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Minds Capital Podcast

Minds Capital Podcast

By: Will Smith & Niklas James
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About this listen

Your connection to the growing world of independent sponsors and deal-by-deal private equity.© 2026 Will Smith & Niklas James Economics Leadership Management & Leadership Personal Finance
Episodes
  • A 9-Deal Rollup Without Losing 1 Customer
    Jan 28 2026

    Alan Baca and Dana Robinson explain how Verde Equity Partners is buy-and-building a scaled commercial landscaping platform using an operator-led playbook. Drawing from prior home services roll-ups, Verde warehoused their early deals and operates by moving fast on M&A and slow on integration. In 2.5 years, the team has completed 9 acquisitions while retaining 100% of customers and employees.

    References and how to contact today's guest:
    Alan Baca| LinkedIn
    Dana Robinson | LinkedIn

    Minds 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 channel
    • Connect with hosts Will Smith and Niklas James
    • Visit Minds Capital

    Credits:

    • Edited by Anton Rohozov
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    1 hr and 15 mins
  • Family Offices + Independent Sponsors = Strong Match
    Jan 21 2026

    NYC-based James Bohannon works at Belzberg & Co, a multi-family office with a keen eye to the independent sponsor asset class. Drawing on years of conference repetition and real world deal experience, James explains how family offices truly think about backing independent sponsors.

    References and how to contact today's guest:
    James Bohannon | LinkedIn

    Minds 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 channel
    • Connect with hosts Will Smith and Niklas James
    • Visit Minds Capital

    Credits:

    • Edited by Anton Rohozov


    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 10 mins
  • The 16-Year Path to a $175m Revenue Portfolio
    Jan 14 2026

    Based in New York, Michael ("Mike") Healy began his career as an attorney before deciding the real fun and action were on the deal side.

    After a stint in PE, he founded Gardner Standard in 2010. The early years were rocky, marked by failed deals and long stretches of uncertainty. Momentum finally arrived when a sizable closing fee on a deal he sourced and sold to a PE fund provided the liquidity needed to persevere. Today, Mike is an accomplished independent sponsor with a clearly defined strategy built around sourcing deals with legal complexity.

    References and how to contact today's guest:
    Michael Healy | LinkedIn

    Minds 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 channel
    • Connect with hosts Will Smith and Niklas James
    • Visit Minds Capital

    Credits:

    • Edited by Anton Rohozov
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 9 mins
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