VIDEO - Getting serious about AI in private equity: the first steps

Artificial intelligence is firmly on the agenda for private equity. Most firms are experimenting with tools or pilots, but few have an overarching strategy that connects deal teams, technical functions, and senior partners in a way that delivers real competitive advantage.

In our latest video discussion, our leadership team – Phil Westcott (CEO and Founder), James Ede (VP of Clients), and Martin Pomeroy (Tech Co-founder) – outline what private equity firms should prioritise when they want to get serious about AI.

Appoint an AI champion

The first step is to put someone in place with the mandate to drive AI across the firm. Whether that’s a dedicated new hire or a member of the existing team, this role acts as the catalyst to bring together deal teams, technical specialists, and managing partners around a unified strategy.

Focus on adoption, not disruption

Too often, firms imagine AI requires a full-scale overhaul of processes. Instead, the priority should be enhancing workflows that people already use. By starting small and building from existing habits, adoption is far higher – and results arrive without overwhelming teams.

Build from strong data foundations

One of the most common challenges we see is legacy software and data sitting in silos – from shared drives to notes stored on desktops. Before any AI initiative can deliver real impact, firms need to modernise their foundations. That means moving documents into cloud systems like SharePoint, adopting CRM platforms such as Salesforce, and ensuring the right connectors and APIs are in place.

Where to start

The message from our leadership team is clear: appoint an AI champion, prioritise practical adoption, and fix your data foundations. From there, firms can scale up to more ambitious projects with confidence.

To find out more about how deal teams and tech teams can get started with AI and data connectedness, find out more about Filament Syfter today.