No matter how good it is, no technology can replace the value of building relationships — especially in the world of M&A.
Conferences are a crucial part of finding leads and keeping your pipeline flowing. They not only provide opportunities to connect with other dealmakers and executives in person, but they also help M&A professionals stay up to date on industry trends.
In this article, we dive into what dealmakers can gain from attending industry conferences, which events you should consider adding to your calendar, and how Grata can help you make the most of your travel time.
What You Can Gain from M&A Conferences
Attending conferences is an important part of deal sourcing. Industry events provide in-person networking opportunities for private market dealmakers, which can ultimately lead to:
- New connections. Dealmakers can connect with bankers, private equity investors, corporate executives, attorneys, advisors, and more at M&A conferences.
- New opportunities. Building out their professional networks in this way is a great way for M&A professionals to find leads on potential partnerships.
- New targets. Dealmakers can also find new acquisition targets by connecting with founders, executives, and other private market investors at M&A conferences.
Conferences and events are also a key resource for staying up to date on industry trends and best practices on topics such as:
- Deal structuring
- Valuation
- New regulations
- Legal aspects
- New technology
Regularly attending M&A conferences can help private market dealmakers to keep their pipelines flowing smoothly and give them a competitive edge.
Must-Attend Conferences in H2 2025
Here are some of the top M&A conferences for private market dealmakers in H2 2025:
Transaction Advisors Institute M&A Conference
Date: September 17-18, 2025
Location: Cornell Tech New York
Transaction Advisors Institute’s annual M&A Conference gathers corporate development leaders, in-house M&A and antitrust counsel, integration teams, and PE investors to discuss the challenges affecting complex transactions, as well as new methods for improving the dealmaking process.
Smart Business Dealmakers Conference
Date: September 18, 2025
Location: Hilton Columbus Downtown
Hosted by Smart Business Dealmakers, connects thousands of local dealmakers — from middle-market CEOs to top investors and lenders to leading M&A advisers. With sessions ranging from raising capital to buying and selling companies to alternative asset investing, our conference covers the breadth of the M&A landscape.
Grata clients can see the attendee list for this year’s event here.
SuperReturn Global Infrastructure
Date: September 30 – October 2, 2025
Location: Hilton Bankside, London
Hosted by Informa Limited, this event offers a deep dive into investment opportunities, challenges, and emerging trends across key sectors including digital infrastructure, real estate, and the energy transition. It provides a platform for industry leaders and investors to connect, share insights, and explore strategies shaping the future of global markets.
Grata clients can see the attendee list for this year’s event here.
M&A East: ACG Philadelphia
Date: October 14-15, 2025
Location: Pennsylvania Convention Center
ACG’s M&A East is one of the biggest, most important M&A events in the US. Deal professionals from across North America gather together to connect and discuss strategies. Attendees include capital providers, intermediaries, deal advisors, and strategic acquirers.
Grata clients can see the attendee list for this year’s event here.
How to Choose the Right Event for Your Goals
Dealmakers’ time, energy, and money are precious. That means they have to be strategic when deciding which M&A conferences to attend. Here are some key things to consider when building out your events schedule.
Establish What You Want to Gain from Attending
To get the most out of their travel time, private market dealmakers need to start by clearly defining what they hope to achieve by attending an industry conference or event. Here are some common objectives:
- Deal Sourcing: Are you seeking acquisition targets, co-investors, or sellers?
- Capital Raising: Are you looking to meet LPs, family offices, or strategic investors?
- Networking & Partnerships: Are you hoping to build relationships with intermediaries, advisors, or corporates?
- Market Intelligence: Are you after sector insights, trend analysis, or regulatory updates?
- Brand Building: Do you want to speak on panels or boost your firm's visibility?
Evaluate the Typical Audience
Dealmakers should assess what the typical audience looks like for each M&A conference or event that they’re considering attending. Will the other attendees be from PE or VC funds? If so, what stage and size? Will they be strategic acquirers? Corporates? Advisors?
Grata’s Conferences tool makes this step easy. Dealmakers can search for specific events and see attendee lists directly in the platform.
Once dealmakers have a sense of who will be at the event, they should evaluate how the audience makeup aligns with their goals.
Consider the Structure of the Conference
Dealmakers may find that some formats work better with their schedules and objectives than others. For example, an event that allows for pre-scheduled, one-on-one meetings are probably more advantageous for deal sourcing and fundraising. Panel-heavy agendas, on the other hand, are best for thought leadership and exploring new industry trends.
Estimate ROI
As with any strategic decision, dealmakers should estimate their return on investment for attending M&A conferences.
Weigh the total cost of registration, travel, lodging, meals, and time against the potential gains. Consider:
- Have prior attendees found leads that turned into deals?
- If you attend, will you be able to interact with decision makers and executives?
- Will you actually be able to follow up with the industry players you meet and turn conference meetings into opportunities?
If the answer to these questions is “yes,” then an event is probably worth attending.
Tips to Make the Most of Every M&A Conference
To get the most out of each M&A conference, dealmakers should approach them the same way they would approach a deal: strategically, intentionally, and with a clear execution plan.
- Go in with a plan. Dealmakers should be laser-focused on their main goals of attending the conference or event. Know why you’re there and make decisions accordingly.
- Schedule meetings beforehand. Grata’s Conferences tool makes it easy for dealmakers to find and reach out to other attendees. Get time on the books before you travel to make the most out of your time.
- Build your schedule strategically. Make sure to block out time for one-on-one meetings, panels, and some downtime to regroup. If you’re attending group sessions, make sure they align with your main goals.
- Network with intention. Be an active listener and ask smart questions. If a conversation isn’t going anywhere, exit politely so you can dedicate more time to productive interactions.
- Make use of off-hour events. If you have the opportunity, be sure to go to VIP dinners, LP breakfasts, sponsor-hosted receptions, etc. These gatherings can often lead to valuable conversations.
- Follow up and follow through. Send follow-up messages within two days of returning from the conference so the material is still fresh in your mind. Be sure to make it personal. Reference your conversation, include how you can add value for them, and then propose a next step. Always, always log each interaction in your CRM to keep your team in the loop.
What Trends Are Shaping M&A Conference Agendas?
Some major themes have emerged as throughlines in M&A conference agendas in 2025:
- The rise of AI: M&A conferences are highlighting how AI and generative AI are transforming the entire dealmaking process, from sourcing to due diligence to post-merger integration.
- Regulatory shifts: M&A professionals are keeping a close watch on how policy shifts could influence deal flow, particularly in industries like healthcare.
- Sustainability in M&A: With growing consumer demand for sustainable products and practices across industries, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors are a big talking point at many M&A conferences.
- Focus on high-growth niches: High-growth industries such as cybersecurity, renewables, and infrastructure are getting significant air time at M&A conferences in 2025.
- Successful integration: M&A conferences are spotlighting strategies for successful post-merger integrations across cultural alignment, tech compatibility, and product opportunities.
Good Deals Start with the Right People
Quality data drives deals, but strong relationships close them. Many relationships begin at M&A conferences.
If you’re thoughtful about your event schedule, and if you’re diligent about making connections and following through, M&A conferences can be an invaluable piece of your dealmaking strategy.
With the right planning and execution, these events will continue to deliver long after your return flight.
Plan and Execute Your M&A Conference Strategy with Grata
Grata helps private market dealmakers make the most of their M&A conference strategy. Our Conferences tool allows you to find the best conferences to attend, search attendee lists, and reach out to other registrants directly so you can book meetings ahead of time.
Grata users can also see the events that their target companies have attended and will be attending in the future directly on company profiles — so you can literally meet them where they are.
Ready to see how Grata can transform your M&A conference strategy? Schedule a demo to get started.
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