Funds that were unjustly written off

Hi all,

Over my years browsing this forum, I have seen various funds that have been written off and seen as performing badly etc (i.e. the current tech fund hate, amsec, Clearlake, platinum, providence, whatever).

My question is - has anyone seen any of these funds with bad rep on WSO come storming back to prove everyone wrong?

20 Comments
 

Tbh not really the ones that really get shit on recently at least are pretty deserving of the shit — however important to note that the context is often “this is a good firms in many ways BUT some interesting issues are x,y,z” but of course it is rarely framed this way since this is an online forum.

Also another point to remember is even “bad funds” if they are talked about here have generally already made SOMEONE the kind of money we all dream about.

 

They are just harvesting management fees at this point, they keep doubling their fund size, a lot of their fund is things where they're basically a co-investor alongside another strong GP and recent performance of things they actually control has been pretty bad, mostly propped up by them playing hot potato moving things into CVs. One of the six or seven CVs recently went bankrupt.

 
Most Helpful

I would take some of the comments in this forum with a grain of salt (except Clearlake lol).  People here might be disgruntled because:

1. They interviewed and didn’t get an offer.

2. They got fired from such place.

3. They work at a competitor and lost a deal or lost a prospect LP to them.

Plus, there’s subjectivity - what some people may say is a great hardworking culture some others will say it’s a sweatshop.

 

ECP is a decent example. First two funds were pretty horrible but have done very well since while completely rebuilding the brand / credibility 

 

Ex nulla sunt iusto sint tempora voluptas. Dignissimos tempore est dignissimos neque recusandae magnam quaerat. Quaerat eaque ducimus ullam deserunt inventore fugiat et. Exercitationem consequatur corporis recusandae optio nostrum dolor amet. Voluptas cumque consequatur mollitia similique ea optio ipsum.

Et et soluta et officiis dolores. Dolorum nemo quis rerum et quos quo. Qui nulla totam rerum voluptatum tempora. Voluptas repudiandae architecto qui recusandae.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Private Equity

  • The Riverside Company 99.6%
  • Blackstone Group 99.3%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.9%
  • Warburg Pincus 98.5%
  • Bain Capital 98.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Private Equity

  • Blackstone Group 99.6%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 99.2%
  • The Riverside Company 98.9%
  • Ardian 98.5%
  • Starwood Capital Group 98.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Private Equity

  • Bain Capital 99.6%
  • The Riverside Company 99.3%
  • Blackstone Group 98.9%
  • Starwood Capital Group 98.5%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Private Equity

  • Principal (9) $653
  • Director/MD (24) $547
  • Vice President (98) $365
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (104) $281
  • 2nd Year Associate (235) $272
  • 1st Year Associate (411) $229
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (33) $157
  • 2nd Year Analyst (97) $134
  • 1st Year Analyst (272) $124
  • Intern/Summer Associate (38) $81
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (355) $62
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”