The Power of Private Markets: How Private Equity and Private Credit Fuel Software Growth

Private Equity’s Role in Building Durable Enterprises

The digital economy is increasingly being shaped not in public exchanges, but within the private markets. Today, roughly 96% of all software companies remain privately owned, and private capital has become the engine that funds their innovation and expansion.¹

Private equity provides more than funding—it offers the strategic framework and operational partnership that allow software companies to scale responsibly. By applying repeatable best practices across go-to-market strategy, product development, and talent leadership, private equity investors help turn innovative software into enduring platforms. 

This approach contrasts with short-term growth models often seen in public markets, where quarterly performance pressures can discourage experimentation or reinvestment. In private equity, time horizons are longer, alignment is deeper, and the path to value creation is grounded in fundamentals—efficiency, governance and customer impact. 

The result is an ecosystem where innovation can compound over time, supported by patient, active ownership. 

The Rise of Private Credit in the Software Economy

As software businesses mature and financing needs evolve, credit has emerged as an important complement to equity investment. Direct lenders seek to play an increasingly strategic role in funding growth, acquisitions and recapitalizations without diluting ownership or operational control. 

We believe this evolution reflects confidence in the sector’s resilience. Recurring revenue models, strong margins, and mission-critical products make software well aligned with private credit solutions. As a result, private credit funds have become key participants in supporting liquidity and flexibility across the innovation lifecycle.

How Private Markets Drive Innovation at Scale

Beyond capital, private markets foster an environment where innovation can thrive sustainably. Long-term investors are positioned to help software companies modernize their infrastructure, adopt AI, and invest in cybersecurity and compliance. 

Moreover, by aligning investors, management and employees around shared outcomes, private ownership can cultivate a culture of continuous improvement and disciplined innovation. This alignment is increasingly valuable as companies integrate AI, automation, and analytics into their core operations. 

The Future of Private Market Leadership

As enterprise software enters its next phase, defined by AI, we believe the private markets will continue to play a defining role. Investors capable of combining discipline, foresight and operational depth will shape how this innovation is deployed and sustained. 

For long-term stewards of capital, the opportunity is clear: to build long-term value not just through ownership, but through the systems, relationships and insights that drive the digital economy forward.