Private Equity Value Creation Podcast

On this episode, Andrejka Bernatova, Founder and CEO of Dynamix Corporation, shares how investors can evaluate mission-critical energy and infrastructure businesses by focusing on fundamentals such as contract quality, customer durability and operating reality, rather than market sentiment or emerging-tech narratives. 

Learn about approaches to public-market pathways, including when SPACs offer advantages, what truly makes a company public-ready and the operational value-creation levers that matter most in capital-intensive sectors.

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.

In this episode, Giacomo Sonnino, Advisory Director and Operating Partner at Charlesbank Capital Partners, shares how top PE firms connect diligence, underwriting and value creation to shape the first 12–24 months of an investment. 

This discussion highlights how to identify and prioritize the value levers that matter most in services businesses—from upgrading sales engines to designing cross-sell motions that are genuinely executable. Learn how AI is redefining services today, with modernized offerings, targeted use cases and the build-vs-buy decisions that keep firms ahead of market shifts.

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.

Shiv sits down with Vik Thapar, Managing Director at Cypress Growth Capital, to explore how royalty-based growth capital helps bootstrapped B2B companies scale without dilution. Vik breaks down when this structure works best, how repayment is designed to support continued growth and why many founders use it to double down on proven sales and marketing motions.

The discussion also delves into the operational side—how a team of former operators supports founders day-to-day—and the patterns Cypress sees as these companies mature toward growth equity or strategic outcomes.

On this episode, Shiv is joined by Rafael Telahun, Managing Director at Altaline Capital Management, to discuss value creation that is built on strategy, rather than just institutionalization. Rafael breaks down how to meaningfully rerate a business by getting hands-on to make improvements like increasing mission criticality, making strategic pricing changes and raising gross and net retention. Plus, learn how why creativity, customer discovery and humility matter more than rigid playbooks. 

Tune in as Rafael breaks down how to execute these approaches in practice—including pre-close planning to 80%+ detail, turning vertical focus into competitive advantage and knowing when to make people changes immediately post-close.

Josh Christensen, Director at Mercato Partners, shares how minority growth investors can turn ecosystem-building into a true competitive advantage—without taking control or over-engineering outcomes. Drawing on his experience scaling Mercato’s playbook across non-coastal markets, Josh breaks down what it takes to embed sales, marketing, and human capital excellence from first touch through IPO, and how to focus resources where they actually accelerate 100%+ growth.

Learn why authentic relationship-building drives stronger deal flow and portfolio performance, how community initiatives can surface the best opportunities ahead of a fundraise, and what it takes to measure value creation beyond capital returns.

Riccardo Basile, Operating Partner, Head of Value Creation at Permira, shares how firms can turn value creation into a true competitive advantage—without overcomplicating the model. Drawing on his experience building and scaling Permira’s 24-person value creation team, Riccardo breaks down what it takes to embed operating excellence from diligence through exit, and how to focus resources where they actually drive growth.

Tune in to learn how to balance in-house and external expertise, measure impact credibly for LPs, and make emerging tools like GenAI deliver commercial results today. Whether you’re refining your operating model or building one from scratch, Riccardo’s perspective offers a playbook for making value creation more strategic, measurable and fund-defining.

On this episode Shiv interviews Rita Fiorentino, Co-Founder of Arc Capital Development, to unpack a battle-tested playbook for steering portfolio companies through economic downturns—especially when AI disruption, political volatility, and geopolitical shocks are compressing growth.

Rita lays out a disciplined sequence that starts with risk assessment and financial hygiene, then moves to locking down customers, building an all-A-player team, and only then deploying AI for process efficiency and product innovation. She warns against the common trap of slapping “AI” on legacy products or slashing headcount too soon, and shares real-world examples of how companies that follow the right order emerge stronger.

She also covers why this downturn is categorically different, how to educate boards and investors, and why skating to where the puck is going—not where it’s been—is the ultimate survival edge.

On this episode Shiv interviews Jeremy Schein, Partner and Member of the Buyouts Investment Committee at Corsair Capital, to discuss how private equity firms can drive enterprise value in financial services through collaborative operating expertise.

Jeremy shares Corsair’s approach to partnering with management teams in fintech, payments, and adjacent sectors, emphasizing the importance of aligning on value creation strategies early. He explores how their operating partner model leverages technical expertise in human capital, product technology, and go-to-market strategies to transform portfolio companies.

He also dives into navigating the complexities of AI integration, balancing short-term priorities with long-term investments like rebranding, and ensuring management teams are equipped to execute on ambitious growth plans.