What is private equity?
Private equity (PE) is an investment style focused on companies that aren’t publicly traded. Money is pooled from a group of investors and invested in private companies to generate returns for investors.
Private equity companies use various strategies to generate returns. The main ones include leveraged buyouts, growth equity, venture capital, private credit, and secondary investments.
The term “private equity” is most commonly associated with a leveraged buyout. Investors infuse capital into a mature company, take a majority stake (and the control that goes along with it), restructure the company, and improve operations to become profitable again.
What is venture capital?
Venture capital (VC) aims to invest in startups with high potential. They help build private companies with cash, offer mentorship and connections, and eventually realize profit. The investment is long-term and high-risk, but rewarding when small companies scale and thrive.
Venture capital firms look for companies with high growth potential, a unique product or service, and a strong management team.
What are the differences between private equity and venture capital?
Although private equity and venture capital are both private investments, they have more differences than similarities.
Here’s a look at some of the key differences between the two:
| Private equity | Venture capital | |
|---|---|---|
| Stage of investment | Mature, established companies | Early stage |
| Ownership | Majority | Minority |
| Risk profile | Less risk, thorough due diligence completed | Higher risk, newer companies may not have a proven track record |
| Investment size | Many fall in the $25-$100 million range, some beyond $1 billion | Varies, often between $100,000 and $10 million. |
| Industry focus | Across a broad range of industries | Technology and life sciences, but any high |
| Management focus | Often takes full control. | Helps smaller businesses scale up. |
| Return | Returns of 12% are typical | A return of 57% is the mean |
Stage of investment
Private equity deals tend to involve mature companies, whereas most venture capital investments focus on early-stage deals.
Ownership
Private equity and venture capital investments differ vastly in ownership. Private equity investments usually take a majority stake in the company. Venture capital investment takes a minority stake.
Risk profile
When comparing VC vs. PE, venture capital represents significantly more risk. There’s no proven route for early-stage companies that need investment from venture capital firms. Private equity deals involve substantial due diligence to mitigate the risk.
Investment size
For private credit, investment size typically ranges from $25 million to $100 million, though some deals go beyond $1 billion, according to the United States Private Equity Council. The investment size for venture capital deals tends to be lower. The majority of deals range from $100,000 to $10 million.
Industry focus
Many venture capital deals tend to be in the technology and life sciences sectors; however, venture capital isn’t exclusive to any industry. Private equity exists in every sector.
Management approach
One difference between private equity and venture capital is the management approach. Private equity firms may take full control of the companies they invest in and seek more efficient ways to do business and generate profit. VC firms are also involved with the company they invest in, but to a lesser extent. They may offer mentorship and networking, but don’t usually take over operations.
Return
Return rates for private equity and venture capital investments vary widely. Your investment could go bankrupt, but you could also realize incredible returns. Returns for private equity have averaged 12% over the last 20 years. The mean return for venture capital investments is 57%, according to an analysis of 17,000 financing rounds in 8,000 companies by the National Bureau of Economic Research.
What are the similarities between private equity and venture capital?
| Private equity | Venture capital | |
|---|---|---|
| Business goals | Growth, efficiency, and profit | Growth and profit |
| Investor profile | Limited partnership, only open to qualified investors | Limited partnership, only open to qualified investors |
| Exit strategies | Sale | IPO |
| Control | Offer capital, mentorship or full control, connections, operational guidance, and more | Offer capital, mentorship, connections, operational guidance, and more |
| Time horizon | Long, 7 to 10 years | Long, 5 to 10 years |
Business goals
Both venture capital and private equity aim to increase the value of companies and generate a profit through business growth. They may have different strategies to generate profit, but they both aim for significant value creation and large exits.
Investor profile
Both venture capital and private equity usually operate with investors as limited partnerships (LPs). Investors must have substantial resources and qualifications to invest in venture capital or other private equity funds.
Exit strategies
Both venture capital and private equity aim for an exit strategy with a large net gain. Private equity may want to sell, with the proceeds distributed to investors. Venture Capital may aim for an IPO where shares may become more valuable.
Control
Both VC and PE offer help to private businesses, providing capital, mentorship, connections, operational guidance, and more.
Time horizon
Both private equity and venture capital investments are long-term and fairly illiquid investments. Private equity investments range from 7 to 10+ years, while venture capital aims for 5 to 10 years.
What are the pros and cons of private equity and venture capital?
Each type of investment has its pros and cons. Here is a breakdown.
The pros and cons of private equity
Pros
Potential for high returns: Private equity has delivered strong results for investors in the past.
Access to a broad range of investments: Private equity offers opportunities not available on the public markets.
Low correlation to markets: Private equity provides diversification in your portfolio. With less correlation to public markets.
Cons
Highly illiquid investment: You commit your money to the investment, and it's tied up for years.
Long-term horizon: You may need to commit your money to the investment for 10 or more years.
Cost: Private equity fund managers are paid a share of profits in addition to a management fee.
Limited transparency: You may not know every detail of where your money’s going with the investment.
Manager skill: Returns are highly dependent on the manager's skill.
Company-specific failures: Factors outside your control may lead to companies in the portfolio failing.
The pros and cons of venture capital
Pros
Opportunity to mentor young companies: Investors may like seeing startups grow and succeed. You may appreciate giving mentorship and connections in addition to capital.
High potential: Venture capital looks for high-potential companies that grow and become profitable quickly. Returns could be substantial if the company becomes very large.
Fund innovative companies and technology: Venture capital can provide financial, strategic, and operational expertise to grow unique companies and technologies.
Cons
Long-term horizon: Your money may be tied up for years. You may not see a return for a number of years.
Highly illiquid: It’s difficult to get your money out of an investment.
Higher risk: Your money is at risk if the investment goals aren’t met. You could lose everything invested.
VC vs. PE: Which investment is right for you?
When you should seek a venture capital investment
Venture capital is great for investors with substantial resources who love seeing young companies grow and develop. Often, there’s a mentoring and relationship component that’s just as rewarding as the financial aspect. You should also be comfortable with committing your money for at least five years.
When you should seek a private equity investment
Private equity is for investors with significant resources who seek higher returns and can tolerate an illiquid investment for 7 years or more. Top funds have produced returns as high as 21%. It’s also for investors seeking diversification as returns aren’t directly correlated with the stock market.
Bottom line
There’s no substitute for professional financial advice, especially when you’re considering complex, high-risk, and high-return alternative investments. You’ll want to know everything there is to know, and finding an advisor doesn’t need to be difficult. You can get matched with an advisor from Unbiased who can offer expertise on your most difficult questions.