Serial entrepreneur Nick Huber turned a grueling college moving startup into a self-storage real estate empire. By mastering remote work and offshore labor, he cut payroll costs by 70%, lifted sales conversion rates by 35%, and built a defensible operating moat. Chronicling his playbook on Twitter earned him 400,000 followers, and he used that influence to acquire and grow Somewhere.com for $52m.

References and how to contact today's guest:
Nick Huber | 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

Kevin Ramsier's bought his first company for $60,000 and exited it for $77 million - growing EV by more than 1,000x! He also shares the story about a $55m exit, only 18 months after acquiring it for $16m. With a silky voice and sharp insights, Kevin explains how hiring strong operators drives scale and protects his family from constant relocations. A proud evangelist of the deal-by-deal model, he candidly reflects on striking out on 18 consecutive LOIs over the past year.

References and how to contact today's guest:
Kevin Ramsier | 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

Steven McGrath went from closing deals at billion-dollar family offices to becoming a solo independent sponsor headquartered in a LEGO-strewn basement. He proudly calls his first platform "Apollo 13", a near-impossible mission where he delivered 1x+ MOIC despite 3 Black Swans. Now, after 5 deals and 2 exits, he reflects on his journey as a lean, entrepreneurial, and disciplined sponsor.

References and how to contact today's guest:
Steven McGrath | 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

In just 4 years, Bobby Sheth has closed 10 platform deals, a rare pace for an independent sponsor. He focuses not on perfect companies, but on those with fixable issues like supply chain or people risks. Bobby explains how skipping EBITDA zones expands the buyer universe and how conservative deal structures create room to navigate surprises.

References and how to contact today's guest:
Bobby Sheth | 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

Robert Koven discusses his journey from a SaaS-focused independent sponsor to founding a 100-man strong investment bank on Wall Street. Suit & tie, Bob provides experience and nuance on the state of SaaS in 2025 as well as the evolution of our cherished independent sponsor space, which he has observed both from the driver seat (via his direct deals) and the banker perspective.

References and how to contact today's guest:
Robert Koven | 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

Formerly a CPA, Sequoya Borgman realized his dealmaking clients were having more fun. In 2017, he hustled to raise the capital for his first platform in 2017. Since then, Borgman Capital has built a network of 500 HNWIs and been oversubscribed for each of its next 9 platforms. He shares how second-tier geographies, retail fundraising, and disciplined execution are critical to his firm’s sustained success.

References and how to contact today's guest:
Sequoya Borgman | 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

New York-based Neel Bhargava breaks down how a minority investment into a Crunch Fitness franchisee turned into a home run, scaling from 10 to 74 locations with multiple recapitalizations along the way. Neel explains the value of thematic focus, outlines the opportunity of franchises, and spotlights the importance of strong management teams.

References and how to contact today's guest:
Neel Bhargava | 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

“Eat infrequently, eat well,” says Ramiro Alfaro, whose Paltus Capital goes slow, strikes big, and is pioneering deal-by-deal private equity in Central America. They have had to overcome stigma, educate market participants, and obtain creative financing to close deals. As a first mover, however, they enjoy favorable market dynamics (e.g., good valuations, inbound deal flow, cold outreach success) and ample whitespace for continued growth, while customizing a long-term hold strategy to solve for the lackluster exit opportunities in the region.

References and how to contact today's guest: Ramiro Alfaro | 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