Private Equity Value Creation Podcast

Shiv interviews David Acharya, Managing Partner of Acharya Capital Partners. Learn about the differences between the traditional committed fund model of PE firms and the independent sponsor model. David shares his proven process for using acquisitions to grow portcos and generate greater ROI for investors, how to vet those mergers, and an extensive playbook to ensure the transition is smooth for e...

Shiv interviews Matthew J. Safaii, Founder & Managing Partner of Arrowroot Capital. Shiv and Matthew discuss the alignment-focused strategy that helps Arrowroot separate themselves from a crowded market, including how they deliver positive outcomes for previous investors and a founder-friendly approach to acquisitions. Founders will learn how to avoid misalignment in the cap table, when to con...

Shiv interviews Edgar Baum, Founder & CEO of Avasta.  Learn how sizing the market for B2B companies and PE investors is critical to properly creating sales projections. Edgar shares his thoughts on what is flawed with the TAM, SAM, and SOM approach and why you should incorporate the WAM approach as well. Plus, hear how to start thinking about your target customers so you can set the right expe...

In this episode, Shiv and Devin discuss how ParkerGale invests in smaller companies that many investors would consider ‘too hard’. Learn how Devin and his team view potential challenges as value creation opportunities, and how they prioritize their resources in portfolio companies post-close. Plus, hear how to find the avoid buying the right company at the wrong valuation, how to minimize investme...

Shiv interviews Hillel Zidel, Managing Director of Kennet Partners. On this episode, Shiv and Hillel focus on how founders and investors can expand companies to international markets – whether that’s going into the U.S., Europe, or APAC. You’ll learn what Hillel’s strategy is for vetting companies and how they address any potential barriers such as language and legal regulations. The information c...

Shiv interviews Craig Dupper, Founder of Elan Growth Partners.  In this episode, Craig shares his firm’s Partner Equity investing strategy, which includes a value growth and enhancement approach. Shiv and Craig discuss the key areas founders should address to take their business to the next level and where their company might be underinvesting. Learn about the difference between the real and perce...

Shiv interviews Mark Kearney, Fractional CFO of Ascent CFO Solutions.  In this episode, Shiv and Mark discuss how finance can be used as a strategic lever inside companies and should become part of their broader planning process. They discuss when companies usually bring in a fractional CFO and the patterns Mark sees as he works with these businesses. Learn about what a mature budgeting and foreca...

Shiv interviews Jason Caplain, Co-Founder and General Partner of Bull City Venture Partners. In this episode, Jason shares why his firm values founders above an idea or business, and walks listeners through a tried-and-tested approach to assessing entrepreneurs and their teams. Founders will take away Jason’s tips on raising capital and leveraging debt, while investors will learn why BCVP prefers...

Shiv interviews Chip Baird, Managing Partner at GreyLion Capital. Shiv and Chip take a deep dive into GreyLion’s core LIFT (Leadership, Investment, Flexibility, Technology) strategy for optimizing companies to increase enterprise value. Learn how to identify critical leadership gaps and hold new hires accountable, and how a flexible approach to capital structure can help businesses weather challen...

Shiv interviews Anna Talerico, CEO at Corporate Finance Institute™ and Operating Partner at Arthur Ventures. Learn how capital-efficient companies can make better hiring decisions by really focusing on what role they really need to fill. How can companies better define those roles and how do they go about finding the best-fit candidates? Plus, when should you invest in cost-center roles like finan...

Shiv interviews Mark Buffington, CEO at BIP Capital and Managing Partner at BIP Ventures.  Learn why the concept of permanent capital from a multistage fund might be a better long-term approach to funding a startup. Mark explains how not all measurements of success are based on the financials, and how that might look different for different companies. Plus, learn how financial engineering might ne...

On this episode, Shiv interviews Adam Solomon, Partner at Thoma Bravo. Shiv and Adam discuss how Thoma Bravo’s focus on market-leading companies impacts their approach to evaluating assets and value creation. Hear how one of the biggest PE firms in the world approaches due diligence, performance metrics, profitable growth, and founder relationships in high-quality companies. Plus, learn how they l...

Shiv interviews Matthew Stevens, Founder of Stevens. VC. Shiv and Matt discuss the business fundamentals that founders and investors should be focusing on in early-stage companies. Hear how to add value and prepare for future investment by professionalizing your business operations, why a deep understanding of your market is critical to success, and what investors look for in early stage companies...

Shiv and Dan discuss how the first 100 days can shape the outcome of private equity deals and explain the actions investors, founders and business leaders can take to set a business on the path to growth. Tune in for expert advice on when to start value creation planning, how to focus your efforts and resources on the most impactful strategies, and how to build the right team to execute on your va...

Shiv Narayanan interviews Chirag Shah, Growth Partner at Wavecrest Growth Partners. Chirag and Shiv discuss the wide variety of value creation levers that Wavecrest uses to grow their portfolio companies. Learn how to identify the most effective growth levers for each company, and how to scale revenue by optimizing pricing, sales strategy, cross-selling, up-selling, retargeting the go to market, M...

Shiv interviews Joanna Arras, Partner at Baird Capital in the US venture fund. Joanna and Shiv discuss the challenges and opportunities for both founders and investors in the current venture landscape. Learn about how to balance growth and capital efficiency, the impact of the right capital raising strategy and how to select the right investment partner for your particular business. Plus, Joanna s...

Shiv Narayanan interviews Ripan Kadakia, Partner at ZMC. Ripan and Shiv discuss ZMC’s aim to serve portfolio companies through a strategy that includes business development, talent acquisition and technology. Learn about ZMC’s focus on macro trends to identify long-term investment opportunities, and hear case studies of growth in challenging circumstances within their portfolio. Plus, we discuss t...

Shiv Narayanan interviews Dirk Sahlmer, Head of Origination at saas.group. Dirk and Shiv discuss how saas.group’s investment approach differentiates them from traditional PE firms and influences their value creation framework. Learn about saas.group’s focus on profit margins rather than quick flips, their criteria for identifying companies with long-term revenue potential, a strategy for building...

Shiv Narayanan interviews Kevin Mosley, General Partner at Jurassic Capital. Kevin and Shiv take a deep dive into Jurassic Capital’s B2B SaaS Benchmarks Report and explore how founders, investors and business leaders can use this data to achieve their growth objectives. Learn about the vital metrics every SaaS company should be tracking, how your company measures up to industry standards for acqui...

Shiv Narayanan interviews Narbe Alexandrian, founder and CEO of Define Capital. Shiv and Narbe discuss the options investors and founders have for their deal structure and capital stack. Learn about how Define Capital builds long-term partnerships with companies, their approach to valuations and risk, and hear how the current economic environment is impacting investments. Plus, hear why highly spe...

Take a look at some of the highlights from the 2023 season of the Private Equity Value Creation podcast. In these bite-sized value creation insights from firms including Hg Capital, B Capital Group and JMI Equity, you’ll learn about tried-and-tested strategies for portco hiring, financial management, sales processes and much more.

Shiv Narayanan interviews Hanny Akl, Transaction Advisory Services Practice Leader at Warren Averett, David LeGrand, Member (Partner), Tax and Transaction Advisory at Warren Averett, and Zach Crowe, Partner at Morris, Manning and Martin. Hanny, David, Zach and Shiv walk you through the essential legal and finance work it takes to set your business up for a successful exit. Learn about what many fo...

Shiv Narayanan interviews Lauren Bonner, Managing Partner at MBM Capital. Shiv and Lauren discuss how to sustainably scale enterprise value in companies where VC funding has dried up. Learn about MBM Capital’s playbook for investing in these companies, including how they evaluate potential investments, an approach for guiding companies towards profitability and why pushing for expansion outside th...

On this episode Shiv Narayanan interviews Sunil Grover, Managing Partner at True Blue Partners. Sunil and Shiv discuss how True Blue Partners’ corporate finance perspective helps early-stage AI companies scale. Learn how they identify founders and companies that are best suited for their approach, why product-market fit is so vital, and how they collaborate with founders throughout a company’s gro...

Shiv Narayanan interviews Andrew Pierno, Co-Founder at XO Capital. Andrew and Shiv discuss XO Capital’s highly-targeted investments into small, PLG, single-purpose SaaS companies, and how their thesis contrasts with typical VC attitudes. Learn about why micro-investing presents such a blue ocean opportunity, how Andrew’s technical capabilities inform the ways XO Capital create value, and how XO ar...