As social media promises to become increasingly important in the middle market, here are a dozen dealmakers worth following on Twitter for their insights, news and entertainment value. The list was compiled by long-time Twitter users Mary Kathleen Flynn, the editor-in-chief of Mergers & Acquisitions (@TheMiddleMarket) who tweets as @MKFlynn, and Sumeet Shah, the director of client relationships at Gist Digital LLC who is known as @PE_Feeds.

(Please note: The list is in alphabetical order by Twitter ID.)

 

Twitter Account: @Darrensnyder

Real Name: Darren Snyder

Day Job: Partner, Prairie Capital

Why Follow: Perspectives on small business plus updates on the Cubs and other Midwest events and teams from Chicago private equity investor who serves as chairman of the Illinois Venture Capital Association.


Twitter Account: @devinmathews

Real Name: Devin Mathews

Day Job: Managing partner, Chicago Growth Partners

Why Follow: Portfolio news, plus the occasional Steve Martin joke, from the Chicago private equity investor who “dislikes mean people.”


Twitter Account: @FAquila

Real Name: Frank Aquila

Day Job: Co-head, general practice group, Sullivan & Cromwell LLP



Why Follow: Personal observations about everything from the global economy to U.S. politics from the veteran M&A attorney whose clients include Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV, which is buying the second half of Mexico City’s Grupo Modelo S.A.B. de C.V., maker of Corona beer.


Twitter Account: @fredwilson

Real Name: Fred Wilson

Day Job: Co-founder, Union Square Ventures

Why Follow: Opinions and insights about investing in startups and entrepreneurs from the legendary New York venture capitalist who was a co-founder of Flatiron Partners back in the dot-com day and more recently was an early backer of blogging service Tumblr Inc., which was sold to Yahoo Inc. (Nasdaq: YHOO) for $1.1 billion.


Twitter Account: @JeffOlsick

Real Name: Jeff Olsick

Day Job: Associate, McNally Capital

Why Follow: A steady stream of quirky stories about dealmaking, such as Business Insider’s assertion that “Trading Places” is the best movie ever made about Wall Street, from the Lemont, Ill., private equity investor.


Twitter Account: @kmkovacic

Real Name: Karin Kovacic

Day Job: Vice president, BNY Mellon-Alcentra Mezzanine Partners

Why Follow: News of middle-market events and trends from biz dev pro who serves as the president of ACG Connecticut.


Twitter Account: @MoHossain

Real Name: Mo Hossain

Day Job: Founder, Ennovance Capital

Why Follow: Detailed developments in sectors, such as chemicals, materials and health care that you might otherwise miss, from the Philadelphia private equity investor.


Twitter Account: @palatinepe

Real Name:  Jonathan Massey

Day Job: Director of business development, Palatine Private Equity

Why Follow: News on the firm’s investments, portfolio companies and meetings, peppered with entertaining weather reports and other observations from Manchester, England.


Twitter Account: @Rich_Lawson

Real Name: Rich Lawson

Day Job: Co-founder, HGGC LLC (formerly known as Huntsman Gay Global Capital)

Why Follow: Insights – such as predicting that Bain Capital and Golden Gate would succeed in winning BMC Software – written by tech-focused PE investor who counts former San Francisco 49ers QB Steve Young among his partners. Lawson's firm recently invested in MyWebGrocer Inc. and sold Hybris Software to SAP AG (NYSE: SAP).


Twitter Account: @smcalaine

Real Name: Stephanie McAlaine

Day Job: Executive director, ACG Philadelphia; director, Wharton Private Equity Partners

Why Follow: Deal flow data plus news of golf outings from (always sunny) Philadelphia.  


Twitter Account: @TheoOBrien

Real Name: Theo O’Brien

Day Job: Managing director, Richard Wilson Capital Partners LLC

Why Follow: News and updates about private equity folks, firms and trends from the Portland, Ore., marketer who focuses on connecting family offices to fund managers. He is also the author of “The Free Private Equity E-Book.”


Twitter Account: @WatermillGroup

Real Name: Watermill Group

Day Job: PE firm

Why Follow: Portfolio news alternating with charming behind-the-scenes peeks of life at the Boston PE firm, where dogs are known to reside, and where interns produce training videos -- including one that teaches “old timers” how to use a modern conference room.