In this episode, Laura Grattan, Managing Director at Crosspoint Capital, and Jeff Vogel, Head of the Software Strategy Group at EY-Parthenon, join Winna Brown to explore how PE firms can position themselves to win tech deals in today’s highly competitive market.

Contact Laura: lgrattan@crosspointcapital.com Contact Jeff: jeffrey.vogel@parthenon.ey.com

According to the latest EY PE Pulse report, 2021 was the year of the tech deal: 30% of total capital deployed last year was allocated to technology companies. The technology sector, once just another industry vertical, now permeates every sector, claiming an ever-increasing share of deals as more companies differentiate themselves based on their technology regardless of the industry in which they sit or serve.

Crosspoint Capital focuses on the cybersecurity, privacy and infrastructure software sectors. PE firms that choose a niche specialization in the tech sector can bring deep sector expertise that translates to value creation for their portfolio companies. In an increasingly competitive tech environment, PE firms that focus on a highly targeted category of assets can find themselves in a differentiated position. They are able to quickly discern where to spend time, recognize the opportunities and limitations of an asset, and identify patterns indicative of future success.

Three characteristics of today’s tech deal environment include:

1. Increasing presence of and need for club deals
2. Increasing speed at which deals are clearing
3. Developing deal theses early