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In this solo episode of the Private Equity Value Creation Podcast, Shiv Narayanan breaks down the challenges facing portfolio companies in today’s market—and shares a clear roadmap for investors, CEOs, and revenue leaders to drive growth.
From slowing sales pipelines to rising competitive pressures and the impact of AI, many companies are underperforming compared to previous years. Shiv outlines actionable strategies to:
Cut wasted marketing spend and improve efficiency
Reignite stalled deals and boost close rates
Maximize existing customer value through upsells and account expansion
Leverage intent data and contextual outreach for short-term wins
Build long-term enterprise value with authentic thought leadership
On this episode Shiv Narayanan interviews Craig Jones of TPE Boulder to discuss value creation in lower middle market private equity, focusing on smaller companies with $2-5 million in EBITDA.
Craig shares TPE Boulder’s approach to scaling businesses through organic growth, emphasizing diversification by location and provider, strengthening management teams, and addressing technology deficits. He explains how they align with founders on a 5-year growth plan, manage key risks like founder dependency, and prioritize initiatives to ensure scalability without overwhelming limited resources.
Craig also highlights the importance of investing in high-growth healthcare markets, such as neuropathy treatment and interventional radiology, to drive enterprise value and attract larger PE buyers for higher EBITDA multiples at exit.
The information contained in this podcast is not intended to constitute, and should not be construed as, investment advice.
On this episode Shiv interviews Gus Araya, Co-Founder and Co-Managing Partner of Cordillera Investment Partners, to discuss how PE firms can generate alpha by investing in alternative assets like marinas, music royalties, and spirits.
Gus shares Cordillera’s approach to targeting niche, less correlated markets, using a repeatable process to source, diligence, and professionalize non-traditional assets. He explains how their flexible toolkit and operator partnerships create enterprise value.
He also covers how to convince LPs to back unconventional strategies and why avoiding crowded sectors unlocks unique opportunities in private equity.
The information contained in this podcast is not intended to constitute, and should not be construed as, investment advice.
On this episode, Shiv Narayanan interviews Andy Lund, Managing Director and Global Co-Head of Primary Capital Advisory at Houlihan Lokey, to discuss strategies for private equity firms navigating today's challenging fundraising and liquidity environment.
Andy shares insights on how GPs can differentiate themselves in a crowded market, leveraging tools like secondary transactions, continuation vehicles, and direct investments to address LP liquidity demands. He explores the impact of macroeconomic shifts, including geopolitical uncertainties and tariffs, on M&A and fundraising, and highlights the growing importance of operational value-add and AI integration to drive enterprise value.
The conversation also covers the evolving dynamics of the private equity landscape, from the rise of next-gen firms to the challenges faced by mid-market players, offering practical advice for GPs aiming to thrive in a competitive market.
The information contained in this podcast is not intended to constitute, and should not be construed as, investment advice.
On this episode Shiv interviews Eliot Kerlin, Co-Founder of Broadwing Capital, to explore how PE firms can create value in the lower middle market by combining a systematic playbook with deep operational resources.
Eliot explains Broadwing’s five-part framework—from fortifying the foundation and scaling for growth to talent development, stakeholder impact, and exit preparation—and how their ops team works side by side with management to implement change.
He also shares how to prioritize initiatives when resources are limited, why investing in human capital is critical to execution, and how building long-term relationships creates lasting advantages in private equity.
The information contained in this podcast is not intended to constitute, and should not be construed as, investment advice.
Shiv interviews Michael Wilkins, Partner at Shamrock Capital, to explore the opportunities PE firms can unlock through deep expertise in sectors including media, entertainment and sports.
Michael explains how industry focus and long-term networks translate into proprietary deal flow, why value creation plans need to be tailored to each company rather than run from a single playbook, and how to balance partnership with hands-on support. He also shares how firms can approach AI in practical, incremental ways—turning it from a perceived threat into a tool for margin expansion and growth.
In this episode, Shiv Narayanan sits down with members of the How To SaaS client services team to talk about the most common marketing challenges inside PE-backed portfolio companies—and how to solve them.
Chief Client Officer Farhad Chikhliwala, VP of Marketing Taylor Moore and Director of Marketing Tatiana Morand discuss why poor tracking and misaligned spend can drain ROI, how to prioritize the right order of operations for go-to-market, the role of the CMO as a “custodian of investment” and how to align team structure with the investment thesis. Tune in to hear about overlooked growth levers like upsell and cross-sell, how to find 20–40% efficiency in existing spend and how to balance AI adoption with the marketing fundamentals that still drive enterprise value.
Shiv interviews Brian Boorstein, Co-Founder and Partner at Granite Creek Capital Partners.
On this episode, Brian shares how to leverage flexible investment structures to unlock growth in lower middle market companies. Learn about the importance of aligning capital, talent and opportunity, and hear about how rigid investment mandates can cause PE firms to miss out on high-potential businesses.
Shiv interviews Garrett Marsilio, Partner at Delta-v Capital.
On this episode, Garrett dives deep into the evolving landscape of secondaries in private markets. Learn how secondary investments are creating new liquidity pathways for venture-backed companies and why this is becoming a preferred strategy. Hear about adding post-investment value through targeted operational support and Delta-v Capital’s unique ‘flight plan’ approach.
Shiv interviews Kade Thomas, Founder & CEO of Emory Oak Partners.
On this episode, Kade explains how his firm grows service businesses. Learn about a proven approach to building companies from the ground up, integrating acquisitions, using centralized teams to handle shared services and using data to guide marketing and cross-selling strategies.
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