Best Private Equity Firms

Private Equity Firms & Investors

From global financial centres like London, New York, Toronto, and Singapore to fast-growing middle-market hubs across Europe, North America, and APAC, private equity firms play a quiet but decisive role in how modern companies scale, restructure, and create long-term value. These firms don’t just deploy capital — they shape leadership teams, operating models, and strategic direction across entire industries.

In North America, private equity continues to professionalise founder-led businesses and institutionalise growth. Across Europe, firms balance operational rigor with regional nuance and cross-border complexity. In APAC and emerging markets, private equity increasingly acts as a bridge between innovation, governance, and global expansion.

At Digital Reference, we believe who sits behind the capital matters just as much as the capital itself. That belief underpins our focus on radical authenticity, transparency, and verified professional credibility — values that are especially critical in private equity, where trust, leadership judgement, and execution history directly impact outcomes. It’s also why we’re building modern tools for video resumes and professional reference collection, helping the market see beyond logos and track records to the people doing the work.

This curated list highlights outsourced, part-time, fractional, and virtual private equity firms and investors from around the world — along with the founders and senior leaders who define how those firms operate. Many work behind the scenes, but their influence is felt across portfolios, boards, and markets globally.

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🌍 Our Methodology: How These Private Equity Firms Were Selected

This is not a sponsored list.
There are no paid placements and no ranking order.

Each private equity firm featured here was selected through in-depth qualitative research, including:

🧠 Leadership visibility and involvement — Are founders, managing partners, or CEOs actively shaping strategy and portfolio outcomes?
🏗️ Operational depth — Does the firm demonstrate hands-on value creation beyond financial engineering?
🌍 Geographic and sector fluency — Can the firm operate effectively across regions, industries, or growth stages?
🗣️ Transparency and clarity — Is the firm’s investment philosophy and operating model clearly articulated?
🤝 Alignment with Digital Reference values — Credibility, accountability, and people-first leadership matter.

We reviewed firm websites, leadership LinkedIn profiles, public interviews, investment theses, and ecosystem participation to ensure each firm reflects how modern private equity actually operates today.

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🌟 Featured Private Equity Firms & Their Leaders

The firms below are not ranked. Each brings a distinct investment philosophy, leadership style, and regional perspective to private equity.

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Argosy Private Equity

What they do:
Argosy Private Equity is a North America–focused private equity firm investing in lower middle-market companies, with a strong emphasis on operational partnership and long-term value creation. The firm works closely with management teams to scale businesses through disciplined capital, governance, and hands-on support.

Who they work with:
Founder-owned, entrepreneur-led, and family-owned businesses across business services, healthcare, manufacturing, and consumer-related sectors.

Operating model:
Partner-led private equity firm combining capital investment with active board-level and operational involvement rather than passive ownership.

💡 Why they stand out:
🏗️ Deep lower middle-market specialization
🤝 Founder- and management-friendly approach
📈 Long-term value creation mindset
🧠 Strong operational engagement
✨ Culture-driven investing philosophy

Keven Shanahan — Managing Partner

Keven Shanahan drives Argosy’s investment strategy, blending financial discipline with support for founder-led businesses.

Lane Wiggers — Managing Partner & Operating Partner

Lane Wiggers focuses on portfolio execution and scalability, emphasizing hands-on value creation with leadership teams.

John Kirwin — Founding Partner & Executive Chairman

John Kirwin shapes Argosy’s vision and culture, championing integrity, governance, and sustainable growth.

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CF Private Equity

What they do:
CF Private Equity operates within institutional investment ecosystems, connecting capital allocation with governance and fiduciary excellence.

Who they work with:
Institutional investors, funds, and asset managers.

Operating model:
Executive-led investment platform with strong governance foundations.

💡 Why they stand out:
🏛️ Institutional credibility
📜 Governance-first mindset
🧠 Long-term capital stewardship
✨ Risk-aware investment leadership

Mark Anson — CEO

‍Mark Anson brings decades of institutional experience, anchoring private equity decision-making in governance, accountability, and fiduciary responsibility.

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Maverix Private Equity

What they do:
Maverix Private Equity invests in music, media, and intellectual property assets, combining capital with strategic expertise to drive growth and maximize value. Their approach blends financial rigor with creative-sector insight, helping portfolio companies scale sustainably.

Who they work with:
Creators, IP owners, and businesses in music, media, and entertainment seeking capital and operational partnership.

Operating model:
Founder-led private equity firm offering hands-on, long-term investment strategies across creative industries.

💡 Why they stand out:
🎵 Specialized focus on music and media IP
📊 Blends operational expertise with capital
🤝 Founder- and creator-friendly partnerships
✨ Strategic growth with sector insight

John Ruffolo — Founder & Managing Partner

John Ruffolo founded Maverix to merge private equity expertise with deep industry knowledge in music and media. He leads investments with a creative-operator mindset, ensuring portfolio companies achieve both artistic and financial success.

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MCH Private Equity

What they do:
MCH Private Equity specializes in acquiring and scaling mid-market companies across Europe, focusing on operational improvement and long-term value creation. They combine strategic capital with hands-on support to accelerate growth.

Who they work with:
Mid-market businesses seeking growth capital and operational guidance.

Operating model:
Founder-led private equity firm providing active, partnership-driven investment strategies.

💡 Why they stand out:
📈 Strong operational focus for portfolio growth
🌍 Deep experience across European markets
🤝 Collaborative, founder-friendly approach
✨ Long-term value creation

José M. Muñoz — Founder and Senior Partner

José Muñoz leads MCH with a focus on operational excellence and strategic growth. He is known for hands-on involvement in scaling portfolio companies across Europe.

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NVM Private Equity LLP

What they do:
NVM Private Equity LLP focuses on investing in and growing UK mid-market businesses through strategic support and capital. They prioritize long-term growth and operational improvements across sectors.

Who they work with:
Founder-led and management-driven companies seeking growth capital and operational guidance.

Operating model:
Managing-partner-led private equity firm delivering active, partnership-driven investment strategies.

💡 Why they stand out:
📊 Hands-on support for portfolio companies
🇬🇧 Deep UK market expertise
🤝 Founder- and management-friendly approach
✨ Commitment to sustainable growth

Martin Green — Managing Partner

Martin Green combines strategic insight with operational experience to scale mid-market UK businesses. He is known for his collaborative, founder-focused approach.

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Alpha Private Equity

What they do:
Alpha Private Equity invests in high-potential companies, helping them scale through strategic guidance and operational support. They emphasize long-term value creation and active partnership.

Who they work with:
Growth-focused businesses seeking investment and hands-on expertise to accelerate performance.

Operating model:
Managing-partner-led private equity firm offering fractional and virtual support for portfolio growth.

💡 Why they stand out:
📈 Strong growth-oriented investment philosophy
🤝 Founder- and management-centric approach
🌍 Cross-sector experience with measurable outcomes

Patrick Herman — Managing Partner

Patrick Herman is recognized for his practical, growth-focused leadership in scaling portfolio companies. He emphasizes collaboration and sustainable value creation.

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Amplio Private Equity AB

What they do:
Amplio Private Equity invests in growth-stage companies across Scandinavia, providing strategic guidance and operational support to accelerate performance.

Who they work with:
Businesses looking for hands-on investment partners to scale sustainably.

Operating model:
Managing-partner-led private equity firm offering fractional and strategic support to portfolio companies.

💡 Why they stand out:
📈 Proven track record in Nordic markets
🤝 Collaborative, founder-focused approach
🌍 Sector-diverse investment experience

Marcus Planting-Bergloo — Managing Partner

Marcus Planting-Bergloo is known for scaling companies with operational rigor and strategic insight. He emphasizes sustainable growth and active partnership.

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Cubera Private Equity

What they do:
Cubera Private Equity specializes in growth and buyout investments in Nordic companies, focusing on long-term value creation and operational improvement.

Who they work with:
Entrepreneurs and management teams seeking strategic capital and hands-on support.

Operating model:
Founder-led private equity firm providing fractional, strategic, and operational guidance to portfolio companies.

💡 Why they stand out:
📊 Deep expertise in Nordic markets
🤝 Strong founder and management collaboration
🌍 Focused on sustainable growth

Till Gutzen — Founding Partner and Owner

Till Gutzen leverages decades of investment and operational experience to drive scalable growth and operational excellence across Cubera’s portfolio.

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FnB Private Equity

What they do:
FnB Private Equity focuses on investments in food, beverage, and consumer goods companies, providing capital and operational guidance for growth.

Who they work with:
Entrepreneurs and management teams seeking strategic support to scale their consumer-focused businesses.

Operating model:
Founder-led private equity firm offering fractional and hands-on operational expertise to portfolio companies.

💡 Why they stand out:
🍽️ Deep specialization in food & beverage sector
📈 Growth-focused investment approach
🤝 Strong collaboration with founders

Olivier Marchand — Founding Partner

Olivier Marchand combines sector expertise with strategic guidance to help consumer businesses scale efficiently while maintaining brand integrity.

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Pencarrow Private Equity

What they do:
Pencarrow Private Equity invests in mid-market businesses across New Zealand, focusing on long-term value creation and operational excellence.

Who they work with:
Management teams and founders seeking strategic, hands-on private equity support.

Operating model:
Founder- and partner-led firm providing fractional operational guidance and active portfolio management.

💡 Why they stand out:
📊 Strong local market knowledge
🤝 Collaborative approach with management teams

Rod Gethen — Managing Partner

Rod Gethen brings decades of operational and investment experience to help companies scale efficiently in New Zealand’s market.

Jonathan Goldstone — Managing Partner

Jonathan Goldstone specializes in strategic growth and portfolio management, emphasizing sustainable value creation.

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Irish Venture Capital & Private Equity Association (IVCA)

What they do:
IVCA supports and represents Ireland’s private equity and venture capital ecosystem, promoting investment best practices and sustainable growth.

Who they work with:
Private equity firms, venture capital investors, and portfolio companies across Ireland.

Operating model:
Association-led platform offering advocacy, networking, and educational resources for investment professionals.

💡 Why they stand out:
🇮🇪 Central hub for Ireland’s investment community
🤝 Promotes transparency, credibility, and professional development

Sarah-Jane Larkin — Director General

Sarah-Jane Larkin leads IVCA with a focus on building credibility and fostering growth across Ireland’s investment ecosystem.

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Final Thoughts

The private equity firms featured here demonstrate how modern PE leadership extends beyond capital deployment. Across regions and strategies, these leaders prioritise governance, operational discipline, and long-term value creation — not just short-term returns.

At Digital Reference, we’re reshaping how credibility is evaluated in professional services, investing, and leadership through verified video resumes and trusted professional reference collection. Whether you’re assessing a private equity partner, an advisor, or a future executive, we help you see the people behind the performance.

👇 Explore more from Digital Reference:

• Best Venture Capital Firms
• Best Fractional Finance Directors & Fractional VPs of Finance
• Best Fractional Controllers

In private equity, trust compounds.
Digital Reference helps you prove it.