u/Sudden-Disk5291

Hi everyone, I'm new to the advisory side of the industry.

My firm is currently getting in touch with a few private equity firms, and I've been tasked with doing comprehensive background research on them before we engage further.

I found that most standard Google searches only give me a surface-level understanding of these firms and cannot satisfy my needs. For those of you on the inside, how do you usually conduct research on private equity firms?

I know of some databases like PitchBook, but they are way too expensive for me to pay for by myself. Are there any other go-to sources for understanding a firm's actual reputation and track record?

Would really appreciate your help, Thank you!

As the initial hype around massive, centralized foundational LLMs begins to mature, the industry seems to be splintering into several distinct evolutionary paths. I’m trying to figure out where the most significant architectural and commercial breakthroughs will happen next.

A few paradigms seem to be competing for the spotlight:

1. Agentic AI (Agents doing actual work autonomously)
2. Edge AI (Models running locally on your hardware)
3. Vertical AI (Hyper-specialized models for specific industries)
4. Something else entirely? (Neuromorphic computing, physical robotics, etc.)

For those working in the field, where are you seeing the most momentum? What does the post-chatbot era of AI look like to you?