> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://support.affinity.co/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # How to automatically create opportunities from qualified leads > Workflow recipe: How to automatically create opportunities from qualified leads **How-to** — task-oriented recipe. **Last Updated:** November 21, 2025 **Object Tags:** Opportunity Triggers, Deal Conversion, Pipeline Management, Forecasting, Automation *** ## Overview Seamlessly convert qualified sourcing leads into tracked opportunities using Opportunity Triggers. This workflow eliminates manual opportunity creation, ensures consistent linking between source companies and deal tracking, and maintains forecast accuracy through automation. **What you'll accomplish:** Set up automatic opportunity creation when deals reach qualification milestones, with pre-filled information and proper linking for seamless pipeline tracking. **Who it's for:** Deal flow managers, investment analysts, sourcing teams transitioning to active deal tracking, and admins managing pipeline architecture. **When to use this:** When separating sourcing/prospecting from active deal management, implementing stage-gate processes, or improving forecast accuracy through systematic opportunity tracking. *** ## Prerequisites * List Owner or List Admin permissions on source list * **Source list**: Sourcing or pipeline list with Status field * **Target list**: Opportunity list for deal tracking (must be type "Opportunity") * Target list shared with team members who will create opportunities * Understanding of which status value indicates qualification *** ## Workflow Steps ### Step 1: Design Your Pipeline Architecture **Define your lists and flow:** **Common architecture:** * **Source list**: "Sourcing Pipeline" (Companies list) * **Trigger status**: "Qualified" * **Target list**: "Active Deals" (Opportunity list) **Alternative architectures:** **Multi-stage opportunities:** * "Early Stage Deals" list → "Qualified" status → Creates opps in "Series A Pipeline" * "Portfolio Companies" list → "Follow-on Interest" status → Creates opps in "Follow-on Deals" **Verify target list setup:** 1. Target list exists and is type "Opportunity" 2. Target list is shared with your team ### Step 2: Configure the Opportunity Trigger 1. Open your source list (e.g., "Sourcing Pipeline") 2. Click **List Options** → **Triggers** 3. Click **Opportunity Triggers** tab 4. Click **Create New Trigger** (or select status to configure) 5. **Status**: Select qualification status (e.g., "Qualified") 6\. **Target List**: Select your opportunity list (e.g., "Active Deals") 7\. Click **Save** ### Step 3: Test the Trigger Flow **Create test scenario:** 1. Select a test company in your source list 2. Change status to your trigger value (e.g., "Qualified") 3. Opportunity creation modal should appear **Verify pre-filled information:** * ✅ Company name populated? * ✅ Owners carried over? * ✅ Link to source company present? * ✅ Amount pre-filled (if was in source entry)? **Complete additional fields:** * Add opportunity-specific info (Investment Amount, Expected Close Date) * Click **Create Opportunity** ### Step 4: Document the Workflow for Your Team **Create team guidance:** **What to communicate:** 1. **When to qualify**: What criteria mean a company is "Qualified"? 2\. **What happens**: Automatic opportunity creation in Active Deals list 3\. **What to fill**: Which fields in opportunity modal (beyond pre-filled) 4\. **Why it matters**: Tracking for forecasting, partner visibility, reporting **Example team doc:** "**Qualification Criteria:** * Founder/team call completed * Thesis fit confirmed * Initial metrics validated (ARR, growth, market) * Interest mutual (not just us interested in them) **When you mark as Qualified:** * Opportunity automatically created in Active Deals list * Pre-filled: Company name, your name as owner, company link * You'll need to add: Investment Amount, Expected Close Date * Opportunity will appear in our forecast reporting" ### Step 5: Handle Edge Cases **Scenario: Company already has an opportunity** * Opportunity Trigger still fires (allows multiple opportunities per company) * Useful for: Different funding rounds, follow-on investments * Name opportunities distinctly: "Acme Corp - Series A" vs "Acme Corp - Series B" **Scenario: User cancels opportunity modal** * Opportunity is NOT created * Status change is also cancelled * Source entry remains in previous status * User can retry later when information is available **Scenario: Target list permissions issue** * User sees error if target list not shared with them * Admin must share target list with user * Or reconfigure trigger to different target list ### Step 6: Monitor and Optimize **After 1 month:** 1. Review created opportunities for data quality 2. Check how many qualified deals actually created opportunities (should be \~100%) 3. Survey team: * Is qualification timing right? * Are pre-filled fields useful? * What additional fields would help? 1. Analyze opportunity conversion from sourcing **Optimization opportunities:** * Configure additional Opportunity Triggers at different stages *** ## Expected Outcome * Every qualified company automatically generates tracked opportunity * Opportunities pre-filled with source company, owners, and available amount data * Automatic bidirectional linking (source company ↔︎ opportunity) * Forecast pipeline populated systematically (no manual opportunity creation) * Clear conversion tracking from sourcing to active deals * Reduced time spent on administrative opportunity setup * Team can focus on deal execution rather than data entry *** ## Tips & Best Practices **Trigger Timing:** * **Trigger at right moment**: Not too early (incomplete info) or too late (already tracking separately) * **Common trigger statuses**: "Qualified", "Term Sheet", "Committed", "Follow-on Interest" * **Avoid triggering** on: "Sourcing", "Initial Contact" (too early) **List Architecture:** * **Separate sourcing from deals**: Source in Companies list, track in Opportunity list * **One target per status**: Each qualification status can only create in one opportunity list * **Multiple statuses okay**: "Seed Qualified" and "Series A Qualified" can trigger to different opportunity lists **Pre-fill Strategy:** * **Populate Amount in source** if you want it to pre-fill opportunities * **Keep Owners updated** in source so they carry to opportunities **Combining Triggers:** * **Status + Opportunity Triggers** on same status = consolidated modal in New Lists * **Order matters**: Status Trigger fires first, then Opportunity Trigger * **Plan fields carefully**: Don't overwhelm with too many required fields across both triggers **Team Adoption:** * **Make qualification criteria clear** so team knows when to use trigger status * **Show forecast impact**: Demonstrate how opportunities feed reporting * **Reduce manual work**: Emphasize time saved vs. manual opportunity creation *** ## Example Use Case SummitCap, a growth equity firm, wanted better sourcing → deal conversion tracking: **Their Setup:** * **Source list**: "Sourcing Universe" (5,000+ companies) * **Target list**: "Active Pipeline" (Opportunity list) * **Qualification status**: "Qualified Lead" * **Required Fields** on source: Owner, Sector, Lead Source **Configuration (Week 1):** 1. Verified "Active Pipeline" opportunity list shared with full investment team 2. Configured Opportunity Trigger: * Source list: Sourcing Universe * Status: "Qualified Lead" * Target: Active Pipeline 1. Tested with 2 test companies 2. Documented workflow in team wiki **User Experience:** Senior Associate Maya is sourcing AI companies: 3. Finds promising company "DataFlow AI" through LinkedIn outbound 4. Adds to "Sourcing Universe" list 5. Required Fields modal: Adds herself as Owner, selects "AI/ML" sector, "LinkedIn Outbound" source 6. After 2 founder calls, decides to qualify 7. Changes status from "Initial Contact" to "Qualified Lead" 8. Two modals appear in sequence: * **Status Trigger** (configured later): Requires "Qualification Notes" → she adds "Strong founder, 300% YoY growth, Series A raising \$15M" * **Opportunity Trigger**: Pre-fills DataFlow AI name, Maya as owner, company link → she adds "\$15M" Investment Amount and "Q2 2026" Expected Close 1. Opportunity created in "Active Pipeline" list automatically 2. Links visible both directions (company profile shows opportunity, opportunity shows source company) *** ## Related topics - [Lists in Affinity — Open Beta Guide](/s/article/Lists-in-Affinity.md) - [How To Set Up Opportunity Triggers](/s/article/How-to-set-up-Opportunity-Triggers.md) - [How to standardize team workflows with required fields and triggers](/s/article/How-to-standardize-team-workflows-with-required-fields-and-triggers.md) - [How to build a qualified pipeline using required fields](/s/article/How-to-build-a-qualified-pipeline-using-required-fields.md) - [Add to List and Triggers Reference](/s/article/Add-to-list-and-triggers-reference.md)