Shows
Earmark Podcast | Earn Free Accounting CPEWhat Private Equity Really Changes Inside an Accounting Firm wiith Devin MathewsWhat really happens after private equity buys your CPA firm? ParkerGale partner Devin Mathews joins Blake to unpack why partners cheer while staff chafe, how PE drives returns (bill rates, utilization, acquisitions), and what managers should demand: a clear value‑creation plan and a path to upside. They also dig into AI’s true impact—raising the ceiling, squeezing entry‑level work—and why this might be your cue to start an AI‑first firm.Chapters(00:00) - Private Equity Meets AI
(02:04) - Survey Shock Partners vs Staff
(04:18) - How PE Boosts Profits
(06:17) - Culture Clash and KPIs
(09...
2026-03-0554 min
Where To Get StartedBreaking Career Rules: How Weird Creativity Transformed a Graphic Designer into a YouTuber w/Devin MatthewsDiscover how Devin Mathews, Owner and Founder of SuprOrdinary, transforms ordinary objects into extraordinary stories in this mind-blowing interview about creativity, design, and breaking creative boundaries. From secret childhood music videos to viral YouTube success, Devin's journey will inspire you to see the extraordinary potential in the most mundane things around you.In this exclusive interview, motion designer turned content creator Devin, shares his incredible journey from working at a top creative agency, @buck_co to indepenantly launching @SuprOrdinary YouTube channel that turns everyday objects into mind-bending creative experiences. Learn how he went from graphi...
2025-11-101h 23
Private Equity FunCastContinuation Vehicles 101 with Houlihan LokeyDevin sits down with Sameer Shamsi, Co-Head of Houlihan Lokey's GP Led Secondaries group. We cover everything you want to know about continuation vehicles, but were afraid to ask (or too dumb to ask?). What is the difference between LP-led and GP-led? How should GPs talk to their LPs about it? What assets are best suited for CVs? How does company management get treated in a CV? Plus so much more you didn't even pay for.
2025-05-0654 minPrivate Equity FunCastARR Lending with PNCDevin spends an hour with Ankur Gupta, PNC's Global Head of Technology Finance, to discuss the current state of software company lending. We cover where PNC fits in the lending landscape, what a "good fit" deal looks like, what you should expect during due diligence, what covenants you should expect, and where pricing is across different lenders these days. We also cover how lenders think about Gross Retention vs Net Retention, ARR to loan values, and growth vs. profit.
2024-08-1552 min
Private Equity Value Creation PodcastEp.35: Devin Mathews, ParkerGale | How to Create Value by Being Unconventionally RightIn this episode, Shiv and Devin discuss how ParkerGale invests in smaller companies that many investors would consider ‘too hard’. Learn how Devin and his team view potential challenges as value creation opportunities, and how they prioritize their resources in portfolio companies post-close. Plus, hear how to find the avoid buying the right company at the wrong valuation, how to minimize investment risk, and the value of setting realistic expectations for your return. The information contained in this podcast is not intended to constitute, and should not be construed as, investment advice.
2024-07-2549 min
Private Equity Value Creation PodcastEp.35: Devin Mathews, ParkerGale Capital | How to Create Value by Being Unconventionally RightShiv interviews Devin Mathews, Partner at ParkerGale Capital.
Shiv and Devin discuss how ParkerGale invests in smaller companies that many firms would consider ‘too hard’.
Learn how Devin and his team view potential challenges as value creation opportunities, and how they prioritize their resources in portfolio companies post-close. Plus, hear how to avoid buying the right company at the wrong valuation, how to minimize investment risk, and the value of setting realistic expectations for your return.
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2024-07-2549 minPrivate Equity FunCastIt's Restructuring Time! Devin is joined by Tuck Hardie, a Managing Director in Houlihan Lokey's Financial Restructuring Group. After operating through the bankruptcy at Marvel as a client of Houlihan, Tuck switched sides and joined the HL team over 20 years ago. Tuck introduces the restructuring business, how it has changed during the past two decades, lessons from the GCF (and how we are still feeling the effects), and what's happening in today's "higher for longer" environment. He provides helpful tips for investors and companies trying to avoid needing his services.
2023-11-0759 minPrivate Equity FunCastIt's the 10 Year Anniversary of the PE FuncastTwo Hundred and Seventy Three Episodes and Two Million downloads later, it's the 10th anniversary of the PE Funcast. Indulge your intrepid co-hosts, Devin and Jim, as we walk down memory lane.
2023-09-1543 minPrivate Equity FunCastPE Partner and the CEOIn this episode of the PE Funcast, we take a deep dive into the relationship between the portfolio company CEO and the private equity Partner. What do they talk about when they talk? How does their connection evolve from the interview, to building the team, to planning for an exit? What does the first year of a PE-backed CEO gig feel like? Devin and our newest portfolio CEO, Dave Lucey, cover it all here in a frank and wide-ranging conversation about Dave's first year at the helm of Biscom. We plan to do follow-ups in the years ahead as...
2023-07-131h 42
Middle Market MusingsEpisode 36 Devin Mathews, ParkerGaleDevin Mathews wanders out onto the Middle Market Musings stage and the audience goes wild at the cross-platform possibilities. Devin is co-founder of ParkerGale, a Chicago-based private equity fund focused on profitable technology investments, and co-originator of their successful podcast devoted to companies in the tech space. Devin entertains with his account of how an art history major from SUNY Binghamton found his way to the upper reaches of private equity. He assesses the current state of the market and shares best practices on producing an industry focused podcast, something that both Andy and Charlie believe the other desperately n...
2023-06-0849 minPrivate Equity FunCastAlixPartners 8th Annual PE Leadership SurveyTed Bililies, Managing Director and Head of Global Transformation Leadership Practice at AlixPartners joins Devin again to review the findings of the 8th Annual PE Leadership Survey. Devin and Ted discuss where PE and Portfolio Executives agree and differ on what's most important in today's turbulent times. They talk about sprinters vs. marathoners, growers vs. grinders, and peace-time vs. war-time leaders. They also cover how technology adds to the challenges of scaling companies and the crisis of middle management and how to address it.
2023-05-191h 04Private Equity FunCastWhat's a Software Company Worth?In this episode of the PE Funcast, Devin and our Head of Research, David, discuss our research on software valuations, "What's a Software Company Worth." They cover how software valuations have trended over the past 20 years, the challenges that private and public investors will face over the coming year, and inject some of "what we're seeing" inside our portfolio and the markets we play in.
2023-05-041h 02
BluWave's Karma School of BusinessDevin Mathews, ParkerGale | PE culture, mental health, fundraising, cash flows and moreParkerGale's Partner, Devin Mathews, joins host Sean Mooney to discuss the value of culture, the importance of mental health, the economy's impact on fundraising, tips to weather the economic storm, the benefits of being yourself and more. To learn more, visit: https://bit.ly/3CfZxmZ
2022-10-181h 01Private Equity Podcast: Karma School of BusinessDevin Mathews, ParkerGale | PE culture, mental health, fundraising, cash flows and moreParkerGale's Partner, Devin Mathews, joins host Sean Mooney to discuss the value of culture, the importance of mental health, the economy's impact on fundraising, tips to weather the economic storm, the benefits of being yourself and more. To learn more, visit: https://bit.ly/3CfZxmZ
2022-10-181h 01Private Equity FunCastAnnual 2022 Predictions ShowIt's our annual predictions show for 2022 with your original hosts, Devin and Jim. With the glut of other pontificators doing their usual prognostications, we've decided to shake things up a bit and focus on resolutions, or rather our anti-resolutions.
2022-01-0536 minPrivate Equity FunCastWe're Hiring a Platform Team!Devin walks us through three (yes 3!) new additions to the ParkerGale team. We're calling it the Platform Team and it includes a Head of Community, a Head of Origination, and a Head of Research. Listen to hear a brief description of each role and if you are interested (or know someone who is) email your resume to devin [at] parkergale [dot] com and ryan [at] parkergale [com] with "Community" "Origination" or "Research" in the email title. We will send you a detailed job description so you can learn more.
2021-12-2717 minPrivate Equity FunCastAnnual Holiday Episode on the FuncastIt's our annual holiday episode, with your original hosts -- Devin and Jim. While the debate over "Die Hard as a Christmas movie" is settled (it is), there are still plenty of things to discuss this holiday season, so come have a listen.
2021-12-2440 minPrivate Equity FunCastLimited Partner Questions You Must KnowInspired by their friend Dave Kellogg, Devin & Jim discuss the questions Limited Partners (and prospective Limited Partners) ask that you should always know off the top of your head. These are the questions that responding with "let me get back to you on that" will make you look bad, unprepared, or just plain out of touch.
2021-09-1549 minPrivate Equity FunCastCommercial Diligence with Cici ZhengDevin and Cici sit down to discuss how we do commercial due diligence at ParkerGale. You know, all the market sizing, customer calls, surveys, competitive analysis you do after LOI but before you close the deal. We have two eras here at PG -- the way we did commercial diligence before Cici joined us and the way we do it now. Lots of good stuff to learn before you dive into your next transaction. Learn from the best and take notes. We promise it's going to help.
2021-09-0852 minPrivate Equity FunCastDean's Hot TakesParkerGale's newly promoted Senior Associate Dean Olson sits down with Devin to talk about his path from Indiana University to working in the private equity industry. Like the interviews we've done in the past with other PG-ers, you'll learn about the career choices made early in your 20s and how Dean thought about his different choices in consulting at Bain & Company to his work at ParkerGale. He reflects on what he's learning and where he's headed next. If you are early in your career or know someone looking to get into PE after college, Dean has a lot of...
2021-09-0151 minPrivate Equity FunCastHow BluWave Helps PE Shrink the WorldDevin sits down with BluWave founder Sean Mooney to discuss how his firm helps PE funds run diligence better and post-closing operations faster. BluWave provides services to 500 PE funds and countless service providers so you can find the right resource at the right time with the right skills for the job at hand -- commercial diligence, sales effectiveness, interim executives, and plenty more. Sean has a unique perspective on PE having worked in the industry prior to founding BluWave in 2016.
2021-08-181h 11Private Equity FunCastSoftware Buyout Lingo ExplainedDevin is back with Ben Falloon and Cass Ziebel to talk about software buyout lingo. The trio revisits past popular episodes with all new "lingo" updates. Sit back and enjoy, and there just might even be a lesson or two to learn in between all the laughing (or is that crying?).
2021-08-0545 minPrivate Equity FunCastSelling a Portfolio CompanyJim and Devin are back together on this latest episode, talking about Exits for portfolio companies. How do we time our exits? Do we get unsolicited offers or do we take them to market? When does management get involved? These are just a few of the questions that we answer on this latest episode.
2021-07-2143 minPrivate Equity FunCastSoftware Buyouts in GermanyDevin sits down with Christoph Jost and Peter Waleczek, the founders of Berlin-based software buyout fund Flex Capital. Christoph and Peter started as tech entrepreneurs prior to founding Flex and they discuss their process of raising their first fund, what they look for in a deal, how they source companies, and what they do with them after the acquisition. They also talk about the similarities and differences between the US and German tech buyout market.
2021-06-241h 04Private Equity FunCastThe Case for 1st Time CEOsDevin sits down with Jordan Brugg, the Head of Private Equity at SpencerStuart to discuss his research on whether repeat or first-time CEOs outperform over the long-term. You might be surprised with the findings. Devin and Jordan dive deep into the study, talk about CEO assessment, and offer some tips for people looking for their first CEO job running a PE-backed company.
2021-06-081h 11
Inside the Walls004: Quality Attracts Quality with Devin MathewsAs one of our longest-standing board members, Devin Mathews has played a critical role in realizing our vision. He joined Threewalls thirteen years ago, so he’s seen how a small arts organization can grow smartly by expanding deep from within. His work ethic is always quality over quantity.Devin has over twenty years of experience investing in technology companies and helping management teams build their companies. He’s also co-founder of ParkerGale, a small private equity firm. As we continue to reveal what goes on behind the scenes, we learn more about Devin’s inte...
2021-05-1835 minPrivate Equity FunCastMostly-Annual Predictions Show for 2021Can you predict the future by throwing asparagus against the wall? Have a listen to Devin and Jim on the Funcast's mostly-annual predictions show.
2021-01-041h 12Private Equity FunCastHalloween 2020Devin and Jim reunite for our sometimes annual Halloween episode. Today's discussion revolves around what is currently scaring us the most in private equity.
2020-10-3046 minPrivate Equity FunCastLeadership, Culture, and Private Equity with AlixPartnersLeadership, culture, and their impact on investments are growing trends across the private equity industry. In this episode, Jimmy and Devin are joined by Ted Bililies, Managing Director at AlixPartners and founder of the consultancy's Transformative Leadership Practice. We discuss the findings from AlixPartners' 5th Annual Private Equity Leadership Survey which reveal just how critical human capital is to value creation and how culture is an often overlooked source of value by investors. We also discuss why these topics are so important today given the volatility and uncertainty we are all experiencing in 2020.
2020-09-0952 minPrivate Equity FunCastHow We Do Leadership DevelopmentLeaders shape culture, and in turn, culture shapes an organization. In this episode, Jimmy and Devin are joined by Katrina Calihan and Amanda Cutright, creators and facilitators of the L6 Program – the Leadership Development Program we roll-out at our portfolio companies. We discuss the six-month, transformational program that helps develop evolved, mindful, and skillful leaders at our companies and how those leaders help to create and shape cultures that last.
2020-08-141h 19Private Equity FunCastRebroadcast of "Mind of the CEO"Jim, Jimmy and Dr. J discuss everything from "The Last Dance" and the Warren Commission to John McCain as part of a new intro to a classic episode in which Devin and Kevin Fitzgerald talk with Steve Julius, PhD aka "Dr. J" about organizational behavior and team dynamics. Dr. Julius opines on human behavior, organizational dynamics and business development.
2020-05-071h 00Private Equity FunCast2020 Predictions ShowDevin and Jim kick off the new year with our annual predictions episode. Come have a listen as we opine on what 2020 has in store for Private Equity.
2020-01-0746 minPrivate Equity FunCastYou Need Win-Loss Analysis with Cici ZhengDevin sits down with Cici to discuss some easy but very important things you should be doing to extract deeper customer and market insight into your software products.
2019-11-1552 minPrivate Equity FunCastHiring Technical Leaders for Non-Technical PeopleHiring technical people is hard when you don't know all the buzzwords and acronyms. Devin and Jim help you with good process and some helpful questions to ask when you are hiring Engineering and Software Development leaders.
2019-10-1558 minPrivate Equity FunCastHow to Land a CFO JobDevin interviews True Search Partner and CFO-whisperer Matt Goldstein about how to land a CFO job at a PE-backed company. They cover the process from the candidate side and the company side. How to differentiate yourself; how to prepare for interviews; what PE funds are looking for; what goes wrong when things go wrong; what you should expect to get paid and how much equity you should expect.
2019-03-271h 04Private Equity FunCastPredictions for 2019Devin and Jim talk about macro and micro events for 2019 including; the global economy, the U.S. economy, politics, the tech market and the implications for private equity in the new year.
2019-01-0955 minPrivate Equity FunCast2018 Annual Thanksgiving ShowNo awkward musical guests or actors passed-their-prime --- just Devin and Jim giving thanks for another year of fun with the podcast.
2018-11-2046 minPrivate Equity FunCastParkerGale's Operations PillarsThe first episode in a five-episode arc discussing ParkerGale's four operating pillars: Systems, Talent, Growth and Product. In part one, Devin and Jim introduce the four pillars. The follow-on episodes will feature deep-dive interviews with ParkerGale's OPs team.
2018-09-2748 minPrivate Equity FunCastThe Career Wayback MachineThis week's topic comes from our listeners and it's one of our favorite subjects -- us! It's the "how did we get into private equity" episode. So hop into the wayback machine with Devin and Jim and find out how we got from Albany, New York and Brockton, Massachusetts all the way to private equity in Chicago.
2018-08-2853 minPrivate Equity FunCastThe Fatal Flaw EpisodeJim and Devin talk about the one or two characteristics that can blow an otherwise terrific executive out of the water. It's Bill Simmons' 90/10 rule -- only better!
2018-04-1141 minPrivate Equity FunCastA Brief History of ComputingJim and Devin walk through the list of technology companies where Jim has worked over the years. We talk about the lessons learned as they apply to PE-owned tech companies in the middle market. We cover decades of computing from Digital Equipment Corporation to Oracle and beyond. Bonus content includes a Rupert Pupkin shoutout and a Regis Philbin impression.
2018-01-2959 minPrivate Equity FunCastThe Case For 1st Time Funds with PitchBookDevin and Jim kick-off their collaboration with PitchBook, the leading private equity and private company database now owned by Morningstar. Nizar and Dylan from PitchBook's research team discuss their recent report on first-time private equity funds -- the fundraising stats, the increasing demand and the unique challenges new funds face.
2017-12-2055 minPrivate Equity FunCastMacroeconomics and Private EquityDevin and Jim talk about the major macroeconomic factors that affect Private Equity. Here's a hint -- it's mostly a robust economy and lower interest rates.
2017-11-2749 minPrivate Equity FunCastHalloween 2017 SpecialDevin and Jim talk about the four basic Halloween villains -- Vampires, Frankenstein, Werewolves and Mummies -- and how PE deals often end up as one of these monsters. Plus, we do a fast review of the BEST Halloween candies and our most popular costumes when we were kids.
2017-10-3147 minPrivate Equity FunCastWelcome Cici ZhengDevin & Jim welcome ParkerGale's newest teammate to the FunCast. Cici joined us from Bain & Co to manage our go-to-market activities across the portfolio. Cici talks about her not-so-straight path to private equity, what her day to day job is like and modestly chalking up her career success to luck.
2017-10-261h 01Private Equity FunCastHow To Teach People StuffDevin and his daughter Quinn spend an hour with high school English teacher Nathaniel Small on exploring the challenges of teaching people. We talk about why it is so hard for an expert to teach a novice. How teaching in an academic setting can help you improve your teaching in a business setting? And why, in the end, it all comes back to Empathy, Storytelling, and Autobiography.
2017-10-1149 minPrivate Equity FunCastBuyouts from the Sellers' SideListener Request! Devin & Jim take a look at private equity deals from the sellers' side of the table and cover questions such as: How do you select a PE buyer? What questions should you ask prospective buyers? What's negotiable and what's not? And all kinds of useful tips and tricks.
2017-10-0244 minPrivate Equity FunCastEntrepreneurship Through AcquisitionDevin and Jim sit down with NextGen Growth Partners founder Brian O'Connor to discuss search funds, pledge funds, traditional funds and all the similarities and differences among them. They go deep into backing entrepreneurs to create an investment thesis that leads to buying a company. NextGen has a unique model that we think the FunCast army will find interesting.
2017-09-1251 minPrivate Equity FunCastSummer Reading ListDevin and Jim take a random walk down their reading list of favorite business and research books. We mention some old favorites and some hidden gems and talk about ParkerGale's official reading club's August selection.
2017-08-3026 minPrivate Equity FunCastConfusing PE Jargon ExplainedDevin (and Jim from behind the sound board) welcomes back Cass and Ben for a mad-cap review of all the confusing terms and phrases thrown around the typical private equity shop. We give you the shortcut to understanding WACC, TTM, ICs, TAMs and LPACs. Now, doesn't that sound exciting!
2017-08-2144 minPrivate Equity FunCastWhat is a Dividend Recap?Devin and Jim break down the what, how, why and when of the often maligned, but rarely explained, process of PE funds taking money out of companies before the exit. Plus: shout outs to some PE Funcast fans and a smattering of 80s music.
2017-08-1050 minPrivate Equity FunCastHow to develop an Investment ThesisDevin and Jim go deep on their process for developing investment theses. They cover: where to start, tools to hone your thesis, how to fight confirmation bias, when to give up and when to stick with it.
2017-07-3153 minPrivate Equity FunCastShip of Theseus EpisodeDevin and Jim were inspired to delve into the "Ship of Theseus" story in the first episode from season two of Gladwell's "Revisionist History". If we change out every "board" (no pun intended) in our companies over our ownership period -- is it the same company/ship when we exit?
2017-07-1844 minPrivate Equity FunCastTalent Management 201Devin sits down with Myra D'Souza, ParkerGale's head of talent management. They cover how to get into private equity from the HR side of the house; what PE firms do about human capital pre and post-deal; and how small companies can be better at talent management.
2017-06-0945 minPrivate Equity FunCastJake? Jake's my boy!Jim and Devin sit down with ParkerGale Principal Jake Petoskey to discuss his path to private equity thru the operating side of the house. Similar to past episodes with Cass and Kevin we cover all the details for how to get into PE, but this time without the traditional finance background.
2017-05-0746 minPrivate Equity FunCastHow to Interview GoodJim, Devin and Ryan sit down to discuss why people are so bad at interviewing and what they did to fix their own mistakes. They cover the strategy and tactics for improving your interviewing skills and provide some helpful tips you can try out on your own.
2017-03-0651 minPrivate Equity FunCastWhy Due Diligence FailsJim and Devin spend an hour talking with Jay Bartlett and Scott Orleck from Parthenon-EY Ernst & Young LLP. We've worked extensively with Jay and Scott on buy-side due-diligence projects over a number of years. They share their experiences tackling questions workig with us around market sizing, growth rates, cyclicality, and the competitive landscape. All of which serves to answer the fundamental questions: Is a particular industry a good industry in which to invest? And is the target company the right company to buy? Jay and Scott reveal the three main reasons why deals go bad.
2016-12-141h 10Private Equity FunCastBook Club: "The Most Important Thing"Devin and ParkerGale Limited Partner John McCarthy continue their book club series with an investing classic, "The Most Important Thing" by Howard Marks, the legendary cofounder and Chairman of Oaktree Capital Management. Turns out that Marks most important thing is actual nineteen things -- come have a listen as Devin and John focus on three of them.
2016-11-3044 minPrivate Equity FunCastBook Club: "Rumsfeld's Rules"Devin and ParkerGale Limited Partner John McCarthy kick off their book club series with an unusual choice, "Rumsfeld's Rules: Leadership Lessons in Business, Politics, War, and Life" by Donald Rumsfeld. Some surprising advice in this book when we apply Rumsfeld's observations about leadership, business, and life to investing.
2016-11-2232 minPrivate Equity FunCastFundraising: Part 1Devin and Jim spend an hour talking about the strategy and tactics of raising ParkerGale's first fund. This episode covers the pre-launch up to the fund's first close.
2016-11-071h 03Private Equity FunCastParkerGale Visits the "Journeys" PodcastDevin sits down with Jeremie Bacon, CEO and Founder of Synap, to discuss Private Equity, Managing People and Movie Quotes.
2016-09-2633 minPrivate Equity FunCastThe Seven Deadly Sins of Private EquityDevin and Jim discuss the seven deadly sins of private equity -- sins that will turn a good deal into a bad deal. -- Pride: Don't admit what you don't know. -- Envy: Make a bad acquisition. -- Lust: Overpaying for a deal. -- Greed: Trying to do too much, too fast. -- Wrath: Market turns on you. -- Gluttony: Taking on too much debt. -- Sloth: Failing to move fast enough on management problems.
2016-07-1343 minPrivate Equity FunCastIs Business School Worth It?Devin interviews podcast darling Kevin Fitzgerald on his return to private equity after two years at Harvard Business School. Kevin talks about why he went, what he learned, how he landed his summer internship, how much the whole thing cost and whether or not getting and MBA was even worth it. Just like his last podcast talking about the Associate job, Kevin spills the beans on business school and returning to the industry as Principal.
2016-06-2458 minPrivate Equity FunCastDebunking The Failure MythologyDevin and Jim spend some time talking about the "Failure Mythology" -- the idea that you need to fail in a big way on the path to building a great company. (Aka "The Steve Jobs Story") It's a popular myth in the venture space, but not at all common for private equity deals.
2016-05-1941 minPrivate Equity FunCastBootstrapping & Selling Your Software CompanyDevin sits down with Dave Will, the founder of Peach New Media,
a software company he founded, bootstrapped and recently sold to
AccelKKR. Dave gets philosophical about building culture and
stepping aside after the sale. A good listen for founders and CEOs
alike. We'll definitely have Dave back to chat more.
2016-05-0455 minPrivate Equity FunCastCan Unicorns Hurt Buyouts?Devin and Jim talk about Unicorns -- not the mythical horse with
a horn, but rather
the club of billion-dollar-plus tech companies. How is this market
different than the late 90s?
How do Unicorns affect buyouts and smaller companies, both
positively and negatively? These
are just a few of the questions we discuss on today's show.
2016-04-2650 minPrivate Equity FunCastBoard Meetings -- The Good, The Bad and The UglyDevin and Jim welcome their partner Kristina to her first podcast where they talk about how to run a good board meeting. Who to invite, what to cover, what to avoid and how to manage your PE board members.
2016-04-191h 04Private Equity FunCastMarch Madness 2016 -- Elite EightIt's our annual March Madness show. Hosted by two guys that don't know a THING about college basketball -- so our March Madness is all about Private Equity. This year we are starting with the Elite Eight and working our way down to one winner. It's EBITDA Multiples versus Revenue Multiples, Debt versus No Debt, Private Equity Owned Businesses versus Founder Owned Businesses and Backing the Founder versus Bringing in your own CEO. Come join Devin, Jim and the Commissioner -- Ryan Milligan as we argue our way to a winner.
2016-04-0452 minPrivate Equity FunCastHow PE Hires Management TeamsDevin sits down with Chris Morgan, the founder of Lantern Partners, an executive search firm focused on hiring C-Suite executives at PE-backed companies. We cover how to get in the candidate flow, what characteristics are required for the job, how much you will get paid and other lessons from our collective experience looking for and hiring management teams.
2016-03-181h 00Private Equity FunCastWorking with Portfolio Companies as an Operating PartnerSecond part of our two-episode series on the Operating Partner role in private equity. In this second episode Devin and Jim talk about engaging with the portfolio companies and their management teams on projects and initiatives. At the end of the day there are only three types of projects that we work on; cost cutting/efficiency, revenue enhancements and risk mitigation.
2015-12-2349 minPrivate Equity FunCastWorking as an Operating Partner in a Private Equity GroupFirst part of a two-part episode focused on the vaunted "Operating Partner" role in private equity. In the first part, Devin talks to Jim about his experiences as an operating partner within a private equity group -- dealing with the other partners, working on deal teams, etc.
2015-12-101h 09Private Equity FunCastThe Deal Flow EpisodeDevin and Jim finally cover the most important thing a PE fund can do -- find deals. They cover how they source deals, the banks and brokers they target. Plus they talk about their lifelong search for the white whale -- the elusive proprietary deal. Do they really exist? Listen and find out!
2015-10-0157 minPrivate Equity FunCastParkerGale's Updated Technology StackDevin and Jim catalog all of the software that the ParkerGale team has been using on a daily basis over the past year. We discuss the pros and cons of each, and tell you which apps have been moved to the trash bin.
2015-08-3152 minPrivate Equity FunCastLessons from Amazon's Culture ClashDevin and Jim discuss the New York Times Amazon article. Is driving your people into the ground the only way to build successful technology companies? Is the CEO the last to know when it comes to company culture issues, or are they just turning a blind eye?
2015-08-2149 minPrivate Equity FunCastDominate a Niche or Build a Better MousetrapJim and Devin discuss the two types of companies that we see in the middle market. You can either dominate a niche market (such as software targeted at specific verticals) or you can build a better mousetrap and try to capture the entire market.
2015-08-0649 minPrivate Equity FunCastPublic Investors vs. Private Investors -- Who is Smarter?Ryan Milligan joins Jim and Devin to talk about Unicorns and argue about whether the public markets are smarter than the private markets. For the founder with a business between $3 - $5 million of EBITDA we answer the mult-million dollar question: Is it time to sell? Ryan discloses that he'd invest in the next round of PiedPiper, while Devin would rather own Hooli stock.
2015-07-3049 minPrivate Equity FunCastInnovator's Dilemma Meets the Blue OceanJim and Devin discuss the Innovator's Dilemma and Blue Ocean Strategy as it relates to middle market portfolio companies.
2015-06-3057 minPrivate Equity FunCastA Micro Discussion About MicroservicesDevin and Jim talk about the role of leveraging microservices development in middle market companies, mixing classic development with microservices -- with proper shout outs to Martin Fowler, Conway's Law and a small sidebar into Game of Thrones.
2015-06-1229 minPrivate Equity FunCastWhat Private Equity Can Learn From Venture Capital (Episode 61)Devin and Jim discuss the corollary to Fred Wilson's "What VC can learn from Private Equity".
2015-06-0441 minPrivate Equity FunCastOur "Should we be Agile" Manifesto Episode (Episode 59)Jim and Devin talk about Agile, SCRUM and our experiences with various engineering project management schemes.
2015-05-1543 minPrivate Equity FunCastFinding Value in Tech Buyouts.Devin and Jim talk about applying Howard Marks' principles of value investing in technology buyouts.
2015-05-071h 04Private Equity FunCastThe Quinn Mathews Interview EpisodeQuinn grills Devin and Jim on everything from their backgrounds to which kinds of potatoes that they prefer.
2015-04-1644 minPrivate Equity FunCastPE FunCast Final Four 2015Jim, Devin and the Commissioner For Life, Ryan Milligan run down our 2015 Final Four results.
2015-04-1047 minPrivate Equity FunCastAre Technical Bootcamps Worth the Money?Jim and Devin discuss the pros and cons of technical bootcamps.
2015-03-2748 minPrivate Equity FunCastAutonomy, Mastery and Purpose - Part two of our "Drive" discussionJim and Devin talk in detail about Daniel Pink's autonomy, mastery and purpose with a sidebar into "fairness".
2015-03-1640 minPrivate Equity FunCastParkerGale's Tech StackJim and Devin discuss the technology stack that we use to run our business.
2015-03-051h 00Private Equity FunCastMotivating Management Teams the "Pink" WayDevin and Jim discuss Daniel Pink's "Drive" as it relates to their portfolio companies.
2015-02-2036 minPrivate Equity FunCastWe're Not Fooled By Randomness AnymoreDevin and Jim talk about Nassim Nicholas Taleb's gem, "Fooled by Randomness"
2015-02-1335 minPrivate Equity FunCastCrossing the Chasm and the Middle MarketDevin and Jim talk discuss Geoffrey Moore's groundbreaking book "Crossing the Chasm" as it applies to the middle market.
2015-02-0529 minPrivate Equity FunCastOur Annual Prediction Show 2015Devin, Ryan Harris, Ian Larkin and Brad Simmons make their predictions for 2015 ... and BEYOND!
2014-12-311h 07Private Equity FunCastXmas Eve Spectacular with Chicago Chef John CaputoJim and Devin talk restaurants and cuisine with Chicago's own Chef John Caputo.
2014-12-2444 minPrivate Equity FunCastTechStars ChicagoJim and Devin talk shop with Troy Henikoff from TechStars Chicago.
2014-12-1142 minPrivate Equity FunCastThanksgiving 2014 ExtravaganzaDevin and Jim give thanks for all of our listeners, colleagues and friends.
2014-11-2734 minPrivate Equity FunCastExit Events for Private Equity Tech CompaniesJim and Devin talk about the various exit strategies for private equity-backed tech companies.
2014-11-2029 minPrivate Equity FunCastThe Founder's role in making an entreprenurial organizationDevin and Jim talk with Tim Kelly on his research what makes a company "entreprenurial".
2014-11-1257 min2014-10-2032 minPrivate Equity FunCastFounder Transitions. Don't be a Larry!Devin and Jim discuss succcession planning for founders.
2014-10-0240 minPrivate Equity FunCastIt's our one year anniversary -- and you get the gift!Milbery's Mazlow's Hierarchy of Software Needs. We are officially a year old today and have we got a gift for you. Jim and Devin spend an hour dissecting Jim's controversial hierarchy of software needs.
2014-09-1050 minPrivate Equity FunCastPrivate Equity Lingo: The PodcastAs a follow-up to Devin's (surprisingly) popular PEHUB column from early August, Devin and Jim expound on the lingo inside a PE firm. This isn't sports talk or girl talk, this is private equity talk and it makes about as much sense as some of the wild stories in the Raymond Carver book we stole our title from. Sit back and enjoy, and just like an after school special starring Robbie Benson, there just might even be a lesson or two to learn in between all the laughing (or is that crying?).
2014-08-2039 minPrivate Equity FunCastNadella's Public Strategy LetterDevin and Jim talk about Satya Nadella's public strategy letter on the future of Microsoft aka "Bold Ambition & Our Core". How does this apply to the middle market? Should middle market companies be avoiding commitments to the Microsoft platform?
2014-07-2343 min