Private Equity and VC Associations in the United States and Canada

What are the private equity and venture capital associations in the United States and Canada? Eight associations, across two countries and territories. Every one was checked against its own website on a stated date, and the ones that could not be confirmed are named as such rather than quietly dropped.

The national bodies split by what they represent rather than by geography: venture, buyout, small-business investment, and diverse-manager capital each have their own association. three of the eight have renamed, in every case to widen what they cover.

This list is part of The Global Directory of Private Capital Associations, a free reference work covering one hundred eight bodies worldwide — every association, in every region, on one page.

The associations

Is there a private equity or venture capital association in Canada?

Yes — Canadian Venture Capital & Private Equity Association (CVCA) in Toronto, founded 1974. It covers VC and PE.

Note on the acronym. CVCA is shared by four associations — China, Canada, Croatia and Czechia.

Is there a private equity or venture capital association in United States?

Yes — seven:

• American Investment Council (AIC), Washington, DC, founded 2007 — PE and private credit.
• Angel Capital Association (ACA), Kansas City / Overland Park, KS, founded 2004 — angel investing.
• Association for Corporate Growth (ACG), Chicago, founded 1954 — middle-market M&A, PE and corporate development.
• Community Development Venture Capital Alliance (CDVCA), New York, founded 1994 — community development venture capital and impact.
• National Association of Investment Companies (NAIC), Washington, DC, founded 1971 — all alternatives — PE, VC, private credit, real estate, hedge.
• National Venture Capital Association (NVCA), Washington, DC and San Francisco, founded 1973 — VC.
• Small Business Investor Alliance (SBIA), Washington, DC, founded 1958 — lower middle market — PE, private debt, BDCs, SBICs and RBICs.

Note on the acronym. NVCA is also the acronym of the Norwegian association. This is the most frequent identity collision in private capital.

What the directory adds

The answers above tell you an association exists and roughly what it covers. They do not tell you whether it is worth your time. The directory records, for each of the one hundred eight bodies it covers, the legal form, the membership base, whether it publishes market data, what it convenes, whether members are listed publicly, and who may join — including whether firms based outside the jurisdiction are eligible. Every entry carries the date it was checked.

Download the directory — free, no charge for inclusion, no paid placement.

The same question, elsewhere

• Europe
• US states, Canadian provinces and regions
• Asia-Pacific
• Latin America
• Africa
• Middle East, Türkiye and Eurasia
• Infrastructure, private credit and real estate

Corrections are welcome, and free

If your association is listed and something is wrong — or if it is missing altogether — tell us. Corrections carry no obligation of any kind and are folded into the following edition.

Private Capital Development is a capital mobilization and brand-building firm — the bridge between fund managers and the institutional investors who allocate to them. We are not a placement agent, we do not sell securities, and we are not compensated on capital raised.