PE Alpha

Over the past two decades, operational improvements have become a well-trodden path. Many PE firms—especially in the upper middle market—have built internal teams to drive cost takeout, system upgrades, and operational rigor. While still important, this playbook is no longer differentiated. What remains rare, and increasingly valuable, is true go-to-market…  Read More >

PE Winning Formula is both: a) GTM Excellence + b) Operational Discipline To succeed, PE firms must now differentiate through genuine value creation, as they face intense competition, longer holding periods, and high-interest rates that limit leverage. Firms must focus on both GTM improvements and operational improvements within portfolio companies…  Read More >

Top PE firms that consistently deliver strong returns are disciplined, data-driven, and adaptable, but there is more to sustainable/durable success. Understanding what top investors prioritize can provide a competitive edge. Here are ten key insights that define their approach: 1. Firm Culture, Leadership Alignment, and Decision-Making Cultural fit and leadership…  Read More >

A few ideas for 2025 – to become the best in the industry, PE firms & teams have to the following approaches and insights from the sources: Focus on specific expertise and market segments Specialize: Hone in on specific areas like tech & be good at profitable revenue growth (aka…  Read More >

10 Strategies for Maximizing Value Creation in Private Equity The private equity industry has increasingly shifted from traditional financial engineering toward operational value creation as a primary driver of returns. Firms that consistently outperform do so by applying structured, repeatable playbooks that improve EBITDA, drive revenue expansion, and enhance operational…  Read More >

Private equity has expanded significantly over the past three decades, with fund counts and AUM reaching record levels. As competition increases and financing costs rise, PE firms must rely more on GTM Improvements (Profitable Revenue Growth Acceleration) combined with Operational Improvements to generate returns. Number of PE Funds up 5x…  Read More >

Pricing Assessment for Private Equity Portfolio Companies: A Framework for Value Creation Pricing optimization is a key driver of revenue growth, margin expansion, and overall enterprise value for private equity-backed companies. A well-structured pricing strategy enhances customer acquisition efficiency, strengthens retention, and increases expansion revenue. This framework prioritizes the most…  Read More >

Scalability – Assessing a Ptential Investment’s Scalability During Diligence (for Middle Market Companies)   In software (for Tech PE buyouts), the margin between success and mediocrity hinges on accurately assessing scalability before writing the check. While revenue growth captures headlines, PE investors know that sustainable unit economics, operational leverage, and…  Read More >

“One Team” Strategy in PE: How the Investment Team & Operating Partners Work Together as a “Deal Team” by Stage of the PE Deal Process     1. PE Firm Receives Teaser (then CIM) Investment Team Initial screen for investment alignment (sector, growth, profitability, valuation) Preliminary internal discussion on deal…  Read More >

We are in the new era of “PE Value Creation” that we can affectionately refer to as 2.0.  Now it’s much more about better diligence & ownership than ever before. In the far more competitive world of PE, achieving superior risk-adjusted returns hinges on better diligence (which is surprisingly possible)…  Read More >