At SuperReturn CFO/COO, Piers Evans, CCO, Atominvest, joined the conversation on how private equity firms can adapt to meet evolving investor demands. His key message: in a long-term business like private equity, data quality and investor experience are now true differentiators.

The shift from fundraising to investor experience

Fundraising may take a year, but investors remain in a fund for a decade or more. Evans explained that delivering a smooth, responsive experience over that lifecycle is what sets firms apart. Keeping LPs engaged, informed, and confident is not only good service, it builds momentum for the next round of fundraising.

Why adoption matters as much as technology

Technology can only add value if people actually use it. Evans highlighted the risk of implementing new systems that fall into disuse, leaving data stale and workflows broken. To succeed, firms need internal buy-in and user-friendly tools that integrate across finance, IR, legal, fund admin, and investor teams.

The rise of AI in portfolio management

One of the biggest opportunities Evans sees is in portfolio management. Private equity firms receive reporting in all kinds of formats, and extracting consistent, structured data has long been a challenge. Atominvest has invested in AI tools to solve this problem, turning unstructured inputs into a single, trusted source of truth for decision-making and reporting.

Choosing the right tech partner

Finally, Evans underscored the importance of selecting a long-term technology partner. With funds spanning 10–12 years, private equity firms need providers who can adapt with changing regulations, practices, and market demands.