Private Equity

The concentration principle: how PE investors actually create value

Ex-Citigroup CFO Gary Crittenden on why concentration—paired with the ability to add value to an asset—creates outsized private equity returns.

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The PE log jam: why over-marked assets can't trade, and what actually clears the market

A former Citigroup CFO explains the liquidity discount missing from PE marks—why portfolios are frozen, and what actually clears the market.

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Not all EBITDA is equal: Gary Crittenden on the return-on-capital lens that picks winners

Gary Crittenden, former Amex and Citi CFO, on why return on capital above cost of capital—not raw EBITDA—is what separates real value creation.

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Why 75% of M&A destroys value, and it’s not the strategy

A Morgan Stanley banker who has worked on 75+ transactions explains why most M&A fails at integration, not strategy, and the two pre-deal diligence questions PE sponsors should ask before signing.

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Understanding Affinity’s API roadmap

Learn about Affinity’s API roadmap and how the team is building APIs to break down data silos between critical systems and drive better decision-making.

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How do PE firms track warm introductions across their team?

Most firms already have warm paths to the founders they want to reach—they just can't see them. Learn how relationship intelligence surfaces hidden connections, scores relationship strength, and turns your team's collective network into a sourcing advantage.

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How top-performing PE firms convert outreach into deal flow

Data from hundreds of PE firms shows a 17x efficiency gap in converting outreach to introductions. See the three behavioral patterns that separate top-quartile firms.

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Who knows who? How PE and VC firms use CRM network mapping to find warm introductions

Your firm has hundreds of valuable relationships locked in individual inboxes. Learn how CRM network mapping surfaces who knows who so you can find warm introductions in seconds.

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Best CRM for automatic email and meeting capture

Most CRMs require manual data entry for every email and meeting. Affinity captures it all automatically. See how PE and VC firms save 10+ hours per week.

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The second bite at the apple: How Martis Capital convinced a founder to stay in

Most "second bite" content is written for founders. This is for PE deal teams: how to qualify founders, lead the conversation, and structure minority deals that hold.

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What A Top Management Consulting Firm Revealed About Why Relationship Intelligence is Key to Private Equity Success

Private equity (PE) has experienced a surge in growth over the past five years. New research reveals that relationship intelligence is key to success.

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The unicorn: a dying breed or exit catalyst in 2025?

Will 2025 bring exits for 700+ US unicorns? Explore key predictions from 300 dealmakers on IPOs, M&A activity, valuations, and the rise of zombie unicorns in private markets.

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The Data-Driven Investor of Today And Tomorrow

Data-driven investing is using data to augment decision-making. Learn how firms are using data to streamline operations and make smarter investment decisions.

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Rethinking sustainable investment strategies in private equity

Sustainable investing in private equity has evolved beyond ESG metrics. Learn about Generation Investment Management's strategic approach to balancing profitability with impact.

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Should private equity firms use Salesforce?

Salesforce is a leading CRM across many industries. But is it the right choice for private equity firms? Let’s explore the pros, cons, and an alternative.

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6 tips for improving private equity deal sourcing

Winning deals start with quality deal sourcing. Discover the private equity deal sourcing strategies leading firms use to find and close more lucrative deals.

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Private equity deal flow best practices

Enhance your private equity deal flow. From relationship-driven deal sourcing to modern tech solutions, get tips on building a high-quality PE pipeline.

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4 private equity benchmarks shaping dealmaking in 2025

Private equity firms are navigating volatility and a difficult exit market, but deal activity is proving more resilient than expected. Affinity’s Private Equity Benchmark 2025 analyzes aggregate data from more than 200 PE firms, surfacing trends that reveal how firms are adapting.

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The critical role of portfolio company management today

Get expert insights into managing your portfolio companies effectively during market downturns—including strategies for using technology and relationships.

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Why VC and PE investors are doubling down on the pet industry

Spending on pets is up and the pet industry is attracting the interest of investors. Find out more about the investment opportunity and recent notable activity.

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Make Better Deal Decisions in Less Time: 4 New AI Features From Affinity

Four AI features that eliminate manual research busywork: note summaries, activity insights, pitch deck analysis, and integrated news for faster deal decisions.

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How top private equity firms build strategic limited partner relationships

Strategic limited partner relationships are the key to private equity success. Here’s how leading PE firms nurture and manage stronger LP relationships.

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Limited Partners (LP) vs. General Partners (GP) in private equity & how they're connected

Explore the roles and responsibilities of Limited Partners (LPs) and General Partners (GPs) in private equity—and how to strengthen these vital partnerships.

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How to overcome the barriers to data-driven investing

Affinity's CEO, Ray Zhou, shares three pieces of advice for private capital firms looking to become more data-driven in 2024.

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Seven deal sourcing strategies for investors

Explore seven deal sourcing strategies for investors that help you source deals, build an efficient deal flow and close more high-quality deals faster.

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Deal sourcing: What it is, how it works, and best practices

Learn the 7-step deal sourcing process top VC and PE firms use. 15 best practices, PE-specific strategies, and the tools that power modern dealflow.

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David ibnAle: Venture Investing with a Private Equity mindset

Explore David ibnAle's journey from private equity to founding Advance Venture Partners, and how his experiences shaped his framework for early-stage investing.

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Campfire 2025: Speakers & agenda announced

Who will speak at Campfire 2025? Find out, with information on session topics and more reasons to attend the world's only relationship intelligence conference.

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Affinity Campfire returns to San Francisco

Affinity’s annual conference, Campfire, returns to San Francisco on October 1, 2025. Learn why this is a must-attend private capital event and register today!

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AI for private equity deal sourcing and relationship intelligence

Discover how AI deal sourcing and relationship intelligence help PE teams surface high-value opportunities faster, reduce sourcing friction, and close more deals with confidence.

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3 best practices on communicating with LPs

Whether your firm has an investor relations team or not, these tried-and-tested best practices will help to improve your Limited Partner communication strategy.

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2026 Private Capital Predictions: What 275 Investors Told Us

275 investors reveal 2026 private capital trends: AI adoption doubled to 28%, deal sourcing remains a top priority, and fundraising sentiment surged.

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The latest

The concentration principle: how PE investors actually create value

The PE log jam: why over-marked assets can't trade, and what actually clears the market

Not all EBITDA is equal: Gary Crittenden on the return-on-capital lens that picks winners

Why 75% of M&A destroys value, and it’s not the strategy

Understanding Affinity’s API roadmap

How do PE firms track warm introductions across their team?

How top-performing PE firms convert outreach into deal flow

Who knows who? How PE and VC firms use CRM network mapping to find warm introductions

Best CRM for automatic email and meeting capture

The second bite at the apple: How Martis Capital convinced a founder to stay in

What A Top Management Consulting Firm Revealed About Why Relationship Intelligence is Key to Private Equity Success

The unicorn: a dying breed or exit catalyst in 2025?

The Data-Driven Investor of Today And Tomorrow

Rethinking sustainable investment strategies in private equity

Should private equity firms use Salesforce?

6 tips for improving private equity deal sourcing

Private equity deal flow best practices

4 private equity benchmarks shaping dealmaking in 2025

The critical role of portfolio company management today

Why VC and PE investors are doubling down on the pet industry

Make Better Deal Decisions in Less Time: 4 New AI Features From Affinity

How top private equity firms build strategic limited partner relationships

Limited Partners (LP) vs. General Partners (GP) in private equity & how they're connected

How to overcome the barriers to data-driven investing

Seven deal sourcing strategies for investors

Deal sourcing: What it is, how it works, and best practices

David ibnAle: Venture Investing with a Private Equity mindset

Campfire 2025: Speakers & agenda announced

Affinity Campfire returns to San Francisco

AI for private equity deal sourcing and relationship intelligence

3 best practices on communicating with LPs

2026 Private Capital Predictions: What 275 Investors Told Us