Kick off the day at Registration and enjoy a light refreshment. Check in, grab a coffee and bite to eat, and connect with fellow attendees before the program begins.

In a more selective market, private equity dealmaking requires sharper discipline and greater creativity. This panel brings together investors, lenders, and advisors to explore how deals are getting done across sourcing, pricing, structuring, financing, and exits. With a lens on Texas as a leading middle market hub, panelists will share how regional dynamics and sector strength are shaping local opportunities and informing national trends.

Value creation has become the primary driver of returns. This panel brings together private equity investors and portfolio company leaders to explore how firms are creating value post close through operational execution, strategic alignment, and disciplined growth. Panelists will share how sector exposure and strong leadership collaboration are shaping performance and driving results across portfolios.

Located at the heart of the forum, the Connection Café will be the haven outside the content. Grab-and-go refreshments and soft seating will create a location for an intentional or spontaneous pit stop between sessions. It will be the go-to spot for attendees to refuel, gather to chat, jot notes or take a clarity break.

Attendees will have the opportunity to connect with speakers 1:1 in a conversational setting during Meet the Speakers. Panelists will remain in the room for additional questions - a prime opportunity to make an introduction!

The energy transition is reshaping dealmaking and portfolio strategy across middle-market PE but the reality on the ground rarely matches the headlines. This panel brings together operators, counsel, and institutional investors to cut through the noise: from LP decarbonization mandates to the enduring economics of well-run domestic O&G assets. A frank conversation about where middle-market energy PE actually stands heading into the back half of the decade.

As fundraising cycles lengthen and LPs exercise greater selectivity, IR teams are rethinking how they engage, communicate, and retain their investor base. This panel explores how middle-market GPs are adapting their capital formation strategies. From evolving LP profiles and co-investment appetite to the growing influence of family offices and non-traditional allocators. Panelists will discuss what LPs are asking for now, how the bar for transparency and reporting has shifted, and what separates funds that close efficiently from those that don't.

Close out your day with all the connections you’ve made and insights you’ve gained. Enjoy casual networking while sipping and savoring among thoughtfully designed food + wine pairing stations.