Dry Powder: The Private Equity Podcast
TA Associates may be one of the oldest private equity firms in the world, but its approach to due diligence is strikingly entrepreneurial. Each year, TA reaches out to some 40,000 companies and meets face-to-face with 4,000 management teams, and that’s just a prelude to a firm-wide debate about where to invest.
You can listen to this episode of Dry Powder and catch future episodes by subscribing on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you may listen.
“Our strategy really is a ‘needle in a haystack’ strategy,” says Hythem El-Nazer, comanaging partner of TA and cohead of its North America Technology Group.
Today on Dry Powder, Hythem takes us inside the proverbial haystack. We’ll see how decisions filter up from associates to partners to a strikingly decentralized investment committee. At the heart of this strategy, Hythem explains, is a culture of merit, transparency, and radical accountability.
“It is a true meritocracy,” Hythem says. “It’s a place where if you show you’re competent, and you work hard, you’re given tremendous latitude.”
The Private Equity Podcast
In our podcast series, Bain's Hugh MacArthur interviews leading experts on the trends and opportunities that will redefine the private equity industry.
First published in décembre 2025