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.”


More recent episodes

Family Offices + Independent Sponsors = Strong Match
James Bohannon of Belzberg & Co explains how family offices evaluate independent sponsors, the power dynamics of LP relationships, and why choosing the right capital partner matters more than closing any deal.

The 16-Year Path to a $175m Revenue Portfolio
Michael Healy founded Gardner Standard in 2010, building a unique independent sponsor strategy focused on legally complex deals like bankruptcies and distressed situations.

Axial's Lessons From 10,000 Lower-Middle Market Deals
Peter Lehrman of Axial shares tactical insights on how independent sponsors source, win, and fund deals in the lower-middle-market M&A space.