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Artwork for Minds Capital Podcast

Minds Capital Podcast

Will Smith & Niklas James
Private Equity
Independent Sponsorship
Independent Sponsors
Investment Strategy
Entrepreneurship
Independent Sponsor
Minds Capital
Capital Providers
Lower Middle Market
Deal Flow
M&A
Family Offices
Investment Strategies
Vacation Rental Property Management
Mcguirewoods Conference
Dallas
Healthcare
Covid-19
Franchising
Saas

Your connection to the growing world of independent sponsors and deal-by-deal private equity.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes72Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategories
EntrepreneurshipBusinessInvesting

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Artwork for Minds Capital Podcast

Latest Episodes

HKW is a 123-year-old firm (!!). First an investment bank, then a PE investor across 5 funds, and now an independent sponsor with 5 new platforms in the last 18 months. Ted Kramer is the CEO of this venerable institution, and he shares why thae histo... more

After decades at Arthur Andersen and Grant Thornton, Lou Grabowsky and his son Brian raised capital upfront to stand up the management company of Juniper Capital Manager before chasing the first deal. That meant people, process, credibility, and enou... more

Houston-based Logan Walters founded Forge Equity in 2021 after a career in traditional private equity (focused on oil services). Dismayed by the limiting 5-year holds of conventional private equity, Logan and his partners have developed a strict pref... more

Christian Seale has built healthcare companies from every angle. As a healthcare VC, entrepreneur, and now founder of Despierta, Christian Seale combines VC, PE, and independent sponsorship into a single concept. He explains why buying businesses can... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Ted Kramer
CEO of HKW
HKW
Episode: The 123-Year-Old Firm's Independent Sponsor Blitz
Lou Grabowsky
Co-founder of Juniper Capital Management
Juniper Capital Management
Episode: 11 Exits in 11 Years
Logan Walters
Founder of Forge Equity, Houston-based independent sponsor
Forge Equity
Episode: Holding All-Equity Deals Forever
Christian Seale
Founder of Despierta, independent sponsor blending PE with VC and DeNovo creation
Despierta
Episode: From Venture Capital to Independent Sponsor
Jimmy Watson
Managing Director at Clavis Capital Partners
Clavis Capital Partners
Episode: Promoted from Associate to MD at Independent Sponsor Firm
Dan Chetrit
Partner at Snowden Partners
Snowden Partners
Episode: Two Recaps To 10.5x MOIC
Richard Baum
Founder/CEO at Consumer Growth Partners
Consumer Growth Partners
Episode: Tripled EBITDA, Doubled Multiple, Exited Early
Jim Bolduc
Founder/Leader of JPB Partners; independent sponsor with family-office backing
JPB Partners
Episode: The Family Office Independent Sponsor
Bruce Lipian
Co-founding partner, Stone Creek Capital
Stone Creek Capital
Episode: Steak & Sizzle with a Side of Fundless

Hosts

Will Smith
Host of Minds Capital Podcast, focused on independent sponsorship and deal-by-deal PE.
Niklas James
Co-host of Minds Capital Podcast, frequent interviewer and deal-sourcing expert.
Max Lummis
Partner at Minds Capital; frequent host and contributor on deal flow and sponsor strategy.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 38 ratings
  • Great Podcast

    This is a great addition to the SMB podcast market. The independent sponsor model has received far too little attention. Thanks for shedding light on the space!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BudFox87
    United Statesa year ago
  • Svend Hansen

    Couldn’t follow the tips. Went bankrupt. Do not recommend

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    tildeeridubai
    Norwaya year ago
  • Another great show from Will Smith

    Will is a great interviewer, I have been a listener for a long time and it is easy to overlook how thoughtful his questions are because he has such a natural style.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    corporate_struggling
    United Statesa year ago
  • Great podcast!

    Keep up the good work, Will & Niklas! Thank you for this terrific new resource for people, considering buying an operating their own business.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Plazure
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Sponsorships and guest appearances are framed around concrete outcomes and long-term value
Content is a valuable resource for people considering or involved in independent sponsorship
The host style is natural and engaging, aiding clear exploration of complex topics
Guests are generally seen as thoughtful and experienced
Some listeners highlight practical deal-structuring takeaways and real-world case studies

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

11 Exits in 11 Years
Q: How did you pitch investors to stand up the Juniper management company before deal flow existed?
We framed the thesis around building a robust infrastructure, a capable team, and the ability to close – showing investors that their capital would be deployed into a disciplined, scalable platform rather than a single deal. This included the offer for investors to take GP stakes and participate in future deals, along with the value of their own operating expertise.
Promoted from Associate to MD at Independent Sponsor Firm
Q: What did you say about getting into independent sponsorship and how others might follow suit?
Being an independent sponsor involves wearing many hats and building a broad skill set across FP&A, strategy, fundraising, and operations; it requires networking and leveraging hands-on experiences to add value in portfolio companies.
Two Recaps To 10.5x MOIC
Q: What were the key drivers of MOIC in the first recap and how did it become equity in the new vehicle?
The MOIC was driven by a five-times gross MOIC in the first recap, with net MOIC near four times after accounting for carry, and the rolled equity plus new debt creating a larger equity stake when converting carry into the new vehicle.
Two Recaps To 10.5x MOIC
Q: Could you walk us through the math on how you went from being a traditional search fund to a majority-controlled recap?
They described a triangulation: rolling carry into equity to gain a controlling stake, using debt to finance incremental ownership, and having lenders require full roll of economics to make the recap work, which ultimately delivered a 30% ownership post-recap and consolidation of control.
From Venture Capital to Independent Sponsor
Q: You mentioned the Mexico fertility venture and placing a CEO into the business. How did that arrangement come together and why was it important?
We brought in a CEO with deep experience in fertility and population health, placed her into the Mexico venture to execute a proven playbook, and then used a local management team to replicate that model across clinics, improving service delivery and performance.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Minds Capital Podcast

What is Minds Capital Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A sharp focus on independent sponsorship and lower-middle-market private equity, with frequent deep dives into deal sourcing, financing dynamics, governance, and value creation through culture and operating improvements. Episodes spotlight the independent sponsor model's evolution, practical deal mechanics, and founder-friendly approaches, often featuring operators, sponsors, and PE veterans who share hands-on lessons from real transactions. Notably, the show frequently explores bridge-building between capital providers and management, the role of culture and human capital in portfolio companies, and creative financing structures, making it a practical resource for deal teams, aspiring sponsors, and brands seeking exposure to the indie spon... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Minds Capital Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Minds Capital Podcast:

1. Acquiring Minds
2. Acquisitions Anonymous - #1 for business buying, selling and operating
3. Built to Sell Radio
4. Moneywise
5. My First Million

How many episodes of Minds Capital Podcast are there?

Minds Capital Podcast launched a year ago and published 72 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Minds Capital Podcast?

Recent guests on Minds Capital Podcast include:

1. Ted Kramer
2. Lou Grabowsky
3. Logan Walters
4. Christian Seale
5. Jimmy Watson
6. Dan Chetrit
7. Richard Baum
8. Jim Bolduc

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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