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Artwork for Minds Capital Podcast

Minds Capital Podcast

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

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes76Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
EntrepreneurshipBusinessInvesting

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Minds Capital Podcast

Latest Episodes

Drew Bagin and his partner raised $2m in seed capital for the General Partnership before doing their first deal as an independent sponsor. Then they built a tightly regional strategy focused on Maine and New England. 5 platforms later, the regional f... more

The 3 founding partners of Minds Capital sit down for the 75th episode to provide a behind-the-scenes glimpse of their operations & strategy, and also share market observations rangnig from rollup frequency, first-time sponsor pitfalls, underwriting ... more

Dara Shareef is an executive at Benchmark International, a global lower-middle market M&A brokerage. Dara is an avid speaker on panels and podcasts, and he brings a nuanced perspective on independent sponsors as a buyer group, tactics to win deals, a... more

Andrew McDonald raised $500k to acquire one small business selling work safety shoes in 2015. He used the cash flow from this fledgling company to acquire his next one, a fireworks distributor. He recently clinched his first exit, and today enjoys au... 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

Drew Bagin
Founder/Partner at North Haven Capital
North Haven Capital
Episode: $2m to Start as an Independent Sponsor
Dara Shareef
Benchmark International executive with expertise in lower middle market M&A
Benchmark International
Episode: "An Independent Sponsor Can Be My Favorite Kind of Buyer"
Andrew McDonald
Owner/Operator, FourCo Holdings
FourCo Holdings
Episode: 1 Equity Raise ($500k), 4 PortCos
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

Hosts

Will Smith
Host of Minds Capital Podcast; focuses on deal sourcing, sponsor dynamics, and practical strategy in independent sponsorship.
Niklas James
Co-host with deep experience in independent sponsorship and portfolio development.
Max Lummis
Partner at Minds Capital; contributes financial discipline and deal-by-deal perspective.

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 States2 years 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 States2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Thoughtful questions and natural interviewing style are frequently highlighted by listeners.
Some episodes emphasize credibility-building and structured deal processes, resonating with professionals aiming for sponsor-led growth.
The show is a valuable resource for people considering buying and operating their own business, with practical takeaways.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

1 Equity Raise ($500k), 4 PortCos
Q: What had your backer seen in you that encouraged backing you to run deals?
The backer saw a blend of curiosity, deal-sense, and the willingness to go all in—plus the credibility built by pursuing formal credentials early, which helped him gain trust and align on a long-term horizon.
1 Equity Raise ($500k), 4 PortCos
Q: Can you recount that story and how it led you to become an independent sponsor?
Andrew explains how a mentor challenged him to pursue deal-making instead of pursuing a PE interview, leading him to bootstrap, find a deal, and build a long-term hold strategy with conservative financing and a backer who believed in him.
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.

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?

This show centers on independent sponsorship and deal-by-deal private equity in the lower middle market, with frequent explorations of deal sourcing, portfolio building, governance, and creative capital structures. Episodes often feature operators, financiers, and sponsor-led firms sharing tactical playbooks for credibility, capital formation, and execution in niche sectors. Notable angles include open-ended and evergreen hold structures, cross-border and VC/PE convergence, and the role of content, events, and partnerships in accelerating deal flow. The format highlights actionable insights for sponsors, fund-structure experimentation, and real-world case studies across consumer, services, and industrial niches, making it valuable for profe... more

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How many episodes of Minds Capital Podcast are there?

Minds Capital Podcast launched 2 years ago and published 76 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. Drew Bagin
2. Dara Shareef
3. Andrew McDonald
4. Ted Kramer
5. Lou Grabowsky
6. Logan Walters
7. Christian Seale
8. Jimmy Watson

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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