What is a private equity firm
Updated 26 Oct 2026
- Private equity firm
- A firm that buys control or large minority stakes in established companies, often with debt. Present in the file because many also appear on late stage venture rounds.
9,693
By country
United States4,112
China844
United Kingdom656
Canada286
France277
Germany240
India202
Singapore173
Hong Kong163
Switzerland152
Table 1. Private equity firms by country. Source: FundingWatcher. Data as of 26 October 2026. Base: 9,693.
Investment stages
Private equity investors6,658
Early stage investors3,938
Late stage investors2,480
Seed investors2,241
Venture investors1,937
Debt investors831
Table 2. Private equity firms by investment stage. An investor can carry several. Source: FundingWatcher. Data as of 26 October 2026. Base: 9,693.