Private Equity 24 Hours

Last updated: April 25, 2026, 8:30 AM ET

Private Equity Dealmaking & Sector Focus

The private equity sector continues to favor resilient areas like healthcare and specialized technology, evidenced by several recent transactions in the dental and vision care spaces. MyEye Dr, a Vienna, Virginia-based vision care provider backed by an unnamed PE firm, announced its acquisition of Lumina Vision Partners, expanding its footprint. Simultaneously, Cathay Capital-backed Parkview Dental Partners executed a bolt-on purchase, snapping up Sarasota, Florida’s VIP Dental, a management partnership focused on dental growth. This M&A activity reflects a broader trend where PE firms are targeting orthopedics due to sector resiliency and lower development risk, exemplified by Apollo's recent $1.25 billion minority investment in an unnamed medical device firm.

Venture Capital & Investment Scrutiny

While some areas of venture capital remain buoyant, the frequency of mega-rounds appears to be cooling, as only half of this week’s ten largest funding rounds surpassed the $100 million threshold, an unusual pattern for the current investment climate. In contrast, specialized AI tooling continues to draw significant capital, with ComfyUI raising $30 million to achieve a $500 million valuation, driven by creator demand for greater control over AI-generated media. Elsewhere, the fallout from poor governance continues, as Steve Ballmer delivered a scathing letter during the sentencing of disgraced founder Joseph Sanberg, asserting he was "duped" by the fraudster he previously backed. Separately, industry leadership continues to solidify lineups for upcoming events, with Uber CTO Praveen Neppalli Naga joining the Strictly VC San Francisco speaker roster for its April 30 forum.