Advertise on podcast: Minds Capital Podcast

Since Kevin Ramsier's last appearance on this podcast, his firm, Sier Capital, has closed a new infrastructure platform (where Minds Capital is an investor) and exited another business that generated a 32x MOIC over a 7-year hold. The same business started with 95% customer concentration and nearly 100 investors said no. References and how to contact today's guest:Kevin Ramsier | 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

Grant Kornman co-founded NCK Capital as an independent sponsor in 2013, then moved to the capital side with Align Collaborate in 2023. Align now manages $600m+ across 2 dedicated funds and writes $10-40m equity checks into sponsor-led LMM deals. Grant has watched the independent sponsor market evolve from both sides. References and how to contact today's guest:Grant Kornman | 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

Greg Brown is a Professor of Finance at UNC Kenan-Flagler and Founder of the Institute for Private Capital. On July 15, 2026, he published the first large-scale study of independent sponsor performance, covering 815 deals. Investor-reported transactions generated a 2.86x average gross TVPI and 29.3% gross IRR, outperforming matched non-IS PE deals by 0.73x TVPI and 11.4% IRR on average, with no statistically significant increase in downside risk.  References and how to contact today's guest:Greg Brown | 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

Sequoya Borgman is the first repeat guest on the Minds Capital Podcast. Since his last appearance, Borgman Capital has exited 1 company (4x+ net MOIC) and acquired 2 more (Minds Capital invested in the latest one, PCCD). Those 2 acquisitions were 3x and 2x oversubscribed respectively. Borgman has now acquired 13 platforms since 2017, owns 9 today, and is currently exploring 2 more exits.  References and how to contact today's guest:Sequoya Borgman | 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

Ben Tiggelaar started his career in PE before acquiring healthcare business Enable Dental in 2017. He ran it searcher-style for 5 years, exited in 2022, took 10 months off, and then bought Datatel with his own capital. The 2nd deal has evolved from a $6m revenue MSP with 55-60% recurring revenue in 2023 into a ~$8m business with ~90% recurring revenue. References and how to contact today's guest:Ben Tiggelaar | 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

Ziv Bendor co-founded Pinewell Capital in Scottsdale in 2016 after working across consulting and operating roles. Pinewell is now working on its 5th platform and 10th acquisition across an eclectic mix of B2B & B2C businesses. One of its more unusual strategies involved rolling up 4 businesses averaging less than $500k of EBITDA into one platform now generating ~$7m of EBITDA. References and how to contact today's guest:Ziv Bendor | 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

Chad Scripps started Black Lake Capital in 2013 after working at McKinsey, HIG, and several hedge funds. Based in Denver, Black Lake is an unapologetic “fundless sponsor” doing 1-2 deals per year. They focus on tech-enabled businesses, although Chad jokes that “if you’ve got email, we’ll call you tech enabled.” The approach is opportunistic & valuation-driven. Black Lake reviews roughly 2,500 opportunities per year to find those 1-2 acquisitions. References and how to contact today's guest:Chad Scripps | 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

Dr. Lisa Piercey went from pediatrician to hospital executive, Tennessee Commissioner of Health during COVID, and now independent sponsor preparing to close her 5th healthcare platform. Her edge is deep healthcare operating & policy expertise, particularly around reimbursement, aging, chronic disease, Medicaid, and value-based care. References and how to contact today's guest:Lisa Piercey | 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

Drew Bagin and his partner raised $2m in seed capital for the General Partnership before doing their first deal as an independent sponsor. Then they built a tightly regional strategy focused on Maine and New England. 5 platforms later, the regional focus manifests in a differentiated sourcing network & value creation, and a fire protection platform approaching exit. References and how to contact today's guest:Drew Bagin | 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

The 3 founding partners of Minds Capital sit down for the 75th episode to provide a behind-the-scenes glimpse of their operations & strategy, and also share market observations rangnig from rollup frequency, first-time sponsor pitfalls, underwriting AI, and supply & demand imbalances on the capital side within the independent sponsor ecosystem. References and how to contact today's hosts:Niklas James | LinkedInWill Smith | LinkedInMax Lummis | 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 channelVisit Minds CapitalCredits: Edited by Anton Rohozov

Dara Shareef is an executive at Benchmark International, a global lower-middle market M&A brokerage. Dara is an avid speaker on panels and podcasts, and he brings a nuanced perspective on independent sponsors as a buyer group, tactics to win deals, and best-in-class process management post-LOI. He is a believer in content marketing as a way for dealmakers to build trust, transparency, and inbounds. References and how to contact today's guest:Dara Shareef | 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

Andrew McDonald raised $500k to acquire one small business selling work safety shoes in 2015. He used the cash flow from this fledgling company to acquire his next one, a fireworks distributor. He recently clinched his first exit, and today enjoys autonomous control over an eclectic portfolio. Andrew is wise beyond his years, with analogies that will make your head spin. References and how to contact today's guest:Andrew McDonald | 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

HKW is a 123-year-old firm (!!). First an investment bank, then a PE investor across 5 funds, and now an independent sponsor with 5 new platforms in the last 18 months. Ted Kramer is the CEO of this venerable institution, and he shares why thae history matters as they've converted 180 completed buy-side transactions and 25,000 tracked deals into pattern recognition. References and how to contact today's guest:Ted Kramer | 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

After decades at Arthur Andersen and Grant Thornton, Lou Grabowsky and his son Brian raised capital upfront to stand up the management company of Juniper Capital Manager before chasing the first deal. That meant people, process, credibility, and enough infrastructure to look like a real buyer from day 1. References and how to contact today's guest:Lou Grabowsky | 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

Houston-based Logan Walters founded Forge Equity in 2021 after a career in traditional private equity (focused on oil services). Dismayed by the limiting 5-year holds of conventional private equity, Logan and his partners have developed a strict preference for indefinite hold periods. We discuss how this affects deal screening and explore their dividend philosophies. References and how to contact today's guest:Logan Walters | 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