AI Pathfinder for Private Equity Podcast

Steve Budd speaks with Zuzana Manhart, Portfolio Manager for Data and AI at CBPE, about how the AI operator role has grown from solving narrow technical problems to shaping strategy across a portfolio. Zuzana explains where quick wins are landing, why AI features bolted onto familiar tools keep getting ignored, what's really holding agents back, and what to look for when hiring your first AI...

In this episode of the AI Pathfinder for Private Equity podcast, host Steve Budd speaks with Aris Valtazanos, Head of Data and Analytics at Oakley Capital, about navigating AI across a diverse portfolio of 30-40 companies. Aris shares his journey from a PhD in robotics at the University of Edinburgh through nearly six years at Quantum Black to his current role supporting founder-led businesses in...

In this episode of the AI Pathfinder for Private Equity podcast, host Steve Budd speaks with John Gunn , Lead Data Science and AI at IK Partners, about building the AI operator role from scratch. John shares his journey from mechanical engineering through AI consultancy into private equity, where he now works across 30-40 portfolio companies as a specialist on the operating team. The conversation...

Summary David Whitcombe (Founder & Managing Director, Data Vision Services) explains what it takes for private equity-backed businesses to move beyond “AI as a chatbot” and start embedding it into day-to-day workflows. We discuss why the real bottlenecks are people, unstructured data, and governance, and where the most immediate commercial upside sits, especially around revenue retention, chur...

Summary In this episode of the AI Pathfinder podcast, host Steve Budd speaks with Maria Bruun, founder and CEO of Seecon, about the transformative potential of AI in financial due diligence for private equity firms. Maria shares her extensive background in M&A and highlights the inefficiencies in traditional due diligence processes and her current purpose to build an AI business to redefine fi...

Summary In this episode of the AI Pathfinder for Private Equity podcast, host Steve Budd discusses the critical role of AI governance with experts Graeme Cox and Sarah Clarke from Attercop. They explore the misconceptions surrounding AI governance, emphasising its importance as a value enabler rather than a hindrance to innovation. The conversation covers various themes, including the risks associ...

Summary In this episode of the AI Pathfinder for Private Equity podcast, Steve Budd and Eleanor Hobson discuss the growing liability concerns surrounding AI technologies, particularly for mid-market companies. They explore the risks associated with GenAI, the challenges in contractual agreements, and the implications of the EU AI Act. Eleanor provides insights on how portfolio companies can mitiga...

Summary In this episode of the AI Pathfinder for Private Equity podcast, host Steve Budd and guest Brian Briggs discuss the evolving landscape of AI in private equity, particularly focusing on due diligence processes. They explore how AI is reshaping investor inquiries, the risks and opportunities it presents, and the importance of integrating AI considerations into investment strategies. The conv...

Summary In this episode Steve Budd speaks with Al Cattell, founder of GiantKelp, about the practical applications of AI in private equity and business processes. They discuss the importance of using AI to automate workflows, the challenges of managing expectations, and the role of subject matter experts in successful AI deployment. Al shares insights from his experience in helping firms identify u...

Summary In this episode of the AI Pathfinder for Private Equity podcast, host Steve Budd speaks with Margo Polishchuk, co-founder and president of ProSapient, about the evolution of primary research in private equity. Margo shares her journey from the expert networking industry to founding ProSapient, emphasising the importance of customer-centric innovation and the integration of technology in re...

Summary In this episode of the AI Pathfinder for Private Equity podcast, Steve Budd speaks with Simon Walker, co-founder of Kubrick Group, about the critical role of AI in private equity and portfolio companies. They discuss the evolution of AI capabilities, the urgency for private equity firms to adopt AI, and the importance of collaboration among portfolio companies. Simon shares insights on rea...

Summary In this episode of the AI Pathfinder for Private Equity podcast, Steve Budd interviews Phil Westcott, CEO and co-founder of Filament Syfter. They discuss the transformative role of AI in private equity, focusing on how Filament Syfter helps firms build proprietary market intelligence to enhance deal origination. Phil shares insights on the inefficiencies in traditional processes, the impor...

Summary In this episode of the AI Pathfinder for Private Equity podcast, host Steve Budd speaks with Dan Thompson, CEO of Kluster, about the critical role of accurate forecasting in private equity. They discuss the challenges faced by private equity firms in forecasting, the concept of private equity grade forecasting, and how Kluster's unique approach leverages AI and data integration to enh...

Summary In this episode of the AI Pathfinder for Private Equity podcast, host Steve Budd talks to technology lawyer Richard Nicholas to explore the intersection of AI, legal governance, and risk management in private equity. They discuss the challenges and opportunities that AI presents, particularly in terms of legal compliance, data privacy, and the importance of effective governance structures....

Summary In this episode of the AI Pathfinder for Private Equity podcast, Steve Budd and Tom Hewitson discuss the journey of firms in adopting AI technologies. They explore the evolution of AI, the importance of building AI literacy, and the challenges organisations face in moving from experimentation to structured capability. Tom emphasises the need for leadership alignment, effective incentives,...

Summary In this episode of the AI Pathfinder for Private Equity podcast, host Steve Budd engages with Athena Peppers, a thought leadership expert, to discuss the critical components of successful AI mobilisation in private equity. They explore the current state of AI adoption, the importance of understanding its impact on various industries, and the challenges organisations face in implementing AI...

Summary In this episode of the AI Pathfinder for Private Equity podcast, host Steve Budd discusses the critical role of AI in private equity with Hazem Aboris, Managing Partner at RingStone. They explore the importance of AI mobilisation, the evolution of AI technology, and the necessary steps for successful implementation. The conversation highlights the significance of data quality, the need for...

In this episode of the AI Pathfinder for Private Equity podcast, Steve Budd and Pauline Nissen, Ethical AI Lead at ML6 (builder of custom AI systems) discuss the critical importance of ethical AI and AI governance in the private equity sector. They explore how to promote responsible AI practices, the implications of the upcoming EU AI Act, and the necessity for organisations to adopt a culture of...

Summary In this episode of the AI Pathfinder for Private Equity podcast, Steve Budd engages with Johann van Tonder, CEO of AWA Digital (E-commerce CRO specialists), to explore the complexities of AI mobilisation. They discuss the high failure rates of AI projects, the importance of embracing failure as part of the learning process, and the necessity of identifying specific problems that AI can sol...

In this podcast episode, Steve Budd interviews Shaun, the Chief AI and Data Officer at DevOn, a software development company. They discuss the intersection of AI and private equity, the importance of understanding AI capabilities, and the potential for AI to unlock value in portfolio companies. Shaun emphasises the need for a practical and iterative approach to AI adoption, starting with small eff...

In this podcast episode, Steve Budd interviews Will Bailey from 67 Bricks about the application of AI in data & information businesses. They discuss the benefits such as improving user experiences, extracting key concepts, and expanding coverage. Will shares examples of successful AI implementations, including semantic fingerprinting. They also address the challenges of cultural adoption and t...

In this conversation, Steve Budd speaks with Fernanda Dobal, the newly appointed product director of AI and chat at Cleo, a fintech company. Fernanda shares her experience in using AI to develop AI assistants for sleep training and financial coaching. They also explore the importance of user trust and the role of humans in the loop. The conversation emphasises the value of AI in improving efficien...

In this conversation, Steve Budd speaks with David Dobrin, Product Director, AI Platform at YouGov, about the potential of AI in the market research industry. They discuss the importance of taking action now and starting to build AI capabilities, even if the technology is not perfect. They also explore the challenges of managing expectations and keeping teams engaged with AI.  AI Pathfinder Privat...