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The University of Texas Investment Management Co didn’t just stumble into Foundry Group, Spark Captital and Union Square Ventures, UTIMCO CEO and CIO Bruce Zimmerman says at PartnerConnect East 2014 in New York. . Video date: March 27, 2014

Theresa Sorrentino Hajer, Managing Director of Cambridge Associates, delivers a data-filled keynote presentation at Thomson Reuters' Venture Alpha East 2014 conference in New York. . Video date: March 27, 2014

David Rubenstein, co-CEO and co-founder of The Carlyle Group, predicted that over time money management firms like T. Rowe Price and Fidelity would offer everyday investors exposure to private equity through 401(k) plans. He spoke at Thomson Reuters' PartnerConnect East 2014 conference in New York City. . Video date: March 26, 2014

Kabbage co-founder Kathryn Petralia and BlueRun Ventures Partner Jonathan Ebinger discuss the explosive growth of Kabbage and where online lending is heading at Thomson Reuters' Venture Alpha East 2014 conference in New York. Alastair Goldfisher, editor of Venture Capital Journal, moderates. . Video date: March 26, 2014

Brazos Private Equity Partners, a Dallas buyout shop, will not be raising a new fund and will manage out the existing portfolio and wind down, according to Michael Salim, partner and general counsel.

Clairvest Group has launched its fifth fund targeting $500 million, according to a person with knowledge of the fund-raising. Clairvest Equity Partners V has a $600 million hard cap. Atlantic-Pacific Capital is working as placement agent. Clairvest targets mid-market buyouts in North America, seeking to invest between $15 million and $50 million in equity per company. The firm has overall generated a 2.8x return multiple since inception, the source said.

U.S. private equity firms have been steadily making their presence felt in Canada's mid-market, often by zeroing in on deals of interest and demonstrating a particular competitive advantage. An example of this trend was seen last month with Clearview Capital's $45 million take-private acquisition of Novik, a Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures, Québec-based manufacturer of polymer siding and roofing supplies.

Venture capitalists, who are overwhelmingly male, would rather fund a handsome guy than any woman, regardless of the female entrepreneur’s attractiveness quotient. In case it makes you feel any better, ugly men fared about as well as women.

Loral Space & Communications Inc, which holds a majority stake in Canadian satellite communications company Telesat Holdings Inc, has selected private equity firm Apax Partners LLP and two Canadian pension funds to negotiate a sale of Telesat, reports Reuters. The move marks a key step in an auction process for Loral, in which investors who covet control of Telesat need to bring another shareholder, Public Sector Pension Investment Board (PSP), onboard. The three parties chosen by Loral - Apax, the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and the Ontario Teachers Pension Plan - are now expected to negotiate with PSP about a deal. At stake is a leveraged buyout that could reach US$6 billion to US$7 billion.

Private equity career advice for MBA candidates and others from experts including Brian Rich of Catalyst Investors.