Savvy Capital

Adam Azor, EVP Global Marketing at Sportradar, joins Savvy Capital Show to unpack how live data, AI, and partnerships are changing sports marketing. We get into dynamic creative, real-time fan engagement, and how to prove sponsorship ROI with numbers leaders trust. If you run growth for a rights holder, brand, media platform, or sportsbook, this is a playbook episode.

Sportradar’s Adam Azor breaks down how live data and AI drive real outcomes in sports marketing. We cover dynamic creative, real-time triggers, and a simple model for sponsorship ROI that finance will back.

Konstantins Vasilenko, Co-founder of Paybis, joins Savvy Capital Show to talk real-world crypto payments, how Banking-as-a-Service actually ships, and what operators miss about high-risk verticals like iGaming.

Crypto payments without the hype. Konstantins lays out how stablecoins reduce friction, why ramps are a growth lever, and how to get global coverage while staying compliant.

In this gaming industry deep dive series, we kickoff with Karolina Pelc, Founder of BeyondPlay (Exited to FanDuel) where she lays out a clear path from scrappy to scalable - and gives us an insight on how she did it.

We focus on what actually compounds for builders in 2025:

• Picking distribution channels you can own (and when to kill experiments),

• Pricing that signals value and lifts profit,

• The first ten hires-scorecards, systems, and speed without bureaucracy.

Expect concrete frameworks, examples you can copy, and a standard of proof that favors revenue over vanity metrics. Perfect for founders, GMs, and operator‑builders turning early traction into a durable growth engine.

https://savvycapitalshow.com/

Jon Ferguson @ Ashgrove Capital with The Savvy Capital Show at SRI

• Why borrowers are choosing ARR credit over equity while valuations reset, and where Ashgrove sees real risk in pan-European software and services.

• Underwriting focus on product stickiness and cohort behavior: gross and net retention, down-sell, up-sell, and how mission-critical use drives churn.

• Market exposure matters: creditworthiness of SME customer bases and cyclicality drive volatility more than headline growth.

• GTM efficiency as a predictor: CAC, payback, LTV to CAC, and unit economics separate durable growth from cash-burn.

• Covenant design tied to value: growth-to-ARR and minimum liquidity to catch inefficiency early; comfortable with negative EBITDA only when efficient growth is provable; rule-of-40 discipline has returned in valuations.

Super Return Day 2 with Eliot Kerlin @ Broadwing Capital

• Thesis: shift from residential to commercial reroofing where barriers to entry are higher and multi-month HOA and condo tower projects support better valuations and scale.

• Market: roofing M&A up ~117% over six years; since fall 2023 entry, multiples have risen about 1.5 turns.

• Platform building: Broadwing’s third platform is Lehr (lehr.com), an emergency vehicle upfitter with six locations across three western states, showing fast add-on execution.

• Sourcing engine: two decades of networks plus small business brokers, lawyers, RIAs, accountants, private company databases, site scraping, outbound callers, and direct phone outreach.

• Post-close playbook: 10-day risk and controls hot list, then a 120-day Fortify the Foundation phase to install talent, tech, and operating cadence before scaling via organic growth, M&A, and greenfield; state-by-state regulation is a key input.

Our SRI interview with Peter Kirsch at Blue Marlin Partners.

• Get the inside scoop on a PE firm with a totally different model, their investors actually own part of the company.

• Learn how they use a private network of 75+ expert operators (their "secret sauce") to find deals and improve the businesses they buy.

• Hear the story of how they almost passed on a Dunkin' Donuts deal that ended up becoming a $230 million business for them.

• Find out why trusting their experts is so important, they'll even walk away from a deal that looks like a sure thing.

• He also talks about their latest investment in a fast-growing Hawaiian BBQ chain and why they believe it's a winner.

In this episode of the Savvy Capital Show, host Christopher Pruijsen interviews Vadim Rogovskiy, founder of Rebel Capital. Vadim shares his journey from being a serial founder to a venture capitalist and now an operator focused on acquiring VC orphan companies. He discusses the challenges and opportunities in the acquisition space, particularly for software companies, and outlines his strategies for building a successful portfolio. The conversation delves into the importance of operational efficiency, the capital stack for acquisitions, and the future growth plans for Rebel Capital, aiming for $100 million in ARR by 2030.

Timeline:

• 00:00 Introduction to Vadim Rogovskiy and Rebel Capital
• 01:09 Transition from VC to Operator Investor
• 02:22 The Concept of VC Orphan Companies
• 04:48 Rebel Capital's Acquisition Strategy
• 07:34 Navigating Distressed Assets and Profitable Businesses
• 09:15 Understanding the Capital Stack for Acquisitions
• 12:53 Building Playbooks and Leveraging AI
• 14:51 Operational Efficiencies and Team Dynamics
• 17:21 Future Growth Plans for Rebel Capital
• 20:12 Sourcing Companies and Proprietary Strategies
• 22:50 The Role of VCs in Distressed Companies
• 25:49 Lessons Learned from the First Acquisition
• 29:47 Aiming for $100 Million in ARR by 2030

In this episode of the Savvy Capital Show, Jeremy discusses his unique background in private equity and the complexities of the Med Spa industry. He highlights the growth trends, operational challenges, and innovative strategies for customer acquisition and service enhancement. Jeremy emphasizes the importance of operational execution, the role of AI in improving efficiency, and the significance of understanding industry-specific secrets for success. He shares insights on acquisition strategies and the psychological aspects of engaging with potential partners in the Med Spa space.Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to the Med Spa Industry
• 01:34 Key Trends in Med Spa Consolidation
• 06:26 Challenges in the Med Spa Space
• 08:04 Acquisition Strategies in Secondary Markets
• 09:39 Enhancing Customer Acquisition through Technology
• 13:03 Service Expansion and Customer Retention
• 17:57 Operational Challenges and Learnings
• 22:03 The Role of AI in Med Spa Operations
• 25:11 The Importance of Analytics in Acquisition
• 28:57 Advice for Future Med Spa Entrepreneurs

Takeaways

1. The Med Spa industry has seen consistent growth, but operational execution is crucial for success.
2. Turnover in MedSpas can significantly impact business performance.
3. Customer acquisition strategies must be data-driven and measurable.
4. Integrating technology can lead to substantial increases in new customer acquisition.
5. Understanding the unique challenges of the Med Spa industry is essential for effective management.
6. AI can enhance operational efficiency, particularly in customer service roles.
7. Building a strong company culture is vital for retaining staff in the Med Spa sector.
8. Acquisition strategies should focus on established businesses with loyal customer bases.
9. Every industry has its own secrets to success that entrepreneurs must uncover.
10. Effective communication and relationship-building are key in the acquisition process.

In this episode of the SuperReturn International Savvy Capital Show, host Chris interviews Arvy from Willgrow, a leading family office LP from Lithuania. The discussion covers a range of topics, including the growing market in secondaries, investment philosophies, and key metrics for fund commitments. Arvy explains Willgrow's approach to investing in top-quartile funds, their geographic focus on Western Europe and the US, and their long-term commitment to GPs. The episode also delves into Willgrow's patient investment strategy, their views on DPI versus IRR, and their current focus on fund commitments over co-investments. Arvy also offers advice for first-time GPs looking to partner with Willgrow.

00:00 Introduction to SuperReturn International

00:31 The Appeal of Secondary Markets

01:03 Investment Philosophy and Metrics

01:43 Importance of DPI and IRR

02:25 Willgrow's Long-term Commitment

03:05 Geographic Focus and Investment Strategy

03:43 Family Office Investment Decisions

04:23 Message to GPs and Final Thoughts

Join us at the SuperReturn International conference as we dive deep into the world of private credit with Matthew Harvey, Head of Direct Lending for PGIM, on The Savvy Capital Show. In this insightful interview, Harvey discusses the impact of tariff volatility on the shift from bank syndicates to private credit. He explains the new covenant packages and policy risk adjusters being implemented to protect lenders. Harvey also shares his perspective on the least crowded niches in private credit, the opportunities within cash flow-based direct lending, and the potential in lending to software businesses with strong ARR but weaker EBITDA. Don't miss his thoughts on the appeal of mid-market credit, the Australian market, and the role of AI in early warning systems for loan monitoring.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:08 Impact of Geopolitics on Private Credit

00:16 Covenant Packages and Policy Risk Adjusters

00:30 Volatility and Private Credit Value

00:46 Protection Standpoint in Private Credit

01:47 Least Crowded Niches in Private Credit

02:13 Opportunities in Non-Sponsored Companies

03:06 Lending to Software Businesses

04:44 Under-Tapped Opportunities in Mid-Market Credit

06:10 Australia's Direct Lending Market

07:15 AI in Loan Scoring and Early Warning Signals

07:46 Key Indicators for Exiting or Repricing Deals

08:24 Importance of Direct Engagement with Issuers

09:15 Conclusion and Final Thoughts