Deep Water research

US Lower Middle Market PE AI Deal Sourcing Replacement for Grata SourceScrub PitchBook Q1 2026

Which specific named partners or deal-origination leaders at US lower-middle-market PE firms ($200M–$2B AUM) that are active in ACG Growth Buyouts or ACG Middle-Market chapters are currently running formal or informal procurement processes to replace or supplement Grata, SourceScrub, or PitchBook with AI-driven deal-sourcing tools in Q1 2026, have NOT already been pitched by Grata at the January 21 ACG Deal Solutions Demo Day, and for each identified individual, what is the concrete warm-introduction pathway (via shared ACG chapter leadership, ACG Capital Connection deal-flow overlap, portfolio-co portfolio overlap, or investment-banking advisor introduction) and what specific verified-signal or forward-looking-prediction capability gap have they publicly expressed or are known to have with their current platform, that DeepSignal can use to secure a 2-to-4-week proof-of-concept before the ACG Middle-Market AI Demo Day on March 19, 2026?

Jun 28, 202631 sources reviewed

Executive Summary

  • Evidence Gap on Procurement Intent: The available intelligence does not contain evidence regarding Q1 2026 AI-driven tool procurement, dissatisfaction with incumbent platforms (Grata, SourceScrub, PitchBook), or attendance at a January 21 ACG Deal Solutions Demo Day. Specific technological capability gaps for targeted firms remain unverified in the public domain.
  • Target LMM PE Deal Leaders: Despite the lack of explicit procurement signals, several highly influential deal-origination leaders at target LMM PE firms ($200M–$2B AUM) have been identified. Key targets include Tony Hill (Trivest Partners), Dan Ryan (MidOcean Partners), Brent Kulman (Five Points Capital), and Kevin Prunty (LongWater Capital Solutions).
  • Warm-Introduction Pathways Identified: DeepSignal can leverage a robust network of ACG chapter influencers to secure proof-of-concept (POC) meetings. High-value connective nodes include prominent advisory and service-provider board members such as Suzie Doran (SingerLewak), Jen Cuello (EisnerAmper), and Christina Bui (Protiviti), who specialize in PE value creation and maintain deep chapter leadership ties.
  • Alternative Event Timelines: The provided dataset does not verify a March 19 ACG Middle-Market AI Demo Day. If DeepSignal’s strategy is event-driven, the primary confirmed anchor event for ACG dealmakers is DealMAX 2026, scheduled for April 27–29 in Las Vegas, expecting over 3,200 attendees.

1. Target LMM PE Deal Leaders within the ACG Ecosystem

While public signaling of dissatisfaction with incumbents like Grata, SourceScrub, or PitchBook is absent from the provided source material, we can identify several high-priority deal-origination leaders within the target LMM PE demographic who actively guide ACG strategy. These individuals represent prime targets for DeepSignal's Q1 2026 pipeline due to their focus on business development and deal-flow innovation.

The following LMM PE executives maintain significant operational authority and structural influence within the ACG ecosystem:

Target Deal Leader Firm Key ACG Affiliation Influence / Background
Tony Hill Trivest Partners ACG Global Headquarters Board Serves as a director at large and principal of business development [10].
Dan Ryan MidOcean Partners ACG Philadelphia Head of Business Development; noted for driving significant increases in investment banker turnout and utilizing industry-specific content [14], [28].
Brent Kulman Five Points Capital ACG Charlotte Director of Business Development; active regional leadership [21].
Kevin Prunty LongWater Capital Solutions ACG Global Board Incoming board chair and chair of the finance committee; Senior Managing Director [42].
David Acharya AGI Partners LLC ACG New York Serves as President of ACG New York, the largest association of middle-market dealmakers in NY (>1,000 members) [13], [27].
Darin Brock TorQuest Partners ACG Toronto Partner; past chair of the Toronto Board of Directors; helped launch the "Deal Source North" initiative [7], [35].

Recommendation for DeepSignal: Rather than cold-pitching a Grata/SourceScrub displacement, DeepSignal should frame outreach to these leaders around enhancing existing workflows via AI-driven forward-looking predictions, capitalizing on their documented interest in structural deal-sourcing innovation (e.g., Dan Ryan's focus on targeted IB networking [28] and Darin Brock's launch of Deal Source North [35]).

2. Warm-Introduction Pathways and ACG Influencer Mapping

To secure a 2-to-4-week POC prior to late Q1 2026, DeepSignal must utilize the verified ACG influencer network. Direct contact through shared ACG chapter leadership and advisory advisors offers the highest probability of a warm introduction.

Pathway A: Advisory & Service Provider Influencers

Many ACG board members are partners at accounting, consulting, or legal firms who partner closely with private equity firms on technology-driven value creation. DeepSignal should map mutual connections with these individuals to facilitate introductions to the PE targets listed above:

  • Suzie Doran (SingerLewak LLP): Current ACG board chair with extensive executive committee experience, particularly in the ACG Los Angeles chapter [3].
  • Christina Bui (Protiviti): ACG San Francisco member who specifically specializes in partnering with private equity and VC firms on technology-driven transformation and value creation [17]. Her technological focus makes her an ideal champion for an AI-native platform introduction.
  • Jen Cuello (EisnerAmper): Former president of ACG Dallas/Fort Worth (through 2024), representing a high-level networking contact for PE fund relationships in the Texas region [24].
  • Lynn Sommer (BDO USA): Maintains broad institutional influence via past leadership on both the Boston and Los Angeles ACG boards [38].
  • Cathy Logue (Stanton Chase): Leads global CFO and family office practices, serving on the ACG Toronto board to support mid-market dealmaking alongside figures like Darin Brock [31].

Pathway B: Chapter Executive and Committee Integration

DeepSignal executives can embed themselves within chapter networks to force serendipitous introductions. Local chapter executives serve as the primary point of contact for leveraging chapter benefits [1], [23].

  • ACG New York: As the largest chapter [27], ACG NY presents a premier networking venue. Volunteering on a committee provides structured opportunities for personal and firm brand visibility [5]. In 2025, approximately 15% of ACG NY's membership (140+ members) participated on committees [33]. Committee terms are 18 months, aligning with a September 1st fiscal year [39]. Applications are managed by Executive Director Casey Coleman [26] and reviewed by the Advisory Board Executive Committee [19].
  • Dual-Chapter Strategy: If DeepSignal executives are based outside NYC, they can obtain a Dual-Chapter membership at a discounted rate to access ACG NY's exclusive member directory [12], [15].
  • Executive Leadership Connectivity: Building a relationship with Vikash Magdani, Executive Director of ACG NY, could yield highly targeted introductions. Magdani has deep private equity media roots, having previously led a multi-million-dollar PE media portfolio at Buyouts Insider and founded Nova Venture Partners [6], [34], [40]. Similarly, Marcia Nelson, EVP of ACG NY and MD at Alberleen Family Office Solutions, is a critical gatekeeper [20].

Pathway C: Event-Driven Overlap

If immediate committee integration is unfeasible, regional and national events provide immediate access to deal-flow partners.

  • InterGrowth: ACG holds dedicated in-person gatherings during InterGrowth (May 6–8 in Orlando, FL), representing a major venue for connecting with PE targets [18].
  • Texas ACG Capital Connection: DeepSignal can utilize regional Capital Connections, such as the Texas ACG Capital Connection, to network directly with southwestern LMM PE firms [32].

3. Assessment of Q1 2026 AI Procurement and Demo Day Activity

The intelligence requirement seeks to identify active procurement processes following a January 21 ACG Deal Solutions Demo Day, leading into a March 19 ACG Middle-Market AI Demo Day.

Critical Intelligence Gap: The current evidentiary baseline does not contain information verifying the existence of, or attendance at, the January 21 Deal Solutions Demo Day or the March 19 AI Demo Day. Furthermore, there is zero public documentation in the provided dataset regarding active Q1 2026 LMM PE procurement processes to replace Grata, SourceScrub, or PitchBook with AI tools.

Alternative Strategic Anchor: Because the specified March 19 timeline cannot be corroborated, DeepSignal should align its Q1/Q2 2026 sales pipeline with confirmed, high-density ACG gatherings. The premier upcoming event is ACG's DealMAX 2026, scheduled for April 27–29 in Las Vegas, which is expected to host over 3,200 dealmakers and executives [25], [29], [43]. Furthermore, ACG headquarters are located in Chicago [9], and leadership meetings are routinely held to discuss strategy and best practices [11]. DeepSignal should aim to secure POCs prior to DealMAX 2026, utilizing the conference as a venue to convert successful pilots into enterprise contracts.

To supplement data gathering in the interim, DeepSignal teams should utilize their ACG membership to access GF Data subscriptions (which offer a 20% member discount) for tracking private M&A transactions in the $10M–$500M range [22], and consume Middle Market Growth Magazine/GrowthTV to monitor shifting PE investment trends [36].

Limitations / Open Questions

  • Vendor Sentiment Unverified: There is a total absence of evidence regarding incumbent displacement. We cannot confirm which firms are dissatisfied with Grata, SourceScrub, or PitchBook.
  • Procurement Intent Unknown: The data does not support the identification of any firm actively running formal or informal procurement processes for AI-driven deal-sourcing tools in Q1 2026.
  • Demo Day Verification: The specific January 21 and March 19 ACG Deal/AI Demo Days are not present in the source data.
  • Capability Gaps: No public statements regarding "verified-signal" or "forward-looking prediction" capability gaps were found for the targeted deal leaders. DeepSignal will need to conduct primary discovery calls to establish these technical requirements.

Sources