Category: Private Equity Technology

Altvia Taps Industry Veteran Ryan Keough as CEO

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Altvia Taps Industry Veteran Ryan Keough as CEO

BROOMFIELD, COLORADO–July 21, 2025 Altvia, a leading private capital platform purpose-built for the full fund lifecycle, today announced the appointment of Ryan Keough as Chief Executive Officer. A seasoned fintech executive with over 20 years of experience driving global SaaS growth and operational leadership, Ryan will guide Altvia into its next phase of expansion and product innovation.

Keough brings a rich history of delivering exceptional client value and driving product innovation in the alternative investment community. Prior to joining Altvia, he held senior leadership roles at Allvue Systems, Finastra, and Misys, where he was instrumental in accelerating growth, enhancing product delivery, and strengthening customer success across global markets.

“I’m honored to lead Altvia at such a transformative moment for the industry,” said Keough. “Private capital firms are demanding smarter, faster, and more connected ways of working. Altvia’s technology is well positioned to meet that need. I’m excited to partner with our clients to drive innovation, expand our reach, and deliver exceptional value.”

“We’re thrilled to welcome Ryan as Altvia’s CEO,” said Nathan Pingelton of Marlin Equity Partners. “Ryan’s extensive leadership history and industry expertise align perfectly with Altvia’s mission to be the leader in equipping alternative investment firms with cutting-edge products and insights.”

About Altvia

Altvia, a leading platform powering private capital from raise to results, unifies fundraising, deal, and investor workflows into one intelligent operating system. Built on enterprise-grade technology and proprietary AI, Altvia helps top-tier firms move faster, engage smarter, and scale without limits. Trusted by hundreds of private equity, venture capital, and other alternative investment firms, Altvia pairs relentless innovation with deep industry expertise to make operational excellence feel effortless. For more information on Altvia, visit altvia.com.

Media Contact
Annie Eissler
CMO
annie@altvia.com

New Client Spotlight: Forest Investment Associates

We are thrilled to Welcome Forest Investment Associates to the Altvia Community.

Forest Investment Associates (FIA)—a global investment manager focused on sustainable forestry and natural capital—has selected Altvia as their enterprise platform for CRM, fundraising, investor communications, and Virtual Data Room.

Following a rigorous and competitive evaluation, FIA chose Altvia for our ability to:

  • Streamline global fundraising and investor engagement
  • Modernize their technology infrastructure and connect their whole firm
  • Deliver powerful reporting, dashboards, and data visibility
  • Support growth with flexibility, scalability, and ease of use

With a fully integrated solution, FIA is positioned to scale its impact–expanding access to sustainable investment strategies, enhancing transparency, and building deeper relationships with long-term partners.

In the words of MaryKate Bullen, Managing Director, Head of Business Development and Sustainability:

“Altvia stood out for its alignment with our investor-first mindset and ability to grow with us. As we expand our investment platform, technology like this helps us deliver on our promise of integrity, client service, and long-term value.”

We’re honored to support FIA’s mission and proud to power the people behind purpose-driven capital.

Welcome aboard, FIA!

Schedule a Demo ➔

You’ll be amazed at what Altvia can do for you and your team. Let’s talk and see how we can help. 



AI Without the BS: Purpose-Built for Private Capital Teams

We’re tired of the companies that cry AI. We’ve all heard the promises: AI is going to revolutionize everything, it’ll replace entire teams, pick a tool—or risk being left behind. There’s no shortage of the hype. But for private capital professionals, most of it falls flat.

At the root, too many people are pitching AI as a firm strategy. Replace firm-wide systems with low-lift AI solutions and you’ll unlock the operational edge your firm has been chasing.

The reality? Too many firms jump into AI for the optics—hoping for transformation without a clear use case or understanding of the outcomes they want. What they get instead is more fragmentation, frustration, and one more disconnected tool. 

The real AI success stories? They start with something much simpler: a specific problem, a clear objective, and a deep understanding of how AI can be deployed to make your team faster, sharper, and more efficient.

That’s where AIMe comes in.

AIMe is Altvia’s new AI-powered assistant—designed specifically for how private capital teams work. It’s not another point solution to add to your tech stack. AIMe is a practical, integrated, and intelligent assistant that lives where your work happens—across desktop and mobile, inside your CRM and systems—and brings the context, insight, and speed your team needs to move confidently.

Why Most AI Misses the Mark

Before we dive into AIMe, it’s worth addressing a few common AI misconceptions we’ve seen in the private capital space:

Misconception #1: 
“We need perfect data.”

Sure, it helps, but it’s not required. Rather than spotless data, you need accessible data. Modern AI can handle messy inputs and often helps surface inconsistencies. It’s not about fixing errors; it’s about finding meaning in the mess.

Misconception #2: 
“AI will replace people.”

Also wrong. AI doesn’t replace your judgment, instincts, or experience. It removes the friction. Clears your plate so you can focus on relationships, decisions, and results.

Misconception #3: 
“Let’s Just Try A Tool.”

AI that only sees part of the picture is just guessing. Without full context—your firm’s context—AI is as useful as an intern on day one. Real value comes when AI is grounded in your data, your workflows, and your goals.

Meet AIMe: AI + Me

AIMe is Altvia’s new AI assistant—purpose-built for private capital. The name reflects our belief that AI is only valuable when it works with you. Not as a bolt-on. Not as a novelty. But as a force multiplier that enhances how your team works every day.

And while AIMe might look like another simple AI chat interface, what makes it powerful is what lies underneath:

  • It’s deeply integrated across your CRM, data room, portals, and systems.
  • It understands the nuance of LPs, GPs, deals, commitments, and co-invests.
  • It works within your existing systems and processes—not outside them.

AIMe isn’t just another point solution. It’s a system-aware assistant trained on the language, structure, and pace of private capital.

What It Looks Like in Practice

AIMe works across mobile and desktop, whether you’re at your desk or walking out of a meeting, you can stay in motion—with context at your fingertips.

  • A Managing Director asks AIMe for a tear sheet seconds before a meeting—without logging in or clicking through dashboards.
  • An IR professional answers an LP’s follow-up instantly—no spreadsheets, no digging.
  • A partner launches a roadshow plan in minutes—AI drafts emails, schedules meetings, and preps the team.

Turn AI Potential into Impact with AIMe

AI doesn’t create value on its own. It comes to life and provides true value when it’s embedded into the way your team works—surfacing the right insights, at the right time, with the full context of your firm behind it. AIMe was built to do exactly that. It brings the speed, intelligence, and practicality your team needs to turn conversations into actions and data into decisions.

Want to see how AIMe fits into your firm’s workflow? Let’s talk.

Schedule a Demo ➔

You’ll be amazed at what Altvia can do for you and your team. Let’s talk and see how we can help. 

The AI Advantage: A Roadmap for Private Equity Success

The pace of AI innovation in private equity is no longer a future-facing topic—it’s a present-day imperative. In just two years, generative AI has evolved from exploratory pilots to delivering measurable business outcomes. For top-performing firms, AI isn’t a side initiative—it’s being embedded directly into the firm’s strategic agenda.

But success with AI isn’t about finding the perfect tool. It’s about readiness: having the right data foundation, governance, and internal alignment to confidently move from experimentation to transformation. At the center of it all is one competitive advantage that continues to separate leaders from laggards—data.

What High-Performing Firms Are Doing Differently

A September 2024 Bain & Company survey of firms managing $3.2 trillion in assets revealed four key practices that top firms are using to accelerate AI adoption and value realization:

  1. Systematic Learning at the Fund Level
    The most advanced firms don’t treat AI as a one-off experiment. They institutionalize it. That means establishing Centers of Excellence, critically assessing tools for specific fund needs, and building internal forums for portfolio companies to exchange AI use cases and outcomes—transforming isolated experiments into repeatable, cross-fund playbooks.
  2. Targeted Capability Building
    Winning firms don’t try to build everything from scratch. They recruit specialized AI talent, forge partnerships with their existing technology partners, and codify internal governance to ensure responsible scale. This intentional capability-building helps firms stay ahead of a fast-moving landscape without losing control.
  3. Strategy-First Use Case Selection
    Rather than jumping at the newest AI trends, these firms anchor their AI efforts in business strategy. They prioritize use cases that drive the firm’s core value—like deal origination, diligence acceleration, or operational efficiency. If an initiative can’t tie back to ROI or core goals, it doesn’t make the list.
  4. Rapid Build-Buy-Partner Decisions
    Momentum matters. High performers avoid getting stuck in analysis paralysis by developing a clear framework for deciding whether to build, buy, or partner on AI capabilities. With the right decision-making process, they keep transformation moving forward without stalling in the planning phase.

Your AI Adoption Roadmap

No two firms follow the same path to AI maturity—but there is a framework to guide your journey. Whether you’re exploring your first pilot or preparing to scale across the portfolio, these phases can help you move confidently from concept to value.

Strategic Alignment

  • Tie AI use cases directly to firm goals (e.g., sourcing, diligence, operations, exits).
  • Set clear KPIs to measure success (e.g., 30% faster diligence cycles, 15% sourcing uplift).

Data Readiness

  • Inventory all critical data across systems—CRM, portfolio tools, documents.
  • Standardize and clean inputs to ensure models are trained on trusted information.
  • Centralize access through a secure, unified analytics layer to power firm-wide AI.
  • Work with a trusted technology partner to prioritize data hygiene.

Focused Pilots/Betas

  • Start with targeted, low-risk pilots to understand what outcomes will drive value and evaluate outcomes against KPIs, capture learnings, and iterate before scaling.
  • Reach out to a technology partner to hear about their strategic approach to AI and opt-in to their AI Beta Programs (if applicable).
  • Use results to inform your build, buy, or partner approach.

Continuous Learning & Scaling

  • Codify success into internal playbooks for repeatability.
  • Expand AI into high-impact areas like LP personalization, forecasting, and compliance workflows.

The Firms Winning with AI Aren’t Just Smarter—They’re More Ready

Every private equity firm is somewhere on the AI journey. Some are still exploring use cases. Others are deep in pilot mode. A few are already scaling what works. But the difference between dabbling and driving real value comes down to one thing: readiness of your data, your people, and your strategy.

At Altvia, we meet firms where they are. Whether you’re laying the foundation with clean, connected data, launching a high-impact pilot, or embedding AI into workflows across the firm, our team—and our new AI assistant, AIMe, helps you move faster and smarter.

The opportunity is real. The impact is measurable. And the time is now.

Let’s build your roadmap to value starting with a conversation.

The Origin of Altvia: A Name Crafted with Alternatives in Mind

Names carry significance. They symbolize a company’s mission, values, and the unique path it paves in any industry. For Altvia, the journey to its name wasn’t just about finding something catchy—it was about encapsulating the essence of what the company stands for and the innovative solutions it brings to the table. 

Altvia, at its core, is a fusion of two powerful concepts. It was selected with much consideration for our brand, company culture, and our vision for the future. “ALT” is shorthand for “alternative assets,” a nod to the alternative investment market that the company serves with passion and precision. “ALT” is also a root form of altitude, which is a small nod to being headquartered in the beautiful mountain state of Colorado. The second half, “VIA,” means “a way” or “a path.” It signifies the journey that Altvia’s technology enables for its users—a journey toward better workflows, smarter data management, and ultimately, success in the competitive world of private capital markets. Together, our Brand “Altvia” symbolizes a clear path through the complexities of alternative investments, guiding fund managers toward delivering a superior investor experience.

What Industries Do We Serve?

At Altvia, part of our culture is bringing unmatched expertise to help our clients navigate the complexities of the private capital markets. We started with deep roots in the Private Equity, Venture Capital, and Fund of Funds space, so we know what it takes to succeed in this industry. Over the years, we’ve expanded our expertise and now serve a broad range of sectors within the private capital markets, such as Real Estate, Hedge Funds, Consultants and Family Offices . Our solutions are designed to meet the unique needs of each industry we serve, ensuring that our clients can confidently manage their investments, data, and relationships.

“I” Before The “V” or “I” Before The “A”?

As Altvia has grown and gained global recognition, a little quirk has come along for the ride: the occasional misspelling of our name as “Altiva.” We’ve noticed it enough times that it’s become a humorous little part of our story—a small, unintended twist in our name’s journey.

Now, we get it. Maybe it’s just a slip of the keyboard or perhaps “Altiva” has a certain ring to it. But to set the record straight, it’s Altvia—with the “i” before the “a.” Our name was carefully chosen to reflect our commitment to providing a clear way (“via”) through the world of alternatives (“alt”). It’s a name that embodies our mission and our dedication to guiding our clients through the complexities of the industry. So, whether you find us through a correct search for Altvia or stumble upon us by typing “Altiva,” know that you’ve discovered a company that’s dedicated to making your journey in alternatives a smoother and more successful one.

More About Altvia

Since our 2006 founding in Broomfield, Colorado, Altvia has stayed true to the meaning behind our name. Our purpose-built and fully integrated technology platform empowers fund managers to simplify data complexities, efficiently raise and deploy capital, and deliver a modern LP experience. It’s a mission that resonates with hundreds of world-class clients and supports over 100,000 LP investors worldwide.

As we continue to innovate in the private capital markets, we wear our name with pride. And remember, it’s “Altvia”—because the path and technology partner you choose for success truly makes all the difference.

Centralizing Data: The Essential Action for Operational Excellence

In an era where data drives decisions and shapes private equity and alternative market strategies, centralizing your data isn’t just an IT initiative—it’s a game-changer for your entire organization. Centralizing your data enables you to aggregate and integrate information from various departments into a single, cohesive system. Without a unified data source, you risk fragmented insights that can hinder decision-making. By centralizing data, you create a single source of truth that integrates finance, marketing, and operations data, providing a comprehensive view of your business. This holistic perspective empowers you to make more informed strategic decisions and drive growth.

At Altvia, we believe that efficient data management is critical to achieving streamlined operations and gaining unified insights across all departments in a firm. Here are four reasons why centralizing data is essential and how it can transform firm operations:

Streamline Operations for Maximum Efficiency

Manual processes and disparate systems can bog down productivity and create process inefficiencies. Centralizing private equity data and other investment metrics addresses these issues by automating manual tasks and integrating workflows across the organization. Altvia’s solutions automate routine tasks and integrate workflows, eliminating bottlenecks and reducing the time spent on repetitive tasks. Our centralized data systems enhance productivity by enabling real-time updates and seamless information sharing across your organization. This means your team can focus on what truly matters—driving firm success.

Ensure Data Accuracy and Consistency

Using data analytics in private equity for increased accuracy is critical for making reliable decisions. Centralizing your data ensures that every department works from the same accurate, up-to-date information, minimizing discrepancies and errors. By breaking down data silos and automating data handling, you create a consistent and trustworthy data environment. This consistency supports precise analytics and reporting, leading to more confident decision-making.

Drive Unified Analytics and Reporting

To make data-driven decisions, you need integrated analytics that act as your internal data center and provide a comprehensive view of your firm. Altvia’s centralized data solutions offer unified analytics and reporting, allowing you to track performance metrics and key indicators across all departments. This integrated approach facilitates better trend analysis, performance monitoring, and strategic forecasting, enabling you to navigate complex business environments with clarity.

Integrate with Existing Systems

Worried about how centralizing data will fit with your current systems and private equity tech stack? To gain meaningful insights, it’s essential to have access to integrated and unified analytics. Centralized data systems allow for comprehensive reporting and analytics across all departments, providing a holistic view of performance metrics and key business indicators. Being purpose-built atop the #1 global CRM in the world, Altvia is uniquely positioned to seamlessly integrate with your existing software and data sources. Whether you’re using CRM, portal, or analytics solutions, we ensure smooth integration to enhance the functionality of your current tech investments. This means you can leverage the full potential of your existing systems while benefiting from a centralized data approach.

Summary: Leverage Centralized Data for Strategic Advantage

Centralizing your data is more than a technical upgrade—it’s a strategic advantage that transforms your organization’s operations and decision-making. With Altvia’s powerful ability to centralize private equity and alternative investment data, you can achieve cohesive insights, streamline processes, ensure data accuracy, and drive unified analytics. This transformation not only enhances efficiency but also positions your firm for long-term success. Ready to unlock the full potential of your data? Contact us today to learn how Altvia’s solutions can help you centralize your data for improved insights, streamlined operations, and greater productivity. https://altvia.com/book-a-meeting/

Maximizing Efficiency: Strategies for the Alternative Markets

Efficiency is no longer a goal – it’s a necessity.

Following a challenging fundraising year in 2023, 2024 has proven equally demanding for fundraising efforts in private equity and venture capital, characterized by a notable reduction in hiring within firms. This shift is forcing alternative asset managers to continuously innovate to streamline operations, optimize resource allocation, and maintain robust investor relationships.

As this landscape continues to unfold, alternative investment market software and technology providers have become crucial partners to navigate strategic considerations to maximize operational efficiency. This blog post delves into the strategies and technologies that firms are leveraging to maximize productivity and stay competitive in an increasingly difficult environment.

Utilize a Centralized or All-in-One Platform

Centralized platforms tailored for alternative asset managers play a pivotal role in enhancing operational efficiency. Consolidating disparate processes and systems across your firm can help eliminate silos and improve transparent, firm-wide collaboration. While no perfect technology solution exists, firms working with an all-in-one platform that seamlessly tracks deal sourcing, monitors investment performance, manages investor communications, generates and distributes comprehensive reports, and transforms data are finding an operational edge.

Embrace Advanced Technology Solutions Over Consultants

Moreover, investing in an alternative market-specific technology solution tailored to the investment industry offers distinct advantages over hiring a generic Salesforce implementation consultant. Unlike consultants who provide generalized advice, technology solutions with features designed to meet industry-specific challenges deliver measurable ROI and sustainable efficiencies. Additionally, using an industry consultant to customize a generic solution can be less time and cost-effective compared to leveraging an out-of-the-box solution that is already purpose-built to solve your needs.

Automate Routine Tasks

Automation is another game-changer in maximizing efficiency within alternative asset management software. By automating routine tasks such as data entry, report generation, and relationship tracking, firms can significantly free up valuable time for strategic initiatives. This operational streamlining not only boosts productivity and reduces the risk of manual errors, but also enables teams to focus more on value-added activities like investment analysis and relationship management.

Harness AI and Machine Learning

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are changing how alternative asset managers analyze data, identify investment opportunities, and manage risks. These technologies enable firms to leverage predictive analytics to forecast market trends, optimize portfolio performance, and uncover actionable insights from large datasets.

However, while AI and ML offer transformative potential, asset managers must exercise caution against adopting these technologies merely for the sake of adoption. Additionally, it’s important to be wary of providers that use AI and ML as buzzwords without substantiating the practical benefits.

Firms should approach AI for alternative investment markets strategically, identifying specific pain points or inefficiencies within their operations that these technologies can address. Forming strategic committees dedicated to evaluating AI solutions or consulting with a trusted technology partner ensures that investments in these technologies align closely with business objectives and operational needs.

Balance Efficiency with Relationship Management

While operational efficiency is crucial, maintaining strong relationships with investors and stakeholders is the key to long-term success in the alternative asset world. Technology enhances this by facilitating transparent communication, providing real-time insights, and delivering superior client service experiences. By integrating a modern, digital experience that complements face-to-face interactions, firms can ensure seamless and efficient engagement that meets the evolving expectations of investors.

Partner with Technology Experts

This means not only implementing the right tools but also ensuring that you have a team of experts that understands the entirety of your daily workflow. By having a knowledgeable technology partner that can seamlessly integrate technology into your operations, you can effectively enhance firm-wide collaboration and trust, anticipate investor needs more accurately, and drive sustainable growth for your alternative investment firm.

Benefits of Adopting a Strategic and Technology-First Mindset

Maximizing efficiency in the alternative investment market isn’t just about cutting costs or speeding up processes—it’s about adopting a strategic mindset that integrates technology, automation, and data-driven insights into everyday operations. By embracing these strategies, firms can unlock new levels of productivity, innovation, and growth while navigating the complexities of the alternative market.

Ready to elevate your firm’s efficiency? Explore how advanced technology solutions, like Altvia, can propel your firm forward. Contact us today to learn more about implementing these strategies for efficiency: altvia.com/book-a-meeting.

Outlook for Success: Assessing Private Equity Fund Performance for 2H 2024

As we hit the midpoint of the year, it’s a pivotal moment for Private Equity Fund Managers to reflect on the journey thus far and strategize for the road ahead. The halfway point of the year offers a unique opportunity to pause and critically assess the performance of your portfolio, understand the evolving market dynamics, and recalibrate your strategies to ensure a strong finish to the year. By conducting a thorough mid-year performance review and setting clear, actionable goals for Q3 and beyond, firms can navigate the complexities of the market with confidence and precision. 

To help private equity and alternative investment firms optimize success for the remainder of the year, consider these key steps of performance analysis, market assessment, strategic adjustment, and effective investor communication:

Performance Analysis: Reflecting on the First Half of the Year

The first step in strategic planning is to conduct a thorough analysis of your fund’s performance over the first half of the year. This involves:

  1. Recap of Achievements and Milestones:
    • Highlighting key deals closed and successful exits.
    • Noting any significant partnerships or expansions within portfolio companies.
  2. Detailed Performance Analysis:
    • Comparing your portfolio’s performance against benchmarks and industry standards.
    • Identifying top-performing sectors and standout investments that have driven growth.
  3. Learning from the Past:
    • Evaluate any underperforming investments to identify areas for improvement.
    • Using these insights to avoid similar pitfalls in the future.

To effectively execute on this step, technology plays a key role. A powerful private equity CRM platform that centralizes and organizes data enables you to track, monitor, and analyze key metrics in real-time. This integrated approach ensures you have comprehensive, up-to-date insights into your fund’s performance, allowing for more informed decision-making and strategic planning.

Market Outlook: Understanding the Current Landscape

With the analysis complete, it’s essential to understand the current market conditions and how they may influence your strategies:

  1. Market Trends and Economic Indicators:
    • Examining current trends in the economy, including interest rates, inflation, and market liquidity.
    • Identifying sectors that show strong growth potential in the latter half of the year.
  2. Risk and Opportunity Assessment:
    • Evaluating potential risks that could impact your portfolio, such as geopolitical events or regulatory changes.
    • Highlighting emerging opportunities, including technological advancements and shifts in consumer behavior.

Strategic Adjustments: Planning for Success in 2H:

Based on your performance analysis and market outlook, it’s time to adjust your strategies to help ensure continued success:

  1. Revisiting Investment Strategies:
    • Modifying your investment approach based on insights from the period review.
    • Exploring new investment opportunities and diversifying into promising sectors.
  2. Risk Management and Contingency Planning:
    • Strengthening risk management practices to safeguard against potential downturns.
    • Developing contingency plans to address unforeseen challenges.

Integrating advanced technological tools, such as data analytics and visualization, can significantly enhance your market outlook analysis and strategic adjustments. These technologies provide deeper insights into market trends and investment strategies, enabling more accurate forecasting. Additionally, risk and opportunity assessments can be improved through real-time data monitoring and predictive analytics, allowing for proactive adjustments to your strategy. By utilizing domain-specific platforms, like Altvia, you can streamline data collection, improve decision-making processes, and stay ahead of market shifts, ultimately supporting a more informed and agile investment approach.

Investor Communication: Strengthening Relationships

As you optimize for the second half of the year, effective communication with your investors is key to maintaining their confidence and support:

  1. Transparent Performance Reporting:
    • Sharing detailed mid-year performance reports with your investors.
    • Providing context around achievements and areas for improvement.
  2. Engaging Stakeholders:
    • Utilizing digital platforms and solutions for seamless and secure communication with investors.
    • Hosting webinars or virtual meetings to discuss mid-year performance and future plans.

Operational Efficiency: Optimizing for Growth

Lastly, ensuring operational efficiency can significantly enhance your fund’s performance:

  1. Process Evaluation and Optimization:
    • Reviewing internal processes to identify areas for improvement.
    • Implementing technology solutions to streamline operations and enhance decision-making.
  2. Talent Management and Development:
    • Focusing on team development and providing training to enhance skills.
    • Retaining top talent by fostering a supportive and growth-oriented work environment.

The right technology helps you optimize for growth by enabling data-driven insights, automation of processes, and the ability to adapt quickly to market changes. By identifying and implementing operational improvements, you can drive strategic growth, support sustainable expansion, and maintain a competitive advantage in the marketplace.

2H 2024 Recommendation Summary

As we move into the second half of the year, a comprehensive mid-year performance review and strategic planning are essential for Private Equity Fund Managers aiming for continued success. By analyzing past performance, understanding the market landscape, adjusting strategies, communicating effectively with investors, and optimizing operations, you can set the stage for a strong Q3 and beyond.

At Altvia, we provide the solutions and insights you need to make informed decisions and achieve your strategic goals. Contact us today to learn how we can support your fund’s growth and success in the coming months: https://altvia.com/book-a-meeting/

The Power of 1,000+ Women: Key Takeaways from the Women’s Private Equity Summit

The 2024 Women’s Private Equity Summit convened senior leaders across LPs, GPs, and advisors to the industry to explore the latest trends and strategies shaping the private equity landscape. As we reflect on the illuminating discussions from this year’s conference, distinct themes emerged, each offering valuable insights and guiding principles for navigating the evolving market dynamics. Keep reading to hear about our biggest takeaways.

1. Prioritize Value Creation Amidst Complexity.
In today’s evolving landscape, marked by challenging macroeconomic factors, the imperative to prioritize value creation has never been more pressing. With higher interest rates amplifying operational challenges, successful investment strategies must transcend reliance on valuation multiples. Instead, a comprehensive approach, integrating capital solutions with operational excellence is essential. Focusing on fundamental practices such as team prioritization, working capital optimization, and strategic M&A discipline were discussed as key levers to drive enduring value.

2. Think Outside The Box to Deliver Tailored Strategies.
In an era defined by fluctuating valuation uncertainties, creativity has emerged as a cornerstone of successful portfolio company management. Off-the-shelf solutions are no longer sufficient; instead, the ability to craft bespoke strategies tailored to specific challenges is paramount. Leveraging innovative instruments and structured solutions empowers investors to optimize capital structures and operational hurdles, fostering resilience and sustainable growth in portfolio companies.

3. Embracing NAV Loans as a Form of Liquidity.
A notable trend underscored at the Summit was the increasing prevalence of GPs leveraging NAV loans as a creative solution to provide their LPs with cash. With the challenging fundraising market and re-up rates at risk, GPs are looking at NAV loans to inject liquidity into their portfolio companies and to fill fundraising gaps. While some LPs may see this strategy as problematic, the general theme at the Summit was that GPs should be transparent with their LPs, as it shows creativity during a challenging market.

4. Follow Through On Your Execution Plan.
While formulating a robust investment strategy is crucial, achievement ultimately hinges on disciplined execution. Rigorous follow-through and early relationships ensures alignment with objectives and maximizes the potential for value realization and the right exit for companies. And given the intricate nature and multitude of variables involved, leveraging technology and AI tools facilitates monitoring performance and execution.

5. Harness AI as an Accelerator for Efficiency.
Unlocking the potential of generative AI presents unparalleled opportunities to enhance operational efficiency and drive strategic insights, for not only your firm, but also for portfolio company operations. By understanding the landscape of AI-driven tools, firms can help portfolio companies streamline processes, mitigate risks, and uncover latent value, enabling them to achieve more with limited resources.

6. LPs Have More Choice.
2023 saw limited distributions, and with many LPs relying on distributions to re-up with existing GPs or allocate to new managers, this led to a difficult fundraising environment. This has unsurprisingly shifted the power to LPs who can now wait to see how portfolios shape up or how the managers have fared during a difficult year. Summit attendee advice to GPs who are fundraising in 2024?

  1. Be realistic about fundraising targets and timelines. GPs who request extensions open themselves up to renegotiations, especially around management fees. 
  2. Identify what differentiates you as a manager and use that to engage LPs; whether it’s sector focus, management team, deals in the pipeline, LPs like to see a clear story. 
  3. First close discounts on management fees have become quite popular. LPs will put in the work to commit to first close for existing managers or those they have strong conviction about.

In summary, the prevailing sentiment at the 2024 Women’s Private Equity Summit was one of optimism. Despite challenges in the fundraising landscape, numerous LPs are embracing opportunistic approaches and seeking out GPs with not only a historical track record of successful returns, but also GPs who are being innovative and showing that they are being resilient through macroeconomic challenges. As you navigate the complexities of today’s market, we hope that these key insights serve as a guide to seize opportunities and navigate uncertainty with confidence and agility.

For more tips to navigate the evolving market dynamics, check out these resources:

Cutting Edge Tech, Software, and Focus for PE and VC Markets in 2023

As the new year is in full swing, it’s time for our annual predictions in Private Equity and Venture Capital for 2023! If you’ve ever seen our #RiskyBets series before, you know we’re here to make our own assumptions and push the industry forward, and it starts by reflecting on 2022.

There were many changes in 2022, but one thing that we’ve been keeping our eye on is how the markets are shifting power from GPs to LPs. We believe this is a tremendous tailwind toward our vision for how the future of the Private Equity and Venture Capital markets will operate. So with that, let’s get into our 2023 #RiskyBets:

1. TRANSPARENCY. LPs’ demands for transparency, together with their more selective manager commitments, will lead us to see fundamental changes to how GPs share information with LPs. We are already in the early innings of this – Altvia was one of the early providers that offered the ability to share dynamic, real-time data visualization within our LP Portal software product, ShareSecure. But what we’re predicting for 2023 is the next evolution. It will become more mainstream for GPs to share information and will quickly become something GPs feel pressured to do by increasingly selective LPs demanding more transparency.

2. TRUST. Differentiated GPs will go on the offensive with clarity and use improved tech to begin offering real-time, self-service data not just to existing LPs, but to prospective LPs as well. One of the things that has prevented GPs from being proactively transparent with data is the fear that comes with not understanding their own data. So, as the pressure mounts from LPs to understand this same data, GPs will increasingly move towards investing in systems that help them organize data. And while it will still be a far reach to proactively let LPs peruse through data, the early adopters amongst GPs that begin to extend trust to LPs will quickly learn that there is opportunity and tremendous uptick by differentiating themselves in the market.

3. TECHNOLOGY. Technology will play a transformative role in creating new GP-LP relationships. “Democratization” is a word that has been increasingly thrown around in this market, and while it’s a trend and perhaps not a #RiskyBets to discuss, we’re here to talk about democratization with a new tune. About two decades ago, the idea of online dating was thought to be revolutionary. People connecting via technology? No way that works. Speed up to today, online dating has democratized opportunities to build relationships and connect. The similarity runs deep within our PE and VC industry software and interfaces.

Many still believe that the thought of GPs and institutional LPs meeting via technology is unlikely, but at Altvia, we believe it is inevitable. It’s important to clarify that while having GPs connect with LPs via technology will be a more efficient way to meet, it will not cannibalize the standing practices in the marketplace. This will be a natural evolution of being more transparent and providing self-service data to current and prospective LPs. This is also a natural evolution of creating a more democratic marketplace and more efficient way to meet new LPs that are also interested in meeting GPs.

There you have it – our top three predictions and #RiskyBets for the Private Equity and Venture Capital markets in 2023. If you’re ready to stay ahead of the curve and want to benefit from digital modernization, please reach out to Altvia! Sign up for our monthly newsletter, check out the Preferred Return podcast, or follow us on social.

Jeff Williams, Chief Strategy Officer, Altvia – Jeff Williams started with Altvia in 2011, bringing with him deep technical understanding and industry experience as an Associate at a leading Fund-of-Funds, Greenspring Associates. Through his tenure, he has worked extensively internally leading various departments from product, development, and marketing and externally with clients to make the vision of Altvia come to life through the development and launch of products solving the issues facing GPs and LPs.

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