The impact of private equity, venture capital and infrastructure
Private equity, venture capital and infrastructure is about building better businesses that create jobs, sustain communities, drive economic growth, and address climate change and sustainability issues, while generating value that translates into returns to support European savers and pensioners in retirement.
The continued innovation and performance of our industry in Europe has resulted in the massive shift in 40 years from a cottage industry to one of the cornerstones of Europe’s economy and societies. As such, sharing the proven and widespread impact our industry has across the continent has never been more important.
Investments, businesses, employees
€742.3bn
invested by private equity and venture capital in European companies from 2020-2025
29,338
European companies backed by PE & VC in 2024 across all industry sectors and regions
11.4m
European employees worked in PE & VC backed companies in 2024
Increasing impact in Europe (2015 - 2025)
You Ask, We Answer
Watch and share our explainer videos providing bite-sized data-driven core statements that answer the questions most often asked about the performance of the private equity, venture capital and infrastructure industry.
The videos show through the latest data the contribution of the industry to sustainable growth, employment, innovation, healthcare, as well as its healthy returns for Europe’s leading pension funds and insurers, to the benefit of the millions of European citizens who depend on them.
Private equity activity
Private equity and venture capital firms raised €147 billion in 2025, a 16% increase on 2024 levels and second only to 2022’s record. Buyout fundraising was the driver as it reached €103 billion, a 33% increase. Investments rose 3% to €135 billion, representing the second-best year after 2021.
Private equity performance
The report aims to show the long-term outperformance and consistency of private capital asset classes versus European equities benchmarks, while also showing the competitiveness of European managers versus those from other regions. It also highlights the short-term performance of funds, illustrating their lower volatility compared with public benchmarks, meaning that they frequently lag when public markets rise strongly, but outperform in weaker conditions.
The Performance of European Private Equity Benchmark Report 2025
Employment & job creation in Europe
Private equity and venture capital-backed companies create 5% more European jobs in 2023; 5x Europe’s job-creation rate. This marks the sixth consecutive year of positive job creation, significantly outpacing the European job creation rate. Companies backed by private equity and venture capital across all regions and stages are consistently outperforming the average.
A Different Angle: Funding people, with purpose
‘A Different Angle’ is an online film series exploring the role of private equity and venture capital in European society. This unique film series, presented by Invest Europe, the world’s largest association of private capital providers, and produced by BBC StoryWorks Commercial Productions, brings to screen the human stories at the heart of the businesses that are driving change and fuelling growth through private capital.
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