Renn Iaboni, Managing Director at Monomoy Capital Partners, joins Sean to discuss how disciplined sourcing, cultural alignment, and a 15-year proprietary data engine shape Monomoy's approach to private equity. He shares how engineering training, relationship-driven BD, and resilience forged through career adversity inform the way he builds high-trust deal pipelines. Renn also details how Monomoy's Beacon platform connects BD, investment, and credit teams to operate as one cohesive firm. It's a candid look at what modern private equity excellence really requires — and why Monomoy's model stands apart.

Episode Highlights

1:19 – Growing up in New York, engineering ambitions, and the winding path into private equity 3:04 – How engineering training equips professionals for ambiguity and problem-solving in PE 9:40 – Renn's pivotal career setback at Macquarie and how building a new practice became an inflection point 14:46 – Why Monomoy's integrated model works and how cross-functional collaboration is reinforced 17:53 – Inside "Beacon," Monomoy's proprietary CRM and sourcing engine 20:58 – A real case study: tracking Wapac for years and how long-term data compounds sourcing advantages 23:54 – Renn's advice to his 22-year-old self and how energy, not passion alone, should guide career choices

In this episode of Karma School of Business, Sean Mooney interviews Drew Meyers, Partner at Seaport Capital. Drew shares how his unconventional path—from off-track betting to M&A integration—shaped his approach to lower middle-market private equity. He breaks down Seaport's focused strategy on founder-led businesses, where they invest early in professionalization across strategy, sales, and finance. The conversation covers everything from the importance of relationships and never burning bridges to how BluWave helps Seaport access cost-effective resources tailored to smaller portfolio companies.

Episode Highlights: 2:00 - Drew's winding path into PE, including bartending and selling industrial insulation 6:00 - Why M&A integration experience is valuable training for private equity 13:00 - Working with founder-led businesses and understanding the founder mindset 19:00 - Seaport's three-part value creation playbook: strategy, sales, and finance 29:00 - How to professionalize early-stage companies without overspending 32:00 - Finding cost-compatible resources for $3M EBITDA businesses 35:00 - Career advice: never burn bridges and do things the right way

For more information on Seaport Capital, go to https://www.seaportcapital.com/ For more information on Drew Meyers, go to https://www.linkedin.com/in/drew-j-meyers/

In this special edition of the Karma School of Business, Sean Mooney, Founder and CEO of BluWave, breaks down key findings from BluWave's Q3 2025 Private Equity Insights Report. Drawing parallels between his son's fencing lessons and today's economic climate, Sean explains how the best investors are shifting from a defensive stance to an offensive one. Seeing through the noise, leaning forward, and playing to win.

He shares fresh data showing that deal activity, due diligence spending, and AI investment are all surging—signs of an industry on the offense. From the manufacturing renaissance to the rise of flatter, AI-enabled organizations, Sean offers a grounded, data-backed view of where private equity and the broader economy are heading next.

Episode Highlights

• 1:07 – The Sport of Fencing and PE: what private equity can learn from shifting from defense to offense

• 4:40 – Why the U.S. economy is "good enough" and accelerating despite the noise

• 11:45 – Deal data shows confidence returning: due diligence projects up 43% year-over-year

• 14:33 – PE firms' AI and analytics demand surges 300% and 1,600% for AI/ML advisory

• 18:39 – Manufacturing reshoring, venture collaboration, and the next wave of innovation

• 21:06 – The coming of flatter, AI-enabled organizations and what it means for talent

• 25:39 – Sticky inflation, rate cuts, and why the next economic cycle is already underway

For more on BluWave, visit: https://www.bluwave.net/ To request the full Q3 2025 Insights Report, visit: https://www.bluwave.net/insights-report/

In this episode of Karma School of Business, Sean Mooney interviews Laurens Goff, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Stone Goff Partners. Laurens shares insights from his path to private equity, the founding story of his firm, and how leveraging focus and visibility transforms lower-middle-market companies. Key points include:

• 1:05 - Laurens' journey: From early life in Providence to successfully navigating investment banking and private equity.
• 9:52 - Stone Goff's evolution: Lessons learned as an independent sponsor and the foundation of a committed capital fund.
• 19:41 - The scorecard for success: Why visibility, recurring revenue, and vertical ecosystem focus create winning business models.
• 25:57 - Enabling value creation: The TEOS framework (Talent, Experts, Outsourced Resources, Support) and collaborative growth strategies.
• 34:52 - Supporting portfolio companies: Stone Goff's management summits and thought leadership tools to foster executive collaboration.

For more information on Stone Goff, go to https://www.stonegoff.com/

For more information on Laurens Goff, go to https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurens-goff-ba47714

For more information on BluWave and this podcast, go to https://www.bluwave.net/podcasts

Jared Stein, Co-founder and Partner at Monogram Capital Partners, shares his expert approach to scaling consumer businesses, fostering customer loyalty, and driving sustainable growth. From partnering with family-owned companies to identifying sectors with lasting demand, Jared provides actionable insights for excelling in fragmented markets and navigating today's rapid disruption cycles. A must-listen for private equity professionals and business builders looking to sharpen their playbook.

Episode Highlights:

• 00:33 - Jared's family business origins and lessons learned from hard jobs
• 06:04 - Why "growth mindset" and passion are critical for business builders
• 13:23 - Scaling consumer brands: leadership, customer focus, and profitability
• 19:46 - Identifying winning brands: consumer loyalty and market potential
• 24:37 - Partnering with family businesses: trust, talent, and transformation
• 27:27 - Inside the Western Smokehouse case study: 5x EBITDA growth
• 30:51 - Building anti-fragility: Preparing businesses for rapid disruptions

For more on Jared Stein's firm, visit: www.monogramcapital.com Connect with Jared Stein on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jared-stein-5a347820 Explore more episodes: www.bluwave.net/podcasts

Sean Mooney speaks with Bob Morse, Co-Founder & Managing Partner at Strattam Capital, about the changing playbook in private equity, especially in tech. Morse traces his path from Morgan Stanley and Oak Hill to founding Strattam, then lays out a no-surprises model: turn cards face-up pre-signing, align on a founder-written five-point plan, and opt-in support with real accountability. He explains why AI threatens seat-based SaaS economics, where outcome pricing wins, and how PE firms should push portfolios to experiment while keeping the founder's innovative spark alive. Clear-eyed and practical, this conversation arms business builders with a framework to act now.

Episode highlights

• 1:26 – An engineer's path into private equity

• 7:15 – Why tech needed a dedicated, specialized PE fund and the genesis of Strattam

• 13:03 – Solving the "first board-meeting surprise"

• 19:45 – The founder persona Strattam backs: industry operators with proven product-market fit

• 27:15 – AI as invention vs. innovation and the early business models that actually work

• 32:27 – The SaaS shake-up: from seat licenses to outcome-based pricing and financing impact

• 41:54 – "Aliens landed": a mantra for leading through uncertainty and running smart experiments

For more on Bob Morse's firm, visit: https://strattam.com/ Connect with Bob Morse on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-morse-3567595/ Explore more episodes: www.bluwave.net/podcasts

Dan Gaspar, Partner at TZP Group, shares how private equity investors drive growth through focus, actionable insights, and strong partnerships. Hear Dan's approach to evaluating businesses, aligning on key priorities, and leveraging innovations like AI. With decades of experience, Dan breaks down what it takes to create value in today's dynamic market. A must-listen for private equity professionals and business builders alike.

Episode Highlights:

• 1:12 - Dan Gaspar's pathway to private equity: A straightforward yet insightful start
• 12:14 - What "specialness" means when evaluating businesses for investment
• 19:33 - How TZP Group aligns with management teams to focus on 2–3 key growth priorities
• 26:19 - The role of AI in modern private equity: Dan's take on experimentation and adaptability
• 35:54 - Navigating uncertainty in today's market: Lessons on maintaining margins and flexibility
• 39:21 - Book recommendations for business builders: Traction, Good to Great, and Who Moved My Cheese
• 41:35 - Practical advice for private equity professionals and the value of collaborative partnerships

For more on Dan Gaspar's firm, visit: www.tzpgroup.com Connect with Dan Gaspar on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dangaspar/ Explore more episodes: www.bluwave.net/podcasts

The second quarter of 2025 showcased one of the most compelling periods for private equity, revealing how firms responded to disruption through strategic action and decisive adaptation. Join BluWave Founder and CEO Sean Mooney as he unpacks the insights from BluWave's Q2 Private Equity Insights Report, including data showing rolling recovery trends, reshoring efforts in manufacturing, and technology investments. This episode dives into the unique frameworks private equity applies to thrive amid uncertainty, setting the stage for long-term growth. Confidently engage with insights that matter to your business. Episode Highlights

• 1:21 – Navigating stop-and-go economic disruptions: Key Q2 observations
• 5:45 – How private equity firms utilize OODA loops for decision-making
• 12:30 – April 2nd tariffs: A black swan reshaping manufacturing and trade
• 18:20 – Technology investments surge: AI and data projects skyrocket
• 27:05 – Resilience returns: PMI and consumer sentiment rebound in June
• 34:50 – The deal economy ramps up for mid- and long-term growth cycles
• 41:30 – Why private equity firms remain focused on growth investments

For more on BluWave, visit: https://www.bluwave.net/ To request the full Q2 2025 Insights Report, visit: https://www.bluwave.net/insights-report/

In this episode of Karma School of Business, Sean Mooney speaks with Ben Gaw, Partner and Head of Portfolio Operations at Cross Rapids Capital. Ben shares stories from his journey as a first-generation immigrant to becoming a sought-after private equity leader, highlighting lessons learned from turnarounds, rapid decision-making, and building successful companies. Episode Highlights:

• 1:03 - Ben's background: From chemical engineering to corporate turnarounds, restructuring, and private equity.
• 10:03 - What makes a good company great: Identifying defensible markets, customer relationships, and opportunities hidden in mismanagement.
• 12:20 - The Cross Rapids playbook: Leveraging pattern recognition, providing resources, and empowering management teams to execute.
• 18:13 - Advice for uncertain times: The importance of assembling the right team, moving quickly, and focusing on growth from day one.
• 22:27 - Soft skills and leadership: How servant leadership and bedside manner help operating partners and executives thrive.

For more information on Cross Rapids Capital, go to https://www.crossrapids.com/

For more information on Ben Gaw, go to https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamingawjr

For more information on BluWave and this podcast, go to https://www.bluwave.net/podcasts

In this episode of Karma School of Business, Sean Mooney sits down with Dave Shephard, Director of Portfolio Operations at Rainier Partners. Dave shares how his military experience, consulting background at Bain, and hands-on leadership approach shape his work in private equity today. Key topics include:

• 1:30 - Dave's journey from West Point to portfolio operations, and how problem-solving shaped his career.
• 6:14 - Lessons from the military: Developing grit, resilience, and the ability to lead without authority.
• 13:48 - How Rainier Partners drives value creation through a defined, repeatable process: strategy alignment, tactical execution, and operational improvements.
• 30:31 - The foundational role of data and systems in applying AI to portfolio companies—and why starting small can make the difference.
• 40:14 - Dave's advice to his younger self and the value of curiosity, continuous learning, and thinking beyond immediate tasks.

For more information on Rainier Partners, go to https://www.rainierpartners.com/

For more information on Dave Shephard, go to https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-shephard-auxga/

For more information on BluWave and this podcast, go to https://www.bluwave.net/podcasts