🎙️ The Private Equity Podcast — Episode with Cyril Aboujaoude, Co-Founder of TioPo Capital

In this episode, Alex Rawlings is joined by Cyril Aboujaoude, Co-Founder of TioPo Capital, a hands-on private equity firm investing in SMEs across the UK and France. Cyril shares the journey of launching TioPo, their operationally driven approach to investing, and how young, entrepreneurial grit fueled their path from deal number one to a thriving portfolio.

They explore the nuances of deal origination, value creation, and the power of people in private equity. From ERP frustrations to navigating downturns and structuring creative deals, Cyril breaks down the real-world lessons of building a firm from scratch—while staying laser-focused on operational excellence.

⏱️ Timestamps:

00:03 – Introduction to Cyril Aboujaoude and TioPo Capital’s mission
00:30 – TioPo’s founding story, operational mindset, and portfolio growth
01:24 – What TioPo really looks for beyond standard investment criteria
01:57 – The importance of vision alignment and execution capability
03:24 – How they assess management teams during diligence
04:35 – Why slow decision-making is riskier than a bad hire
05:29 – Biggest value creation levers: hiring an operating partner over fundraising
06:46 – Building a 100-day transformation plan post-deal
07:45 – One thing target companies should fix pre-investment: ERP systems
08:55 – How TioPo evaluates companies during downturns and market volatility
10:20 – Analyzing long-term performance and identifying macro-inflated businesses
12:51 – Most creative deal structure: partnering with the seller’s son as CEO
14:50 – Reflections on the challenges and naivety of doing their first deal
16:11 – Cyril’s top recommendations: FT, WSJ, Aswath Damodaran, and local gazettes
17:10 – How to connect with Cyril and learn more about TioPo Capital

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• People over projections: Execution ability, humility, and shared vision are more important than just strategy.
• Operations-first philosophy: Value is built in the engine room—TioPo hires operating partners before fundraising staff.
• 100-Day Plan Discipline: They begin value creation planning during diligence, long before Day 0.
• ERP readiness = smoother scale: ERP systems are the most overlooked growth barrier.
• Smart structuring builds trust: Their first deal involved bringing in the founder’s son as CEO and co-investor.
• Past ≠ future, but it’s all we’ve got: Cyril emphasizes analyzing 20+ years of company performance to identify real resilience.

Raw Selection partners with Private Equity firms and their portfolio companies to secure exceptional executive talent. We focus on de-risking executive recruitment through meticulous search and selection processes, ensuring top-tier performance and long-term success.

🔗 Connect with Alex Rawlings on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexrawlings/
🌐 Visit Raw Selection: www.raw-selection.com

Looking to grow your team? Check out our Hiring Guides

for proven strategies, templates, and best practices to make smarter hires.

Guest: Greg Nieuwenhuys – PE Operator & Founder, Generative AI Strategy
Host: Alex Rawlings – CEO, Raw Selection

🔍 Episode Summary:

Greg Nieuwenhuys returns to share a practical, step-by-step AI Playbook for hiring. From writing job descriptions to automating follow-ups, Greg breaks down how PE firms and portfolio companies can integrate generative AI into recruitment. Packed with tools, tactics, and workflow tips, this episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to hire faster, smarter, and with less bias.

🕒 Key Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro & Why AI in Hiring Matters
Speed, accuracy, and competitive advantage in recruitment.

01:25 – Greg’s Background
CEO in multiple PE-backed firms; now leads Generative AI Strategy.

05:17 – Where AI Improves Hiring
From job specs to onboarding, AI supports every stage.

06:43 – Quick Wins

• Write job descriptions in minutes using ChatGPT
• Use AI note-takers for transcripts & summaries (e.g. Fireflies)
• Screen CVs faster & more objectively

09:58 – Tools Greg Uses
ChatGPT, Fireflies, Perplexity, Zapier, N8n

12:43 – Building Automation Without a People Team
Use Zapier or N8n to connect email, CRM, and AI tools.

14:35 – Custom GPTs & Human Oversight
Create consistent outputs and reduce manual work—always review.

18:25 – Using AI for Better Decision-Making
Compile notes, CVs, and feedback to spot gaps & flag concerns.

19:21 – Interview Coaching & Advanced Tools

• Assessio: Team chemistry prediction
• FinalRound AI: Candidate coaching tool
• Ovida: Feedback on communication style

23:06 – Better Candidate Outreach
Use AI to create relevant, personalized messages.

25:02 – Improve Candidate Experience with Automation
AI-written follow-ups, regular updates, CRM reminders.

27:55 – Greg’s AI Stack
ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Zapier/N8n, Fireflies, Perplexity

29:24 – AI Makes You a Better Human
Use tools like Ovida to improve interviewing skills & self-awareness.

💡 Takeaways:

• Start simple: job specs, summaries, feedback emails
• Don’t over-engineer—focus on solving real bottlenecks
• Train hiring managers with AI-generated insights
• Improve candidate experience with speed & clarity

📲 Connect with Greg:
LinkedIn – Greg Nieuwenhuys
🌐 www.thegregstar.com

Raw Selection partners with Private Equity firms and their portfolio companies to secure exceptional executive talent. We focus on de-risking executive recruitment through meticulous search and selection processes, ensuring top-tier performance and long-term success.

🔗 Connect with Alex Rawlings on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexrawlings/
🌐 Visit Raw Selection www.raw-selection.com

Looking to grow your team? Check out our Hiring Guides

for proven strategies, templates, and best practices to make smarter hires.

In this episode, Alex Rawlings speaks with Amias Gerety, Partner at QED Investors, a leading fintech-focused VC firm managing nearly $1B in assets. Amias shares insights on venture capital strategy, staying disciplined during market hype, sourcing deals, and how lessons from his time at the U.S. Treasury shape his investment decisions today.

⏱ Episode Highlights:

00:00 – Intro & QED Overview
QED’s structure, fintech focus, and global reach.

01:20 – VC Mistakes & Market Hype
The danger of "paying ahead of growth," especially in AI.

03:12 – Staying Disciplined
Simple metrics and historical heuristics that guide better investment decisions.

04:39 – Deal Dynamics in VC vs PE
Why proprietary deal flow in VC means getting in early — before companies start raising.

07:26 – Hunting vs. Gathering
How QED targets specific companies instead of waiting for inbound deals.

08:51 – Building Relationships
Top-heavy structure means founders speak directly with partners on the first call.

14:43 – Using Senior Talent Early
Deploying high-value advisors like Capital One co-founder Nigel Morris from the start.

16:09 – Biggest Mistake in Venture
Ignoring founder misalignment — “If it’s a maybe, it’s a no.”

18:25 – CEO Ownership in Startups
Why QED avoids deals where founders don’t have control — unlike PE’s model.

20:43 – Operating Partners in VC
VC success comes from entrepreneurial operators who aim to join portfolio companies.

24:31 – Honest Career Advice
Be clear about whether you want to be an operator or an investor — ambiguity causes misalignment.

25:59 – Treasury Lessons
Decision-making under pressure during the financial crisis informs his bold, data-light approach in VC.

30:12 – What He Reads
Only old books — for timeless thinking and unexpected insights.

31:46 – Connect with Amias
Reach out via LinkedIn.

Amias offers a rare perspective bridging government, fintech, and venture capital — a must-listen for anyone navigating today’s competitive investing landscape.

Raw Selection partners with Private Equity firms and their portfolio companies to secure exceptional executive talent. We focus on de-risking executive recruitment through meticulous search and selection processes, ensuring top-tier performance and long-term success.

🔗 Connect with Alex Rawlings on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexrawlings/
🌐 Visit Raw Selection: www.raw-selection.com

Looking to grow your team? Check out our Hiring Guides

for proven strategies, templates, and best practices to make smarter hires.

Episode Overview

In this episode, Alex Rawlings welcomes Michael Von Bevern, Co-Managing Director for Sunterra Fund Services, to discuss the evolving landscape of fund administration in private equity. Michael shares nearly two decades of experience, working with over 500 fund managers, and offers invaluable insight into common mistakes first-time managers make, the growing role of fund administration, and why outsourcing has become the gold standard for operational efficiency and investor confidence.

🔑 Key Discussion Points

00:00 – Introduction
Michael Von Bevern introduces his role at Sunterra Fund Services and his extensive background in fund administration.

01:00 – Common Mistakes First-Time Managers Make

• Trying to be overly creative with fund terms and waterfall structures.
• The importance of staying aligned with industry-standard terms in the first fund.
• Complexity can hurt comparability for institutional investors.

03:00 – The State of Capital Raising

• Capital raising is particularly tough right now.
• Institutional investors require clarity, standardization, and comparability.
• Advice: Stick to well-known structures and build trust first.

04:00 – Why Outsourcing Fund Administration is Crucial

• Fund administration has evolved from an internalized process to a norm for outsourcing.
• Early resistance was based on trust and control issues.
• Outsourcing offers scalability, access to high-end tech, and cost advantages.

06:30 – In-House vs. Outsourced Fund Admin

• Outsourced teams can mirror internal teams in quality and responsiveness.
• Modern fund admin is more than just accounting—it's a strategic enabler.
• Today, ~80% of PE firms outsource, up from 50% in 2016.

09:00 – Why Private Equity Firms Hire from Fund Admin Firms

• Fund admin professionals gain holistic knowledge: legal docs, accounting, operations, strategy.
• They're “multi-tools” vs. siloed specialists.
• Michael celebrates when former team members go on to run their own funds—and even become clients.

12:00 – What Makes a Gold Standard Fund Admin?

• Real-time access to quality data and timely reporting.
• Transparent, responsive communication.
• Strong tech + strong people = winning formula.

13:30 – The Shift Toward Data Accessibility

• Gone are the days of black-box reporting.
• Modern fund admins provide daily access and reconciliations.
• The focus now is on improving affordability and automation.

14:30 – Michael’s Recommendations

• Reads: Preqin, PitchBook, newsletters.
• Follows thought leaders like Howard Marks (Oaktree).
• Active in ILPA and New York's PE ecosystem.

16:00 – Market Trends Observed Through Fund Admin

• Fundraising in 2023-24 has slowed, with private credit outperforming PE.
• Saturation from 2021–22 launches is causing fatigue.
• Prediction: Q4 2025 to Q1 2026 will see a strong rebound in fundraising.

18:30 – How to Reach Michael

• Website: sunterra.com
• Open to DMs and happy to refer prospective clients even if Sunterra isn’t the best fit.

🔗 Connect with Alex Rawlings on LinkedIn: [https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexrawlings/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexrawlings/) 🌐 Visit Raw Selection: [www.raw-selection.com](https://www.raw-selection.com)

Looking to grow your team? Check out our Hiring Guides

for proven strategies, templates, and best practices to make smarter hires.

In this episode, host Alex Rawlings is joined by Joe Basrawy, Managing Director at Partners Capital, a global multi-asset investment firm serving some of the world's most sophisticated investors — including private equity founders, endowments, and family offices.

Joe offers a rare and in-depth look at the Limited Partner (LP) perspective — covering common pitfalls private equity firms make, what LPs are really looking for, and how to stand out in a crowded market. He also shares a masterclass on co-investments, including how LPs assess alignment, avoid adverse selection, and punch above their weight in deal flow.

This episode is packed with actionable insights for fund managers, deal professionals, operating partners, and anyone looking to better understand what makes a top-performing PE firm in the eyes of institutional investors.

⏱️ Timestamps:

00:00 – Welcome and guest intro: Joe Basrawy, Managing Director, Partners Capital
01:00 – Joe’s background: From investment banking to multi-asset investing
01:25 – What drew Joe to Partners Capital and what’s kept him there
02:21 – Biggest mistakes PE firms and portfolio companies make
03:15 – Raising too much capital: Overstretching and going off-spec
04:13 – Deal-level diversification: What LPs want to see
05:39 – Co-investing 101: Why it's attractive and the risks of adverse selection
06:37 – How LPs like Partners Capital avoid adverse selection in co-investments
07:33 – Being a reliable and speedy co-investment partner
08:31 – Why LPs say “no” to co-investments — alignment, conviction, and deal partners
09:57 – Referencing employees and internal conviction in deals
10:56 – What makes the best private equity firms? Joe’s four pillars
11:25 – #1: Strategy differentiation – A case study in healthcare PE
13:22 – #2: Value creation edge – Organic growth vs market tailwinds
15:18 – #3: Ownership dynamics – How GP stake sales affect firm culture
17:15 – #4: People – Why leadership and succession planning matter
19:05 – Referencing portfolio executives: The most revealing feedback
20:28 – What LPs learn from talking to portfolio CEOs
21:56 – What LPs look for in fund managers – Discipline, detail, and passion
23:52 – Joe’s reading recommendations – Fiction and finance
25:47 – How to connect with Joe
26:17 – Outro from Alex

📘 Recommended Reading by Joe Basrawy:

• The Children Act by Ian McEwan (also a film adaptation with Emma Thompson)
• The Money Kings – History of Jewish-American families who founded Wall Street firms

🔗 Connect with Joe Basrawy:

• LinkedIn
  (search Joe Basrawy)
• Partners Capital Website

Looking to grow your team? Check out our Hiring Guides

for proven strategies, templates, and best practices to make smarter hires.

In this episode, Alex Rawlings is joined by Jeremiah Wanzell, a seasoned consumer brand executive with leadership roles at Hugo Boss and Calvin Klein, and now an operating partner working with private equity firms to drive growth in the consumer sector. Jeremiah shares his insights into the evolving role of the operating partner, value creation beyond financial engineering, the importance of omnichannel strategy, and how consumer-focused PE firms can win in a shifting market.

⏱️ Timestamps

00:03 – Intro & Background

• Jeremiah's career journey: from Bloomingdale’s to Hugo Boss & Calvin Klein
• Launching Growth Mindset Advisors to work with PE firms as a fractional growth officer

00:57 – Mistakes Private Equity Firms Make

• Misunderstanding or undervaluing the role of the operating partner
• Value creation needs real operators, not just consultants
• PE firms still testing the waters, especially in the lower/mid-market

03:44 – Why the Operating Partner Model Isn’t Universal Yet

• Too often operating partners are brought in post-acquisition — a critical mistake
• They need to be involved from the outset to shape value creation plans

05:12 – Case Study: Capizio Acquisition

• Deal thesis: investing in niche category leaders
• Brought the deal to Argonne after another firm passed
• Role: pre-deal diligence, channel expansion, post-deal advisory

07:07 – What Deal Teams Miss

• Overlooking multi-channel retail strategy
• Examples: Nike’s failed DTC push vs. Allbirds’ slow wholesale expansion
• Omnichannel is no longer optional

09:32 – Industry Shoutout: Grata

• Sponsor mention for proprietary, data-driven PE deal sourcing

09:58 – State of Consumer Deals

• Deal volume down 15% YoY, but deal size up
• Highlighted mega deals: Skechers ($9B), Dick’s x Foot Locker, Rode Beauty
• Hot sectors: health & wellness, beauty, and digitally native brands

11:27 – Tariffs & Pricing Strategy

• Tariff uncertainty is a headwind but affects all brands equally
• Brands must have clear differentiation and pricing transparency
• Examples: airlines as commoditized vs. a loyal landscaper who passed along cost savings

15:14 – Great Retail Experiences

• Retail “theater” matters more than ever
• Examples: Vuori, Lululemon, building community through in-store events
• It all starts with product excellence

17:32 – Evolution of DTC & Shopify’s Disruption

• Apple iOS14 killed third-party tracking; CAC skyrocketed
• Shopify commoditized eComm site creation → flooded market with undifferentiated brands
• Stubborn brands (e.g. Allbirds) suffered by not adapting

18:59 – Retail Experience Examples

• Retail must build community and be about more than transactions
• Brands that create loyalty through events and authentic connection win

19:51 – What Jeremiah Recommends

• Fan of The Private Equity Podcast and Scott Galloway
• Encourages reading, webinars, and giving back to your network

🔗 Connect with Alex Rawlings on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexrawlings/
🌐 Visit Raw Selection: www.raw-selection.com

Looking to grow your team? Check out our Hiring Guides

for proven strategies, templates, and best practices to make smarter hires.

🔹 Episode Overview:
In this episode, we’re joined by William Quartner, Partner at Prelude Growth Partners, a New York-based private equity firm dedicated to the high-growth consumer space. William shares insights from his impressive journey through investment banking and private equity at firms like Goldman Sachs and TowerBrook Capital, to now helping build Prelude Growth from its inception to the recent close of Fund III. He explores critical investment lessons, the importance of talent, consumer industry trends, and the real-life challenges and rewards of building a PE firm from the ground up.

00:00 – Intro to William Quartner & Prelude Growth Partners

• William’s background: Goldman Sachs, TowerBrook, and JP Morgan
• Prelude’s focus: high-growth consumer sectors like beauty, health & wellness, pet, baby, and food/beverage
• Just closed Fund III – now managing $1.3B in AUM

02:24 – Common Mistakes in PE & Consumer Investing

• Misunderstanding the type of risk (product, category, brand, execution)
• Lack of clarity on risk-return profile per category
• Undervaluing the importance of top-tier talent in portfolio companies

05:18 – Evaluating Talent and Leadership

• Differences between a great founder/CEO and an average one
• Importance of building the right team early
• Partnership model: working closely with founders as a minority investor

07:41 – Passion for the Consumer Industry

• How deep focus and passion improve investment intuition
• Recognizing industry "tourists" vs committed insiders
• Benefits of building a tight, focused ecosystem

09:39 – Lessons from Goldman Sachs & TowerBrook

• Seeing institutional rigor and process
• Learning high-standard due diligence and underwriting
• Wanting to work up the risk curve and help build something from scratch

11:29 – The Startup Journey of Prelude Growth

• From $85M in Fund I (2018) to $600M in Fund III (2025)
• Early-stage scrappiness and challenges
• Most rewarding part: building a recognized brand and seeing portfolio companies become category leaders

16:55 – Current Consumer Industry Trends & Outlook

• Growth brands more insulated from macro headwinds
• Tariff uncertainty and its impact on planning
• Strategic reshuffling by large CPG players creating investment opportunities
• Concerns around consumer debt and buy-now-pay-later risks
• LP skepticism toward consumer-focused funds, but Prelude bucks the trend

20:35 – Content Recommendations

• Podcasts: Pivot (Kara Swisher & Scott Galloway), Acquired, SmartLess
• Business newsletters: Axios Pro Rata, Term Sheet
• Substack content for niche consumer insights

21:32 – How to Connect with William
📧 Email: will@preludegrowth.com

🔚 Closing Thoughts:
William offers a masterclass in consumer investing; from risk frameworks and talent strategy to fundraising and sector specialization. His journey from major institutions to entrepreneurial investing highlights the power of clarity, conviction, and cultural fit in PE.

Raw Selection partners with Private Equity firms and their portfolio companies to secure exceptional executive talent. We focus on de-risking executive recruitment through meticulous search and selection processes, ensuring top-tier performance and long-term success.

🔗 Connect with Alex Rawlings on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexrawlings/
🌐 Visit Raw Selection: www.raw-selection.com

Guest: Greg Moran – Multi-exit founder, investor, and Managing Partner at Evergreen Mountain Equity Partners
Host: Alex Rawlings, Founder of Raw Selection

⏱️ Timestamps & Topics

00:00 – Introduction to Greg Moran
Alex welcomes Greg Moran, a multi-exit founder turned investor, and Managing Partner at Evergreen Mountain Equity Partners. Greg introduces his background in scaling businesses, raising $500M+ in capital, and his current focus on future-of-work technologies.

01:29 – Biggest Mistakes in Private Equity & Venture
Greg highlights two major missteps:

1. Private Equity: Disrespecting existing leadership and stripping company culture.
2. Venture Capital: Failing to deeply understand a founder's motivations under pressure.

03:51 – Behavioral Due Diligence: The Adaptive Innovator
Greg explains how Evergreen Mountain uses a proprietary founder archetype model based on studying 100+ founders with multiple 9-figure exits.
📘 Book: The Adaptive Innovator
🔬 Assessment Tool: theadaptiveinnovator.ai

06:11 – The Four Pillars of the Adaptive Innovator Model

1. Creative Resilience – Performing better under pressure
2. Balanced Risk-Taking – Small experiments lead to bold moves
3. Humble Assertiveness – Leading without being the loudest voice
4. Strategic Accountability – Owning failures and empowering teams

09:09 – How the Assessment Works
Greg walks through the free assessment's design—competency-based and situational judgment questions that help reveal how founders respond under real pressure.

11:37 – From Operator to Investor: The Shift
Greg discusses the personal challenge of moving from "solver" to "sounding board" and helping founders overcome small thinking and incrementalism.

15:01 – Scaling Requires Talent Transformation
Once you think bigger, the next hurdle is team capability. Greg discusses the importance of upgrading talent and how average hires dilute culture and repel A-players.

18:26 – “Hire Fire and the Walking Dead”
Greg's framework on talent management:

• Hiring is easy
• Firing the clearly bad is manageable
• The real issue? Keeping the “walking dead” – the average, inoffensive underperformers who drain momentum.

20:21 – Coaching Founders Through Tough Talent Calls
Greg explains his approach as an investor: gently keeping the conversation alive, helping founders reach the inevitable realization themselves.
🗣️ Anecdote: The "5-second hesitation test" from a former board member.

31:27 – Recommended Reading & Interests
📖 The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho – a yearly re-read for Greg
🎒 Outdoor adventure and Alaska documentaries (his son is a bush pilot)

32:52 – How to Connect with Greg Moran

• 🌐 Website: gregmoran.me
• 🧠 Assessment: theadaptiveinnovator.ai
• 💼 Fund: emep.io
• 🔗 LinkedIn: Greg Moran
• 📺 YouTube & X (formerly Twitter): Active channels for the docuseries and insights

Raw Selection partners with Private Equity firms and their portfolio companies to secure exceptional executive talent. We focus on de-risking executive recruitment through meticulous search and selection processes, ensuring top-tier performance and long-term success.

🔗 Connect with Alex Rawlings on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexrawlings/
🌐 Visit Raw Selection: www.raw-selection.com