Minds Capital Podcast

Outspoken Nathan Chandrasekaran of Columbia River Partners, based in Seattle, Washington, has built a track record around carve-outs, portfolio synergies, and hard work, creating a firm with a clear identity and 7 platforms.References and how to contact today's guest:Nathan Chandrasekaran | LinkedInMinds Capital invests equity into deals by independent sponsors and searchers. For independent sponsors with a deal under LOI, visit Minds Capital to start a conversation. Our website also contains more information about this podcast and for prospective investors.Connect with Minds:See past + future interviews on the YouTube channelConnect with hosts Will Smith and Niklas JamesVisit Minds CapitalCredits:Edited by Anton Rohozov

Jeff Goldstein is an independent sponsor at Breakwater Management, formerly a private credit fund. Earlier this year they closed their first independent sponsor transaction of a marketing company called Chemistry Communications, which Minds Capital invested in. Jeff's career path has taken him from law and investment banking into senior leadership roles at media & marketing companies like IAC, Experian, and PriceGrabber, before stepping in as CEO of United Online, which was a public company at the time.References and how to contact today's guest:Jeff Goldstein | LinkedInMinds Capital invests equity into deals by independent sponsors and searchers. For independent sponsors with a deal under LOI, visit Minds Capital to start a conversation. Our website also contains more information about this podcast and for prospective investors.Connect with Minds:See past + future interviews on the YouTube channelConnect with hosts Will Smith and Niklas JamesVisit Minds CapitalCredits:Edited by Anton Rohozov

Sarkaw Aziz acquired a $5 million EBITDA vacation rental platform in Colorado, structured it with a 50% seller rollover and a 3x EBITDA seller note, and exited just two years later with 2x MOIC and a 41% IRR.References and how to contact today's guest:Sarkaw Aziz | LinkedInMinds Capital invests equity into deals by independent sponsors and searchers. For independent sponsors with a deal under LOI, visit Minds Capital to start a conversation. Our website also contains more information about this podcast and for prospective investors.Connect with Minds:See past + future interviews on the YouTube channelConnect with hosts Will Smith and Niklas JamesVisit Minds CapitalCredits:Edited by Anton Rohozov

Rick Apple, founder of Upside Growth Partners and a Princeton grad, shares his journey of scaling 12 platforms while raising five kids. He discusses the delicate balance of entrepreneurship and family life, emphasizing smart sourcing and deliberate underwriting. The conversation dives into private equity insights, the importance of accurate data for deal valuation, and evolving investment strategies from high-risk startups to established acquisitions. Rick also highlights the challenges of entrepreneurship, branding, and building investor networks, while sharing personal anecdotes and advice.

Stenning Schueppert, based in Austin, leads Evolution Strategy Partners, one of the most transparent and high-performing independent sponsors west of the Mississippi. A private equity veteran and zinger machine, Stenning shares refreshing insights on why the independent sponsor model beats traditional funds, how radical alignment drives better outcomes, and the simple math behind his portfolio’s 10x MOIC markup.References and how to contact today's guest:Stenning Schueppert | LinkedInMinds Capital invests equity into deals by independent sponsors and searchers. For independent sponsors with a deal under LOI, visit Minds Capital to start a conversation. Our website also contains more information about this podcast and for prospective investors.Connect with Minds:See past + future interviews on the YouTube channelConnect with hosts Will Smith and Niklas JamesVisit Minds CapitalCredits:Edited by Anton Rohozov

Zack Miller and his high school friend Johnny Lieberman combined their distinct backgrounds to launch Worklyn Partners, a dual platform marrying the VC-style upside of cybersecurity with the proven PE roll-up playbook in managed service providers (MSPs). Backed by $50m in committed capital, they have executed 7 acquisitions, keeping their IT services and cybersecurity businesses operationally separate, preserving the flexibility to merge or exit individually.References and how to contact today's guest:Zack Miller | LinkedInMinds Capital invests equity into deals by independent sponsors and searchers. For independent sponsors with a deal under LOI, visit Minds Capital to start a conversation. Our website also contains more information about this podcast and for prospective investors.Connect with Minds:See past + future interviews on the YouTube channelConnect with hosts Will Smith and Niklas JamesVisit Minds CapitalCredits:Edited by Anton Rohozov

Celebrating 25 episodes, the founders of Minds Capital pull back the curtain on lessons from deploying Fund 1 capital, why they’re bullish on US private equity, how they evaluate deals and sponsors, and the strategy taking shape for their upcoming Flagship 2 fund.References and how to contact today's guest:Minds Capital | LinkedInMinds Capital invests equity into deals by independent sponsors and searchers. For independent sponsors with a deal under LOI, visit Minds Capital to start a conversation. Our website also contains more information about this podcast and for prospective investors.Connect with Minds:See past + future interviews on the YouTube channelConnect with hosts Will Smith and Niklas JamesVisit Minds CapitalCredits:Edited by Anton Rohozov

Luis Reyes, an exited SaaS founder, is building a fire safety market leader in Spain through full-time focus on operations and rapid M&A with 24+ acquisitions in just 24 months. Assembling a mosaic of micro-targets, the platform now generates €8m in EBITDA, with industry-leading efficiency stemming from Luis' consulting background and AI-first mindset. Fun fact (or maybe not so fun...): Luis grew up in rural Mexico and got his first pair of shoes at age 5.References and how to contact today's guest:Luis Reyes | LinkedInMinds Capital invests equity into deals by independent sponsors and searchers. For independent sponsors with a deal under LOI, visit Minds Capital to start a conversation. Our website also contains more information about this podcast and for prospective investors.Connect with Minds:See past + future interviews on the YouTube channelConnect with hosts Will Smith and Niklas JamesVisit Minds CapitalCredits:Edited by Anton Rohozov

David Acharya has been an independent sponsor since the great financial recession His most notable deal, a 9.5-year investment in experiential marketing firm Impact XM, delivered an extraordinary 20x MOIC. Along the way he navigated a smooth separation from former partners, and today he chairs the Independent Sponsor Alliance, a 55-member peer network shaping best practices in the industry.References and how to contact today's guest:David Acharya | LinkedInMinds Capital invests equity into deals by independent sponsors and searchers. For independent sponsors with a deal under LOI, visit Minds Capital to start a conversation. Our website also contains more information about this podcast and for prospective investors.Connect with Minds:See past + future interviews on the YouTube channelConnect with hosts Will Smith and Niklas JamesVisit Minds CapitalCredits:Edited by Anton Rohozov

Doug Song reflects on 25 years of experience as an independent sponsor, having co-founded Prodos Capital in 2003. He explains how Prodos views co-sponsoring as a strategic path to scale, enabling experienced sponsors to take on more deals while supporting emerging talent. Doug also discusses the growing role of capital placement agents and family offices, and emphasizes why getting the first deal right is the single most important step in building a lasting independent sponsor career.References and how to contact today's guest:Doug Song | LinkedInMinds Capital invests equity into deals by independent sponsors and searchers. For independent sponsors with a deal under LOI, visit Minds Capital to start a conversation. Our website also contains more information about this podcast and for prospective investors.Connect with Minds:See past + future interviews on the YouTube channelConnect with hosts Will Smith and Niklas JamesVisit Minds CapitalCredits:Edited by Anton Rohozov