Direct Investing: Why 88% of family offices are now investing directly
88% of family offices invest directly in companies – a mainstream trend with great potential for founders. Discover which asset classes and sectors are priority and how you can benefit from them.
Direct Investing: The New Standard
88% of family offices show interest in direct investments – a significant increase from 82% in 2024. This is no longer a niche but a mainstream strategy.
What does “direct investing” mean for FOs? It means: instead of putting money into funds (where a manager makes the selection), the family office invests directly in companies. No intermediary, no discovery fees, direct control and a say.
For founders, this is transformative: it means more available capital and more direct relationships with investors.
Asset classes: Private equity dominates
Private equity leads with 73% - extrapolated by 6 percentage points from 67% in 2024. This is logical: PE offers attractive returns, structured processes and established market standard documentation.
73% means: Of every family office you contact, about 7 out of 10 are open to PE investments. That’s a very high success rate for outreach.
Real estate follows with 55%. Interestingly, this is a very stable number - RE is timeless as an investment. Often emotionally relevant for SFOs (real estate portfolio), for MFOs an element of stability.
Venture Capital/Startups are at 51% and growing. The founding wave among family offices since 2020 has brought younger, more technology-friendly investor profiles.
Strategic corporate partnership
Sector distribution: Tech dominates, but diversification is increasing
There is a clear sector focus within direct investments:
- Technology: 32% – clearly #1. This reflects global trends: software, SaaS, AI, cybersecurity are top of mind.
- Healthcare & Life Sciences: 12% – steady and growing. Pharma, biotech, medtech have high barriers (patent protection, regulatory) which FOs love.
- Industrials: 8% – medium-sized companies, mechanical engineering, manufacturing. More traditional but solid.
- Financial services: 7% – Fintech, digital banking, insurance innovation.
- Consumers: 7% – e-commerce, digital brands, wellness.
Striking: The peak (tech at 32%) is clearer than before, but the "long tail" of many smaller sectors means: non-tech founders have opportunities, but have to be more precise.
Geographic patterns: USA still dominates, but Europe is growing
Direct investments are geographically concentrated:
- California: 18% – Silicon Valley gravity, tech hub dominance.
- New York: 7% – Finance Hub, diversification.
- DACH (Germany, Austria, Switzerland): Growing, around 8-10% overall – solid medium-sized companies, industrial heavyweights
Due diligence and documentation
unk. - UK/London: 6-7% – Financial Tech, global corporate hubs.
The trend: diversification away from pure US/tech concentration. European SME founders have better opportunities than 2-3 years ago.
1,597 documented transactions: what does that mean?
WorldTimberToken has documented 1,597 transactions – this is not the total number, but the identified and qualified investments. That means:
- 1,597 / 88% interested parties = approx. 1,814 active FOs in the global market who invest directly.
- On average about 1.2 investments per FO per year (based on data history).
- These are the “investors in motion” – not all family offices actively invest every year.
In practical terms, this means: There are around 1,800 family offices that are investing NOW. Your chances are not bad if your project is fit.
Implications for fundraisers
This data reveals several clear opportunities:
- Direct investing is standard, not exception. Your pitch should be structured for direct FO investments, not funds.
- Private equity is the top asset class. Your company should be PE-compliant: EBITDA-oriented, scalable, with a clear exit strategy.
- Tech focus is real, but diversification exists. Non-tech founders should specifically look for MFOs with healthcare/industrials mandates.
- Geographical diversification is growing. European founders benefit from stronger FO activities in their regions.
- 1,597 transactions = 1,597 case studies. WorldTimberToken's database shows patterns: which sectors, which sizes, which pensions are successful for family offices.
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WorldTimberToken combines AI-powered investor data with structured capital advice - for investors and entrepreneurs who make evidence-based decisions.
Request a free initial analysis →Sources & Studies
- Fang et al. (2015) 'Buying High and Selling Low: Stock Repurchases and Persistent Asymmetric Information'
- INSEAD Family Office Study 2024 – Direct Investment Trends
- WorldTimberToken Direct Investment Database – 1,597 Transactions Analyzed
