Svider Private Equity Program
The Svider Private Equity Program harnesses the expertise and resources of the Polsky Center to create innovative experiential programs, a deep network, and an internationally recognized brand in private equity.
The program is supported by a generous gift from Chicago Booth alumnus Raymond Svider, ’89, who serves as partner and chairman at BC Partners, a large international private equity firm.
Offerings available include: investment thesis training; a global private equity case competition with Oxford University; networking opportunities with industry professionals and Chicago Booth alumni; financial modeling training; and a firsthand look at private equity through an internship and academic course.
Programs
Elfman-Wareham PE/VC Lab
Gain hands-on investing experience through internships, coursework, and mentorship with leading PE and VC firms.
PE/VC Capital Alumni Coaching Connect
Connect with alumni mentors for guidance on careers in private equity and venture capital.
Water Street Private Equity Case Challenge
Analyze a real-world buyout in teams and present recommendations while building practical investing experience.
Booth Investment Thesis Challenge
Work alongside private equity mentors to develop investment theses and gain real-world deal analysis experience.
Investors-in-Residence
The Investor-in-Residence program provides mentorship and coaching to University of Chicago Booth students interested in learning about and pursuing careers in private equity, venture capital, and entrepreneurship through acquisition. Successful Chicago-based investors are available to meet one-on-one with students throughout the academic year and host regular small group sessions and workshops.
Private Equity Conference
Engage with investors, operators, and industry leaders shaping the future of private equity.
About Raymond Svider, ’89
Chairman and Partner, BC Partners
Raymond Svider is Chairman and a Partner at BC Partners, a private equity firm focusing mainly on the upper mid-market in Europe and North America. The Firm also invests in Credit and Real Estate. Mr. Svider joined BC Partners in Paris in 1992 before moving to the London office in 2000 to lead its investments in the technology and telecoms industries, then relocated to New York in 2008 and assumed the role of Chairman in 2009.
He Chairs the Management Committee and the Private Equity Investment Committee of the Firm. Mr. Svider is currently Executive Chairman of PetSmart, Chairman of the Board of Chewy, Inc. (NYSE “CHWY”), Chairman of the Advisory Board of The Aenova Group, and Chairman of the Boards of Valtech and Madison Logic. He also serves on the boards of GFL Environmental (NYSE/TSX “GFL”), Altice USA (NYSE “ATUS”), Navex Global, Presidio, GardaWorld, and EAB. Prior to joining BC Partners, Mr. Svider worked in investment banking at Wasserstein Perella in New York and Paris, and at the Boston Consulting Group in Chicago.
He earned his MBA from Chicago Booth in 1989, his MS in Engineering from Ecole Polytechnique in 1985, and his MS in Electrical Engineering from Ecole Nationale Superieure des Telecommunications de Paris in 1987. Mr. Svider joined Booth Council in 2023. Additionally, he participated in the Management Conference PE panel with Steve Kaplan in April 2024 and hosted the September PE Council meeting at his firm.