Coverage Universe
Coverage universe is the specific population a database claims to cover (e.g., US SFOs, global MFOs), with clear definitions.
Definition
Definition Coverage universe is the defined set of entities a dataset intends to include. It answers: “Coverage of what?” For family office databases, universes might be regional (US, Europe), structural (SFO vs MFO), or functional (family offices that allocate to private funds). Context Without a stated universe, coverage claims are meaningless. Different vendors count different things: some include RIAs and private banks; others do not. A clear universe definition prevents category confusion and helps users compare databases fairly. It also improves internal consistency: classification and deduplication work better when the dataset has a stable boundary. Why It Matters Users choose databases based on whether the universe matches their needs. A private credit manager may care about a different universe than a venture fund. Universe clarity improves targeting and reduces wasted outreach. Key Takeaways Universe defines what “coverage” means Prevents category mixing and inflated counts Enables fair comparison across datasets Improves targeting relevance