List of the Top Private Equity Firms

Fundraising from Private Equity Firms? Here’s What You Need to Know.

What is a private equity firm?

A private equity firm is an investor that buys meaningful ownership in companies—usually ones that are already profitable, growing, or stable enough to scale. Most PE firms invest through structured funds and focus on operational improvements, margin expansion, or strategic growth before eventually exiting through a sale or IPO.

They’re not in the business of betting on ideas or chasing hype. They’re looking for cash flow, efficiency, and levers they can pull to increase enterprise value.

At OpenVC, we’ve seen founders approach PE when they’re well past MVP and ready to raise a larger round—often to fuel acquisitions, expand internationally, or support a management buyout. The playbook is different from venture capital, but if you’re ready to scale with precision, the right PE partner can help you unlock serious growth.

What are the largest private equity firms?

Some of the top private equity firms globally manage hundreds of billions in assets and regularly make headline-grabbing buyouts. A few of the biggest names include:

• Blackstone – The world’s largest PE firm by AUM
• KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) – Known for leveraged buyouts and growth equity
• Carlyle Group – Focuses on diverse sectors, from aerospace to healthcare
• TPG – Active in growth equity, impact, and sector-specific funds
• Apollo Global Management – Specializes in complex buyouts and distressed investing

These firms represent the top tier—but there are thousands of other private equity firms that invest across geographies, industries, and deal sizes. OpenVC helps surface those as part of our growing private equity firms directory.

What are the steps in private equity capital fundraising?

Raising from a PE firm is more structured and longer-cycle than a typical VC raise. Here’s a high-level look at the process:

1. Investor targeting: Identify firms that invest in your stage, sector, and geography
2. Initial conversations: Expect deep questions about your P\&L, unit economics, and exit plan
3. Management presentations & data room review: This is where diligence gets serious—come prepared
4. Term sheet and exclusivity: Once a firm is interested, they’ll present terms and may request exclusivity
5. Final diligence and closing: Legal, financial, and operational checks wrap up before the investment is finalized

For a detailed breakdown of how to map out your raise, check out this fundraising strategy guide.

What are the types of PE funds?

Private equity isn’t one-size-fits-all—and as a founder, not every PE fund will be interested in your business.

Here’s what you need to know:

• Buyout funds want control. They typically acquire a majority stake in profitable, stable companies. If you’re considering selling the business or spinning out a non-core asset, they might be your people.
• Growth equity funds are the most startup-friendly. They’ll invest minority capital into high-growth companies that are already generating revenue, often in later-stage Series B+ rounds. Think expansion, not idea-stage.
• Distressed funds specialize in turnarounds. If your company is in financial trouble but still has strong fundamentals, they may step in with capital + operational guidance to get things back on track.
• Secondaries funds don’t invest in your company—they buy out existing investors or employees. Useful if you’re looking for liquidity without raising a new round.
• Sector-specific funds double down on vertical expertise. From fintech to energy to healthcare, they know the landscape and can bring more than capital to the table.

On OpenVC, you can filter by fund type, stage, and sector focus, so you’re not pitching a buyout fund when what you really need is growth capital. Whether you're building a bootstrapped SaaS company or running a profitable consumer brand, we'll help you match with funds that actually fit your business..

What’s the difference between private equity and venture capital?

Private equity and venture capital are both forms of private market investing—but they target different stages, use different deal structures, and bring different expectations to the table.

Private equity firms typically invest in mature or later-stage companies, often taking majority ownership and playing a hands-on role in operations. Their goal is to optimize profitability, improve efficiency, and drive toward a successful exit, whether through acquisition or IPO. They write larger checks—often in the tens or hundreds of millions—and expect operational discipline from day one.

Venture capital firms, on the other hand, back early-stage startups with high growth potential. They usually take minority stakes, bet on founders and vision, and accept a higher failure rate in exchange for the possibility of outsized returns. VC firms are more focused on speed, innovation, and scalability than on profitability in the short term.

In short: VC is about building fast, PE is about refining and scaling with precision.

How do you pitch private equity investors?

Pitching PE investors are looking for you to demonstrate a scalable, profitable business model with clear levers for value creation.

General strategy tips:

• Come prepared with clean financials and metrics
• Highlight your growth potential and margin structure
• Show a clear plan for how capital will unlock scale and efficiency
• Be upfront about risk factors (PE investors are deeply analytical)

How to find private equity firms on OpenVC

Whether you’re raising $5M for expansion or exploring a buyout, OpenVC gives you access to a curated private equity firms list with powerful search tools:

• 🔍 Search by tags like “Private Equity” or “Growth Equity”
• 🧭 Filter by industry, check size, stage, and HQ
• 📊 See investor activity and verification status
• 📬 Submit your deck or identify warm intros via your network
• 📁 Manage your pipeline inside our free fundraising CRM

Let’s get your startup fundraising underway—start creating your investor shortlist for free with OpenVC.