We go deep on Justin Ishbia, co-founder and Managing Partner of Shore Capital Partners - one of the most successful lower-middle-market private equity firms in the U.S.
After inviting Justin on the podcast and being asked to reconnect in early 2026, I used the time to study Shore’s work more closely. This episode is the result: a synthesis of Justin’s long-form interviews, public commentary, and Shore’s operating history, focused on the systems behind their results.
TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Why to study Justin Ishbia
1:30 Buy small, professionalize, roll up, sell the platform
2:20 The numbers: Shore’s reported track record (platforms, exits, and why the median matters)
3:15 “I’m not smart, I just know who to copy”
4:30 How “luck” is earned through repetition
6:55 Reserving most capital for add-ons to create multiple paths to 3x - 8x outcomes
8:43 Sponsor CapitalPad: backing acquisition entrepreneurs buying real, unsexy businesses
9:47 Why “the system is the star”
Sponsors:
https://capitalpad.com/
https://www.spacebarstudios.co/inquire
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This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions.
