Insights. Ideas that shape
operator-led investing.

2026 Stanford Search Fund Study

The annual industry benchmark on search-fund performance, returns, and market trends. Foundational data for anyone tracking entrepreneurship through acquisition.

Stanford GSB · 2026

Private Market Midyear Outlook 2026: Is Opportunity Growing?

Morgan Stanley sees private equity and private credit entering a new growth cycle, supported by stronger M&A activity and rising demand for financing.

Morgan Stanley · Aug 2026

Middle Market Business Owners Survey 2026

A survey of 400 privately owned middle market companies finds nearly three in four owners have started preparing for an exit, and that exit-prepared owners report stronger growth and more private equity interest.

Capstone Partners · Sep 2026

The North America Family Office Report 2026

Campden Wealth and RBC Wealth Management survey 155 North American family offices. Respondents remain optimistic about private markets, with AI, cyber risk, and succession as continuing areas of focus.

Campden Wealth / RBC · Sep 2026

Q2 2026 Pulse of Private Equity

KPMG's quarterly review of global private equity investment, deal activity, and exits, with first-half 2026 figures by region. The Americas led first-half investment.

KPMG · Q2 2026

The New SBA Rules Are Here. Here's What We Think Happens Next.

This Week in ETA on the SBA's updated lending rules effective October 1, including the personal equity injection, quality of earnings reviews on deals of $3M or more, and limits on distributions to outside investors.

This Week in ETA · Aug 2026

The Small-Fund Premium: Why Less Capital Often Produces More Value

PE 150 on why smaller and middle-market buyout funds have historically returned more cash to investors than the largest funds, and why manager selection matters more when return dispersion is wider.

PE 150 · Aug 2026

PE's Scaling Paradox Meets Rising Deal Activity

PE 150 on smaller buyout funds returning more DPI than institutional funds, private equity deploying capital into fewer, higher-conviction deals, and what AI productivity gains depend on.

PE 150 · Aug 2026

Multilateral Development Banks Stepped Up as Bilateral Aid Dropped

Devex analysis of ONE data showing funding from traditional donors, private investors, and China fell sharply while multilateral development banks covered part of the shortfall.

Devex · Mar 2026

Q2 2026 Global Private Market Fundraising Report

PitchBook's quarterly fundraising data: private capital is on pace for a fifth straight annual decline, with $658.1 billion raised across 1,499 funds and funds of $1 billion or more capturing 78% of the total.

PitchBook · Q2 2026

Private Credit 2026 Midyear Outlook

Morgan Stanley Investment Management finds credit fundamentals stayed resilient through the first half of 2026, with default measures well below 2024 levels.

Morgan Stanley Investment Management · 2026

Stanford Search Fund Statistics

Historical performance data and statistics on search fund investments and outcomes.

Balancing Liquidity Constraints in a Private Investment Program

Novus insights on managing liquidity considerations and constraints within private investment portfolios.

The Evolving ETA Landscape: Key Trends Every Searcher Should Know in 2025

Duedilio's overview of the key trends shaping entrepreneurship through acquisition in 2025.

NextGen GP ETA Resource Library

A comprehensive collection of guides, studies, and tools for entrepreneurs pursuing acquisitions, from search fund primers to deal structuring resources.

The Founder's Final Act

Harvard Business Review on the critical decisions founders face when transitioning ownership of their businesses.

The Upside of Uncertainty in Dealmaking

BCG's analysis of how uncertainty can create strategic advantage in M&A and ownership transitions.

Q3 2025 Lincoln Private Market Index

Lincoln International's quarterly index tracking private market enterprise values and performance trends.

Why Some Family-Owned Businesses Outperform

PwC's global family business survey exploring what sets high-performing family enterprises apart.

Family Business Succession Planning: A Step-by-Step Guide 2025

Tru North Partners' comprehensive guide to navigating succession planning for family-owned businesses.

Leaning Into the Turbulence: Private Equity Midyear Report 2025

Bain & Company's midyear analysis of private equity trends, deal activity, and operator-led strategies.

Independent Sponsor Deal Terms Survey 2025

Addleshaw Goddard's survey of deal structures and terms across the independent sponsor landscape.

Axial's 2025 Independent Sponsor Report

Axial's annual report on independent sponsor activity, trends, and deal flow in the middle market.

Value Creation in Private Equity

KPMG's insights on how private equity firms drive value creation across portfolio companies.

Private Equity Outlook 2025: Is a Recovery Starting to Take Shape?

Bain & Company's outlook on private equity recovery trends and investment opportunities heading into 2025.

Global Private Markets Report 2025: Braced for Shifting Weather

McKinsey's comprehensive report on global private markets trends, fundraising, and performance.