Private Equity Value Creation Podcast

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 negatively affect a business for long-term thinkers. The information contained in this podcast is not intended to constitute, and should not be construed as, investment advice.

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 leverage pattern recognition and internal benchmarks to maintain a competitive advantage. The information contained in this podcast is not intended to constitute, and should not be construed as, investment advice.

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. Plus, learn about some common founder pitfalls that can be dealbreakers — and how to avoid them. The information contained in this podcast is not intended to constitute, and should not be construed as, investment advice.

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 value creation vision. The information contained in this podcast is not intended to constitute, and should not be construed as, investment advice.

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&A and more. Plus, we talk about the metrics every company and investor should be monitoring for efficient value creation. The information contained in this podcast is not intended to constitute, and should not be construed as, investment advice.

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 shares her insights on the current state of venture markets and how VC funds are evolving in 2024. Resources ⁠Baird Capital website⁠⁠Joanna Arras⁠ The information contained in this podcast is not intended to constitute, and should not be construed as, investment advice.

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 the benefits of prioritizing a culture of integrity, transparency and kindness. Resources https://zmclp.com/@ripankadakia The information contained in this podcast is not intended to constitute, and should not be construed as, investment advice.

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 efficient go-to-market motions, and much more. Resources https://saas.group/@dirksahlmerhttps://saas.group/podcasts/ The information contained in this podcast is not intended to constitute, and should not be construed as, investment advice.

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 efficient go-to-market motions, and much more. Resources https://saas.group/@dirksahlmerhttps://saas.group/podcasts/ The information contained in this podcast is not intended to constitute, and should not be construed as, investment advice.

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 acquisition costs and sales efficiency, how to increase your retention, and much more. Resources https://jurassiccapital.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevincmosley/Jurassic Capital B2B SaaS Benchmarks Report 2023 The information contained in this podcast is not intended to constitute, and should not be construed as, investment advice.

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 specialized software can be such a good investment. Resources https://www.definecapital.ca/https://www.linkedin.com/in/narbe-alexandrian/ The information contained in this podcast is not intended to constitute, and should not be construed as, investment advice.

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 specialized software can be such a good investment. Resources https://www.definecapital.ca/https://www.linkedin.com/in/narbe-alexandrian/ The information contained in this podcast is not intended to constitute, and should not be construed as, investment advice.

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 founders get wrong (and how to avoid those pitfalls), the importance of GAAP, when to start getting your finances in order, and how founders can balance preparing for an exit with the pressures of limited resources. Resources Warren Averett websiteMorris, Manning & Martin websiteHanny AklDavid LeGrandZach Crowe The information contained in this podcast is not intended to constitute, and should not be construed as, investment advice.

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 the core product can be a costly distraction. Resources Connect with Lauren Bonner - LinkedInLearn more about MBM Capital The information contained in this podcast is not intended to constitute, and should not be construed as, investment advice.

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 growth journey. Resources Connect with Sunil Grover - LinkedIn The information contained in this podcast is not intended to constitute, and should not be construed as, investment advice.

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 are able to scale companies profitably with limited resources. Resources Learn more about XO CapitalConnect with Andrew Pierno - LinkedInXO Capital blog The information contained in this podcast is not intended to constitute, and should not be construed as, investment advice.

Shiv Narayanan interviews Krista Morgan, General Partner at Stage Fund. Krista and Shiv discuss the challenges many companies experience in high-pressure VC models, and how Stage’s alternative investment approach offers a solution for founders and investors. Learn about Stage’s process for finding efficiencies and rebuilding revenue generation to get growth back on track in portfolio companies, plus the essential finance foundations many companies are missing. Resources Learn more about Stage FundConnect with Krista Morgan - LinkedIn The information contained in this podcast is not intended to constitute, and should not be construed as, investment advice.

Shiv Narayanan interviews Justin Johnson, Director of the Investment Team at Camber Partners. Justin and Shiv discuss how Camber Partners sources, evaluates, and adds value to companies with a product-led growth focus. Learn why PLG is such a popular approach among SaaS companies, and how Camber is leveraging AI, machine learning and a proprietary data platform to identify growth opportunities in PLG companies. Plus, get expert insights into how you can optimize the sales funnel in these types of companies. Resources Learn more about CamberConnect with Justin Johnson The information contained in this podcast is not intended to constitute, and should not be construed as, investment advice.

Shiv Narayanan interviews Cody Lee, Vice President in Summit Partner’s Peak Performance Group. Cody and Shiv discuss why marketing is a function no portco (and no investor) can afford to ignore, and what you need to know about portco marketing in the current environment. Learn about a realistic approach to data-driven marketing strategy, common areas where portcos are wasting their dollars, and how to find the right person to lead a marketing function. Resources Learn more about Summit PartnersConnect with Cody Lee - LinkedInInfluence, by Robert Cialdini Cody Lee’s commentary presented herein reflects the views, experience and opinions of Cody Lee and no assurances are given that the strategies referenced herein will achieve any particular result. Further, the content provided herein is not an offer or sale of any security or investment product or investment advice. The information contained in this podcast is not intended to constitute, and should not be construed as, investment advice.