the syndicators and deal sponsors could help out a bit.  

Sourcing investors costs money in the real world.  There are two primary ways to do this painting with a very large brush:

1.  Do digital ads and more traditional local networking/meetings to find investors

2.  Hire a professional to raise money for your projects that is licensed

Item 2 is really more suitable for "bursty" capital supply needs when your existing investors can't or won't fund your project.  

Questions:

-How much of a premium would you pay for controlling your investor relationships such that they can be used for future deals?  For instance, if you would pay a broker-dealer or RIA to source equity for 3% would you be willing to pay 5% to control the investor leads yourself?

-How much is the lifetime value of the investor relationships worth to you?

-How would you work investor leads as they come in when you're busy working deal flow?  

Thanks for any insight you can provide.  I have my own opinions, but socializing this with BP should help us build better products to help out more.