How Private Equity Finds Hidden Sellers Like You in 2026
How private equity finds hidden sellers like you in 2026 works through four systematic channels most owner-operators never see coming. (1) Direct outreach: SourceScrub, Grata, Cyndx, and Inven identify founder-owned businesses matching PE thesis criteria, followed by BDR-team outreach cadences. (2) Data analysis: public filings, industry associations, licensing databases, and permit records get scraped to […]
New York Lower Middle Market M&A Deal Trends You Should Know in 2026
New York lower middle market M&A deal trends 2024-2026 show sustained PE consolidation across financial services, healthcare services, media/marketing, and professional services. Deal volume in the $2M-$50M enterprise value range has stayed within 15-20% of 2019 baseline despite macro volatility. Top NY-based PE buyers active at LMM include Welsh Carson (healthcare/business services), Centerbridge Partners, BC […]
How Private Equity Sources Small Businesses No One Else Sees in 2026: The $1M-$10M EBITDA Sourcing Channels
PE deal sourcing in the lower middle market: how 76+ firms find proprietary deals at $1M-$10M EBITDA. The channels (Sourcescrub, Grata, broker network), the metrics, and what they pay.
How Proprietary Deal Flow Gives Buyers an Edge (and Why Sellers Should Care)
How Proprietary Deal Flow Gives Buyers an Edge (and Why Sellers Should Care) Quick answer: Proprietary deal flow is the set of acquisition opportunities a buyer sources directly from owners, without a banker or broker running an auction. By the latest Sutton Place Strategies dataset, roughly 70 to 90 percent of completed lower middle market […]
Why Off-Market Deals Often Get Better Prices
Why Off-Market Deals Often Get Better Prices Quick Answer Off-market deals typically achieve better prices because they attract less competition from buyers, give sellers more control over the sale process, and allow for creative deal structures and faster closings that can result in better terms. Since off-market properties aren’t publicly listed, fewer potential buyers drive […]
Who Actually Sells to Search Funds? Real Seller Profiles
Who Actually Sells to Search Funds? Real Seller Profiles Quick Answer The typical business owner who sells to search funds is 60 to 75 years old, has run the company for 20-plus years, earns $1M to $5M in EBITDA, has no clear successor, and wants an operator-buyer who will keep the team intact. The best-fit […]
Should You Sell to a Search Fund? Pros, Cons, and Reality
Should You Sell to a Search Fund? Pros, Cons, and Reality Quick Answer Selling to a search fund can offer advantages like a smoother transaction process and a buyer with operational expertise, but trade-offs include lower valuations than strategic buyers, less control over post-acquisition direction, and dilution of ownership through earnouts. Search funds typically acquire […]
Best Markets to Invest in Right Now in 2026: US LMM Sector Focus
8 US lower middle market sectors with strongest 2026 fundamentals: home services, healthcare services, manufacturing, distribution, and B2B services. Backed by 76-buyer demand data.
How to Find Off-Market Real Estate Deals Like a Pro
Learn how to find off market real estate deals like a pro. We share our curated strategies for identifying and securing off-market properties.