About
The Proprietary Opportunity
Australia has a thriving small and medium sized enterprise (SME) ecosystem, with 12,100 companies operating within the lower-mid market. 98% of companies with employees over 50 in Australia, (~30,000), and 96% of companies in New Zealand (1,900) remain private. As businesses stay private for longer, and their options for growth capital have increased within private markets, so to has the competition for these deals increased amongst institutional investors.
Australia boasts a thriving alternative investment ecosystem, with approximately 60 institutional private equity managers overseeing $45 billion in funds under management. Similarly, there are about 40 venture capital firms managing $20 billion—a significant increase from the $2-3 billion market size a decade ago, reflecting substantial growth and maturation in the sector.
The Australian lower mid-market offers a wealth of investment opportunities. These businesses span a variety of revenue bands:
8,000 companies: $10–$50 million in annual revenue
2,000 companies: $50–$100 million in annual revenue
1,500 companies: Over $100 million in annual revenue
600 companies: More than $250 million in annual revenue
With two thirds of all deals closed in Australia coming from Advisors, and on average 80 private deals being completed each year, private asset managers who incorporate a proprietary origination strategy can open up their investible universe to not only find more opportunities, but also better connect with those opportunities before they come to market.
What We Offer
At PhaseOne Partners, we specialise in delivering tailored origination solutions designed to seamlessly integrate with private equity firms, family offices, and corporate investment teams. Our goal is to enhance your deal pipeline while maintaining your brand’s integrity and reputation with Founders and business owners. But we don’t stop at origination—we also provide industry and niche research, comprehensive transaction support, and buy-and-build services to assist you throughout the entire investment lifecycle.
Our industry and niche research capabilities deliver in-depth insights into specific markets, sectors, and emerging trends. We conduct comprehensive market mapping and competitor analysis to help you identify untapped opportunities, high-growth niches, and key players, ensuring that your investment decisions are informed by reliable, data-driven intelligence.
Our transaction support services ensure a smooth and efficient deal process, from coordinating due diligence and managing stakeholder engagement to providing valuation insights and post-acquisition planning. For firms pursuing a buy-and-build strategy, we source platform investments, identify add-on opportunities, and support integration plans that unlock synergies and drive scalable growth.
By combining innovative deal origination, strategic industry research, seamless transaction support, and buy-and-build expertise, we help you on what matters most—building lasting value through the right opportunities.
