Alignment Capital Partners (ACG) stands as a premier private equity consulting firm, strategically located in Austin, Texas. Founded in 2000 by the experienced leadership of Austin M. Long, III, who continues to guide the firm, and Craig J. Nickels, currently the Director of Private Equity at Washington University in St. Louis, ACG brings decades of expertise to the private equity landscape. The firm specializes in delivering strategic advisory services meticulously tailored for institutional investors navigating the complexities of private equity.
What distinguishes Alignment Capital Partners is its unique and robust approach, underscored by a growing portfolio of patents linked to proprietary analytical methodologies. ACG’s commitment to thought leadership is evident through its expanding body of original research, prominently featured in peer-reviewed journals. With over two decades dedicated to managing and advising private equity portfolios for major public funds, Alignment Capital Partners offers a depth of experience and insight that is unparalleled in the industry.
At its core, Alignment Capital Partners was built upon the foundational principle of aligning interests. The firm firmly believes that in the realm of private equity, ensuring the alignment of interests amongst investors, intermediaries, and investment managers is paramount for collective success. This unwavering belief has shaped ACG’s strategic direction. To best serve its clients and uphold this principle, Alignment Capital Partners has strategically positioned itself as a pure strategic consultancy. This deliberate choice to avoid the conflicts of interest often associated with combined consultancy-asset management operations, common within the sector, ensures unbiased advice for plan sponsors on critical portfolio management decisions, independent of managing private equity investments directly.
ACG’s advisory philosophy is rooted in a balanced methodology, skillfully integrating rigorous quantitative analysis with deep qualitative knowledge and practical experience. This approach synergistically blends the valuable lessons gleaned from years of hands-on management and advisory roles in large private equity portfolios with insights derived from comprehensive studies of private equity behavior from a portfolio management perspective. This powerful combination empowers Alignment Capital Partners to guide clients towards making optimal investment decisions, grounded in both data and seasoned judgment. In essence, Alignment Capital Partners is dedicated to bringing clarity and consistent, analytical rigor to the private equity space, an area traditionally characterized by its opacity and informal practices.
The professionals at Alignment Capital Partners are driven by a strong ethos of intellectual honesty and integrity. They are committed to innovation, both in pure and applied research, and dedicated to education and diligent work. This commitment is all in service of enhancing and refining how large institutions approach and implement their private equity portfolios. For institutional investors seeking a partner deeply committed to strategic alignment and excellence in private equity consulting, Alignment Capital Partners offers a clear path forward.
