My guest on the show today is Ben Finser, Founder and Portfolio Manager at Fin Capital Management. In this episode, Ben shares his journey from a decade at Kabouter Management to launching Fin Capital in 2024, and how his entrepreneurial background shaped his passion for analyzing and owning high-quality businesses.

We dive into his exclusive focus on international micro and small caps, a “target-rich universe” of some 15,000 listed companies in developed markets outside the US. Ben explains why these overlooked businesses — often with no sell-side coverage and tiny trading volumes — present compelling opportunities for investors willing to dig deeper.

Ben also details his boots-on-the-ground due diligence process, including traveling globally to meet management teams, comparing companies to global peers, and navigating cultural nuances when assessing business quality and long-term growth. We talk about his “pseudo-activist” engagement approach, where he works alongside management to improve disclosures, expand investor outreach, and unlock value.

Finally, Ben shares a case study of a Japanese procurement software company he helped bring onto investors’ radar, and offers perspective on why US outperformance may be cyclical — and why international microcaps deserve a place in more portfolios.

For more information about Ben Finser and Fin Capital Management, please visit: https://fincapitalmanagement.com

Planet MicroCap Podcast is on YouTube! All archived episodes and each new episode will be posted on the Planet MicroCap YouTube channel. I’ve provided the link in the description if you’d like to subscribe. You’ll also get the chance to watch all our Video Interviews with management teams, educational panels from the conference, as well as expert commentary from some familiar guests on the podcast.

Subscribe here: http://bit.ly/1Q5Yfym

Click here to rate and review the Planet MicroCap Podcast

The Planet MicroCap Podcast is brought to you by SNN Incorporated, The Official MicroCap News Source, and the Planet MicroCap Review Magazine, the leading magazine in the MicroCap market.

You can Follow the Planet MicroCap Podcast on Twitter @BobbyKKraft