Neil Mehta built Greenoaks Capital into one of the most successful — and secretive — investment firms in the world. While most VCs chase hype, Neil built a reputation for radical focus, long-term thinking, and doing his own diligence.

In this solo research episode, I break down what holdco builders, private equity investors, and traditional business owners can learn from Mehta’s strategy — from his obsession with simplicity to how he scaled Greenoaks to $15b AUM without raising hype-driven rounds.

Key topics in this episode:

- Why Greenoaks avoids traditional venture traps
- The importance of doing your own due diligence (never outsource it!)
- How conviction and focus beat diversification
- Neil Mehta’s underrated operating edge
- What SMB and HoldCo builders can apply from a top-tier investor

If you're building a group of companies, allocating capital, or operating a company, this episode will give you valuable frameworks.

I hope you enjoy it.

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Timestamps:
00:00:00 - Intro
00:01:56 - Greenoaks Capital and its investment philosophy
00:04:31 - Finding hidden gems: the power of a contrarian acquisition strategy
00:11:02 - The decisive power of backing the right leader (special people)
00:17:15 - Riding the wave of transformative shifts
00:20:36 - The power of deep understanding and bold conviction
00:26:43 - The imperative of ruthless prioritization
00:35:11 - The cost of outsourcing fundamental analysis
00:37:52 - The art of seeing beauty in business and viewing founders as artists painting their masterpiece

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Follow Mikk/PrivatEquityGuy on Twitter: ⁠⁠https://x.com/PrivatEquityGuy⁠⁠

Neil on LinkedIn (No one at Greenoaks Capital Partners uses Twitter): https://www.linkedin.com/in/neil-mehta-47623079/

This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions.