BluWave’s fifth annual awards program recognizes Council Capital amongst the top 2 percent of North America’s most innovative private equity firms.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – March 4, 2026 – BluWave, the leading market network platform connecting the private equity industry and their portfolio companies with top-tier specialized professional service providers and interim executives, today announced Council Capital as a 2026 Top PE Innovator Award winner*.
BluWave’s fifth annual Top Private Equity Innovator Awards recognize the top 2% of private equity firms that differentially embrace proactive due diligence, transformative value creation, modern private equity firm operations, and corporate citizenship practices.
Tim Schulte, Partner at Council Capital, reflected on the recognition, stating, “Earning this distinction from BluWave for the fifth consecutive year is a testament to the collective strength of our ecosystem. Our portfolio company leaders, CEO Council members, engaged investors, and dedicated Council Capital team each contribute meaningfully to the momentum we’ve built together. We are proud to partner with healthcare organizations that are committed to advancing patient care through exceptional service, operational excellence, and innovative solutions that create lasting impact.”
The Top Private Equity Innovator awardees were selected by a cross-functional committee that assessed candidates in consultation with a broad universe of limited partners, investment bankers, industry thought leaders, and service providers in the private equity ecosystem. As part of their selection process, the committee evaluated more than 6,000 private equity firms and utilized more than 75 different factors, incorporating more than 400,000 data points.
“This year’s top private equity innovators are proving that thoughtful innovation fuels real economic impact,” said Sean Mooney, Founder and CEO of BluWave. “By rethinking how value is created, they are leading the industry forward and delivering meaningful outcomes for businesses, communities, and investors alike.”
The Top Private Equity Innovator Awards are distinctive in that they involve no financial obligations from any participants and the selection process is independent of any customer relationships.
As the go-to connector of private equity-grade resources for due diligence and value creation, BluWave has a one-of-a-kind perspective that enables it to uniquely understand best practices and innovation across the private equity industry. For more information on the BluWave 2026 Top Private Equity Innovator Awards, including the selection process, criteria, and recipients, please visit bluwave.net/awards.
About Council Capital
Council Capital is a prominent healthcare-focused private equity firm based in Nashville, Tennessee. The firm invests in lower middle-market healthcare companies ($10-100M enterprise value) positioned on the ‘right side of change’ in the healthcare industry, where growth aligns with increasing cost pressure and quality demands. Council Capital’s unique model supports management teams in business growth by leveraging the relationships and resources of its CEO Council, Strategic Healthcare Investors, and Value Creation Team.
The Council network, anchored by its CEO Council of 34 senior private and public sector executives who have personally invested over $140M in the funds, maintains direct relationships with payers, providers, and employers, representing more than two-thirds of the country’s managed care lives, numerous provider organizations, and millions of self-insured lives.
About BluWave
BluWave is the execution and value creation resources platform of the private equity industry. Trusted by hundreds of PE firms and thousands of their portfolio companies, BluWave connects the exact-fit third-party resources business builders need to assess, create, and grow value. The company combines proprietary AI technology, data-driven insights, and a concierge-grade experience to help PE firms and their portfolio companies execute with speed, precision, and confidence.
For more information about BluWave, visit BluWave.net.
*BluWave, LP has not received investment capital from and holds no ownership interest in the PE firms recognized under the Top Private Equity Innovator awards program. BluWave received no compensation from any of the PE firms in connection with this awards program. However, BluWave may otherwise provide services to the PE firms and/or their portfolio companies, but BluWave confirms that its assessment of the PE firms was independent of any such service arrangements. Top 2% in the PE industry is based on BluWave’s review of the more than 6,000 PE firms in the U.S. and Canada, from which the PE firms were selected as award recipients.
