"The most impactful form of innovation, is just simple execution. We believe that execution is a highly underrated value creation tool."

- ParkerGale Capital

At ParkerGale, we believe the future is already here, it's just not evenly distributed. The founder-owned software companies we acquire are doing a lot of things right. They have profit discipline, they are close to their customers. But, they just don't have time (or the skills on the their teams) to execute the way a well-run private equity owned business can. We bring people, tools, data, introspection, and innovation to build on the solid foundations they have created.

"Strong businesses have the potential to deliver positive impact to a wide range of stakeholders including customers, employees and investors. Innovation in private equity enables partners like Accel-KKR to help leaders go further than they imagined."

- Accel-KKR

Accel-KKR’s software sector specialty (over 450 software investments since 2000) provides us with a strong foundation of global resources, operating expertise and network to build strong partnerships and create value alongside our partner companies. Similarly, Accel-KKR is on our growth journey as well, having raised 18 funds across five fund families and establishing a global footprint since our founding in 2000.

"Altamont Capital Partners views innovation as key to driving value and sustainable growth, which improves the offerings and operations of firms and their partners. We welcome innovation and believe our team possesses the skill and care to harness it."

- Jim Kunihiro, Managing Director, Portfolio Operations

Altamont Capital Partners’ investment philosophy is rooted in the belief that strong partnerships foster innovative growth-based solutions that fit the unique needs of each individual company. Our innovative nature is crafted from a combination of values, including partnership, experience, business building, flexibility, and culture. Innovation is key to conducting due diligence, generating value that benefits Altamont and our portfolio companies, and best serving our communities.

TRANSFORMATIVE VALUE CREATION 

Avance’s transformational approach is grounded in working in partnership with management teams, industry executives and functional experts to provide our portfolio companies with the resources necessary to achieve above-average growth. We do this via our S.T.A.G.E.™ value creation process.
S represents our robust Strategy creation and identification of resources needed to achieve it.
T represents Talent and our efforts to augment management and create relevant and additive boards of directors.
A is for Acquisitions and the strategic and financial assistance to pursue actionable add-ons.
G stands for Growth, bringing all of the above together as we seek to increase EBITDA and enterprise value.
E represents ESG and our efforts to improve various ESG metrics of each of our investments.

"The only constant in life is change – private equity must constantly change and innovate to create value and succeed."

Through a disciplined value investment approach, Aterian seeks to partner with leading, middle-market businesses and pursue transformational involvement by improving talent and operational performance, facilitating capability enhancing capital investment, refining strategic profiles, capitalizing on white space and where appropriate, completing high impact add-on acquisitions for all of its portfolio companies. By integrating this approach into our portfolio companies, Aterian creates long-term value for investors and stakeholders.

"Over our 40-year history, we have had the privilege of building partnerships with a broad range of innovative founders, entrepreneurs, and management teams from around the world."

 

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"Technology innovation is a key enabler of a sustainable value creation strategy. This approach has allowed us to stay competitive by deploying cutting-edge technologies and practices, which fosters new growth opportunities in our portfolio companies."

Bertram Capital utilizes Bertram Labs, its in-house digital development team, to add transformative value to our portfolio companies. Bertram Labs is a group of 12-plus skilled engineers, software developers, social media and digital marketing specialists, website designers, graphic artists and data scientists supporting value creation strategies across the Bertram portfolio. Bertram Labs has led or contributed to more than 200 projects (since inception in 2006).

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"Constant innovation keeps clients, suppliers, investors, employees, and other constituents engaged and wanting to do business, leading to long term value creation."

Our experienced team has more than 200 years of collective investing and operating experience in companies with EBITDA of $1-50 million. Our focused strategy targets investments in growth-oriented, differentiated, entrepreneurial businesses in industrial growth, healthcare and aerospace & defense. We are active with 20 acquisitions closed since October 2023, with 30 percent of our recently raised Fund III deployed.

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"With significant competition for quality investments combined with increasing cost and reimbursement pressures in healthcare, private equity firms must have innovative post-closing value creation plans to successfully generate differentiated returns."

With an extensive network of industry contacts and dedicated operating executives, BPOC's innovative value creation formula focuses on four areas: human capital, organic growth, acquisitions, and operating efficiencies. By bringing experienced, larger-company resources to smaller businesses, we seek to enhance the growth trajectory of our portfolio companies.

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"Innovation is the cornerstone of success in private equity. As investors, we are not just funding businesses, we are partnering with management teams to identify new opportunities, solve complex challenges, and unlock growth potential. The ability to innovate allows us to adapt to market changes, leverage emerging technologies, and create value in ways that go beyond traditional approaches. At New Harbor Capital, innovation is embedded in our investment model, enabling us to help businesses grow sustainably and stay ahead in an ever-evolving landscape."

New Harbor was established on the principle that focus, strategy, collaboration, and expertise drive sustainable, long-term success. Our research-driven approach, combined with creativity and determination, defines excellence in private equity partnerships. With over 90 years of collective experience, our partners work closely with management teams to systematically unlock and accelerate growth potential by equipping founders and management with resources, deep expertise, and relentless energy. We believe our thesis-based approach and extensive experience in building and accelerating growth have led to numerous successful business partnerships.

"We believe that innovation drives growth in founder-owned businesses. By seeking to modernize operations and leverage technology, we aim to scale companies, enhance competitiveness, and position them for long-term success."

Our value creation approach is centered on seeking to implement best practices and scale founder-owned businesses, in partnership with rollover shareholders. Our team is purpose-built, inclusive of nine in-house, full-time operators with specific functional expertise, designed to drive transformative value creation.

Clairvest values the entrepreneurial spirit of our partners. We seek minority positions alongside our operating partners and are comfortable with ownership positions that align with their interests. As long-term investors, we focus on fundamental value creation rather than market timing or financial engineering. Together, we work to build strategically significant businesses.

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"Doing the same old thing does not generate above market returns."

"Just like the broader healthcare ecosystem continues to evolve, so too does Cressey continually seek to innovate through our partnerships to ultimately drive higher quality care through forward-thinking services and technology."

Cressey & Company is a leading healthcare investment firm because of its rigorous thematic work and focus on investing in leading healthcare companies that set the standard for high quality.

"Innovation drives growth, competitive advantage, and value in private equity. We’re honored to receive BluWave’s “Top Private Equity Innovator Award” for the fourth consecutive year, a testament to our team’s efforts in building something special."

Crest Rock Partners excels through its S.E.A. framework – Strategy, Execution, Accountability – ensuring alignment and value maximization for all stakeholders. With more than 30 years of collective investment and operations experience, the firm helps management teams build exceptional companies while being mindful of social and environmental impacts. Crest Rock Partners values openness, honesty, integrity, and collaboration.

"Businesses and industries are constantly evolving, and so innovation is a core part of our due diligence and value creation strategy."

We aim to be a valuable partner by bringing expert operating expertise to our investments through partnerships with talented industry executives and advisors, offering flexible solutions for business owners seeking help with liquidity events or growth capital, making efficient decisions in investments and partnerships, being “industry smart” to help solve problems and drive growth, and leveraging our network of industry contacts to create opportunities and find solutions for our companies.

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We focus on relative value opportunities in the middle-market and have a large team to pursue opportunities in parallel, maintain value discipline, and drive value creation.

"Our action-oriented approach puts innovation at the heart of our value creation strategy. Our investment team and Strategic Advisory Board partner with outstanding management teams to drive transformational change in high quality businesses."

Genstar targets high-quality businesses that have the potential to be transformed into industry leaders through a rigorous focus on human capital and strategic business improvement. Genstar has a history of partnering with operating executives and management teams to drive improved operational execution at its portfolio companies.

"We believe innovation is key to unlocking growth opportunities. Our value creation strategy focuses on partnering with companies at the forefront of their industries and helping make tangible improvements to drive growth and scale their businesses."

Great Hill drives transformation and growth within its portfolio by partnering with management teams to offer deep domain expertise and strategic counsel. Utilizing proven value-creation strategies that accelerate growth and enhance strategic value, Great Hill works with portfolio company management teams to implement innovative solutions across go-to-market optimization, product innovation, IT enhancement, geographic expansion, and talent initiatives as well as support strategic acquisitions.

"Innovation allows us to uncover new opportunities, solve complex challenges, and create lasting value for the businesses and communities we support."

At Great Range Capital, transformative value creation is guided by Midwestern values of hard work, integrity, and collaboration. We honor the unique culture and heritage of each business, working closely with leadership to craft strategies that drive growth while preserving what makes them successful. By optimizing operations, empowering employees, and connecting businesses to trusted resources, we create lasting value for companies, their people, and their communities.

"The PE industry is capable of not only funding many of the innovative ideas that ultimately drive the U.S. economy, but also providing support and experience that new entrepreneurs may leverage to avoid pitfalls and take advantage of opportunities."

GreyLion’s LIFT Playbook is core to our approach to partnership and value creation. We utilize the four key tenets of Leadership, Investment, Flexibility and Technology to develop a plan to drive growth and value, which we seek to realize upon exit. GreyLion leverages our operating network both during the diligence process as well as to serve on boards and serve as mentors to first-time founders and entrepreneurs.

"With the incredible democratization of AI and digital capabilities over the past decade, GrowthCurve Capital believes the time has come to use the power of these capabilities to drive growth and create sustainable value within portfolio companies."

GrowthCurve Capital believes AI provides opportunities to unlock new areas of value creation within our portfolio companies by enhancing their operational decision-making at scale. Together with a differentiated approach to human capital, we believe this ecosystem empowers management teams to create sustainable value.

Founded in 1980, GTCR is focused on investing in transformative growth in companies in the business & consumer services, financial services & technology, healthcare and technology, media & telecommunications sectors. Since its inception, GTCR has invested more than $25 billion in more than 270 companies, and the firm currently manages more than $35 billion in equity capital. GTCR is based in Chicago with offices in New York and West Palm Beach.

"We at Heartwood are innovating by empowering high-quality founder, family and management held companies with access to talent, strategic governance, and capital for investment in organic and acquisition-lead growth."

Our in-house value creation specialist team works relentlessly with management across human capital, e-commerce / digital marketing and operational initiatives so these high caliber companies can innovate, grow and win. At Heartwood, we emphasize building a deep management team and a strong and engaged external board focused on long-term strategic goals. Heartwood’s remarkably different lower-leverage business model empowers management teams to invest in people, productive assets and strategy.

"By embracing innovation, private equity firms can adapt to changing market dynamics, enhance their decision-making processes, and ultimately deliver superior returns for investors."

At our firm, value creation is at the heart of everything we do. We prioritize driving sustainable growth through innovative, forward-thinking strategies, while continuously enhancing our operations with cutting-edge tools and systems that streamline decision-making and accelerate execution.

"Innovation drives transformation and long-term value creation. At Housatonic Partners, we focus on long-term partnerships with exceptional entrepreneurs, knowing that sustained growth comes from fostering innovation within companies."

At Housatonic Partners, we know that building long-term relationships with excellent people is the key to building successful companies. We enjoy working with the business builders that we support with our capital and experience. Over the years, we’ve worked to create a culture and framework where CEOs and entrepreneurs feel valued as individuals and treated fairly as business partners.

"Innovation is essential because it drives value creation and operational efficiency. By embracing new technologies and strategies, we can unlock growth opportunities and ensure our portfolio companies stay competitive in a rapidly evolving market."

ICV Partners exemplifies innovation, strategic growth, and community impact in private equity. As a minority-led firm, we support lower middle-market companies, driving their growth. Our rigorous evaluation processes leverage advanced analytics and industry expertise to assess scalability and risks. We drive operational improvements, scaling, and innovation. Our operations champion diversity and inclusivity, ensuring efficiency and agility. We embrace sustainability and community initiatives.

"Continuing to raise the bar for a new standard of innovation and excellence both at our firm and at our partner companies ensures we're working to build the best companies we can for our limited partners and key stakeholders."

Inverness is always looking to elevate the standard of lower middle-market excellences across the entire continuum of the transaction process. Our Value Creation Group provides dedicated expertise to our portfolio companies in key areas of finance, revenue generation, and human capital while our investment team continues to leverage new AI tools & technologies to enhance the efficiency of our diligence efforts.

LLR believes that companies choose growth partners not only for the value of their capital, but for the value that they can create together. Our dedicated Value Creation Team (VCT) brings together deep functional and operating expertise, a multi-touch and collaborative process, and data-driven advisory services to help companies achieve or exceed their growth aspirations over the life of the investment. Together, we grow companies every day.

"Private Equity is uniquely positioned to accelerate innovation through collaboration, value creation, and mentorship of portfolio leaders. Embracing new technologies and strategies can unlock growth, improve efficiency and drive profitable expansion."

Long Ridge’s active, board-level engagement and special focus on founder-led businesses allows us to collaborate with management to understand their unique cultures, leverage our industry networks for board and executive hires, support and/or lead M&A diligence and sourcing, enhance governance and internal controls, lead debt/equity financings, and identify strategic initiatives that often lead to successful exits.

"Innovation is part of our DNA and a core criteria for the businesses we invest in. We must keep up with these businesses' innovation in the way we diligence and add value to our partner companies."

We take a proactive, industry and thesis specific approach to deal sourcing, relationship building, desktop research and ultimately 3rd party diligence, which allows us to tangibly invest in and add value to businesses upon our involvement. With a "Partnership, not Ownership" approach, Main Post Partners works closely with a network of successful executives to provide operational and strategic support to its partner companies.

"Innovation is vital for adapting to an environment with higher capital costs. It drives growth, productivity, and operational excellence. It enhances investment strategies, talent diversity, and the use of technology & AI for competitive advantage."

At MidOcean, innovation is central. Through proactive due diligence, we identify companies with potential and provide the expertise and resources to unlock it. Our transformative value creation process entails refining strategy to enhance operational efficiency. As a modern PE firm, we work with Operating Partners, who bring C-suite experience and unique insights, to execute synergistic acquisitions. Our commitment to corporate citizenship and responsible investment ensures sustainable practices.

"Innovation is the cornerstone of success in private equity. As investors, we are not just funding businesses, we are partnering with management teams to identify new opportunities, solve complex challenges, and unlock growth potential. The ability to innovate allows us to adapt to market changes, leverage emerging technologies, and create value in ways that go beyond traditional approaches. At New Harbor Capital, innovation is embedded in our investment model, enabling us to help businesses grow sustainably and stay ahead in an ever-evolving landscape."

- Tom Formolo, Partner

New Harbor was established on the principle that focus, strategy, collaboration, and expertise drive sustainable, long-term success. Our research-driven approach, combined with creativity and determination, defines excellence in private equity partnerships. With over 90 years of collective experience, our partners work closely with management teams to systematically unlock and accelerate growth potential by equipping founders and management with resources, deep expertise, and relentless energy. We believe our thesis-based approach and extensive experience in building and accelerating growth have led to numerous successful business partnerships.

"Innovation in private equity enables growth. At New Heritage, we enable our companies to flourish by bringing new ideas to the table while respecting the successful track records and accomplishments of our founders."

- Nickie Norris, Senior Partner

New Heritage knows how to avoid the pitfalls that come with accelerated growth. We add value to our portfolio companies by helping augment people, process and infrastructure that enable our companies to double and triple in size. We respect the passion and vision of our founders – and believe we can add that value in a culture of collaboration and partnership.

"We believe that innovation drives growth in founder-owned businesses. By seeking to modernize operations and leverage technology, we aim to scale companies, enhance competitiveness, and position them for long-term success."

- Dave Blechman, Founder and Senior Principal

Our value creation approach is centered on seeking to implement best practices and scale founder-owned businesses, in partnership with rollover shareholders. Our team is purpose-built, inclusive of nine in-house, full-time operators with specific functional expertise, designed to drive transformative value creation.

"At NEP, we talk about innovation in terms of realizing opportunity. In our industry, empowering companies to create and grow enduring value is key. We champion our companies, their people, and their processes to help unlock their full potential."

- Tim DeVries, Managing Partner

We find and fuel what's working at our companies and champion them for enduring success. We work together to deploy value creation strategies that combine a framework of solutions custom tuned to leverage wins, navigate challenges, and help our companies achieve greater success. Our team of functional and industry veteran executives also work closely with our companies, acting as advisors, consultants, and strategic thought partners to help companies drive growth.

"We believe innovation has become a requirement to achieve superior returns. We have to be innovative to be selected as the preferred investment partner for a Seller. Our companies need to be innovative with the solutions they bring to their clients. We simply have to do more to achieve growth today. We believe the best and move innovative ideas come from within, so we bring our teams together to collaborate to push all our efforts forward."

- Ami Mehta, Principal, Operations

We differentiate ourselves by developing a proprietary vision for our platforms early on in a deal execution process to share with our Sellers. This vision drives the development of our value creation pillars, which serves as the foundation of our diligence. We go beyond traditional table stakes diligence to deep dive into the investment required to realize our value creation goals, including areas of commercial opportunity, how to leverage data and technology to improve the services we deliver and where to thoughtfully invest in talent. Every value creation plan is uniquely tailored to each platform and its thesis at work.

Our operations value proposition is primarily designed to enable our companies to grow faster and more profitably. We deploy experienced, multi-disciplinary software executives as well as functional experts in sales and marketing, product, and R&D to develop and help drive value creation plans for our companies. Our objective is to work “shoulder-to-shoulder” with our executive teams on these objectives, and to unlock new operational initiatives which might not have been possible for the business to consider and achieve prior to our involvement.

"Innovation drives growth and helps companies navigate evolving markets. Through our Growth Team, Serent provides hands-on expertise in areas like Payments, Pricing, and Technology, enabling companies to seize growth opportunities and achieve results"

- Dexter Hopen, Partner at Serent

Through its 25-plus person Growth Team, Serent provides hands-on support to help companies accelerate growth. This includes strategic guidance, operational assistance, executive team building, and transformative M&A. Serent combines consulting expertise, operator toolkits, and experts within Centers of Excellence to create value. Through tailored Value Creation Plans, they focus on sales, marketing, pricing, payments, and product and tech, driving 150-plus strategic initiatives.

"On behalf of The Riverside Company, we are deeply honored to accept the 2025 Top Private Equity Innovator Award from BluWave. This recognition is a testament to our team's unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation across several key areas - whether it’s using technology to originate deals or helping our companies with transformative value creation using many different tools. Thank you, BluWave, for this prestigious award and for recognizing our efforts to lead with purpose and integrity."

- Pam Hendrickson, Vice Chairman

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"Innovation can come in many forms, but we think it works best for us when it is in the service of being great partners to business founders. That’s why we continue to lead in not only how we make the deal process as easy as possible for those founders, but also how we create value in our companies once we invest."

- Micah Dawson, Principal, Portfolio Support Group

Trivest sets itself apart from other firms through its proactive, differentiated deal sourcing methodologies; its flexible, unique approach to deal negotiations and due diligence; and the “Path to 3x”—a time-tested, systematic value creation process that it offers to Founder/Family-owned businesses post-closing. The proof is here: more than 60 Founders have invested their own personal capital in Trivest funds.