35 Private Equity Firms in Chicago - Flippa
Chicago is a major private-equity hub serving middle-market companies across software, healthcare, business services, industrials, and financial services. Use this list to match sector focus, ownership preference, and check size, then tailor your teaser and data room to each firm’s mandate.
Arbor Investments
Key facts about the firm:
- Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
- Founded: 1999
- Industry Focus: Food & beverage–focused private equity; related supply chain and specialty manufacturing
- Number of investments: 60+
- Number of exits: 18
Details about the fund:
Arbor is a sector specialist backing food, beverage, and related companies with an operational playbook for growth and margin expansion. The firm emphasizes buy-and-build and hands-on value creation across the food ecosystem.
Website: https://arborpic.com
Advanced Equities
Key facts about the firm:
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Founded: 1999
Industry focus: Finance, Financial Services, Venture Capital
Number of investments: 46
Number of exits: 17
Details about the fund:
Qualified high-net-worth individuals can access late-stage private equity offers through Advanced Equities.
Where to find them: Website
Adams Street Partners
Key facts about the firm:
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Founded: 1972
Industry focus: Asset Management, Finance, Financial Services, Venture Capital
Number of investments: 243
Number of exits: 94
Details about the fund:
An international private market investment management company is Adams Street Partners.
Where to find them: Website
Ares Management
Key facts about the firm:
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Founded: 1997
Industry focus: Asset Management, Credit, Financial Services
Number of investments: 72
Number of exits: 16
Details about the fund:
Global alternative asset management Ares Management specializes on real estate, private equity, and credit.
Where to find them: Website
Beecken Petty O’Keefe & Company
Key facts about the firm:
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Founded: 1996
Industry focus: Angel Investment, Finance, Health Care
Number of investments: 53
Number of exits: 28
Details about the fund:
A private equity management company with an exclusive focus on the healthcare industry is called Beecken Petty O’Keefe & Company.
Where to find them: Website
Making It Easy to Sell Online Businesses
Flippa provides owners and investors with the tools and expertise to sell.
400,000+ Weekly Active Buyers
15 In-house Brokers and 120 Broker Partners
Negotiate and Receive Offers Fast
Integrated Legal, Insurance and Payments
Chicago Pacific Founders
Key facts about the firm:
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Founded: 2014
Industry focus: Financial Services, Health Care
Number of investments: 8
Number of exits: 2
Details about the fund:
Chicago A strategic healthcare investment fund with a focus on healthcare services is called Pacific Founders.
Where to find them: Website
CIVC Partners
Key facts about the firm:
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Founded: 1970
Industry focus: Finance, Financial Services, Venture Capital
Number of investments: 38
Number of exits: 18
Details about the fund:
A 50-year-old Chicago-based private equity company.
Where to find them: Website
Concentric Equity Partners
Key facts about the firm:
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Founded: 1967
Industry focus: Finance, Financial Services, Venture Capital
Number of investments: 13
Number of exits: 4
Details about the fund:
Private equity company Concentric Equity Partners is situated in Chicago, Illinois. They contribute money and expertise for profitable expansion.
Where to find them: Website
Continental Investors
Key facts about the firm:
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Founded: 2006
Industry focus: Finance, Hospitality, Venture Capital
Number of investments: 12
Number of exits: 3
Details about the fund:
Private equity company Continental Investors was established in 2006. Continental generally invests in private enterprises in the financial sector.
Where to find them: Website
Creation Investments Capital Management, LLC
Key facts about the firm:
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Founded: 2007
Industry focus: Finance, Financial Services, Insurance, Leasing, Micro Lending, Payments
Number of investments: 47
Number of exits: 5
Details about the fund:
Financial services and financial inclusion for the unbanked and underbanked are the focus of this prominent impact investor and global alternative investment manager.
Where to find them: Website
Making It Easy to Sell Online Businesses
Flippa provides owners and investors with the tools and expertise to sell.
400,000+ Weekly Active Buyers
15 In-house Brokers and 120 Broker Partners
Negotiate and Receive Offers Fast
Integrated Legal, Insurance and Payments
Cressey & Company
Key facts about the firm:
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Founded: 2008
Industry focus: Finance, Health Care, Impact Investing
Number of investments: 20
Number of exits: 4
Details about the fund:
A private investment company called Cressey & Company is dedicated solely to funding and establishing top healthcare companies.
Where to find them: Website
Flexpoint Ford
Key facts about the firm:
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Founded: 2005
Industry focus: Finance, Financial Services, Health Care
Number of investments: 12
Number of exits: 7
Details about the fund:
A private equity company called Flexpoint Ford focuses on investments in the finance and healthcare sectors.
Where to find them: Website
Frontenac Company
Key facts about the firm:
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Founded: 1971
Industry focus: Food and Beverage, Industrial, Venture Capital
Number of investments: 22
Number of exits: 13
Details about the fund:
A private investment company established in Chicago since 1971 is called Frontenac Company. We have eleven stock funds, and we are currently investing from them.
Where to find them: Website
Growth Catalyst Partners
Key facts about the firm:
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Founded: 2010
Industry focus: Financial Services
Number of investments: 14
Number of exits: 5
Details about the fund:
Middle market private equity company Growth Catalyst Partners (“GCP”) specializes on making investments in the marketing and information sectors.
Where to find them: Website
GTCR
Key facts about the firm:
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Founded: 1980
Industry focus: Finance, Financial Services
Number of investments: 50
Number of exits: 27
Details about the fund:
Private equity company GTCR LLC specializes in growth capital, rollup transactions, leveraged buyouts, and leveraged recapitalizations.
Where to find them: Website
Making It Easy to Sell Online Businesses
Flippa provides owners and investors with the tools and expertise to sell.
400,000+ Weekly Active Buyers
15 In-house Brokers and 120 Broker Partners
Negotiate and Receive Offers Fast
Integrated Legal, Insurance and Payments
High Street Capital
Key facts about the firm:
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Founded: 1997
Industry focus: Finance, Financial Services, Venture Capital
Number of investments: 7
Number of exits: 1
Details about the fund:
The private equity is called High Street Capital.
Where to find them: Website
Keystone Capital
Key facts about the firm:
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Founded: 1994
Industry focus: Finance, Financial Services, Venture Capital
Number of investments: 54
Number of exits: 22
Details about the fund:
Keystone Capital has invested in and grown businesses using a fundamentally different strategy.
Where to find them: Website
L Squared Capital Partners
Key facts about the firm:
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Founded: 2014
Industry focus: Financial Services, Information Technology, Venture Capital
Number of investments: 10
Number of exits: 4
Details about the fund:
A private equity firm that specializes in investing in buyouts is L Squared Capital Partners.
Where to find them: Website
Linden Capital Partners
Key facts about the firm:
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Founded: 2002
Industry focus: Financial Services
Number of investments: 11
Number of exits: 5
Details about the fund:
Located in Chicago, Linden Capital Partners is a private equity firm that only makes leveraged investments.
Where to find them: Website
Madison Dearborn Partners
Key facts about the firm:
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Founded: 1992
Industry focus: Finance, Financial Services, Venture Capital
Number of investments: 61
Number of exits: 37
Details about the fund:
MDP aspires to invest in businesses with exceptional management teams in order to realize significant long-term value growth.
Where to find them: Website
Making It Easy to Sell Online Businesses
Flippa provides owners and investors with the tools and expertise to sell.
400,000+ Weekly Active Buyers
15 In-house Brokers and 120 Broker Partners
Negotiate and Receive Offers Fast
Integrated Legal, Insurance and Payments
Mesirow Financial
Key facts about the firm:
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Founded: 1937
Industry focus: Enterprise Software, Financial Services, Mobile
Number of investments: 26
Number of exits: 9
Details about the fund:
A diverse financial services company with a focus on software and financial services is Mesirow Financial.
Where to find them: Website
North Branch Capital.
Key facts about the firm:
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Founded: 2014
Industry focus: Financial Services
Number of investments: 3
Number of exits: 2
Details about the fund:
A private equity investment company called North Branch Capital was established in 2014 to provide the middle market a new viewpoint.
Where to find them: Website
ParkerGale Capital
Key facts about the firm:
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Founded: 2014
Industry focus: B2B, Business Development, Business Intelligence, Financial Services
Number of investments: 6
Number of exits: 4
Details about the fund:
A private equity firm that specializes in acquisition and buyout investments is ParkerGale Capital.
Where to find them: Website
Periscope Equity
Key facts about the firm:
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Founded: 2013
Industry focus: Financial Services
Number of investments: 11
Number of exits: 3
Details about the fund:
Private equity firm serving the lower middle class with a singular concentration on making substantial investments in business services supported by technology
Where to find them: Website
Prairie Capital
Key facts about the firm:
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Founded: 1997
Industry focus: Angel Investment, Asset Management, Finance, Venture Capital
Number of investments: 7
Number of exits: 5
Details about the fund:
A Chicago-based private equity company called Prairie Capital makes investments in businesses in the lower middle market.
Where to find them: Website
Making It Easy to Sell Online Businesses
Flippa provides owners and investors with the tools and expertise to sell.
400,000+ Weekly Active Buyers
15 In-house Brokers and 120 Broker Partners
Negotiate and Receive Offers Fast
Integrated Legal, Insurance and Payments
Prospect Partners
Key facts about the firm:
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Founded: 1998
Industry focus: Financial Services, Manufacturing, Venture Capital
Number of investments: 37
Number of exits: 13
Details about the fund:
Leading private equity company Prospect Partners makes investments in smaller lower-middle market businesses.
Where to find them: Website
Prudential Capital Partners
Key facts about the firm:
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Founded: 2000
Industry focus: Financial Services
Number of investments: 12
Number of exits: 4
Details about the fund:
The investing strategy of Prudential Capital Partners is concentrated on middle-market businesses in established sectors, mainly in North America.
Where to find them: Website
Sterling Partners
Key facts about the firm:
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Founded: 1983
Industry focus: Angel Investment, Finance, Financial Services
Number of investments: 30
Number of exits: 9
Details about the fund:
Private equity company Sterling Partners has a track record of providing investors with outstanding profits.
Where to find them: Website
Svoboda Capital
Key facts about the firm:
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Founded: 1998
Industry focus: Business Development, Consumer Goods, Venture Capital
Number of investments: 10
Number of exits: 3
Details about the fund:
Svoboda Capital is a Chicago-based private equity firm that invests in middle-market growing businesses.
Website: https://svoco.comÂ
Thoma Bravo
Key facts about the firm:
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Founded: 1980
Industry focus: Asset Management, Business Development, Finance, Financial Services, Venture Capital
Number of investments: 46
Number of exits: 20
Details about the fund:
Private equity company Thoma Bravo specializes on funding software and technology firms.
Where to find them: Website
Making It Easy to Sell Online Businesses
Flippa provides owners and investors with the tools and expertise to sell.
400,000+ Weekly Active Buyers
15 In-house Brokers and 120 Broker Partners
Negotiate and Receive Offers Fast
Integrated Legal, Insurance and Payments
Vernon & Park Capital
Key facts about the firm:
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Founded: 2001
Industry focus: Angel Investment, Financial Exchanges, Venture Capital
Number of investments: 5
Number of exits: 2
Details about the fund:
Private equity company Vernon & Park Capital specializes on investing in the Exchanges and Financial Markets Sector (the Sector).
Where to find them: Website
Victory Park Capital
Key facts about the firm:
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Founded: 2007
Industry focus: Finance, Financial Services, Venture Capital
Number of investments: 49
Number of exits: 11
Details about the fund:
Victory Park Capital Advisors concentrates on offering options for opportunistic equity and privately negotiated debt.
Where to find them: Website
Water Street Healthcare Partners
Key facts about the firm:
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Founded: 2005
Industry focus: Financial Services, Health Care, Venture Capital
Number of investments: 14
Number of exits: 2
Details about the fund:
A venture capital firm called Water Street Healthcare Partners Llc is situated at 333 West Upper Wacker Drive in Chicago, Illinois, in the United States.
Where to find them: Website
Waud Capital Partners
Key facts about the firm:
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Founded: 1993
Industry focus: Finance, Financial Services, Venture Capital
Number of investments: 13
Number of exits: 5
Details about the fund:
Middle-market private equity company Waud Capital Partners collaborates with outstanding management teams to create market-leading businesses.
Where to find them: Website
WP Global Partners
Key facts about the firm:
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Founded: 2005
Industry focus: Finance, Financial Services, Venture Capital
Number of investments: 31
Number of exits: 7
Details about the fund:
Institutional investor in private equity, private debt, and venture capital.
Where to find them: Website
Making It Easy to Sell Online Businesses
Flippa provides owners and investors with the tools and expertise to sell.
400,000+ Weekly Active Buyers
15 In-house Brokers and 120 Broker Partners
Negotiate and Receive Offers Fast
Integrated Legal, Insurance and Payments
Conclusion
Speed comes from fit. Lead with clear numbers, a simple value-creation plan, realistic use of proceeds, and a clean diligence pack. Align your ask with each firm’s strategy and fund size to move from intro to LOI quickly.
FAQs
Which sectors are most active in Chicago PE?
Software, healthcare services, HCIT, industrial and specialty manufacturing, business and tech-enabled services, and financial services remain core.
Do Chicago firms do minority or control deals?
Both. Many target control buyouts and buy-and-builds, while several growth investors will take significant minority stakes with strong governance rights.
What should be in my teaser and CIM?
Crisp overview, market thesis, historicals and forecast, unit economics, customer concentration, pipeline, capex plan, org chart, and a 90-day value-creation plan. Include data room folders for finance, legal, tax, HR, tech, and ESG.
What exit routes are common?
Strategic sales, secondary buyouts to larger funds, and IPOs for scaled software or healthcare platforms. Timing depends on growth, retention, profitability, and market windows.
