r/private_equity

Hey everyone,

I have around 5 years of experience in recruitment and I’m looking to transition into Private Equity in India.

I’m aware this is a pretty unconventional move and not the typical path, which makes it challenging but also interesting.

I’d really appreciate any guidance on:

- How realistic this transition is

- What roles I should target as entry points

- Skills or certifications I should focus on

- Any strategies that have worked for people from non-finance backgrounds.

If anyone here has made a similar switch or has insights into the PE space in India, I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Thanks in advance!

I know this isn't real private equity, more like micro private equity, but maybe someone who just wants to get started would like to take a look at this.

I am running an AI software business since 2023 and it made $115k net profit in the TTM and I want to sell it for $115k so exactly 1x profit.

Its B2B and easy to maintain, I can refer you a cheap developer from 3rd world who can help you run it as well.

I am only looking to sell it because I want to pivot into another industry and need the money to invest.

I’m a former McKinsey/QuantumBlack principal starting an AI agency. We build custom AI agents for enterprise to automate complex workflows and increase revenue/reduce costs.

I thought perhaps partnering with PE firms would be a good idea. The incentives seem to be very well aligned.

Looking for advice from this group: how to position myself? Which PE firms are the most likely to find value in my offer? How to reach out to PE firms and where to find them?

Thanks

I am graduating from a M7 MBA in a few weeks and have been interested in lower market investing and have some light experience already. My long-term goal is to either join a lower market fund or to do my own deals.

I have been offered a role to lead M&A for a platform focusing on a niche within residential services. The platform is at $6M EBITDA today and aims to grow inorganically to $25M EBITDA before exiting. Most targets in the space are between $1-3M EBITDA. The role involves significant travel and I'm comfortable with the comp.

I'm trying to get a better understanding of what this path looks like day-to-day and lifestyle-wise and what future options can look like, especially moving into lower market PE vs. going out to do my own deals.

I’m currently a mid-level VP at a PE fund in London and honestly feeling pretty unmotivated by both the work and the people.

Background is fairly typical: started in IB, then moved across to PE and have been at two different funds over ~8 years total. Outside in things are going fine, but I’m increasingly questioning whether I actually want to keep doing this long term (or can put up with it. To be clear hours at my current shop are ok).

I feel like I’m at a bit of a crossroads. I’m not sure how transferable my skillset really is outside of finance, and I’m also unclear what realistic exit options look like at this level in London. At the same time, I’m weighing whether it’s worth taking the risk of leaving versus just sticking it out.

I’m not tied down (not married, long-term girlfriend but no kids), and I don’t have any major carry at stake, so that’s not really a factor in the decision. If there’s ever a time to pivot, it’s probably now.

Would be really interested to hear from people who’ve moved out of PE in London, especially at VP-ish level, what you moved into (corp dev, start-ups, operating roles, or something totally different), whether you’re happier, and anything you wish you’d known before making the jump.

Appreciate any perspectives, especially from people who felt similarly burnt out or disengaged before leaving.

I joined a PE backed opco that’s on the cusp of distressed (EBITDA/interest at ~1.5x L12M). Health services.

The thing I was NOT prepared for was how defensive leaders are in these environments, and it’s challenging to say the least (scapegoating one another, siloing info, undermining reports, aggressive performance management but then can’t replace with anyone, overall not the best culture). It makes it extremely difficult to do any performance improvement work as everyone is so touchy/defensive.

Everything is viewed as a threat, “not aligned”, extremely territorial and defensive to any mention that their unit “isn’t performing”. You basically can’t have real convos. They just some old Bain playbook from 3 years ago.

It just surprised me as even the c-suite are like this and it’s like no one can take a second to realize the business reality? And those internally who do mention it are then targets…high turnover at all levels.

It’s tiring and I’m wondering if this is normal and/or how anyone handles this? Or is this why you essentially have to have consultants, lenders etc come in to run the place?

Funny thing is many of these leaders were brought in (SVP, c suite) and it seems they didn’t realize it’s a turnaround situation? Most were friends/coworkers of another.

I have expertise from consulting in performance improvement, so Im familiar with various playbooks but it’s so much easier working from the outside than pushing a rock up a hill internally (or worse yet, having a big target on your back because you called out the obvious and are actually trying to performance improve which is literally what they hired my team to do…).

I’m an OD (Finance & Ops) at a PE firm, and trying to get a better sense of how other PEs are guiding their portfolio companies on AI adoption.

We’re seeing a mix : some companies in our portfolio are experimenting with intyernal build using claude & Codex , some are on Microsoft Copilot, and a few on ChatFin for finance workflows. We don’t yet have a clear playbook.

We are largely a Microsoft shop, so there’s a natural pull , but I’m more interested in what’s actually working in practice across portfolio companies.

For those of you in PE or working closely with portfolio companies:

• Are you giving centralized guidance on AI tools, or letting each company figure it out?
• What tools/platforms are you seeing
• Have you seen measurable impact

Would appreciate any perspectives or lessons learned.

Hello,, I am 22 year old freshly graduated working in real estate right now, prior to this I was working in starbucks as a barista trainer and I also have worked as a content writer. I just wanted to discuss about real estate and finance as I am working as an agent right now learning things daily and also getting market knowledge, how should I transition my career and get into real estate private equity. What skills should I learn and what knowledge should I get to get into companies like JLL, cushman and Wakefield, anarock, savills, Blackstone etc. Your guidance would really help. Thank you!!