The 2025 National Summit for Middle Market Funds is one of the most important events in the U.S. business calendar. It brings together business owners, investors, advisors, and financial experts to explore new funding strategies, market trends, and growth opportunities for middle market companies. This year’s summit is expected to be bigger and better than ever, with a strong focus on actionable insights and future planning.
What Is the 2025 National Summit for Middle Market Funds?
The 2025 National Summit for Middle Market Funds is a major conference held in the United States that brings together professionals and decision-makers involved in the middle market. These businesses, typically earning between $10 million and $1 billion annually, are vital to the American economy. The summit focuses on private equity, capital investment, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), growth strategies, and financial trends that impact this segment.
Hosted by the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG), the summit is designed for leaders who want to expand their companies, find new investment opportunities, or simply stay informed on market changes. Keynote speakers, panel discussions, networking events, and breakout sessions are all part of the experience. Whether you’re managing a company or funding one, this summit delivers real-world value.
This annual event helps professionals understand the dynamics of private equity, regulatory changes, and emerging market risks in 2025. In simple terms, it’s a place where smart people come together to talk about how to make good businesses even better.
Why Middle Market Companies Matter
Middle market companies play a critical role in the U.S. economy. They make up about 33% of U.S. GDP and employ nearly 50 million people. These firms often grow faster than larger corporations because they are more agile, innovative, and closer to their customers. However, they often lack the massive resources that large companies have, which makes events like this summit even more important.
Middle market businesses are considered the “growth engine” of the U.S. They generate new jobs, introduce cutting-edge products, and help local economies thrive. They also attract private equity firms looking for solid companies to invest in. In 2025, with an increasingly digital and competitive business environment, middle market companies need the right tools, partners, and insights to keep growing.
Who Should Go to the 2025 Summit?
The 2025 National Summit for Middle Market Funds is not just for CEOs. It’s for anyone who has a hand in building, funding, or advising companies in the middle market. Attendees include business owners, private equity investors, consultants, legal and financial advisors, and even lenders. Here’s a breakdown of who benefits most from attending:
Business Owners
If you own a growing company, this summit is for you. It’s a chance to meet investors, learn how to secure funding, and discover new ways to scale your business. Many business owners come to understand how private equity works and to decide if it’s the right option for their growth plans.
You’ll hear success stories, learn how others overcame challenges, and find inspiration. For many, the event provides clear steps on how to move from being a good company to becoming a great one.
Investors
Private equity professionals and venture capitalists flock to this event to scout for the next big thing. The summit allows investors to meet dozens of middle market companies in one place, assess investment readiness, and build strong business relationships.
In 2025, with more funds focused on sustainable growth and tech-enabled services, the summit is a goldmine for anyone looking to invest in rising stars within the U.S. economy.
Advisors and Lenders
Financial advisors, accountants, and legal consultants all gain significant insights from the summit. They can learn the latest regulations, funding options, and risk management strategies that affect their clients. Banks and non-traditional lenders can also meet business owners in need of funding, making this a win-win situation.
By attending, advisors stay ahead of the curve and ensure they offer updated, relevant guidance to their clients, especially in the changing 2025 economic landscape.
What to Expect at the Event
The summit is designed to be engaging, informative, and incredibly useful. Expect expert panels, breakout sessions tailored to your field, and direct access to some of the smartest minds in finance and business development. Topics range from ESG investing, digital transformation, debt financing, and cross-border investments to exit strategies and succession planning.
There will also be networking receptions, investor matchmaking opportunities, and private meeting spaces. These features make it easy to build relationships that go beyond handshakes and email exchanges.
The 2025 summit promises to include deeper dives into AI-driven business tools, how to increase valuation during due diligence, and navigating inflation and interest rate fluctuations in real-time markets.
Where and When Will the Summit Happen?
The 2025 National Summit for Middle Market Funds will take place in Chicago, Illinois, a city known for its rich history in finance and commerce. The summit is scheduled for October 6–8, 2025, at the Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile.
This venue offers ample space, state-of-the-art facilities, and is centrally located for attendees flying in from across the United States. October is also an ideal time to visit the city—before the snow, but after the peak summer travel rush.
Whether you’re flying in from New York, Dallas, or San Francisco, the location and timing are chosen to maximize convenience and participation. Booking early is advised, as hotel space and summit tickets tend to sell out fast.
How the Summit Helps Businesses Grow
The real value of the summit is in how it helps businesses grow. Every session, every meeting, and every interaction is designed to deliver something useful—whether that’s a new idea, a funding opportunity, or a market insight. Here’s how the summit makes a direct impact:
Funding Ideas
At the summit, business owners learn about private equity funds, growth capital, debt financing, and alternative funding options. Experts explain how each model works, and what investors are currently looking for in 2025. For many, this is the first step in securing millions in funding.
Private equity firms also present their investment criteria, making it easier for entrepreneurs to tailor their pitches. Learning how to speak the language of investors is a major takeaway for many attendees.
Growth Tips
Scaling a company is never easy, especially in the middle market. At the summit, growth strategies are shared by those who’ve done it. Topics include how to manage rapid team expansion, how to improve operational efficiency, and how to break into international markets.
There are also sessions focused on tech adoption, process automation, and how to remain competitive in a fast-moving digital world. Learning from others’ experiences saves time and money, and often leads to smarter decisions.
Why 2025 Will Be a Big Year
The year 2025 is poised to be transformational. As we come out of post-pandemic recovery and face rising inflation, global tensions, and digital disruption, middle market companies are finding both challenges and opportunities. With more investors entering the space and technology making operations easier, 2025 is shaping up to be a pivotal time for growth.
The summit will spotlight sectors set to thrive in 2025—like fintech, healthcare, logistics, and sustainability. If you’re running or investing in a middle market company, the tools and insights you gain here could shape your next five years.
Thoughts on the 2025 Middle Market Summit
Many attendees describe the summit as “a game changer.” It’s not just a conference—it’s a hub of learning, networking, and transformation. People leave with new partners, fresh ideas, and a better understanding of how to scale or support a growing business in 2025.
It’s also a rare space where both small business owners and large investors speak the same language. The conversations are focused, the content is practical, and the impact is long-lasting. Most who attend once make it a point to return year after year.
The Bottom Line
The 2025 National Summit for Middle Market Funds is more than just an event. It’s an opportunity—a chance to learn, grow, and connect in ways that can change your business forever. Whether you’re looking to fund a company, grow your client base, or understand how private equity works, this summit is the place to be.
Middle market businesses may not make headlines like tech giants, but they’re the real strength of the U.S. economy. And the 2025 summit is where those who believe in that strength come together to make things happen.
Don’t miss out. If you’re serious about the future of business, then mark your calendar for October 6–8, 2025, and plan to be in Chicago—because that’s where tomorrow’s leaders will be.