Private Equity Value Creation Podcast

On this episode, Joe Mancini, Co-Founder and Partner at Front Porch Venture Partners, explains how a hybrid fund-of-funds model works in practice—deploying capital both into early-stage venture funds as an LP and directly into seed and Series A companies, with a deliberate focus on the Southeast.Learn why the most defensible moats in software today are being built around go-to-market and purpose-built vertical features rather than technology alone, and how the falling cost of code is compressing roadmap timelines from quarters to weeks. Plus, get a practical framework for deciding where to deploy human capital versus AI agents.The information contained in this podcast is not intended to constitute, and should not be construed as, investment advice.

On this episode adapted from a recent webinar, Shiv Narayanan, CEO and Founder of How To SaaS and bestselling author of AI Marketing Blueprint, explains how companies can adapt their go-to-market and thrive in an AI-first world.Companies everywhere are missing their revenue targets, and the old playbook is breaking down. Inbound is getting more expensive, more competitive, and less effective.Why? Because, in an AI-first world, most of a buyer journey is invisible. What once required research, website visits, and sales conversations can now happen in seconds — without ever engaging your business.Companies need to rethink their go-to-market and focus on increasing visibility and authority to reduce the risk of AI disruption. In this episode, you'll get a practical, evergreen framework that outlines the 7 new rules CEOs, investors, and revenue leaders need to focus on to stay competitive.The information contained in this podcast is not intended to constitute, and should not be construed as, investment advice.

Luke Sarsfield, CEO and Chairman at Ridgepost Capital, shares how a fund of funds platform can generate differentiated alpha by staying disciplined about market focus and building proprietary data advantages over time.Luke explains why concentrating on the middle and lower middle market creates structural advantages that broader platforms miss, and how collecting deal-level data across 20-plus years turns an LP relationship into genuine investment insight. Learn what separates best-in-breed managers from median performers, and why being a value-added partner—not just a capital provider—is what makes firms want to work with you.The information contained in this podcast is not intended to constitute, and should not be construed as, investment advice.

On this episode, Cory Eaves, Partner and Head of Portfolio Operations at BayPine, discusses how private equity firms can turn a need for technology transformation into a repeatable value creation lever, rather than a diligence risk. Drawing on his experience as a multi-time CTO and operating partner, Cory explains how portfolio operations teams can work with management to better identify and prioritize technology opportunities across the investment lifecycle.Learn how to evaluate “analog to digital” transformation potential in traditional industries, how horizontal capabilities like AI can drive operational improvements, and why focusing on a small number of sectors helps investors apply technology playbooks more consistently across portfolio companies.The information contained in this podcast is not intended to constitute, and should not be construed as, investment advice.

On this episode, Ellen Havdala, Managing Director at Equity Group Investments, explains how a flexible capital base and an operator-led mindset shape a different approach to private equity. Hear how to evaluate barriers to entry, structure liquidity to withstand black swan events and assess true alignment with founders before a deal ever closes.Tune in to learn how patient capital changes decision-making—from holding periods to exit timing—and why culture, apprenticeship and incentive design drive repeat outcomes. The episode offers a practical lens on managing risk, growing alongside management teams and creating the kind of firm people want to partner with more than once.The information contained in this podcast is not intended to constitute, and should not be construed as, investment advice.

Allen Mask, Partner at Westcap and Head of CōLab, shares how the firm leverages an "operating equity" model to go beyond capital to drive real value creation in marketplace businesses.Learn how to structure an operating team that founders want to work with and how pairing operators with investors during diligence surfaces risks that financials alone won't reveal. Plus, hear how to approach the first 100 days, when to bring in outside partners, the economics of a large operating team work, and why reinvesting management fees back into the firm is central to WestCap’s model.The information contained in this podcast is not intended to constitute, and should not be construed as, investment advice.The information contained in this podcast is not intended to constitute, and should not be construed as, investment advice.

On this episode, Bill Dupee, Partner, Transaction Advisory Services at Aprio, breaks down how buyers and sellers can use diligence to clarify the true economic engine of a business, identify risk early and build a narrative that stands up in a competitive process.Learn how disciplined metrics, higher-quality information and a repeatable diligence process shape deal outcomes, from avoiding late-stage surprises to accelerating post-close value creation. Plus, hear where deals most often falter and how better preparation changes both speed and leverage in negotiations.The information contained in this podcast is not intended to constitute, and should not be construed as, investment advice.

On this episode, Anastasia Kovaleva, Partner at Pollen Street Capital shares how sector focus informs value creation across financial services and how her team approaches scaling mid-market businesses across Europe. Hear how specialist playbooks differ across software, services and regulated models, how investors can partner with management to professionalize go-to-market and M&A capabilities, and how to apply automation and AI to improve efficiency, integration and growth in complex financial services environments.The information contained in this podcast is not intended to constitute, and should not be construed as, investment advice.

On this episode, Scott Adams, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Soul Street Asset Management, discusses the value operators bring to portfolio companies through real boots-on-the-ground experience. Scott shares his expertise on the execution gaps that show up repeatedly in growing companies—from bloated teams to unclear priorities—and how to scale businesses in a capital-efficient way.Learn how to make better decisions by understanding where revenue actually originates, how to apply data with discipline and how businesses can stand out in an increasingly AI-driven environment.The information contained in this podcast is not intended to constitute, and should not be construed as, investment advice.

Alan Taetle, General Partner at Noro-Moseley Partners, draws on decades of investing experience to share what makes portfolios and PE firms successful, including differentiated expertise and an aligned sense of purpose.Learn how to create long-term value through apprenticeship cultures, incentive and carry design, and thoughtful founder ownership structures. The episode explores what alignment looks like in practice, why playbooks fall short, and how collaboration and incentives influence outcomes long after the deal closes.The information contained in this podcast is not intended to constitute, and should not be construed as, investment advice.

On this episode, John Messer, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Copilot Capital, breaks down how value is built in scaling European B2B software businesses—including how to professionalise go-to-market, sharpen customer segmentation and pricing and use M&A as a focused growth lever. Get practical guidance on sequencing international expansion, maintaining clarity as teams grow from 50 to 200 people, and applying AI in ways that genuinely improve products and internal efficiency rather than creating distraction. The information contained in this podcast is not intended to constitute, and should not be construed as, investment advice.

On this episode, Dave Lambert of Right Side Capital Management shares what thousands of early-stage investments reveal about how pre-VC companies actually grow. Get clarity on how to evaluate early traction, set realistic fundraising paths and use capital efficiency to extend runway long enough for product-market fit to emerge.Tune in to hear how founders can avoid common mistakes in defining their ICP, structure rounds that keep exit options open and use real market data to understand what later-stage investors are looking for. The information contained in this podcast is not intended to constitute, and should not be construed as, investment advice.

Caroline Tarpey, Managing Director at Lead Edge Capital, outlines a practical approach to AI adoption in PE-backed companies—grounded in trust, clear goals and disciplined execution. She explains why most AI initiatives fall short and where teams can quickly unlock better decision-making and operational efficiency.You’ll learn how AI is transforming go-to-market, from shifting buyer behavior to the rising importance of authority-driven content and deeper voice-of-customer insights. Tune in to hear how SaaS companies can stay competitive by leveraging proprietary data and refining their strategy for an AI-first buying journey.The information contained in this podcast is not intended to constitute, and should not be construed as, investment advice.