Private Equity 24 Hours

Last updated: March 23, 2026, 5:30 AM ET

Private Equity Promotions & Fundraising Milestones

Private equity firm Freshstream elevated two key figures, promoting Tom Carroll and Gilles Gradassi to partner, solidifying their leadership in core markets including the UK, France, and the Benelux region. This internal restructuring follows a period of substantial capital deployment, contrasting with broader fundraising sentiment where specialized funds are capturing significant capital; for instance, Air Street Capital successfully secured a $232 million solo GP fund, marking Europe’s largest of its kind, while French-Italian venture firm 360 Capital closed an €85 million vehicle aimed specifically at deeptech investments and backed by a European defense prime contractor.

Venture Capital & Startup Ecosystem

The European technology ecosystem saw varied activity, with early-stage defense technology receiving a boost as air defense startup Egide successfully netted €8 million in a seed funding round. Meanwhile, the broader UK startup community is looking toward scaling, evidenced by the selection of 25 companies for the UK’s Future Fifty program, designed to shepherd high-growth firms toward later funding stages. This growth trajectory comes as political figures are actively courting founders, though investors are demanding clearer, sustained policy commitments to match the ambition shown by the venture community, which includes the prominent backers listed on Sifted’s UK & Ireland leaderboard that continue to fuel early-stage momentum.