Carlyle Group is doubling down on aerospace, defense and government opportunities with a new mid-market focused platform spanning the US and Europe. Ian Fujiyama, managing director and head of ADG services, explained the strategic rationale behind targeting smaller deals in sectors where the firm has decades of large-cap investing experience.

Meanwhile, JMI Equity partner Chase Thomet outlined the firm's investment thesis in SewerAI, reflecting growing private equity interest in infrastructure and technology solutions serving municipal markets. The wastewater technology company represents a niche but increasingly relevant play as cities modernize aging systems.

These moves signal private equity firms are finding value in specialized mid-market platforms that complement traditional large-cap strategies. Carlyle's dual-track approach allows the firm to capture opportunities across multiple deal sizes while maintaining sector focus. JMI's SewerAI bet shows investors are targeting essential infrastructure businesses with recurring revenue models.

The strategy divergence reflects broader market trends: larger firms expanding into overlooked segments while mid-market specialists seek technology-enabled plays in essential services. Both investments underscore confidence in government and infrastructure-focused businesses despite economic uncertainty.