INSTITUTE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND PRIVATE CAPITAL
Private Capital Symposium at LBS
The next symposium will take place on 19-20 May 2026 at London Business School. Benefit from 20% Early Bird savings, available until 5 April.
Private Capital Symposium 2026
The Private Capital Symposium 2026 returns as a premier gathering of scholars, investors, and industry leaders in private equity, venture capital, and private markets. Hosted by the Institute of Entrepreneurship and Private Capital (IEPC) at London Business School, the symposium provides a unique platform for intellectual exchange, open debate, and thought-provoking discussions.
Call for Papers
We are now accepting submissions of academic research papers for presentation at the symposium. We welcome high-quality, rigorous research on private equity, venture capital, and broader private market themes.
This is an excellent opportunity to:
- Engage with leading scholars and practitioners
- Receive feedback on your research from an international audience
- Contribute to shaping the future of private capital
Submission deadline: 1 March 2026
Tickets and Registration
Early bird tickets for the symposium are now available. Secure your place to benefit from discounted rates and join peers for two days of dynamic discussions, networking, and insights into the evolving private capital landscape.
Join us at the Private Capital Symposium 2026 to explore the latest trends, share knowledge, and connect with the global private capital community.
Register for early bird tickets
About
We are proud to offer a global forum for debate. Here, academics and practitioners from around the world strengthen ties, exchange and debate academic findings and current industry topics.
Our annual Private Capital Symposium is a cornerstone of this remit. The symposium brings together influential industry experts and academic thought leaders for two days of inspiring, thought-provoking, open and lively debate.
The first day of the symposium is aimed at practitioners while the second day is for academics only.
Past topics have ranged from the technical aspects of deal origination, to discussions on social impact investing and the use of artificial intelligence in investment decisions.
The scientific committee comprise:
- Luisa Alemany, Associate Professor of Management Practice at London Business School and Academic Director IEPC
- Gary Dushnitsky, Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship at London Business School
- Victoria Ivashina, Lovett-Learned Chaired Professor of Finance and Head of the Finance Unit at Harvard Business School
- Josh Lerner, Jacob H. Schiff Professor of Investment Banking at Harvard Business School
- Ramana Nanda, Professor of Entrepreneurial Finance at Imperial Business School
- Ilya A. Strebulaev, The David S. Lobel Professor of Private Equity & Finance, Founder & Director, Venture Capital Initiative, Graduate School of Business, Stanford University
- Florin Vasvari, Professor of Accounting, Academic Director, IEPC
- Michael S. Weisbach, Ralph W. Kurtz Chair in Finance at Ohio State University.
Resources from previous events
What can you expect from the Private Capital Symposium at LBS? Explore the line-up of key-note speakers from previous years who we partnered with and what was discussed.
Sponsorship
If you are interested in sponsoring the Private Capital Symposium please email iepc@london.edu.
Session highlights
From Distressed Deals to Luxury Stays: The Hotel Investment Opportunity
Get a quick overview of the key insights from the Private Capital Symposium 2025, Spotlight on Hotels as an Asset Class session exploring hotel investments and how private capital is adapting to new opportunities in the hospitality sector.
Interviews with guest speakers
Deep Tech and AI in Healthcare: An Exclusive Interview with David Herbada
Fellow Vidur Varma sits down with David Herbada, Venture Partner at Zinc Ventures, General Partner at Fikra Ventures, and CEO of Oxford University spin-out Sonosine, to explore how deep tech and artificial intelligence are transforming healthcare and beyond. David shares insights on what deep tech truly entails, how AI is revolutionising areas like drug discovery and diagnostic imaging, and the investment trends shaping the future. The discussion also delves into bridging the gap between research, entrepreneurship, and funding, as well as the key challenges ahead, from data and energy demands to scalability.
The Future of London's Innovation Ecosystem | Saul Klein at London Business School
Saul Klein, a leading venture capitalist, joins Gary Dushnitsky, Associate Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship at London Business School, to explore London’s rise as a global tech powerhouse. Klein reflects on the evolution of the UK’s innovation ecosystem over the past two decades, positioning London as the "New Palo Alto" and highlighting its distinctive approach to values-driven entrepreneurship.
The discussion touches on key growth sectors such as AI, biotech, and fintech, as well as the importance of talent diversity and pro-innovation regulation in shaping London’s future.
Exploring GenAI's Impact on Industry Transformation and Private Equity | LBS Experts Discuss
Michael G Jacobides, Sir Donald Gordon Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation; Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship at London Business School, and Yuri Romanenkov, Academic Director of Next Generation Digital Strategy, London Business School delve into the transformative impact of generative AI (genAI) on industries and private equity.
Venture Capital Investing: In conversation with Ramana Nanda
Are venture capitalists just good at picking companies that will ultimately be successful? Or do they actually help them become successful through their value-added work.
Corporate Venture Capital: In conversation with Ilya A Strebulaev
Professor Ilya A Strebulaev shares insights about his research on Corporate Venture Capital in conversation with Gary Dushnitsky at the Private Capital Symposium 2022 hosted by the Institute of Entrepreneurship and Private Capital at LBS.
Related programmes
Contact us
To find out more about Entrepreneurship and Private Capital at LBS, please email us at the address below.