Private Equity Firms in the Bay Area

Adams Street Partners is a leading global private markets investment manager headquartered in Chicago. Established in 1972, the firm has over five decades of experience in private equity, offering a comprehensive suite of investment strategies including venture capital, growth equity, buyouts, private credit, and secondary investments. The firm is 100% employee-owned, fostering a culture of alignment and long-term commitment to its clients. With a presence in more than 30 countries across five continents, Adams Street Partners leverages its extensive network and deep industry insights to identify and capitalize on investment opportunities. The firm's global footprint includes offices in key financial centers such as Austin, Beijing, Boston, London, Menlo Park, Munich, New York, Seoul, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo, and Toronto, enabling it to maintain close relationships with portfolio companies and investors worldwide. Managing approximately $62 billion in assets under management, Adams Street Partners serves a diverse client base comprising corporate and public pension plans, foundations, family offices, and endowments. The firm's commitment to excellence and innovation in private markets investment management has solidified its reputation as a trusted partner for institutional investors seeking long-term value creation.

Founded in 1984, Advent International is one of the largest and most experienced global private equity firms. With decades of industry leadership, it has established a strong track record of successful investments and deep sector expertise. Advent has invested in over 420 private equity transactions across 43 countries. The firm partners with management teams to accelerate growth through strategic support, operational improvement, and long-term vision alignment. With $94 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2023, Advent primarily focuses on buyouts and growth equity investments across five key sectors, maintaining a flexible and globally integrated approach.

Ardian is a leading global private investment house headquartered in Paris, France. Founded in 1996 by Dominique Senequier as AXA Private Equity, the firm became independent in 2013 and rebranded as Ardian. Today, it is majority-owned by its employees, reflecting a commitment to long-term alignment with clients and stakeholders. With over $176 billion in assets under management or advisement, Ardian operates across private equity, real assets, and credit. Its private equity expertise includes buyouts, expansion capital, and secondaries, while its real assets portfolio encompasses infrastructure and real estate investments. Ardian also offers customized solutions tailored to institutional and private wealth clients. Ardian maintains a global presence with 19 offices across Europe, the Americas, Asia, and the Middle East, employing over 1,050 professionals. The firm's investment approach emphasizes sustainability, innovation, and value creation, aiming to support companies in achieving long-term growth and positive impact.

Bregal Sagemount is a leading growth-focused private capital firm founded in 2012, specializing in flexible capital solutions and strategic partnerships for market-leading companies in high-growth sectors. The firm, backed initially by Bregal Investments (part of the Cofra Group), manages over $7.5 billion in committed capital across multiple funds and has invested in more than 70 companies, with a current portfolio of around 33 active investments. With offices in New York, Palo Alto, and Dallas, Bregal Sagemount targets middle-market growth companies, providing equity or debt for organic growth, mergers and acquisitions, buyouts, recapitalizations, and shareholder liquidity. It invests in both control and minority stakes, typically ranging from $15 million to $400 million in firms generating over $15 million in revenue, drawing on a team of domain experts from Goldman Sachs, Great Hill Partners, and other top firms. Led by Managing Partner Gene Yoon, along with co-founders including Partners Adam Fuller, Mike Kosty, and Pavan Tripathi, the firm emphasizes founder-friendly approaches, value creation, and ESG standards such as carbon reduction, diversity, and cybersecurity. Bregal Sagemount focuses on industries such as software, tech-enabled business services, healthcare technology, fintech, and various other sectors that align with its investment philosophy.

Bridgepoint Group plc is a leading international alternative asset manager focused on middle-market private equity and private credit. Founded in 1984 as part of NatWest and spun out in 2000, the firm is headquartered in London and publicly listed on the London Stock Exchange since 2021. It manages over €39 billion in assets across a family of funds targeting mid-cap buyouts, growth investing, and specialist credit. Bridgepoint emphasizes long-term partnerships with portfolio companies and institutional clients, delivering strong returns through operational transformation and strategic growth support. The group operates six principal investment strategies: Bridgepoint Europe (mid-cap buyouts), Bridgepoint Development Capital (small-mid buyouts), Bridgepoint Credit, Bridgepoint Growth, Infrastructure, and Bridgepoint Direct Lending. Its portfolio spans sectors including healthcare, technology, business services, consumer, and advanced industrials. The firm typically targets businesses valued between €200 million and €1.5 billion, offering both capital and operational expertise to unlock scalable value. With over 200 investment professionals and 13 global offices, Bridgepoint maintains a diversified and regionally embedded structure. Offices are located in London (HQ), New York, San Francisco, Paris, Frankfurt, Madrid, Amsterdam, Luxembourg, Shanghai, Tokyo, Singapore, Seoul, and Abu Dhabi. As a UN PRI signatory, the firm integrates ESG principles across its investment processes and portfolio management, reinforcing its commitment to responsible and sustainable investing.

Carrick Capital Partners is a growth-oriented private equity firm founded in 2012, headquartered in San Francisco and Newport Beach, California. The firm focuses on investing in mid-sized, fast-growing companies primarily in the enterprise software, SaaS, transaction processing, and technology-enabled services sectors. Carrick combines capital with operational expertise to help portfolio companies scale and achieve their strategic goals. The firm employs a thematic, industry-focused investment approach, targeting companies with revenues typically between $20 million and $100 million, strong growth potential, and near or current profitability. Carrick emphasizes a concentrated portfolio strategy to build deep partnerships with management teams, providing hands-on support to improve critical business areas and maximize long-term value. Leveraging decades of experience from investment banking, private equity, and technology sectors, Carrick Capital Partners works closely with CEOs and entrepreneurs to deliver operational improvements alongside capital. Their portfolio includes companies like DailyPay, LegalSifter, Bishop Fox, Mavenlink, and Flatiron School, reflecting a commitment to transformative technology-enabled businesses.

Centana Growth Partners is a specialized growth equity firm founded in 2015, focusing on the future of finance across financial services, fintech, and related enterprise software. With offices in Palo Alto, New York, and San Francisco, the firm manages a $600 million Fund III, following its $375 million Fund II and $250 million Fund I. It targets rapidly growing companies with $7-75 million in recurring revenue, strong unit economics, talented teams, and customer traction, providing tailored investments of $10-50 million+ for growth acceleration, acquisitions, or balance sheet de-risking.The firm differentiates through its Centana Strategic Network of operating executives and industry influencers, offering portfolio companies access to clients, partners, and board-level expertise. Partners like co-founders Eric Byunn, Ben Cukier, and Steven Swain bring decades of experience from leading firms, with current board seats at notable companies. Centana emphasizes founder-friendly partnerships, hands-on support, and a global mandate while primarily investing in the US. It has been recognized with awards as a Top Growth Equity Firm and has backed important exits, empowering innovators across diverse sectors.

EQT is a purpose-driven global investment organization founded in 1994 in Stockholm, Sweden. With a Nordic heritage and a global mindset, EQT focuses on active ownership strategies, responsibly investing in, owning, and developing companies and real assets. EQT invests across multiple geographies, sectors, and strategies, including private equity, infrastructure, real estate, growth equity, and venture capital. The firm aims to future-proof companies and make a positive impact for all stakeholders. As of 2025, EQT manages approximately €273 billion in assets under management (AUM), with a team of over 1,500 employees operating from offices across Europe, North America, and Asia-Pacific.

Greenoaks Capital is a global investment firm headquartered in San Francisco, California, specializing in long-term, concentrated investments in technology-enabled businesses. Founded in 2012 by Neil Mehta, the firm partners with visionary entrepreneurs to build enduring companies that define their industries. Greenoaks focuses on identifying businesses with strong unit economics and sustainable competitive advantages. The firm has a diversified portfolio that includes notable companies such as Robinhood, Stripe, Coupang, Deliveroo, Flipkart, and Wiz. Greenoaks' investment strategy emphasizes patience and a deep understanding of the businesses it invests in, allowing for meaningful contributions to their growth and success. By maintaining a concentrated portfolio, the firm ensures dedicated support to each of its investments. Greenoaks operates with a global perspective, investing across North America, Europe, Asia, and other regions. The firm's approach is characterized by a commitment to long-term partnerships, data-driven decision-making, and a focus on building companies that have the potential to become market leaders. With a team of experienced professionals, Greenoaks continues to seek out opportunities to support transformative businesses worldwide.

Gryphon Investors is a San Francisco–based, middle‑market private equity firm founded in 1995. The firm focuses on building enduring value in partnership with experienced management teams by deploying capital, operational expertise, and a team of full‑time operating professionals embedded alongside portfolio companies. Gryphon invests across six core sectors—Business Services, Consumer Products & Services, Healthcare, Industrial Growth, Software, and Technology Solutions & Services. Its differentiated model includes three dedicated investment strategies—Flagship, Heritage, and Junior Capital—targeting equity investments and subordinated credit in mid‑market businesses. With approximately USD 9–10 billion in assets under management, Gryphon has completed over 75 platform investments and more than 550 add‑on acquisitions. Its operationally integrated model—supported by investment professionals, operating partners, and executive advisors—is designed to accelerate growth and operational excellence across portfolio companies.

Hyperion Capital Partners is a private investment firm headquartered in Los Angeles, California, focused on partnering with management teams to invest in companies at critical inflection points. The firm provides capital and strategic guidance to accelerate profitability and growth while maintaining a conservative capital structure without relying on excessive leverage. Their investment approach is thesis-driven and industry agnostic, allowing them to quickly adapt and identify attractive subsectors across a broad range of industries.Founded in 2020, Hyperion Capital Partners specializes in control-oriented investments in mid-sized businesses generating between $20 million and $200 million in revenue, primarily located in North America. The firm emphasizes a concentrated investment strategy, dedicating significant resources and operational expertise to a select number of portfolio companies to drive long-term value creation.Hyperion Capital Partners prides itself on a transparent and constructive partnership model that benefits investors, management teams, employees, and stakeholders. By combining capital with strategic mentorship and operational support, the firm aims to unlock growth potential and sustainable profitability in its portfolio companies.

Industrial Growth Partners (IGP) is a San Francisco-based specialist private investment partnership focused exclusively on acquiring middle-market industrial manufacturing businesses and niche industrial services companies. Founded in 1997, IGP has raised approximately $3.4 billion in equity capital across six funds and has successfully invested alongside management in over forty platform transactions, establishing itself as a long-term strategic partner in the industrial sector.IGP operates from a single office in San Francisco and maintains a highly collaborative approach to value creation, working closely with management teams to unlock the unique potential of their businesses. The firm primarily targets niche manufacturers, value-added distributors, and critical industrial services businesses headquartered in the United States or Canada, with revenue up to $250 million and EBITDA up to $40 million.Investment strategies include entrepreneur and family-owned recapitalizations, corporate divestitures from large companies, and acquisitions of private equity-owned companies seeking a new growth partner. IGP emphasizes a lower leverage approach than typical private equity firms while providing access to a blue-chip base of limited partners, which includes leading endowments, foundations, family offices, and pension plans.The firm's post-investment involvement spans multiple areas including operations, strategy, corporate finance, and corporate governance. IGP has solid relationships with numerous commercial banks and institutional financing firms, ensuring a stable capital base for portfolio companies. The firm specializes in creating value through tailored operational improvements and strategic initiatives.

Insignia Capital Group is a private equity firm based in the San Francisco Bay Area, focused on investing in lower middle-market companies with strong growth potential. Founded by experienced private equity professionals, Insignia partners with management teams to unlock value through strategic support, operational improvements, and targeted growth initiatives. The firm’s investment philosophy centers on collaboration, long-term vision, and disciplined execution. Insignia targets companies primarily in the consumer and business services sectors, with a focus on founder- or entrepreneur-led businesses. Typical investment criteria include revenues of $20–150 million and EBITDA of $5–30 million. The firm seeks to help companies scale through organic growth and strategic add-on acquisitions, offering both capital and expertise to fuel expansion while preserving culture and legacy. With a hands-on, value-oriented approach, Insignia Capital leverages deep sector knowledge and a strong operational network to support its portfolio companies. The firm emphasizes responsible investing, alignment of interests, and a partnership mindset in every transaction. Insignia Capital Group aims to build category-leading businesses that deliver long-term value to stakeholders.

Invictus Growth Partners is a private equity firm founded in 2019 and headquartered in San Mateo, California. The firm specializes in investing in and acquiring technology and technology-enabled businesses, with a primary focus on cloud software, cybersecurity, fintech, and SaaS sectors. Invictus combines over 28 years of investing and operating experience to help portfolio companies scale and achieve long-term growth.The firm differentiates itself through its proprietary machine learning capabilities and the Invictus Guild, a dedicated team of operating advisors who provide portfolio companies with strategic guidance across critical functions such as sales, marketing, product development, finance, and human resources. This operating system enhances efficiency, accelerates growth, and supports automation and scalability within portfolio companies.Invictus Growth Partners has invested over $3.2 billion across 65 companies and closed its second fund with $574 million in capital commitments. The firm emphasizes a partnership approach, working closely with founders and management teams to drive operational improvements and leverage data-driven insights for market expansion and enhanced sales efficiency.

Kohlberg & Company, founded in 1987 by Jerome and James Kohlberg, is a U.S.–based middle-market private equity firm headquartered in Mount Kisco, NY. The firm specializes in leveraged buyouts, carve-outs, take-privates, and recapitalizations in healthcare and service sectors, focusing on companies with strong recurring revenues and solid market positions. Its investment approach is rooted in thematic research through its White Paper Program, where in-depth analysis drives strategic deal selection. The firm partners with management to accelerate growth, improve operations, and pursue add-on acquisitions—executing over 95 platform investments and 290+ add-ons worth more than $46 billion in transactions. As of December 31, 2024, Kohlberg managed approximately $17 billion in assets across 10 PE funds and 95+ professionals. Recent investments include RESA Power, Heath Consultants, and MP Predictive Technologies. The firm's disciplined strategy targets companies with EBITDA of $25–150 million and equity investments of $100–500 million.

Founded in 2012 by Aryeh Bourkoff and Ehren Stenzler, LionTree is an independent investment and merchant bank headquartered in New York City. The firm specializes in the technology, media, and telecommunications (TMT) sectors, offering a suite of services including mergers and acquisitions advisory, capital markets solutions, and asset management. LionTree has played a pivotal role in numerous high-profile transactions, such as Amazon's acquisition of MGM Studios and the merger of CBS and Viacom. The firm's advisory arm, LionTree Advisors, provides strategic guidance to clients navigating complex financial landscapes, while its investment arm, LionTree Partners, focuses on investing in innovative companies within the TMT space. With over $1.5 billion in assets under management, LionTree operates globally with offices in New York, San Francisco, and London. The firm's commitment to fostering creativity and innovation positions it as a trusted partner for companies seeking growth and transformation in the digital economy.

Main Post Partners is a San Francisco-based private equity firm that partners with founder-led and management-driven consumer businesses to accelerate growth and build enduring brands. The firm follows a “Partnership, Not Ownership” philosophy, emphasizing collaboration, operational support, and long-term alignment with entrepreneurs. It provides more than just capital, offering strategic guidance, brand-building expertise, and access to a broad network to help portfolio companies scale and thrive beyond the investment period. The firm focuses on differentiated, high-quality consumer businesses that deliver memorable, life-enhancing experiences. Its investment areas include Personal Care & Beauty, E-commerce & Digitally Enabled, Multi-Unit & Consumer Services, Enthusiast & Lifestyle, Food, Beverage & Wellness, and the Consumer Value Chain. Main Post Partners targets profitable middle-market companies with $5–$50M+ EBITDA and $50–$500M+ revenue, investing through growth equity and buyout strategies in both majority and minority positions. Main Post Partners has approximately $3.7 billion in regulatory assets under management and has partnered with around 40 founders to date, including investments from its own track record and the attributed track record of Weston Presidio V. Recognized as one of Inc.’s 2025 Founder-Friendly Investors, the firm is known for its collaborative, EQ-driven approach and commitment to building brands that positively impact consumers’ lives across the United States.

Nellore Capital Management LLC is an investment management firm headquartered in Redwood City, California, and incorporated in Delaware. Founded in 2019 by CEO Sakya Duvvuru, the firm focuses primarily on managing public equity portfolios for institutional clients and high-net-worth individuals.Nellore Capital pursues a concentrated, research-driven investment strategy emphasizing long-term growth in technology and consumer sectors. The firm actively manages a portfolio of approximately 16 equity positions, with assets under management around $734 million as of late 2025.Nellore Capital demonstrates disciplined portfolio adjustments, increasing stakes in companies like Amazon and MercadoLibre while reducing exposure to others such as Salesforce and Alphabet. The firm employs both long and short-term investments, including publicly traded stocks, options, derivatives, and private market transactions.Led by founder Sakya Duvvuru, who has a background in economics from UC Berkeley and experience at Moelis & Company and Social Capital, Nellore Capital Management operates as a small to mid-sized hedge fund with a focused client base. The firm is registered with the SEC and maintains a lean team, emphasizing high-conviction investments in global technology and consumer companies.

Founded in 1939, Neuberger Berman is a private, independent, and employee-owned investment management firm headquartered in New York City. With a commitment to active management and long-term client partnerships, the firm offers a broad range of investment strategies, including equities, fixed income, private equity, hedge funds, and multi-asset solutions. Neuberger Berman serves a diverse clientele comprising institutions, advisors, and high-net-worth individuals globally. The firm's investment philosophy emphasizes fundamental research and a client-centric approach. Its private equity division, NB Private Markets, has a team of over 300 professionals across 17 offices worldwide, focusing on co-investments, secondaries, and direct investments. In 2025, Neuberger Berman closed its NB Strategic Capital Fund II with over $4 billion in commitments, underscoring its leadership in GP-led secondary transactions. Operating from offices in 39 cities across 26 countries, Neuberger Berman's global presence enables it to access a wide array of investment opportunities. The firm's dedication to sustainability is evident through its commitment to the Net Zero Asset Managers Initiative, aiming for net-zero emissions by 2050. With a workforce of approximately 3,100 employees, Neuberger Berman continues to prioritize delivering superior investment outcomes for its clients.

Paine Schwartz Partners is a private equity firm dedicated to sustainable food chain investing, focusing on the global food and agribusiness sector. With over 20 years of experience, the firm employs a thesis-driven approach, leveraging operational expertise, deep domain knowledge, and industry relationships to create value in investments. It has completed 97 investments, including 32 platforms, with $5.9 billion invested and $2.6 billion generated in co-investments.The firm's strategy centers on two core themes: productivity and sustainability across the food value chain, and health and wellness through access to nutritious food. It targets OECD-focused businesses headquartered in North America, Western Europe, and Australia/New Zealand, making primarily control buyout investments with flexibility for minority stakes and growth equity. Paine Schwartz adopts a hands-on, partnership-oriented model, often collaborating with family-owned businesses to drive operational excellence and sustainability initiatives.Headquartered in New York with an office in San Mateo, the firm manages approximately $6.5 billion in assets under management and emphasizes ESG integration, as evidenced by its annual sustainability reports and portfolio-wide assessments. Key leaders include CEO Kevin Schwartz, CIO Angelos Dassios, and Chairman Dexter Paine, supported by a team of 43 employees focused on investment, operations, and sustainability.