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Ted Seides – Allocator and Asset Management Expert
Allocator and asset management expert, Ted Seides, conducts in-depth interviews with leaders in the institutional investing industry. Guests include Chief Investment Officers from leading allocators, asset managers, strategists, thought leaders, and many more. Our mission is to learn, share, and help implement the process of premier investors. Learn more and join our community at capitalallocators.com.
Marc Lasry – Avenues of Opportunity (Capital Allocators, EP.315)
Marc is the Chairman, CEO, and Co-founder of Avenue Capital Group, a global investment firm focused on distressed debt that he founded in 1995 with his sister, Sonia Gardner. Almost thirty years later, Avenue manages $12 billion in assets. Our conversation covers Marc’s background and path to investing, the early days in distressed, inflection points in Avenue’s history, including the decision to return half the capital in 2011 and to sell a minority stake to Morgan Stanley, and owning a stake in the Milwaukee Bucks NBA franchise over the last decade. We then turn to the investment environment, attractiveness across geographic regions, creating a competitive advantage, and opportunities in distressed lending, sports, and Asia. We close discussing Marc’s involvement in politics and lessons from chess and poker. For full show notes, visit the episode webpage here. Learn More Follow Ted on Twitter at @tseides or LinkedIn Subscribe to the mailing list Access Transcript with Premium Membership
01:05:4015/05/2023
Richard Craib – Crowdsourcing Data Science for Returns at Numerai (Capital Allocators, EP.314)
Today’s Sponsored Insight is from Richard Craib, the Founder and CEO of Numerai, a machine learning-based hedge fund launched in 2015 that crowdsources models from data scientists around the world to predict stock returns, incentivizes participation through cryptocurrency, and centralizes portfolio construction and risk management. Our conversation covers Richard’s background, some basics of data science, and the Numerai thesis. We discuss the firm’s idea generation, incentive system, quantitative modeling, portfolio construction, and team. We close with investors’ reaction to the product and research and development on the horizon. For full show notes, visit the episode webpage here. Learn More Follow Ted on Twitter at @tseides or LinkedIn Subscribe to the mailing list Access Transcript with Premium Membership
49:3011/05/2023
Tony Yoseloff – Forty Years of Davidson Kempner (Capital Allocators, EP.313)
Tony Yoseloff is the Managing Partner of Davidson Kempner Capital Management, a forty-year-old, $40 billion multi-strategy investment management firm that specializes in opportunistic credit and event-driven investing. Tony joined DK twenty-five years ago out of business school and became its third Managing Partner in 2019. He also sits on the investment committees of Princeton University, Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital, and New York Public Library. Our conversation covers the early days of Davidson Kempner, growth over the last quarter century, team, investment philosophy, investment strategy, risk management, and ownership. We discuss Tony’s experience on investment committees, the role of opportunistic credit in institutional portfolios, and the future of Davidson Kempner over the next forty years. For full show notes, visit the episode webpage here. Learn More Follow Ted on Twitter at @tseides or LinkedIn Subscribe to the mailing list Access Transcript with Premium Membership
01:05:2308/05/2023
Ashby Monk – Investor Identity, Navigation, and Resilience (Capital Allocators, EP.312)
Dr. Ashby Monk is the Executive & Research Director of the Stanford Research Initiative on Long-Term Investing. Ashby has studied and advised the largest asset owners in the world for more than twenty years with a particular interest in how to improve outcomes for their beneficiaries and the world. Ash also serves as the Head of Research at Addepar, a fintech company that helps investors make smarter decisions. He has twice appeared on the show – as the 29th guest back in 2017 and again two years ago – and those conversations are replayed in the feed. Our conversation starts with a recent paper Ashby published called Investor Identity: The Ultimate Driver of Returns. We discuss the descriptors of identity and enabling factors that determine each investor’s fingerprint. From there, we dive into technology as an enabler and how technological innovation can improve returns. We then turn to ESG investing and another of Ashby’s recent papers, Submergence = Drawdown + Recovery, that discusses the importance of considering the combined drawdown and recovery period in making investment decisions. For full show notes, visit the episode webpage here. Learn More Follow Ted on Twitter at @tseides or LinkedIn Subscribe to the mailing list Access Transcript with Premium Membership
59:5201/05/2023
[REPLAY] - Ashby Monk – Innovation in Institutional Portfolios (Capital Allocators, EP.196)
Dr. Ashby Monk is the Executive and Research Director of the Stanford University Global Projects Center. Ashby was named by CIO Magazine as one of the most influential academics in the institutional investing world. His current research focuses on the design and governance of institutional investors, with specialization on pension and sovereign wealth funds. Ashby’s most recent book, The Technologized Investor, is a practical guide showing how institutional Investors can gain the capabilities for deep innovation by reorienting their strategies and organizations around advanced technology. He also recently released a significant white paper on transparency and innovation for institutional investors for the Biden Administration. Our conversation follows-up an early podcast, Episode 29, which is replayed in the feed. This time around, we discuss the power of asset owners, issue of transparency, need for innovation and obstacles to achieving it, how and when to create change, examples of climate work at New Zealand Super, the Australian Super Funds, and Canadian Pension funds, and Ashby’s handful of technology start-ups focusing on these challenges. Learn More Follow Ted on Twitter at @tseides or LinkedIn Subscribe to the mailing list Access Transcript with Premium Membership
59:5201/05/2023
[REPLAY] - Ashby Monk – Asset Giant Futurist (Capital Allocators, EP.29)
Dr. Ashby Monk is the Executive and Research Director of the Stanford University Global Projects Center. He is also a Senior Research Associate at the University of Oxford, a Senior Advisor to the Chief Investment Officer of the University of California, and the co-founder of Long Game. Ashby advises sovereign wealth funds and large pension funds, and is involved with a bunch of fin tech companies, all of which attempt to create innovative solutions to fixing the financial future for individuals, pensions and countries in the years ahead. Our conversation starts with Ashby’s early work experience and path through academia, and flows into an exploration of next generation, lower cost approaches to active management for large asset owners. We touch on investing in public equity, private equity, venture capital, and hedge funds using examples from the Canadian and Australian pensions, New Zealand Super Fund, and University of California endowment. Lastly, we discuss Long Game, an innovative company seeking to improve personal savings in the U.S. Ashby is a passion-driven, creative thinker who rightfully has the ear of some of the most important pools of capital in the world. His ideas will change the way you think about allocating capital. Learn More Follow Ted on Twitter at @tseides or LinkedIn Subscribe to the mailing list Access Transcript with Premium Membership
01:00:2801/05/2023
Aaron Sack – Branded Middle Market Investing at Morgan Stanley (Capital Allocators, EP.311)
My guest on today’s sponsored insight is Aaron Sack, the head of Morgan Stanley Capital Partners, Morgan Stanley Investment Management’s middle market private equity business. Our conversation covers Aaron’s path to Morgan Stanly sixteen years ago, the strengths and weaknesses of investing under the umbrella of the bank, and his team’s investment principles and approach across sourcing, due diligence, deal making, and operational improvements. We close discussing the current market dynamics, competitive positioning, and Aaron’s favorite investment example. For full show notes, visit the episode webpage here. Learn More Follow Ted on Twitter at @tseides or LinkedIn Subscribe to the mailing list Access Transcript with Premium Membership
38:3227/04/2023
Rod Wong – Empty Rooms: Innovation in Biotech at RTW (Capital Allocators, EP. 310)
On today’s show, we’ll discuss a continuing empty room – an opportunity ignored by most investors because they either don’t want to or can’t participate. We’ve shared conversations under the theme about investing in Venezuela, Africa, CLO equity, tax assets, and biotech. Among them, biotech is a room that just keeps getting emptier, so I thought it would be fun to pay it another visit. Rod Wong is the founder and Managing Partner of RTW Investments, a life sciences-focused investment and innovation firm of 80 professionals that manages $6 billion in assets. I had a chance to drop by Rod’s office in NYC and discuss his background, case for life sciences, investment and business approach, investment process across sourcing ideas, research, probability assessment of binary outcomes, portfolio construction, competition, and outlook. For full show notes, visit the episode webpage here. Learn More Follow Ted on Twitter at @tseides or LinkedIn Subscribe to the mailing list Access Transcript with Premium Membership
58:4524/04/2023
Yahoo on Private Equity Deals
Listen to Yahoo on Private Equity Deals. The fifth episode of Season 2 of Private Equity Deals releases today. We discuss Apollo’s purchase of Yahoo a year and a half ago. You heard that right – Apollo bought Yahoo. Yahoo is comprised of legacy Yahoo and AOL businesses, which peaked at a combined market cap of $350 billion in the dot.com heyday. It still hosts 900 million monthly active users and is the 3rd largest internet property. So what did Apollo see as the potential in this longstanding, slowly declining business? Search for Private Equity Deals on your podcast player to find out. Subscribe on Apple Podcast Subscribe on Spotify Subscribe on YouTube
00:5419/04/2023
Mario Giannini & John Toomey – Private Equity Panel (Capital Allocators EP.309)
Mario Giannini and John Toomey lead two of the largest private equity fund investors in the world. Mario is the CEO of Hamilton Lane, which manages over $100 billion and supervises another $700 billion in non-discretionary assets, and John is half of the Executive Management Committee of HarbourVest, which also manages in excess of $100 billion in the space. Both are past guests on the show, and we’ve replayed those conversations on the feed. Mario and John joined me to canvass private equity markets. Our conversation covers the health and valuation of underlying portfolio companies, new deals, secondary markets, dry powder, fund raising, portfolio construction, winners and losers, new sources of capital, private credit, co-investments, ESG, China, and geopolitical risks. For full show notes, visit the episode webpage here. Learn More Follow Ted on Twitter at @tseides or LinkedIn Subscribe to the mailing list Access Transcript with Premium Membership
01:12:1117/04/2023
[REPLAY] Mario Giannini – View from the Top of Private Equity at Hamilton Lane (Capital Allocators, EP.262)
Mario Giannini is the CEO of Hamilton Lane, where he oversees nearly $1 trillion of assets under management and advisement in private capital, making it perhaps the largest investor in private equity in the world. Mario joined Hamilton Lane thirty years ago and has spent the last 21 as its CEO. His breadth of knowledge and experience, alongside at times unconventional views, offers an unparalleled bird’s eye view into this powerful area of investing. Our conversation covers Mario’s background and a brief history of the private equity industry over the last thirty years. We discuss three characteristics of private equity firms that struggle: decision-making, concentration, and greed, and views on private equity firms across turnover, GP/LP relationships, LP Advisory Boards, and the pricing environment. We then turn to Mario’s perspective on constructing private equity portfolios, data analytics, the middle market, continuation funds, LP appetite, and opportunities across sub-categories and geographies. We close with aspects of Hamilton Lane’s evolution across co-investing, customization, going public, ESG, democratization, and the future of the industry. Learn More Follow Ted on Twitter at @tseides or LinkedIn Subscribe to the mailing list Access Transcript with Premium Membership
01:05:2317/04/2023
[REPLAY] Private Equity Masters 1: John Toomey – HarbourVest Partners (Capital Allocators, EP.200)
My guest on the first episode of Private Equity Masters is John Toomey, one of two members of the Executive Management Committee at HarbourVest Partners. For more than thirty years, HarbourVest has invested across all parts of the private equity spectrum - in funds, secondaries, and direct co-invests. Today, it oversees over $75 billion of assets and canvasses the world. Our conversation discusses the early days of private equity investing, evolution of strategies across primaries, co-invests, and secondaries, international expansion, best practices of managers, the next wave of growth opportunities, and risks in the space. John has a unique perch at the top of the industry and offers a wonderful perspective to kick off the mini-series. Learn More Subscribe: Apple | Spotify | Google Follow Ted on Twitter at @tseides or LinkedIn Subscribe Monthly Mailing List Read the Transcript
01:06:5917/04/2023
Thoma Bravo's Behind the Deal Podcast (Capital Allocators, EP.308)
Today’s sponsored insight is a special podcast drop from our friends at Thoma Bravo. If you liked the episode with Orlando Bravo on Capital Allocators or Scott Crabill’s discussion of RealPage on Private Equity Deals, Season 1, you’re going to love this. Thoma Bravo has launched a new podcast called Behind the Deal, which takes you behind the scenes of one of the largest software investors in the world. It’s an insider’s view of Private Equity Deals – offering a first-person account from the deal leads and CEOs about the firm’s deals, innovation, and growth of its portfolio companies. This episode discusses SailPoint, an identity management company that led to Thoma Bravo’s first IPO. The business thrived in the public markets, and then Thoma Bravo took it private for a second turn of ownership. If you invest with Thoma Bravo, are looking to invest, or have any inkling to learn about what’s inside their activity, Behind the Deal is a must listen. Head to www.thomabravo.com/behindthedeal for information on the podcast, show notes, and more. You can follow Thoma Bravo at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thoma-bravo https://twitter.com/thomabravo Learn More Follow Ted on Twitter at @tseides or LinkedIn Subscribe to the mailing list Access Transcript with Premium Membership
30:4413/04/2023
Coach Paul Assaiante – Leading People to Greatness (Capital Allocators, EP.307)
Coach Paul Assaiante is the winningest coach in college sports history. For 30 years until announcing his retirement at the end of this season, Coach led the Trinity College squash program to 17 national championships and 20 finals appearances in the last 25 years, including at one point winning 252 straight matches and 13 straight national titles. In his final season, Trinity’s squash team entered the national championships with the #6 seed and rode an almost fairy tale bookend to Coach’s career to the finals and within a single point of an 18th national title. Paul also coached the USA National Team in squash for 17 years, Trinity’s men’s tennis squad for 24 years, and World Team Tennis with Billie Jean King in its heyday. In 2010, he authored Run to the Roar: Coaching to Overcome Fear, one of my favorite books on sports and leadership. Perhaps what is most fascinating about the soft-spoken Coach is he knew nothing about squash when he got his first coaching job. His true expertise is in managing, motivating, and inspiring a diverse group of players to be the best version of themselves. Our conversation covers Coach Paul’s path and a career’s worth of wisdom about preparation, emotional regulation, managing high performing individuals on a team, diversity, facing fear, learning to win and lose, and applying the lessons to the business world and next generation. For full show notes, visit the episode webpage here. Learn More Follow Ted on Twitter at @tseides or LinkedIn Subscribe to the mailing list Access Transcript with Premium Membership
01:02:0610/04/2023
WTT – Playing for Tomorrow
The mismanagement of SVB’s balance sheet got me thinking about other times in the past investing through periods when asset prices felt inflated across the board. Institutions strive to meet return hurdles pretty much year-in and year-out, but that’s not how markets work. Playing for Tomorrow discusses one of my favorite long-term investing disciplines – positioning portfolios to play for opportunities yet to come. Learn More Follow Ted on Twitter at @tseides or LinkedIn Subscribe to the mailing list Access Transcript with Premium Membership
06:5108/04/2023
Yellowstone Club on Private Equity Deals
Listen to Yellowstone Club on Private Equity Deals The fourth episode of Season 2 of Private Equity Deals drops today on the Private Equity Deals podcast feed. This time around Sam Byrne from CrossHarbor Capital Partners joins me to discuss the Yellowstone Club. The Yellowstone Club is a private ski mountain located in Big Sky, Montana, whose exclusive members reportedly include Bill Gates, Eric Schmidt, Justin Timberlake, and Tom Brady. CrossHarbor bought the Club out of a messy bankruptcy in 2009 and has been developing its real estate and unique experience ever since. Get an inside look at the business behind this exclusive community, by searching for Private Equity Deals on your podcast feed. Subscribe on Apple Podcast Subscribe on Spotify Subscribe on YouTube
00:5705/04/2023
Tom Joy – Divine Diversification and Responsibility at Church Commissioners (Capital Allocators, EP.306)
Tom Joy is the Chief Investment Officer at the Church Commissioners of England, where he is responsible for the stewardship of the Church of England’s £10.1 billion endowment fund. Our conversation covers Tom’s background, the history and goals of Church Commissioners to achieve sound returns with modest volatility and invest responsibly. We discuss Tom’s four pillars to achieve these objectives across governance, people, genuine diversification, and operations, and dive into team structure, internal management, external manager selection, responsible investing in the environment, diversification in public and private markets, new initiatives, and risks on the horizon. For full show notes, visit the episode webpage here. Learn More Follow Ted on Twitter at @tseides or LinkedIn Subscribe to the mailing list Access Transcript with Premium Membership
57:4103/04/2023
Andy Lee – Empty Rooms: Investing in Tax Assets at Parallaxes Capital (Capital Allocators, EP.305)
My guest on today’s sponsored insight is Andy Lee, the Founder and CIO of Parallaxes Capital. Andy spun out of Lone Star in 2017 to focus on the niche opportunity to invest in Tax Receivable Agreements or TRAs. Our conversation covers Andy’s background and path to the hidden gem of TRAs. We cover the basics of a TRA, rationale for their use, drivers of return, and risks. We then discuss Parallaxes’ investment process, team, the future of the organization. For full show notes, visit the episode webpage here. Learn More Follow Ted on Twitter at @tseides or LinkedIn Subscribe to the mailing list Access Transcript with Premium Membership
38:0930/03/2023
Adam Rodman – The Case for Nuclear (Climate Solutions EP.4, Capital Allocators EP.304)
Adam Rodman is the Founder and Chief Investment Officer of Segra Capital Management, the largest fund dedicated to investing in nuclear power across public and private markets. Adam founded Segra in 2013 to focus on a concentrated portfolio of contrarian, underfollowed investment ideas. In turn, this led to a dedicated focus on nuclear power. Both Tom Steyer and Bill Orum discussed nuclear power as an essential, although very long-term component of addressing climate needs. Adam’s insights provide an understanding of the thesis as well as nuances in capitalizing on it. Our conversation covers Adam’s early career, path to Segra, and shift in focus to nuclear. We discuss the fundamental case and market inefficiencies in the industry, supply and demand, the nuclear fuel cycle, safety and waste, and risks to thesis. For full show notes, visit the episode webpage here. Learn More Follow Ted on Twitter at @tseides or LinkedIn Subscribe to the mailing list Access Transcript with Premium Membership
44:5127/03/2023
WTT - Short-Term Gain, Long-Term Pain, Part 2
Since I wrote Short-Term Gain, Long-Term Pain three weeks ago, we certainly hit a big one. I had a chance to take a step back and draw from my experience working at Yale for some parallels. Suffice it to say David Swensen didn't play the game like SVB did, but I think I know how he would've been spending his time to prepare for what comes next. Read Short-Term Gain, Long-Term Pain, Part 2 Learn More Follow Ted on Twitter at @tseides or LinkedIn Subscribe to the mailing list Access Transcript with Premium Membership
09:1825/03/2023
David Abrams – Sports Ecosystem Investing at Velocity (Capital Allocators, EP. 303)
This sponsored insight features David Abrams, Founding Partner of Velocity Capital Management. Velocity is a newly formed firm that focuses on investing with founders to build best-in-class sports, media, and entertainment companies. Our conversation covers David’s background, long experience in distressed investing on Wall Street and at Apollo, and personal investments in sports-related businesses that led to serving at CIO of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment. We then turn to the formation of Velocity, the firm’s focus, deal sourcing, diligence process, value-added ownership, and example of its investment in the X-Games. For full show notes, visit the episode webpage here. Learn More Follow Ted on Twitter at @tseides or LinkedIn Subscribe to the mailing list Access Transcript with Premium Membership
57:0523/03/2023
Colin Campbell – The Case for Environmental Markets (Climate Solutions EP.3, Capital Allocators EP.302)
Colin Campbell is a Partner at Bain Capital and co-head of the Partnership Strategies team that manages assets primarily for Bain Capital’s partners in strategies that diversify away from the equity-orientation of the firm’s core. In its search for attractive, uncorrelated assets, the Partnership Strategies team became an early mover in environmental markets. Both Tom Steyer and Bill Orum cited carbon credits and offsets as a necessary and important near-term component to effect climate transition. Colin’s deep engagement in the space provides a wonderful primer for those interested. Our conversation dives into Colin’s background and investment approach that led to the discovery of the opportunity in environmental markets. We then turn to his investment thesis, sourcing, description and nuance of compliance and voluntary markets, and implementation. For full show notes, visit the episode webpage here. Learn More Follow Ted on Twitter at @tseides or LinkedIn Subscribe to the mailing list Access Transcript with Premium Membership
59:5520/03/2023
TaylorMade on Private Equity Deals
Listen to TaylorMade on Private Equity Deals It’s almost golf season, and what better way to get mentally prepared for the game than listening to the turnaround story of TaylorMade. Episode 3 of Season 2 of Private Equity Deals released this morning, in which David Shapiro from KPS discusses the firm’s investment from a colorful history, broken process, and laundry list of repairs. Subscribe to Private Equity Deals on your favorite podcast player to hear the story of the third name you know in Season 2. Subscribe on Apple Podcast Subscribe on Spotify Subscribe on YouTube
00:4415/03/2023
William Orum – Mission-Aligned Allocation at Capricorn (Climate Solutions EP.2, Capital Allocators EP.301)
Bill Orum is a Partner at Capricorn Investment Group, one of the largest and longest standing mission-aligned investment organizations. Capricorn oversees $9 billion across three distinct but related investment strategies - an OCIO serving families and foundations, a seeding business that backs impact asset managers, and the Technology Impact Fund, a venture capital fund focused on clean technology and climate solutions. Bill joined Capricorn twenty years ago in the firm’s infancy with the mission to deliver extraordinary investment results by leveraging market forces to scale solutions to global problems with a focus on the climate. Our conversation covers the establishment of an investment program to match the Capricorn’s mission, universe of available investment opportunities to address climate solutions, and Capricorn’s strategy to implement. We discuss seeding new funds, venture capital, emerging markets, public markets, current opportunities, and the potential for a long-term solution for the world. For full show notes, visit the episode webpage here. Learn More Follow Ted on Twitter at @tseides or LinkedIn Subscribe to the mailing list Access Transcript with Premium Membership
55:1913/03/2023
Tom Steyer – Investing to Save Humanity (Climate Solutions EP.1, Capital Allocators EP. 300)
Tom Steyer is the founder and former head of Farallon Capital Management, climate activist, candidate for President of the United States in 2020, and most recently, co-founder of Galvanize Climate Solutions, a mission driven investment platform addressing urgent climate solutions. Our conversation covers Tom’s early career and founding of Farallon in 1986. We discuss his original strategy, history, and succession to new leaders at the firm. We then turn to Tom’s retirement from Farallon, work on the environment, and Presidential run. From there, we dive into Tom’s return to the investment business at Galvanize, covering his investment thesis, strategies to deploy, and creation of another investment organization today. All the way through, Tom shares a lifetime’s worth of investing and business wisdom. For full show notes, visit the episode webpage here. Learn More Follow Ted on Twitter at @tseides or LinkedIn Subscribe to the mailing list Access Transcript with Premium Membership
01:11:5506/03/2023
JUST RELEASED: Blue Triton Brands on Private Equity Deals
Listen to Blue Triton Brands on Private Equity Deals. On the second episode of season 2 of Private Equity Deals, Scott Spielvogel from One Rock Capital discusses their carveout of Blue Triton Brands, a business that formerly comprised Nestle Water North America. Its brands collectively have the top market share in North American bottled water and include Poland Spring, Deer Park, Arrowhead, Pure Life, Origin, and a host of others. Are you ever curious about the ownership and industry around the bottled water you drink all the time? Search for Private Equity Deals on your podcast feed and subscribe to learn more about bottled water and other names you know in season two. Subscribe on Apple Podcast Subscribe on Spotify Subscribe on YouTube
00:5701/03/2023
Venture Capital Panel – Beezer Clarkson, Chris Douvos, and Joelle Kayden (Capital Allocators, EP.299)
Beezer Clarkson, Chris Douvos, and Joelle Kayden are three of the most respected investors in venture capital funds, manning their forts at Sapphire Ventures, Ahoy Capital, and Accolade Partners, respectively. Each is a past guest on the show and we’re replayed those conversations in the feed. In a far more challenging environment after last year’s public market growth selloff and tightening of purse strings in private markets, we convened to discuss the state of the venture capital industry. Our conversation covers what got us here, re-up and new fund decisions facing allocators, challenges for venture capitalists and their portfolio companies, funding discipline across stages, dry powder, tourists exiting the game, and valuations. We discuss the potential winners and losers coming out of this trough and close with exciting opportunities and a current perspective on the blockchain. For full show notes, visit the episode webpage here. Learn More Follow Ted on Twitter at @tseides or LinkedIn Subscribe to the mailing list Access Transcript with Premium Membership
54:4527/02/2023
[REPLAY] Joelle Kayden – Canvassing the Landscape at Accolade Partners, Venture is Eating the Investment World 7 (Capital Allocators, EP.235)
My guest on the 7th episode of Venture is Eating the Investment World is Joelle Kayden, the Founder and Managing Partner of Accolade Partners, a $3.6 billion venture fund of funds that invests across early stage, growth, blockchain, and empowerment strategies and one of the most respected firms in the business. Our conversation covers Joelle’s nearly two decades in technology investment banking, the launch of Accolade into the dot.com bubble, and its evolution over twenty years. We then discuss her perspectives on the four ways to win in venture capital, assessing culture, adding value as an LP, portfolio construction, re-upping decisions, and investing in the current environment. Learn More Follow Ted on Twitter at @tseides or LinkedIn Subscribe to the mailing list Access Transcript with Premium Membership
55:4727/02/2023
[REPLAY] Beezer Clarkson – Sapphire Gem of Early Stage Venture (Capital Allocators, EP.120)
Beezer Clarkson is Managing Director at Sapphire Ventures where she is responsible for the management of Sapphire’s fund investments in early stage venture funds globally. Her career through direct and fund investing has left her with unusually deep knowledge and insights in the space. Our conversation starts with Beezer’s meandering career and turns to her work at Sapphire, including its structure and unique relationship with SAP, Series A investing, winnowing through a massive funnel of fund opportunities, the due diligence process and re-underwriting process, implications of companies staying private longer, and #OpenLP, a public forum to hear the voice of VC LPs that Beezer created with past podcast guest Chris Douvos. Learn More Follow Ted on Twitter at @tseides or LinkedIn Subscribe to the mailing list Access Transcript with Premium Membership
56:4827/02/2023
[REPLAY] Chris Douvos – Venture Capital’s Super LP (Capital Allocators, EP.14)
Chris Douvos is Managing Director at Venture Investment Associates, a fund that invests $1B in commitments to venture capital funds. Chris is responsible for the management of relationships with the funds’ managers and the identification and development of new manager relationships. He is the author of an entertaining blog about venture capital entitled SuperLP – Adventures in Investing, available at SuperLP.com. Prior to joining VIA, Chris spent seven years co-heading the private equity program at The Investment Fund For Foundations, or TIFF. In this role, he was responsible for another $1 billion in new capital commitments. Before joining TIFF, Chris worked on Princeton University’s endowment team. He started his career as a strategy consultant at Monitor Company. He is a graduate of Yale University and the Yale School of Management. Our conversation starts with Chris’ path to venture capital, through strategy consulting, investment banking and an endowment investment office. We talk about perception and reality in venture investing, exciting areas of future innovation, and the nuts and bolts of research, portfolio construction and decision making when running a portfolio of venture funds. When Chris pulls off his suit, the red undershirt of the Super LP remains. He’s a charismatic guy with great insight into how the venture capital game is played and draws many parallels from venture to investing in general. Learn More Follow Ted on Twitter at @tseides or LinkedIn Subscribe to the mailing list Access Transcript with Premium Membership
01:10:0027/02/2023
Dan Ivascyn – Fixed Income in the Limelight Again (Capital Allocators, EP.298)
Dan Ivascyn is the Group-CIO of PIMCO, the legendary bond shop with nearly $2 trillion in assets under management. Dan arrived at PIMCO 25 years ago and assumed the Group-CIO seat in 2014, where he leads portfolio management for the firm’s income strategies, credit hedge fund, and mortgage opportunistic strategies. Today’s guest host is Ana Marshall the CIO of the $13 billion Hewlett Foundation and a repeat guest on the show. Ana has a longstanding relationship with Dan and PIMCO and leads us on a tour of the state of the fixed income markets and the role of the asset class in institutional portfolios. Investment products contain risk and may lose value. There is no guarantee that an investment product will be successful in achieving its objectives. Investors should consult their investment professional prior to making an investment decision. This podcast is brought to you by Capital Allocators. This commentary contains the opinions of the speakers and not necessarily those of PIMCO and such opinions are subject to change without notice. This recording may include discussions of investment strategies. These discussions are for illustrative purposes only and may not be appropriate for all investors. The discussions are not based on any particularized financial situation, or need, and are not intended to be, and should not be construed as, a forecast, research, investment advice or a recommendation for any specific PIMCO or other strategy, product or service. Individuals should consult with their own financial advisors to determine the most appropriate allocations for their financial situation, including their investment objectives, time frame, risk tolerance, savings and other investments. For full show notes, visit the episode webpage here. Learn More Follow Ted on Twitter at @tseides or LinkedIn Subscribe to the mailing list Access Transcript with Premium Membership
44:5120/02/2023
JUST RELEASED: Fenway Sports Group on Private Equity Deals (Season 2)
Season 2 of PE Deals starts this week with Fenway Sports Group. On Season 1, we shared stories of eight recent deals conducted by some of the premier private equity firms. The show already has received accolades as the #1 must-listen podcast for private equity dealmakers. In season 2, we’re shifting from sponsors you know to companies you know. Our first episode releases today. It’s a discussion of Fenway Sports Group with Arctos founder Ian Charles and FSG’s President & CEO, Sam Kennedy. FSG is a holding company that includes ownership stakes in the Boston Red Sox, Liverpool Football Club, Pittsburgh Penguins, and a host of related real estate and media assets. Subscribe to Private Equity Deals on your favorite podcast player to listen in. Subscribe on Apple Podcast Subscribe on Spotify Subscribe on YouTube
01:1115/02/2023
José E. Feliciano – Flexible Private Market Investing at Clearlake (Capital Allocators, EP. 297)
José E. Feliciano is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Clearlake Capital Group. Clearlake manages $75 billion in assets in a flexible strategy across private equity, credit, and special situations in the technology, industrial, and consumer sectors. Our conversation covers José's background, operational experience, and launch of Clearlake in 2006 to pursue a flexible strategy. We turn to the challenges and drawbacks of Clearlake's flexible investment approach, its investment process, ownership model, and trajectory growing from $3 billion in assets after ten years in business to $75 billion six years later. We close by discussing capital transactions for GPs, continuation funds, current opportunity set, Clearlake's investment in Chelsea Football Club, and permanent capital structures. For full show notes, visit the episode webpage here. Learn More Follow Ted on Twitter at @tseides or LinkedIn Subscribe to the mailing list Access Transcript with Premium Membership
01:03:2713/02/2023
Brian Philpot – Financing Farmers at AgAmerica (Capital Allocators, EP. 296)
Today’s show is a sponsored insight from AgAmerica, the largest independent agricultural loan lender and servicer in the US. I sat down with President and CEO, Brian Philpot. Brian invested for twenty-four years in timberland, agricultural, and real estate before turning to a sole focus on farmers. AgAmerica helps farmers thrive in good times and sleep well in tough times, having originated $2 billion of loans in the past two years. Our conversation covers Brian's background and path to focusing on the farmer. We discuss the opportunity set in farm lending and investing, inefficiencies in the market, and AgAmerica's investment process across sourcing, diligence, structuring, operations, and risk. We close discussing the future of farming and AgAmerica's business to support the farmers making it happen For full show notes, visit the episode webpage here. Learn More Follow Ted on Twitter at @tseides or LinkedIn Subscribe to the mailing list Access Transcript with Premium Membership
41:2709/02/2023
Marshall Boyd – Meat and Potatoes Multi-Family Real Estate at IEC (Capital Allocators, EP.295)
Marshall Boyd is the Co-President and CIO at Interstate Equities Corporation, a real estate investment firm that manages $1 billion focusing exclusively on multi-family apartments on the California coast. IEC is one of those little-known gems for those in the know. It's an endowment darling with just a dozen or so of the most elite LPs in the business exploiting an attractive, little corner of the investment world. Our conversation covers Marshall's path to IEC and steps to turn a family boutique into an institutional business. We discuss firm's investment thesis, sourcing, due diligence, deal dynamics, value-added operations, and exit strategy. We close covering risks to the strategies and lessons learned along the way. For full show notes, visit the episode webpage here. Learn More Follow Ted on Twitter at @tseides or LinkedIn Subscribe to the mailing list Access Transcript with Premium Membership
50:4606/02/2023
John-Austin Saviano – Emerging Managers and IC Governance (Capital Allocators, EP.294)
John-Austin Saviano is the founder of High Country Advisors, where he serves as a strategic advisor to both investment firms and the institutional pools of capital that back them. Before starting High Country in 2017, John-Austin served as an allocator for nearly two decades at the Moore Foundation, Cambridge Associates, and as the first CIO of UC-Berkeley's Endowment. Our conversation covers John-Austin's career path from direct investing to allocation and insights gleaned across his roles. We then turn to his work at High Country, including lessons he shares with emerging managers to help tell their story and navigate a difficult fund-raising environment and those he shares with allocators about governance and investment committees. Access Stream by AlphaSense Free Trial For full show notes, visit the episode webpage here. Learn More Follow Ted on Twitter at @tseides or LinkedIn Subscribe to the mailing list Access Transcript with Premium Membership
48:1530/01/2023
Shundrawn Thomas - From Large Money Manager CEO to Social Impact Entrepreneur (Capital Allocators, EP. 293)
Shundrawn Thomas is the Founder and Managing Partner of Copia Group, a new private investment firm that provides capital solutions to lower middle market companies and drives social impact. Shundrawn was a past guest on the show while in his prior seat as President of Northern Trust Asset Management, a leading global investment manager with over $1.3 trillion in assets. That conversation is replayed in the feed. This time around we pick up with Shundrawn's decision to leave Northern Trust, his mission at Copia, and transition from public company executive to budding entrepreneur. We discuss his plans for Copia across investment strategy, team building, capital raising, investment process, and social impact. We close with Shundrawn's vision for the next five years in his new venture. Access Stream by AlphaSense Free Trial For full show notes, visit the episode webpage here. Learn More Follow Ted on Twitter at @tseides or LinkedIn Subscribe to the mailing list Access Transcript with Premium Membership
48:2323/01/2023
[REPLAY] Shundrawn Thomas – Leading the Way (Capital Allocators, EP.153)
Shundrawn Thomas, President of Northern Trust Asset Management, where he oversees the $900 billion organization. Shundrawn joined Northern Trust Corporation in 2004 and rose to the leadership team in 2008. Over the last 8 years, he has hired and promoted much of Northern Trust Asset Management’s executive team, whose fifteen members include nine women and minorities. Shundrawn is deeply involved in diversity efforts across the industry and was named one of this year’s Most Influential Black Executives in Corporate America and previously one of the Most Powerful Blacks on Wall Street. Our conversation covers Shundrawn’s early career and issues of race, the culture that drew him into to Northern Trust, and examples of unconscious bias. We turns to his values-based methodology to foster change across recruiting, mentorship, promotion, leadership and performance at Northern Trust, and we close with his perception of how the renewed interest in diversity provides an opportunity for businesses to take action. Learn More Follow Ted on Twitter at @tseides or LinkedIn Subscribe to the mailing list Access Transcript with Premium Membership
01:03:3023/01/2023
Anthony Scaramucci – Another Winter and Another Rebirth (Capital Allocators, EP.292)
Anthony Scaramucci is the Founder and Managing Partner of Skybridge Capital and the SALT conference, and for a brief period in 2017, the White House Communications Director. Anthony and I were scheduled to record a conversation the Friday morning he was named to the White House. That clearly didn’t happen, but we circled back a few months after his return to Skybridge, and that conversation is replayed in the feed. Since then, he invested some of Skybridge’s assets in crypto and last August sold a piece of Skybridge to the now infamous Sam Bankman-Fried. Our conversation this time around covers Anthony’s deals in the asset management space, his thematic investment in crypto, and unfortunate relationship with SBF. Along the way, we discuss entrepreneurship, risk taking, maintaining conviction in a downturn, changing your mind, and resilience – an attribute he demonstrates time and time again. Access Stream by AlphaSense Free Trial For full show notes, visit the episode webpage here. Learn More Follow Ted on Twitter at @tseides or LinkedIn Subscribe to the mailing list Access Transcript with Premium Membership
01:02:5316/01/2023
[REPLAY] Anthony Scaramucci – It’s Called a Mooch (Capital Allocators, EP.60)
The name Anthony Scaramucci currently has 55% name recognition in the U.S. according to Politico. Anthony has been an entrepreneur in the hedge fund industry for 23 years, growing to prominence within the industry through his oversight of fund of funds Skybridge Capital, creation of the popular SALT conference, regular television appearances, and rejuvenation of the iconic television show Wall Street Week. He grew to prominence worldwide when his longtime political interests led to a brief tenure as White House Communications Director in 2017. Our conversation starts off with a bang and turns to the ups and downs in Anthony’s career, including getting fired and rehired at Goldman Sachs, starting and selling his first hedge fund, creating Skybridge and watching it almost fail, and thriving after the financial crisis. We discuss Anthony's thoughts on hedge funds, lessons from his stint in Washington, and books he has written about his experiences. Along the way, he shares life lessons about managing people, building relationships, resiliency, laughing at yourself, greed, ego, and fame. Anyone who has only known Anthony from his recent public profile might be surprised to hear the depth of his insight, self-effacing honesty and caring of others, alongside his irrepressible salesmanship. Those who have known him longer will recognize the same Mooch as always in all his splendor. Learn More Follow Ted on Twitter at @tseides or LinkedIn Subscribe to the mailing list Access Transcript with Premium Membership Show Notes 2:48 – Anthony’s professional history 8:03 – Time at Oscar Capital/Neuberger Berman 9:25 – Neuberger sells to Lehman 10:13 – Leaving Lehman to start Skybridge 13:13 – Getting through the financial crisis 14:04 – Launching SALT conference 15:35 – Buying Citigroup's fund of funds business 17:34 – Anthony’s approach to the hedge fund business 20:28 – How he handles the relationships with managers 22:15 – Environment for the hedge fund space 24:12 – After the Music Stopped: The Financial Crisis, the Response, and the Work Ahead 26:02 – Hedge fund space moving forward 28:03 – What he learned from being fired 31:22 – Handling public adversity 32:40 – Selling the business to serve the country 35:35 – Life lessons learned throughout his career and shared in his books 35:40 – Goodbye Gordon Gekko: How to Find Your Fortune Without Losing Your Soul 38:40 – The Little Book of Hedge Funds 38:44 – Hopping over the Rabbit Hole: How Entrepreneurs Turn Failure into Success 39:20 – The key principles that Anthony tries to impart on his team 41:47 – Lessons in launching a hedge fund business 45:00 – What changed upon his return to Skybridge 46:33 – How does it feel to be famous 48:10 – Closing questions 56:06– The China Mission: George Marshall's Unfinished War, 1945-1947
01:00:3016/01/2023
WTT - You Won't Detect the Next Fraud
In a new feature on the podcast, we will share an audio version of Ted’s blog, called What Ted’s Thinking (or WTT). His latest discusses frauds and why you're not likely to detect the next one. Learn More Follow Ted on Twitter at @tseides or LinkedIn Subscribe to the mailing list Access Transcript with Premium Membership
10:2914/01/2023
Gregg Lemkau - The Evolution of MSD (Capital Allocators, EP.291)
Gregg Lemkau is the CEO of MSD Partners, the investment firm with roots as Michael Dell's family office. MSD was formed in 1998 to manage $400 million of Michael's capital. In the ensuing twenty-five years, that initial $400 million has grown to north of $20 billion. Gregg joined MSD two years ago after a twenty-eight-year career at Goldman Sachs, where he rose to Co-Head of Investment Banking, served on the Firm's Management Committee, and was widely considered one of a few candidates to succeed David Solomon as Goldman's CEO. Our conversation covers Gregg's career path at Goldman and lessons learned, including entertaining stories about his work with such fascinating entrepreneurs as Elon Musk and Travis Kalanick. We discuss his decision to join MSD, the firm's history, objectives, competitive advantages, and investment capabilities. We then turn to MSD's recently announced merger with BDT Partners, including the rationale, process, and integration of the businesses. We close with a look into the future of the transformed organization. Access Stream by AlphaSense Free Trial For full show notes, visit the episode webpage here. Learn More Follow Ted on Twitter at @tseides or LinkedIn Subscribe to the mailing list Access Transcript with Premium Membership
57:2809/01/2023
Neal Foard – The Art of Storytelling (Capital Allocators, EP.290)
Neal Foard is a twenty-five-year advertising and marketing executive who specializes in the art of storytelling. Neal has ranked among the top ten most awarded creative directors in the world. He has served as the Worldwide Director of Creative Learning at Saatchi & Saatchi and developed award-winning campaigns for Budweiser, Lexus, and Sony. Most recently, Neal coaches C-Suite executives, is CMO for Within Inc., and has built a following on social media (and his website passionatelogic.com for his brief inspirational videos about the kindness of everyday people. Neal launches into our conversation with one of his stories about kindness and then breaks down its components. We turn to the process of telling a story, including preparation, the arc of a story, and audience engagement. Neal shares tips he gives executives for presenting to small and large groups, improving on video, practicing, and working with nervous anxiety. We close with another of Neal's fun stories, this time leaving out the breakdown to apply what you learn. I hope Neal's gems help you improve the stories we deliver and listen to every day in our personal and professional lives. For full show notes, visit the episode webpage here. Learn More Follow Ted on Twitter at @tseides or LinkedIn Subscribe to the mailing list Access Transcript with Premium Membership
53:2302/01/2023
2022 Top Episode #1: Sam Zell – Common Sense and Uncommon Profits, EP. 253
This week, we’re counting down the top 5 episodes of 2022. Without further ado, the number 1 show of 2022 is Sam Zell – Common Sense and Uncommon Profits. Sam is the chairman of Equity Group Investments, a private investment firm he founded more than 50 years ago. Sam has a storied track record of turning around troubled companies and assets, leading industry consolidations, and bringing companies to the public markets. His current investments canvass logistics, health care, manufacturing, energy, and real estate. Sam was recognized five years ago by Forbes as one of the 100 Greatest Living Business Minds, and he’s still going strong. Our conversation covers Sam’s childhood background, early entrepreneurial efforts, formation of his investment strategy, and comfort being a contrarian. We then turn to Sam’s thoughts on team development, evaluating people, real estate, generational businesses, emerging markets, and opportunities for the future. Thanks so much for tuning in this year. Here’s to a very happy and healthy New Year. Learn More Follow Ted on Twitter at @tseides or LinkedIn Subscribe to the mailing list Access Transcript with Premium Membership
51:0730/12/2022
2022 Top Episode #2: Todd Boehly – The Next Berkshire Hathaway at Eldridge, EP. 223
This week, we’re counting down the top 5 episodes of 2022. Coming in at number 2 is Todd Boehly – The Next Berkshire Hathaway. Todd is the Co-founder, Chairman, and CEO of Eldridge, a multi-billion dollar permanent capital holding company with investments in eighty businesses, including high profile brands like the Los Angeles Dodgers, Dick Clark Productions, and The Hollywood Reporter, and an array of companies across other industries, including media, insurance, real estate, asset management, and technology. Combining its structure and Todd’s acumen, CNBC recently postured that Eldridge may be the next Berkshire Hathaway. Our conversation covers Todd’s early beginnings in structured credit, growing an asset management business at Guggenheim, and the formation of Eldridge. We then turn to his investment strategy and investments in asset management, media, gaming, and technology. Along the way, we discuss Todd’s thoughts on sourcing, negotiation, structure, management, capital allocation, and the future of Eldridge. Learn More Follow Ted on Twitter at @tseides or LinkedIn Subscribe to the mailing list Access Transcript with Premium Membership
53:2129/12/2022
2022 Top Episode #3: Paul Enright – Inside Long-Short Equity Investing, EP. 264
This week, we’re counting down the top 5 episodes of 2022. Weighing in at number 3 is Paul Enright - Inside Long Short investing. Paul is a private investor managing his own capital under single-family office, Krainos Capital. Paul opened Krainos after a dozen years at Viking Global Investors, the multi-billion dollar long-short equity hedge fund that also has been one of the most successful breeding grounds for talent in the industry. He has a deep understanding of intricacies of long-short equity investing and a knack for explaining it well. Our conversation covers Paul’s career path to Viking, training while there, and advice to early-career investors. We dive into the distinction between business analysis and stock picking, and the importance of portfolio management to investment success. In the process, we discuss liquidity, shorting, portfolio rebalancing, incentive compensation, and market structure. We close with Paul’s approach to managing his own money and his answers to a terrific set of questions sourced from his Twitter feed before the show. Learn More Follow Ted on Twitter at @tseides or LinkedIn Subscribe to the mailing list Access Transcript with Premium Membership
01:06:3028/12/2022
2022 Top Episode #4: Rob Citrone – Emerging Markets, Hedge Funds, and Staying in the Game, EP. 261
This week, we’re counting down the top 5 episodes of 2022. Coming in at number 4 is Rob Citrone - Emerging Markets, hedge funds, and staying in the game. Rob is the Founder of Discovery Capital Management, a $2 billion global hedge fund investing across equities, fixed income, currencies, and rates with a focus on emerging markets. Rob is one of the longest-standing managers in the space and the largest investor in his fund. He trained under Julian Robertson in the heyday of Tiger Management in the mid-90s before launching Discovery in 1999. Since then, the firm grew to a peak of $15 billion in assets and despite the subsequent reduction in AUM, he and his team of 42 are still going strong. Our conversation dives into Rob’s background, lessons he learned from Fidelity, Julian Robertson, and George Soros, and the launch of Discovery. We discuss his investment strategy, research process, perspective on markets around the world, ups and downs in the business, and managing an organization through change. Rob doesn’t often share his insights in the public forum, so it was a real treat to get inside the mind of one of the best in the business. Learn More Follow Ted on Twitter at @tseides or LinkedIn Subscribe to the mailing list Access Transcript with Premium Membership
43:4127/12/2022
2022 Top Episode #5: Annie Duke – The Power of Quitting, EP.273
Annie Duke is a former professional poker player, decision making expert, best-selling author, and fortunately, a repeat guest on the show. Our first conversation about Annie’s background and best-seller Thinking in Bets is replayed on the feed. Her latest masterpiece releases tomorrow. It’s called Quit: The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away, and I’m going on record predicting it will be a best-seller in short order. Our conversation covers Annie’s compulsion to write another book, our instinct for grit, the case for quitting, the emotional and cognitive biases that stand in our way, and some techniques to improve our ability to quit effectively. Along the way, Annie shares some terrific stories from the book about Everest, Sears, the NBA draft, and the California bullet train. Learn More Follow Ted on Twitter at @tseides or LinkedIn Subscribe to the mailing list Access Transcript with Premium Membership
01:16:3126/12/2022
Year in Review 2022 (Capital Allocators, EP. 289)
It's that time of year where I share my annual letter and a rundown of the top episodes of 2022. We’re adding a little drama to the results this year by counting down the top 5 each day this week. Coming in at number 5 is Annie Duke - The Power of Quitting, episode 273. You likely noticed that we’ve replayed the episode in the feed. Tune in tomorrow to find out which next episode you heard more than any other from last Thanksgiving to this one. With that, please enjoy my annual letter to you, describing our business, performance this year, and the year ahead. Access Stream by AlphaSense Free Trial Learn More Follow Ted on Twitter at @tseides or LinkedIn Subscribe to the mailing list Access Transcript with Premium Membership
20:4526/12/2022
JUST RELEASED: CD&R on Private Equity Deals
The final episode of Season One of Private Equity Deals released this morning. I’m joined by Ravi Sachdev and Ron Williams from CD&R. Ravi is a specialist dealmaker in the healthcare space and Ron is an Operating Partner who is the former CEO of Aetna. We discuss agilon health, a company they created out of a concept to build a win-win for health care providers, payers, and Medicare patients. It contains aspects of a venture concept, buyout, and growth equity investing all wrapped into one. We’ve heard from some listeners that you can’t hear more than this minute of the Private Equity Deals episodes on this feed, and that’s correct. We’ve experimented with releasing PE Deals on a completely separate podcast feed, so you’ll have to search and subscribe separately to listen to all of Season One. Our apologies for any confusion and stay turned as we decide where we’ll release Season Two next year. Subscribe to Private Equity Deals Subscribe on Apple Podcast Subscribe on Spotify Subscribe on YouTube Learn More Follow Ted on Twitter at @tseides or LinkedIn Subscribe to the mailing list Access Transcript with Premium Membership
01:1321/12/2022