The Minds Capital Podcast
Your connection to the growing world of independent sponsors and deal-by-deal private equity.
$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.
1 Equity Raise ($500k), 4 PortCos
Andrew McDonald didn't build Fourco Holdings with a deck and a thesis. He built it by buying one small business, making it throw off cash, then buying the next one.
The 123-Year-Old Firm's Independent Sponsor Blitz
HKW is a 123-year-old firm that evolved from investment bank to PE investor and now independent sponsor. CEO Ted Kramer explains how 180 completed acquisitions and 25,000 tracked deals have sharpened its pattern recognition.