With the long view, PE firms make steady partners through the ups and downs
When people think of the private equity (PE) industry, they often picture big Wall Street firms launching headline-grabbing takeovers of multi-billion-dollar companies. But this is a caricatured version of what PE firms actually do: forge long-term relationships with companies of all sizes across industries to help them scale and build value sustainably. In fact, according to the American Investment […]
It’s not every day you land a job with one of the world’s leading investment firms ($571 billion in assets under management), then one month later find yourself amidst a global pandemic—just as you’re getting acclimated. Enter Ann (Kim) Chung. In February 2020, Blackstone made this announcement welcoming her as a core part of their nascent […]
There’s a common misperception that private equity (PE) firms only make investments to maximize short-term profits, but this generally isn’t the case. Many PE firms develop long-term relationships with their portfolio companies (portcos), and the COVID-19 pandemic has been a reminder that these relationships can prove invaluable in times of crisis. Chris Paldino is a Managing Partner of Hidden Harbor […]
With COVID-19 drastically altering the healthcare landscape, our PE fund client needed to quickly understand the effects these changes were having on a healthcare provider of interest — and they needed to know across geographic areas spanning six states in two weeks. Based on our proprietary approach, from our selection of vetted candidates the PE […]
An interview with CapitalSpring’s Richard Fitzgerald
COVID-19 has fundamentally altered the way many businesses operate, and restaurants have been forced to make the most significant changes of all. Richard Fitzgerald is a co-founder and Managing Partner at CapitalSpring, a PE firm dedicated to the restaurant industry (companies in their portfolio include staples like Taco Bell and Dunkin’ Donuts), and he recently shared […]
How We Did It: Commercial Due Diligence Case Study
Our PE Fund client needed to understand the viability of a home furnishing e-commerce business. Tapping into our invitation-only Intelligent Network, we specifically vetted and introduced multiple best-in-class groups to match the client with a specialized third-party resource with extensive online retail experience. Within two days, we successfully paired the client with a group that was […]
An interview with The Halifax Group’s Scott Plumridge
As American companies fight to recover from COVID-19 and the resulting economic downturn, the private equity industry has stepped in to provide capital, expertise, and many other forms of assistance. But how, exactly, are PE firms approaching such an unprecedented situation? What lessons can they teach other companies, including those that aren’t PE-backed? What does […]
How Pandemic-Era Managers Can Level Up By Using Collaboration Tools
Effective managers are capable of articulating their company’s values and a clear set of concrete goals, while also maintaining a commitment to diversity and open communication. These principles will help companies move from a rigidly hierarchical dynamic in which workers feel disconnected from their jobs to one in which they feel like stakeholders and partners […]
An interview with the American Investment Council’s Drew Maloney
At a time when companies are in desperate need of capital (and every other form of support they can get), the private equity industry has assumed a larger role in the U.S. economy. That’s why now is a good time to take a closer look at private equity – how it functions, the ways in […]
How We Did it: Private Equity Associate Case Study
With our extensive private equity knowledge, we use time-tested frameworks to assess PE-grade investment professionals for interim work opportunities with our clients. This means when clients have a need, we can move swiftly to connect them with viable, third-party resources. When a private equity fund in our network unexpectedly lost two mid-level investment team members within a few […]
BluWave Insights: How the Agile Workforce is Impacting the Economy
Many hiring managers report that they face a talent shortage, which is why the agile workforce – independent professionals hired on a project-by-project basis – is only going to become more critical in the coming years. In my first article for Toolbox HR, a new platform for executives to learn about everything from cybersecurity trends to […]
PE funds across a broad spectrum of industries often approach us with specific, episodic needs. Our first step for matching them with best-in-class, third party resources is to understand the nuances and unique challenges they face. When a private equity firm acquired a leading plastics company that designed and manufactured innovative plastic-injection-molded products, the firm believed […]
Interim Controller Guide: When, Why & How PE Firms Secure Temporary Finance Leadership
An interim controller provides immediate, temporary financial leadership to stabilize accounting operations, ensure compliance, and maintain reporting continuity during transitions – delivering PE-grade expertise without the long-term commitment of a permanent hire. When portfolio companies face financial leadership gaps, private equity firms need swift, effective solutions that maintain operational continuity without compromising quality. An interim controller […]
BluWave Awards 2025: Alpine Investors is PE Innovator of the Year
We’re proud to announce Alpine Investors as Innovator of the Year in the fourth annual BluWave private equity awards*. The San Francisco-based firm was selected for its for exemplary innovation and leadership. “Innovation is at the heart of everything we do at Alpine,” said Graham Weaver, CEO and Founder of Alpine. “Building a culture of innovation […]
BluWave Awards 2025: Top Private Equity Innovators
We’re proud to announce the fourth annual Top Private Equity Innovators with the 2025 BluWave Awards*. “We’re regularly asked by market leaders about the best practices that are being embraced by the most innovative private equity firms,” said BluWave founder and CEO Sean Mooney, talking about the impetus for creating the awards. Learn more about […]
