Prepare for your Goldman Sachs PE interview

LBO modeling and deal analysis for Goldman's principal investing.

Socratify AI

The Interview

What Goldman Sachs is looking for

LBO Modeling Interview

LBO Valuation & Returns

01LBO Mechanics

02Leverage & Paydown

03IRR Bridge

04Exit Scenarios

Deal Analysis Interview

Deal Sourcing & DD

01Business Quality

02Value Creation

03Financial Analysis

04Deal Economics

Behavioral Interview

01Investment Judgment

02Problem Solving

03Deal Leadership

04Client Mgmt

Principal investing//Financial discipline//Sector expertise

Practice Library

Goldman Sachs exercises

Ready to ace your Goldman Sachs PE interview?

Prepare for your Goldman Sachs PE interview

LBO modeling and deal analysis for Goldman's principal investing.

Socratify AI

The Interview

What Goldman Sachs is looking for

LBO Modeling Interview

LBO Valuation & Returns

01LBO Mechanics

02Leverage & Paydown

03IRR Bridge

04Exit Scenarios

Deal Analysis Interview

Deal Sourcing & DD

01Business Quality

02Value Creation

03Financial Analysis

04Deal Economics

Behavioral Interview

01Investment Judgment

02Problem Solving

03Deal Leadership

04Client Mgmt

Principal investing//Financial discipline//Sector expertise

How It Works

Master Goldman PE Interviews

LBO and deal analysis. · Click to expand

1Your Private Equity Goals

LBO Modeling

Practitioner

Value Creation Analysis

Practitioner

2Private Equity Case Prep

Model a $150M SaaS LBO at 8x EBITDA with 5x leverage over 5 years at 18% growth and 9x...

CASE INTERVIEWHard

Goldman Sachs

3Frameworks

Framework

Is the underlying business attractive and defensible?

What are the growth drivers and market dynamics?

Revenue growth: 12% YoY (vs software industry 18%)

TAM: $50B, penetration 0.3% (significant upside)

How sticky and profitable is the revenue base?

Customer retention: 92% NRR, concentrated: top 10 = 35% revenue

EBITDA margin: 26.7% (mature for stage, expansion possible to 32%)

Can we achieve 25% IRR at entry price and exit assumptions?

Is the entry multiple justified by the business profile?

Entry: 6.0x EBITDA ($240M / $40M) — median for category

Comps: SaaS median 8-12x EBITDA, mature software 5-7x

What exit multiple and timeline support 25% IRR?

Exit assumptions: 8.0x EBITDA at year 5 (growth story), $64M EBITDA

Exit value: $512M (25% CAGR on entry $240M with 4x leverage pay-down)

Can we execute the value creation plan and manage downside?

What is our value creation roadmap?

Organic growth: 12% → 18% via go-to-market investment ($8M yr 1-2)

Margin expansion: 26.7% → 32% EBITDA via platform leverage (ops only, no headcount cuts)

What is the downside if we miss targets?

Stress case: flat growth, 25% EBITDA margin, 5.5x exit = 12% IRR (acceptable downside)

Key risks: customer concentration, competitive pricing, integration with platform

4Feedback

LBO Execution

Distinctive

Value Creation Strategy

Distinctive

Returns Analysis

Strong

Investment Judgment

Strong

Repeat

Practice Library

Goldman Sachs exercises

Model $150M SaaS LBO at 8x EBITDA, 5x leverage, 5-year hold, 18% growth, 9x exit.

CASE INTERVIEWHard

SaaS · LBOGoldman Sachs

Identify value creation opportunities.

LEARNHard

Multi · ValueGoldman Sachs

Target has 15% customer concentration. Diligence?

LEARNMedium

Multi · DDGoldman Sachs

Identify a key business risk.

BEHAVIORALMedium

Behavioral · RiskGoldman Sachs

Defend an investment with opposition.

BEHAVIORALMedium

Behavioral · ConvictionGoldman Sachs