Olivia Nguyen (Business Development) attended Achieve Partners’ annual meeting in New York in October 2026. Discussions focused on the forces shaping private equity and the education and workforce sectors, including the role of AI, the importance of operating growth, and a slower exit environment.
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Here are five takeaways:

1. Operating growth is central to private equity value creation

As financial engineering becomes a less dependable driver of returns, investors are placing greater emphasis on company-level growth. Product development, sales execution, customer retention, and expansion into new markets can all contribute to a company’s trajectory.

For lower middle-market businesses, that work often requires close engagement with management and a clear understanding of the company’s customers and competitive position. The path to growth is specific to each business, making operating execution an important part of investment analysis.

2. Education technology depends on trust and adoption

In K-12 education, purchasing decisions can reflect more than product features or potential cost savings. School and district relationships, familiarity, and confidence in a provider can influence adoption, particularly when products affect students, teachers, and administrators.

That dynamic may create a meaningful hurdle for new entrants, including technology companies moving quickly into education. It also can put a premium on understanding how a product fits into existing classroom practices and the needs of the people using it.

3. AI is changing how education and workforce companies build products

AI is already helping companies develop and improve products, deliver services, and support internal workflows. In education, examples discussed at the meeting included tools for creating learning content and providing students with more targeted feedback.

The opportunity extends beyond efficiency: AI may allow companies to test ideas and bring new features to market more quickly. Realizing that potential still depends on product quality, responsible implementation, and whether customers find the tools useful.

4. AI literacy is becoming part of workforce readiness

As AI becomes more common in education and the workplace, familiarity with technology and the ability to use it responsibly are increasingly relevant skills. Access to AI tools alone may not be enough; students and workers also need guidance on how to evaluate outputs, apply the tools, and understand their limitations.

The discussion also highlighted the role of schools, employers, and local organizations in preparing people to work alongside new technologies. How that preparation develops will shape both education practices and workforce needs.

5. A slower exit market puts more weight on realization discipline

Longer holding periods and slower distributions have made realization timing a more prominent consideration for private equity investors. Investors and managers must weigh the potential benefits of holding a company longer against the time, risk, and opportunity cost involved.

That decision depends on the company’s performance, market conditions, and the return objectives established at investment. A clear view of those factors can help managers assess when continued ownership remains warranted.

The takeaway

Achieve’s AGM highlights how changes in technology, education, and the labor market are shaping opportunities across the lower middle market. For private equity investors, identifying promising sectors is only part of the work. Product adoption, operating execution, and disciplined ownership decisions remain important to evaluating businesses and supporting their development.

^{This article is for informational and educational purposes only. It reflects general observations from Achieve Partners’ October 2026 annual meeting and does not constitute investment advice, a recommendation, or an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to purchase any security or investment product. Any such offer may be made only through the applicable offering documents.}

^{Information attributed to Achieve Partners is based on statements made at the meeting and has not been independently verified by Epic Funds. The views expressed are as of October 2026, may change, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Epic Funds or its affiliates. This article does not address the risks or terms of any particular investment. Private investments involve risk, including possible loss of capital and limited liquidity. There can be no assurance that any investment objective will be achieved.}