Why is it important for me to learn about private equity?

Private equity is important to learn about if you want to pursue an investment career, if you work in a corporate treasury role, or if you are interested in its role in our economy. Private equity is an investment in a private company made by an investment company, often with a high amount of debt. The idea is to improve the performance of the business and then sell it to the public or to another company. It can be a way to help struggling companies improve their performance, help a family business reorganize after the death of a founder, or allow a company's owners to sell some of their stake in the company.

What career opportunities may arise from learning about private equity?

Career opportunities that may arise from learning private equity are mostly in the financial services industry. Occupations using private equity include accounting, investment management, financial analysis, and corporate finance. Business owners may want to know if private equity is the right alternative for their company. Some people working in public policy may also be interested in learning about private equity, venture capital, and other forms of corporate funding because of the effects they can have on the economy. Entrepreneurs and others interested in entrepreneurial finance may want to learn about private equity as an option for startup funding or for later rounds of financing.

How can online courses on Coursera help me learn about private equity?

Online courses on Coursera can help you learn about private equity in different ways based on your experience and your reason for learning about it. For example, you might want to know how to account for private equity and value a business that is backed with it. Or you could want to learn how it compares to other forms of startup funding and corporate finance. You may be involved in seeking private equity for your business and want to learn more about how to negotiate with investors. Courses include video lectures, readings, class discussions, and exercises to challenge your knowledge. Some lead to Professional Certificates or Specializations, too.

What are the benefits of taking an online Private Equity course?

Online Private Equity courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your knowledge or learn new Private Equity skills. Choose from a wide range of Private Equity courses offered by top universities and industry leaders tailored to various skill levels.

What Private Equity courses are best for training and upskilling employees or the workforce?

When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Private Equity, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here .

Top Private Equity Courses - Learn Private Equity Online

Explore the Private Equity Course Catalog

Status: Preview
Università Bocconi
Private Equity and Venture Capital
Skills you'll gain: Private Equity, Business Valuation, Investment Management, Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurial Finance, Financial Management, Financial Analysis, Tax Laws, Due Diligence, Contract Negotiation, Law, Regulation, and Compliance
Build toward a degree
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
8.8K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Preview
Erasmus University Rotterdam
Advanced Valuation and Strategy - M&A, Private Equity, and Venture Capital
Skills you'll gain:
Build toward a degree
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
1.3K reviews
Advanced · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: New
Duke University
Impact Investment Finance
Skills you'll gain: Investments, Environmental Social And Corporate Governance (ESG), Capital Markets, Financial Market, International Finance, Fundraising, Finance, Due Diligence, Financial Management, Entrepreneurial Finance, Entrepreneurship, Fiscal Management, Business Management, Business Strategy
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Mergers and Acquisitions
Skills you'll gain: Mergers & Acquisitions, Investment Banking, Private Equity, Business Valuation, Financial Statement Analysis, Intercompany Accounting, Financial Analysis, Financial Modeling, Corporate Accounting, Specialized Accounting, Capital Markets, Financial Statements, Corporate Tax, Corporate Finance, Price Negotiation, Financial Management, Accounting, Financial Accounting, Tax, Investments
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
569 reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Pennsylvania
Introduction to Corporate Finance
Skills you'll gain: Finance, Capital Budgeting, Return On Investment, Financial Modeling, Financial Analysis, Financial Planning, Business Valuation, Financial Management, Corporate Finance, Cash Flows, Risk Analysis
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
6.2K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Preview
Università Bocconi
Financing and Investing in Infrastructure
Skills you'll gain: Project Finance, Risk Analysis, Capital Budgeting, Financial Analysis, Risk Management, Investments, Loans, Banking, Finance, Credit Risk, Contract Management, Cash Flows
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
2.1K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months

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Explore topics outside of work

Status: Free Trial
Duke University
Financial Management
Skills you'll gain: Financial Statements, Financial Statement Analysis, Return On Investment, Balance Sheet, Risk Mitigation, Income Statement, Accounts Receivable, Financial Reporting, Inventory Management System, Capital Budgeting, Working Capital, Risk Analysis, Business Metrics, Risk Management, Cash Flows, Financial Analysis, Business Valuation, Operational Efficiency, Stakeholder Communications, Strategic Decision-Making
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
188 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Pennsylvania
Entrepreneurship
Skills you'll gain: Growth Strategies, Customer Acquisition Management, Entrepreneurial Finance, Sales Presentation, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Peer Review, Presentations, Financial Analysis, Entrepreneurship, Financial Statements, Storytelling, Business Valuation, Target Market, Risk Analysis, Market Opportunities, Customer Demand Planning, Proposal Development, Brand Strategy, New Product Development, Finance
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
5.6K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
IBM
Excel Basics for Data Analysis
Skills you'll gain: Data Cleansing, Excel Formulas, Data Quality, Data Analysis, Business Analytics, Microsoft Excel, Analytical Skills, Data Manipulation, Spreadsheet Software, Pivot Tables And Charts, Data Entry, Data Science, Data Integrity, Information Privacy
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
10K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Columbia University
Financial Engineering and Risk Management
Skills you'll gain: Derivatives, Financial Market, Securities (Finance), Portfolio Management, Investment Management, Asset Management, Market Liquidity, Mortgage Loans, Credit Risk, Applied Mathematics, Finance, Risk Modeling, Mathematical Modeling, Financial Modeling, Equities, Regression Analysis, Numerical Analysis, Capital Markets, Futures Exchange, Risk Management
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
384 reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Geneva
Investment Management
Skills you'll gain: Portfolio Management, Investment Management, Financial Market, Risk Management, Investments, Financial Planning, Strategic Decision-Making, Financial Systems, Wealth Management, Asset Management, Environmental Social And Corporate Governance (ESG), Capital Markets, Risk Analysis, Market Dynamics, Performance Measurement, Behavioral Economics, Finance, Equities, Financial Forecasting, Customer Analysis
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
7.6K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Investment Banking: M&A and Initial Public Offerings
Skills you'll gain: Investment Banking, Mergers & Acquisitions, Private Equity, Capital Markets, Business Valuation, Financial Modeling, Financial Analysis, Financial Statement Analysis, Balance Sheet, Due Diligence, Underwriting, Market Dynamics
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
85 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months