Pete Witte, EY Global Private Equity Lead Analyst, explores the key themes and market dynamics from Q1 2021 that are top of mind for PE investors. The PE Pulse is a quarterly report and corresponding podcast miniseries that provides analysis and insights on private equity market activity and trends. Visit https://www.ey.com/pepulse to view the summary and infographic.   5 takeaways from 1Q 2021: The first quarter of 2021 was a blockbuster quarter for PE deals, and in fact was the highest of any quarter in the past decade. Technology gained maximum traction during the COVID-19 pandemic and remains a powerful thesis. The SPAC market expanded at an unprecedented rate during the COVID-19 pandemic. Holding periods could increase as a result of the pandemic, although IPO exits rebounded strongly in 1Q. Finding the right target at the right price remains a challenge in an uncertain market.