Private Equity 2025 Insights and the 2026 Deal Cycle Outlook

Sean Mooney, Founder and CEO of BluWave, shares the key takeaways from BluWave's 2025 Private Equity Insights Report and what they signal for the year ahead. Drawing on real-time data from hundreds of PE firms and thousands of portfolio companies, he outlines how the industry shifted from defense to offense, why diligence and value creation surged late in the year, and what separates winners from laggards entering 2026. Sean also delivers clear predictions on AI adoption, talent, software sprawl, and the accelerating deal rebound. This episode sets the context every private equity leader needs before leaning into the next cycle—press play.

Episode Highlights

• 0:58 – Why private equity shifted from defense to offense in 2025
• 4:48 – What GDP, inflation, and productivity data revealed about economic resilience
• 9:59 – The 41% diligence surge and why it's a leading indicator for deal flow
• 12:36 – Human capital's comeback and what new deals signal for leadership hiring
• 18:20 – 2026 predictions: AI moves from buzzword to execution tactic
• 27:58 – Avoiding AI pilot purgatory and prioritizing adoption that actually delivers ROI
• 37:21 – Why dry powder, LP pressure, and speed will define the next PE deal cycle

For more on BluWave, visit: https://www.bluwave.net/
To request the full Q4 2025 Insights Report, visit: https://www.bluwave.net/insights-report/