Private Equity Blog
Slade Kobran
Recent Posts

The PE Growth System Diagnostic
Executive Takeaways
- Growth activity and a durable growth system are not the same thing.
- This diagnostic scores 8 categories to show whether a portfolio company’s growth is fragmented, emerging, functioning, or durable.
- The weakest-scoring categories point to where the system needs attention first.
- A durable growth system creates value through the hold period and supports the growth story at exit.
Recent Posts

PE Value Drivers Series: Part 2 of A Non-Cookie Cutter Approach to Investment Analysis and Portfolio Growth
Jul 9, 2021, 11:00:08 AM — Part 2 of my interview with Seacoast Capital Principal and Chief Marketing Officer, Phil Curatilo. You can view part 1 here. A few takeaways: Don't take a cookie cutter approach to investment analysis or portfolio growth. Some portfolio companies have grown organically, without a single add on, others the opposite or a hybrid. Evaluate and recommend according to each business's strategies and operations. A management team that’s not on board with an articulated plan of attack can prohibit growth and foster mistrust. An over-leveraged balance sheet or too much debt can lead to trouble. The management team needs room to implement their operating plans and take advantage of opportunities as they come along. Aligning with deep functional or industry expertise like Chief Outsiders has makes a lot of sense. Post close, firms like Chief Outsiders on sales and marketing projects, technology implementations, executive search, etc. add value.

PE Value Drivers Series: A Non-Cookie Cutter Approach to Investment Analysis and Portfolio Growth
Jul 8, 2021, 10:44:20 AM — This episode features Phil Curatilo, Principal and Chief Marketing Officer at Seacoast Capital. Phil has been both an investor and chief marketing officer in private equity, a business educator, and a marketing and sales professional in telecommunications. Today, in addition to sourcing and evaluating investment opportunities at Seacoast, Phil creates the go-to-market strategies for the firm to increase investment opportunity flow and selectively helps Seacoast partner companies leverage sales and marketing opportunities.

PE Value Drivers Series: a Private Equity Operating Partner Discusses His Value Creation Playbook
May 19, 2021, 3:56:42 PM — This episode features an interview with John Broderick, Operating Partner at Argosy Private Equity. In addition to operating partner, John has served as a business unit manager, a general manager, and a VP of operations. And now he supports growth initiatives as part of Argosy’s private equity team. As an engineer (unusual in the private equity world), John cut his teeth as an operator for small divisions of large billion-dollar companies. After being exposed to world-class business execution, he made a pivot into private equity bringing a “been there, done that” skill set. He’s excelled in private equity for 15 years, making for an almost 50/50 career split.
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ACG Boston Hosts New Event Series Tailored to PE Operating Partners
May 13, 2021, 1:32:40 PM — As part of its goal to bring value added content and networking to more professionals in the private equity community, ACG Boston has launched an Operating Partner Roundtable series. The inaugural session was attended by a diverse group of Operating Partners and other professionals who support portfolio company performance. The virtual roundtable event offered PE operating partners a chance to connect with peers and to facilitate an open discussion around business concerns and how Operating Partners plan to approach 2021. For those who missed the event, here is a summary of the discussion.