Private Equity in Q3 2025: Moving from Defense to Offense
Private Equity in Q3 2025: Moving from Defense to Offense  
Podcast: Private Equity Podcast: Karma School of Business
Published On: Wed Oct 22 2025
Description: In this special edition of the Karma School of Business, Sean Mooney, Founder and CEO of BluWave, breaks down key findings from BluWave's Q3 2025 Private Equity Insights Report. Drawing parallels between his son's fencing lessons and today's economic climate, Sean explains how the best investors are shifting from a defensive stance to an offensive one. Seeing through the noise, leaning forward, and playing to win. He shares fresh data showing that deal activity, due diligence spending, and AI investment are all surging—signs of an industry on the offense. From the manufacturing renaissance to the rise of flatter, AI-enabled organizations, Sean offers a grounded, data-backed view of where private equity and the broader economy are heading next. Episode Highlights 1:07 – The Sport of Fencing and PE: what private equity can learn from shifting from defense to offense 4:40 – Why the U.S. economy is "good enough" and accelerating despite the noise 11:45 – Deal data shows confidence returning: due diligence projects up 43% year-over-year 14:33 – PE firms' AI and analytics demand surges 300% and 1,600% for AI/ML advisory 18:39 – Manufacturing reshoring, venture collaboration, and the next wave of innovation 21:06 – The coming of flatter, AI-enabled organizations and what it means for talent 25:39 – Sticky inflation, rate cuts, and why the next economic cycle is already underway   For more on BluWave, visit: https://www.bluwave.net/ To request the full Q3 2025 Insights Report, visit: https://www.bluwave.net/insights-report/