In 2025, access to capital is table stakes. What distinguishes private equity sponsors now is execution. With deal volume returning and transaction size trending upward, value creation depends less on financial engineering and more on the ability to deliver results. Traditional levers such as cost reduction, integration, and restructuring have hit their limits, particularly in technology sectors marked by fast-moving innovation and systemic complexity.
Execution has become the decisive edge. Strategy still matters, but it's the speed and precision of implementation that define outcomes.
Private equity (PE) activity is rising sharply. Projections indicate global deal value may exceed $1 trillion in 2025, with transaction volumes also expected to climb. Tech and healthcare dominate the landscape, with SaaS models particularly attractive due to their scalability and recurring revenue structures.
The technology sector represented 33% of global buyout deal value and 26% of deal volume in 2024, solidifying its position as the largest sector for PE investment. Software-as-a-service (SaaS) deals were especially strong, with software PE deal value reaching $134.8 billion in 2024—a 32.4% year-over-year increase—with 926 deals completed, up 27.5%.
However, the resurgence in dealmaking comes with renewed scrutiny from limited partners and regulators alike. Exit pressures are rising, IPO windows are narrowing, and valuation multiples remain high. This makes execution not only a requirement—but a risk factor.
As post-close timelines compress, the cost of operational missteps increases. Delays in platform integration, infrastructure modernization, or data readiness can stall momentum and dilute expected returns.
While high-potential companies attract capital, many stumble in the same post-acquisition areas. Talent shortages, brittle systems, and unclear technical roadmaps are among the most common friction points.
The challenges are rarely strategic—they're often operational. And in tech-backed deals, even minor oversights can escalate quickly.
Rather than detailing each failure point here, we highlight a few patterns explored more deeply in our new report:
These aren’t isolated events. They are recurring signals that, without the right frameworks and talent, value creation stalls before it starts.
The firms leading the next wave of PE success aren’t just reacting to problems post-close—they’re embedding technical execution capability directly into the deal thesis.
For example:
This shift—from strategic oversight to operational enablement—is helping top sponsors move faster with greater certainty.
In private equity’s next phase, execution isn’t just a function—it’s a multiplier. It determines whether strategy translates to growth, whether AI adds value or distraction, and whether high valuations convert to real returns.
The implications go beyond technical implementation. Execution capability influences everything from LP trust to exit optionality. In a climate where competitive differentiation is narrowing, how firms deliver on their thesis will be as important as the thesis itself.