Customer Type: PE Firms

BluWave Awards 2025: Top Private Equity Innovators

February 25, 2025 Brad Gerick

We’re proud to announce the fourth annual Top Private Equity Innovators with the 2025 BluWave Awards*.

“We’re regularly asked by market leaders about the best practices that are being embraced by the most innovative private equity firms,” said BluWave founder and CEO Sean Mooney, talking about the impetus for creating the awards.

Learn more about the 2025 Private Equity Innovator of the Year, Alpine Investors.

Our objective, thorough process gathered feedback from the world of private equity as well as the top service providers that work with them on a daily basis.

With their help, we identified the top 2 percent of firms for their innovative practices based on four key criteria identified by our research and operations team, limited partners, investment bankers, industry thought leaders and service providers in the private equity ecosystem.

As part of its selection process, the selection committee evaluated more than 6,000 private equity firms and utilized more than 75 different factors, incorporating more than 400,000 data points to evaluate these four criteria.

Here’s a little more about each one.

Proactive Due Diligence Practices

Innovative PE firms look at prospective investments with an eye toward not only trusting and verifying, but also with a preemptive lens into informing future value creation opportunities.

Transformative Value Creation

Once PE firms make investments leading private equity firms partner with their portfolio company management teams to purposely create value that didn’t or couldn’t exist before.

Modern Private Equity Firm Operations

These PE leaders treat the business of private equity like a business. They strategically utilize best-in-class internal and external cross-functional resources to enable insightful opportunity assessments and unique levels of value creation.

Corporate Citizenship

Top PE firms know that corporate citizenship is not only good for the world, but also fundamentally improves returns.

Here’s where you can find all the 2025 Private Equity Awards winners, including Innovator of the Year, Alpine Investors.

“We are excited to recognize this distinguished group of investors as the 2025 Top Private Equity Innovators,” Mooney said.

*BluWave, LP has not received investment capital from and holds no ownership interest in the PE firms evaluated or recognized under the Top Private Equity Innovator awards program. BluWave received no compensation from any of the PE firms in connection with this awards program. However, BluWave may otherwise provide services to the PE firms and/or their portfolio companies, but BluWave confirms that its assessment of the PE firms was independent of any such service arrangements. Top 2% in the PE industry is based on BluWave’s review of the more than 6,000 PE firms in the U.S. and Canada from which the 103 PE firms were selected as award recipients.

BluWave Awards 2025: Alpine Investors is PE Innovator of the Year

February 25, 2025 Brad Gerick

We’re proud to announce Alpine Investors as Innovator of the Year in the fourth annual BluWave private equity awards*. The San Francisco-based firm was selected for its for exemplary innovation and leadership.

“Innovation is at the heart of everything we do at Alpine,” said Graham Weaver, CEO and Founder of Alpine. “Building a culture of innovation starts with a people-first mindset – listening, learning and creating space for bold ideas. Some of our best strategies have come from this mindset – what we call planting the oak trees today that will provide shade tomorrow. We are honored to be recognized as this year’s Top Private Equity Innovator and remain committed to pushing boundaries and driving meaningful change.”

Also see more about the 2025 Top Private Equity Innovator awards

Firms chosen for the Top Private Equity Innovator Award are selected based upon a rigorous assessment in consultation with our research and operations team, leading limited partners, investment bankers, service providers and other thought leaders in the private equity ecosystem. Selected firms represent the top 2 percent in the private equity for innovative practices in:

  • Proactive due diligence practices
  • Transformative value creation
  • Modern private equity firm operations
  • Corporate governance

“Private equity is an essential business builder and pillar of the economy, facilitating growth and development in almost every industry and creating millions of jobs in America,” said Sean Mooney, BluWave founder and CEO. “Alpine Investors has differentially demonstrated how to build and grow businesses. We congratulate them on their innovation and success in creating value.”

*

BluWave, LP has not received investment capital from and holds no ownership interest in the PE firms evaluated or recognized under the PE Innovator awards program. BluWave received no compensation from any of the PE firms in connection with this awards program. However, BluWave may otherwise provide services to the PE firms and/or portfolio companies, but BluWave confirms that its assessment of the PE firms was independent of any such service arrangements. Top 2% in the PE industry is based on BluWave’s review of the more than 6,000 PE firms in the U.S. and Canada from which the 103 PE firms were selected as award recipients.

IT Strategy, Infrastructure Support for Event Services Company

Service Area: Technology

Client Type: Wedding Event Services Business

Service Provider Type: IT Strategy Advisor

Industry: Hospitality

The Need
Establishing IT Infrastructure, Strategy for Growth

After acquiring a business in the event services space, the company identified gaps in its IT function and required immediate support to implement critical IT initiatives. With no internal IT leadership, the company needed a third-party resource to oversee cybersecurity improvements, formalize IT processes, select an MSP and manage a custom CRM development project.

The Challenge
Building IT Capabilities from Ground Up

The company operated multiple wedding venues across the South but lacked a dedicated IT leader to oversee technology operations. Historically, IT decisions had been handled by committee, resulting in inefficiencies. They needed an IT strategist who could take ownership of key projects, provide oversight on software development and integrate IT best practices into their growing business.

How BluWave Helped
Connecting with Experienced IT Strategy Consultant

BluWave quickly connected the company with an IT strategist experienced in hospitality and event management. The consultant immediately worked on cybersecurity enhancements, established IT documentation and developed a comprehensive IT roadmap. Additionally, they led the search for a managed service provider (MSP) and provided oversight on the company’s offshore CRM development project, ensuring it met security and scalability requirements.

The Result
Structured IT Strategy and Improved Operational Efficiency

With the consultant’s support, the company successfully implemented foundational IT improvements, reducing risk and enhancing overall efficiency. The IT roadmap provided a clear strategy for long-term technology investments, while the CRM oversight ensured a more secure and scalable solution. The company is now positioned to build out an internal IT team with a structured foundation in place.

They have been great to work with. Appreciate you all connecting us!

-Vice President at PE Firm