The Minds Capital Podcast
Your connection to the growing world of independent sponsors and deal-by-deal private equity.
Over $60m of Second Bite Liquidity
Chad Scripps started Black Lake Capital in 2013 after stints at McKinsey, HIG, and several hedge funds. Based in Denver, Black Lake closes just 1-2 acquisitions per year despite reviewing thousands of opportunities. The firm calls itself tech-enabled, but Chad admits that’s a loose moniker: “If you’ve got email, we’ll call you tech enabled.”
The Doctor & The Finance Bro
Dr. Lisa Piercey’s path spans pediatric medicine, hospital leadership, Tennessee Health Commissioner and now independent sponsor nearing her fifth healthcare platform. Her edge: deep operating and policy expertise across reimbursement, Medicaid, aging and value-based care.
$2M to Start as an IndependentSponsor
Drew Bagin and his partner raised $2m in GP seed capital before their first independent sponsor deal. Five platforms later, their New England focus has created a differentiated sourcing and value-creation network, with a fire protection platform nearing exit.
Behind The Scenes: Our Unique Angle In An Increasingly Crowded Space
The 3 founding partners mark the 75th episode with a behind-the-scenes look at their strategy, discussing rollup frequency, first-time sponsor pitfalls, AI in underwriting and capital supply-demand imbalances across the independent sponsor ecosystem.
"An Independent Sponsor Can Be My Favorite Kind of Buyer"
Dara Shareef of Benchmark International says content now builds stronger connections than cold outreach. For independent sponsors, winning requires trust, proven capital access, a clear value-creation plan and decisive execution after the LOI.