March 12 - 13, 2026 | Miami
Join us from 8:00 AM to collect your badge and enjoy breakfast networking, the perfect way to kick-start your day with fresh connections and conversations.
Focused on discussing active deals with a funding source, connect with the Independent Sponsors or Capital Providers specializing in investments in the industry sectors and markets you focus on. In advance of the event you will be provided with a full list of attendees, so you can choose to meet with the most relevant contacts and evaluate the potential for future business partnerships.
Sponsored by
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Join your peers for a series of lively and interactive discussions on the most pressing topics you are facing today. The small group format will enable you to make meaningful connections and come up with out-of-the-box solutions to shared challenges.
For emerging independent sponsors, credibility is everything and clarity drives deal flow. This hands-on workshop walks participants through defining who they are, what they buy, and why bankers and founders should take their calls, all on a single, compelling page. Attendees will craft credibility packets including team bios, relevant deal reps, operator bench, and proof of capital access, while sharpening mandate clarity across sectors, size bands, check sizes, geographies, control vs. minority, and timing.
Key Takeaways:
Facilitator
Founder
NewOrigin Investments
I partner with founder-led businesses to achieve transformative growth, drawing on over $2 billion in completed capital transactions across my career. Through NewOrigin Investments, we focus on the health, wellness, and aging sectors — combining equity ownership with active board-level involvement to drive strategic clarity, operational progress, and valuation impact. Beyond investing, I speak and collaborate across the private equity community to uncover overlooked opportunities, align founders’ vision with capital partners, and help companies scale with purpose and measurable results.
The second block focuses on building a repeatable, measurable deal-sourcing engine. Participants will explore tech stack options (CRMs, email sequencing, data vendors, light AI for target discovery and summarization), establish effective outreach cadences with bankers and founders, and design community flywheels to generate inbound interest. The session also breaks down key funnel KPIs, from teasers to LOIs, to create a transparent, trackable origination machine.
Key Takeaways:
Facilitator
Managing Partner
Acharya Capital Partners
David Acharya is the Managing Partner of ACP where he oversees all aspects of the firm’s investing, management, and strategic activities. He brings over 25 years of investing and transacting experience to ACP. He is a frequent speaker at industry events and is recognized by his peers for his expertise in private equity, capital markets, and portfolio value creation.
Before establishing ACP, Mr. Acharya was a partner of AGI Partners, LLC, a private equity firm, and played a key role in the development of the firm including strategy, hiring, and fundraising. He served on the board of directors for Impact XM and On Location until its successful exit to a global private equity firm.
Earlier, Mr. Acharya was a Director of an NYC-based private equity firm where he was responsible for investment sourcing and execution. Among other accomplishments, he sourced and executed Revolution Dancewear, co-sponsored with Incline Equity Partners, and was sold to Audax Group.
Previously, Mr. Acharya was a Vice President with Apprise Media, a private equity firm focused on niche media investments, where he worked with the founders of PRIMEDIA, a former KKR founded portfolio company. Mr. Acharya invested over $200 million in niche media companies across digital, events, and print products in North America, Europe, and Asia. He made significant contributions to Apprise Media’s largest portfolio company Canon Communications, a B2B media company. Canon was successfully sold to United Business Media in 2010.
Mr. Acharya spent 10 years as an investment banker in the highly ranked leveraged finance groups of JP Morgan Chase and Toronto Dominion Securities. He advised, structured, and raised over $18 billion of capital for leading financial sponsors, telecommunications, media, and consumer product companies across the globe. He also advised clients on debt tender/consent transactions that affected over $4 billion of debt. While at Toronto Dominion and as part of its merchant banking initiatives, he was involved in numerous equity investments including Rural Cellular Corporation (sold to Verizon), T-Mobile, Bresnan Communications, and Intermedia Communications (Leo Hindery’s Cable Venture).
In 2020, after completing his term as President of the New York Chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG), Mr. Acharya was elected as Chairperson. Additionally, he was elected to the ACG Global Board of Directors. In recognition of his years of leadership and volunteerism, he was honored with the ACG Meritorious Award. In 2024, Mr. Acharya’s contributions to the finance industry were celebrated by being named to Crain’s New York Business’ 2024 List of Notable Leaders in Finance.
The first year post-deal can be a whirlwind of change but what really shifts once the ink dries? In this candid fireside, a founder and investor share what they’ve learned about establishing an effective board rhythm, designing a motivating MIP, upgrading talent, and navigating the unexpected highs and lows that follow a close. Expect honest reflections, practical frameworks, and advice they wish they’d had before signing.
Key Takeaways:
Principal
Willistown capital
Founder & Independent Operating Parter
Vanessa Goolsby Advisory
As your IS firm scales, so does the complexity of running it well. This candid, peer-driven roundtable digs into what high-performing firms are actually doing, from operating models and tech stacks to outreach cadences, funnel management, and KPI dashboards. Expect an open exchange of hard-earned lessons, real tools, and templates you can take straight back to your team.
Key Takeaways:
Facilitator
Partner
Bochi Investments
Sam was previously at Imperial Capital, supporting both M&A, equity, and debt capital markets. He is on the board of Willamette Valley Meat, Superior Fruit Equipment, and Diversified Marine. Sam also plays professional lacrosse for the California Redwoods in the Premier Lacrosse League. B.S. from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Sam was raised in Oregon and attended Jesuit High School.
Family offices are increasingly active in IS-backed deals but how do they actually evaluate, govern, and deploy effectively? In this peer-led roundtable, participants will unpack how family offices diligence IS teams, structure governance, and manage capital pacing without bogging down in process. Expect a transparent discussion on real co-investment dynamics and what truly drives founder-aligned outcomes.
Key Takeaways:
Private Equity Investment Officer
Unity Hunt (Family Office)
Not every exit needs to be loud. This founder-focused roundtable explores “quiet” paths to a liquidity event — from selecting bankers and managing limited processes to maintaining confidentiality and understanding what buyers actually pay for. Participants will leave with a practical 12–18 month tax and quality-of-earnings prep checklist, plus optional concierge support for curated introductions — all without sales pitches or public announcements.
Key Takeaways:
This session goes beyond theory, it’s a hands-on exploration of live-ish term sheets. Participants will dissect seller notes, unitranche and mezzanine structures, NAV adjustments, earn-outs, RWI, and working capital pegs. Leave with a practical one-pager summarizing “what’s market” by context, giving you a real edge in structuring and negotiating deals in 2025.
Key Takeaways:
Facilitator
Managing Director
Five Points Family Ventures
Scott spent over 20 years at Raymond James & Associates, Inc., most recently as Senior Vice President in a private client group practice, serving the unique needs of public company executives. Over his tenure at Raymond James, he served in many roles in the Equity Capital Markets and Private Client divisions of the firm. His areas of expertise included equity compensation, insider trading regulations and Rule 10b5-1 plans, concentrated equity solutions, directed share programs, structured notes, share repurchases, and strategies for raising equity capital.
Scott earned his B.B.A. in Finance and Business Economics from the University of Notre Dame. He became a CFA charter holder in 2003.
Finding the right deals starts with clarity. This peer-led roundtable helps capital providers codify their investment mandate, from sectors and EBITDA bands to check sizes and preferred structures, so that deal flow matches become faster, cleaner, and more actionable. Participants will walk away with practical frameworks to publish and communicate mandates like a pro.
Key Takeaways:
Facilitator
Managing Director, Co-Head of Equity Group
Monroe Capital
This third workshop in the emerging independent sponsor series equips participants to move confidently from teaser to IOI/LOI with a clear capital map and market-informed guardrails. Attendees will map capital sources, SBIC credit, non-control equity, control funds, and family offices and align them with their mandate. The session also covers “what’s market” on economics, promotes, fees, and co-invests, and provides a practical operator/100-day lens for crafting IC memos that prove value and execution readiness.
Key Takeaways:
Co-underwriting can unlock bigger deals, if everyone knows their lane. This peer-driven roundtable explores how to structure partnerships between SBICs and family offices, covering lead roles, signing authority, intercreditor basics, economic splits, governance, and a synchronized diligence playbook. Participants will gain practical frameworks for smoother collaboration and faster, cleaner closes.
Key Takeaways:
Facilitator
Managing Partner of CHIEF
Chartwell Investments
Mike is the managing partner of CHIEF Capital (Chartwell Investments Entrepreneur &
Founder Capital) and has over 30 years of experience in all facets of private equity
investing and has participated in the purchase or sale of businesses with transaction
values exceeding $4 billion.
In Chief Capital’s most recent vehicle, Mike has closed 5 new platform investments,
successfully exited two portfolio companies, closed 20+ portfolio company add-on
acquisitions, while also entering into a Joint Venture with a publicly-traded company,
representing over $900+ million in total aggregate transaction value.
Mike focuses on deal sourcing, relationship building, strategic planning, recruiting
management teams and operating executives, capital raising, and post-closing portfolio
company development. As a hybrid family office/independent sponsor, Mike supports
the management owners he partners with to accelerate growth and realize their visions
for their companies.
Prior to founding the predecessor to CHIEF Capital, Mike worked for Goldman Sachs
(mergers & acquisitions department) and was a SVP of a private NYC-based
investment firm.
Mike currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors across multiple
organizations: World Water Works, Guardian Fleet Services, Rohrer Aesthetics,
Contract Datascan Holdings, PPC Holdings, and Pinnacle Processes Inc. and serves as
a Director of Richard Childress Racing.
Mike has previously served as a Director of multiple private companies including TTG
Imaging Solutions, RQM+, Carey International, Bell Sports, Petro Stopping Centers, and
SunPark. Mike graduated from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania
with a B.S.E.
CHIEF CAPITAL
CHIEF Capital provides flexible private equity for entrepreneurs and family-owned
businesses. We partner with management owners to help realize their visions and
provide long-term capital, resources, and expertise to accelerate growth and provide
generational liquidity. With 40+ years of experience, $300MM in equity deployed, 7
platform companies and 20+ recent add-on acquisitions, we focus on niche lower
middle market companies that out-compete their peers. We primarily invest in
businesses with $10-100MM+ in revenue, $2-20MM in EBITDA and 10%+ EBITDA
margins.
Oriented to building new connections and expand your network. Focused on developing relationships with a funding sources, connect with the Independent Sponsors or Capital Providers specializing in investments in the industry sectors and markets you focus on. In advance of the event you will be provided with a full list of attendees, so you can choose to meet with the most relevant contacts and evaluate the potential for future business partnerships.
Sponsored by
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Designed to connect you with the right people to accelerate deal execution. These meetings are tailored to deal execution, including getting deals signed, financed, and closed. In advance of the event you will be provided with a full list of attendees, so you can choose to meet with the most relevant contacts and evaluate the potential for future business partnerships.
Sponsored by
Join us to celebrate the movers and shakers in the Independent Sponsor space! The Awards highlight the innovative work that brings together some of the most unique middle-market deals in the industry.
Join us from 8:30 AM for networking over breakfast, the perfect way to kick-start Day 2 with fresh connections and great conversations.
Focused on discussing active deals with a funding source, connect with the Independent Sponsors or Capital Providers specializing in investments in the industry sectors and markets you focus on. In advance of the event you will be provided with a full list of attendees, so you can choose to meet with the most relevant contacts and evaluate the potential for future business partnerships.
Sponsored by
Take a moment to recharge and connect with fellow attendees over fresh coffee and light refreshments.
AI is rapidly reshaping how independent sponsors source, diligence, and execute deals — but most firms are only scratching the surface of what’s possible. This practical roundtable explores the real tools and workflows investors are using today to streamline origination, accelerate diligence, and reduce friction in IC prep and portfolio monitoring. Expect candid discussions on what works, what breaks, and how to adopt AI in a way that enhances (rather than replaces) your existing process.
Key Takeaways:
Facilitator
Partner
Align Collaborate
Grant is a seasoned investment professional with years of both deal and operating experience. Over the last few years, Grant has honed his operating skills by founding several innovative companies such as MoneyToGo, HelpMeToBuy and Vuru. Grant’s leadership and these companies have been profiled in numerous national media outlets including an appearance on CNBC’s The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch. Grant was also Director of Business Development at Isadra, an enterprise software company that was acquired by VerticalNet (NASDAQ: VERT).
Prior to rolling up his sleeves and running companies, Grant spent years investing in operating companies and real estate. He was the Florida Development Partner for The Lane Company, one of the largest multifamily development companies in the U.S. In that role, Grant focused on acquiring and developing apartments and condos that ranged from $15 million to $50 million in project size. Grant began his career as an associate at Sterling Partners, a private equity firm with over $4 billion under management. At Sterling, Grant structured investments in numerous companies and spent considerable time advising senior management teams on their growth and capitalization strategies.
As 2026 approaches, independent sponsors and capital providers need a clear view of the market and actionable strategies. This panel session explores macro and regional trends shaping lower middle market deal flow, highlights emerging growth areas and sectors, and offers a collaborative discussion on evolving deal structures. Attendees will leave with strategic insights to guide planning and positioning for the year ahead.
Key Takeaways:
Managing Principal, Value360 Practice
CohnReznick
Claudine oversees an integrated team of transaction, valuation, restructuring, project finance, and dispute resolution professionals serving clients throughout the lifecycles of their businesses. With specific expertise in managing opportunities and roadblocks that can impact a business moving forward, Claudine and her team help clients achieve optimal outcomes in protecting and growing stakeholder value.
Claudine serves as an adviser to public and private companies, both domestically and internationally. Her clients comprise the full gamut of financial sponsors including private equity investors, independent sponsors, family offices, alternative investment funds, lenders, and strategic investors. Her areas of knowledge include strategic advisory, quality of earnings analyses, identifying revenue sources and profitability drivers, examining operating cost structure and sustainability factors, investigating business models including cash flow and financial projections, reviewing quality and realization of assets and liabilities, identifying working capital requirements and negotiating positions, post-close working capital verification, and adjustment mechanisms.
Claudine was named to Mergers and Acquisitions 2019 list of the most influential women in mid-market M&A, and Crain’s NY 2018 most notable women in consulting.
Managing Partner
Centerfield Capital
Faraz joined Centerfield in 2001. He is responsible for investor relations, overseeing due diligence, executing transactions, and portfolio management. Faraz also manages the general activities of the firm. Faraz is a member of the Partnership’s Investment Committee.
Faraz has 25 years of experience in private equity. Prior to Centerfield, Faraz held sales and product development roles at Praxair and Rodel, where he was the lead researcher and developer of next generation consumables for the microelectronics industry and was awarded a patent. Faraz has been recognized as one of the “Forty under Forty” young leaders in Indianapolis, “Who’s Who in Finance” by the Indiana Business Journal and was the winner of Junior Achievement’s “Indy’s Best and Brightest” award.
In his spare time, Faraz enjoys traveling, laughing and hanging out with his wife and three kids. Faraz strives to engage in projects that help him grow as a person, and he is deeply rooted in community activities.
Break out of the usual deal flow. This peer roundtable dives into creative sourcing strategies beyond standard outreach, featuring real-world case studies like operator-first wedges, trade organizations, and retired CEO networks. Participants will share and leave with actionable do’s and don’ts that can be implemented immediately to uncover high-quality, non-obvious opportunities.
Key Takeaways:
Speed matters when packaging deals for independent sponsors and capital providers. This peer-driven roundtable brings together a banker, SBIC credit partner, family office/equity investor, and QoE lead to reverse-engineer a high-performing IS deal package. Participants will explore revenue quality, pricing power, customer health, and debt capacity, while also learning what often causes stalls or re-trades.
Key Takeaways:
Managing Partner
Weave Growth Partners
Further details to be announced.
Facilitator
Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Verivend
With major tax changes on the horizon for 2025, independent sponsors need clarity on how shifting rules will impact deal structures, rollover equity, seller proceeds, and LOI terms. This roundtable breaks down the most relevant updates — from sunsetting provisions and IRS scrutiny to BOI compliance and tax-efficient earnouts — and offers practical steps to prepare deals and founders for the year ahead.
Key Takeaways:
Facilitator
Partne & Mergers and Acquisitions Tax Practice Leader
Citrin Cooperman
Nichol Chiarella is a partner and Citrin Cooperman's Mergers and Acquisitions Tax Practice Leader, with over two decades of experience in public accounting. She provides high level tax planning and consulting services related to buy-side, sell-side, and restructuring transactions involving private equity firms, closely-held businesses, business owners, and high net worth individuals within the technology, manufacturing and distribution, wholesale, retail, cannabis, healthcare, real estate, staffing, and professional services industries.
Nichol handles transaction tax matters for private equity funds, independent sponsors, limited liability companies (LLCs), domestic partnerships, corporations, and S corporations. She specializes in buy-side and sell-side tax advisory, including tax due diligence, pre-transaction planning, tax structuring, and modeling, and post-transaction compliance support. She also handles mergers, divestitures, and restructuring matters, in addition to helping privately-held business owners transition to related parties.
Nichol also leads the firm’s global diversity, equity, and inclusion mission, branded as CC EDGE (Empowering Diversity and Gender Equality). In this role, she interfaces regularly with all CC EDGE leads in each of our metro geographies in the United States and in India.
Nichol's specialized tax knowledge and network of professional contacts allows her to act as a resource not only for her clients, but for other professionals seeking solutions for their clients and customers.
Minority and majority investments aren’t just about percentage ownership, they’re about control, economics, and alignment. This peer roundtable dives into what you’re truly trading in each structure, covering governance levers, promote calculations, co-invest rights, and the critical “lines not to cross.” Participants will gain practical frameworks to negotiate and structure deals with clarity and confidence.
Key Takeaways:
Facilitator
Co-Founder & CEO
Uncommon Equity
Dan is a seasoned, Chicago-based investment professional with nearly four decades of investing, banking, and financial advisory experience. He has experience across venture capital, growth equity and buyout investments, as well as in financial advisory and corporate finance disciplines, and has boardroom experience ranging from startups to multinational companies. Prior to co-founding Uncommon Equity, Dan co-founded Winona Capital Management and served on its Board and Investment Committee. He previously enjoyed a 17-year investment banking career with Salomon Brothers and Bank of America, serving as Bank of America’s Global Co-Head of the Consumer & Retail investment banking sector. Dan lives in Winnetka, Illinois with his wife, Suzanne, and enjoys time with his three adult children. He is an avid sports fan, long suffering Cleveland Browns and Cubs fan, golfer, jazz and R&B enthusiast, and bass player.
Co-sponsoring deals can expand capacity and access, but misalignment can derail even the most promising transactions. This peer roundtable explores the do’s and don’ts of co-sponsorship, covering decision rights, division of labor, economics, communication cadences, and the common red flags that sink partnerships. Participants will walk away with practical guidance for structuring and managing co-sponsor relationships successfully.
Key Takeaways:
Facilitator
Managing Partner
Clavis Capital Partners
Claudine oversees an integrated team of transaction, valuation, restructuring, project finance, and dispute resolution professionals serving clients throughout the lifecycles of their businesses. With specific expertise in managing opportunities and roadblocks that can impact a business moving forward, Claudine and her team help clients achieve optimal outcomes in protecting and growing stakeholder value.
Claudine serves as an adviser to public and private companies, both domestically and internationally. Her clients comprise the full gamut of financial sponsors including private equity investors, independent sponsors, family offices, alternative investment funds, lenders, and strategic investors. Her areas of knowledge include strategic advisory, quality of earnings analyses, identifying revenue sources and profitability drivers, examining operating cost structure and sustainability factors, investigating business models including cash flow and financial projections, reviewing quality and realization of assets and liabilities, identifying working capital requirements and negotiating positions, post-close working capital verification, and adjustment mechanisms.
Claudine was named to Mergers and Acquisitions 2019 list of the most influential women in mid-market M&A, and Crain’s NY 2018 most notable women in consulting.
Oriented to building new connections and expanding your network. Focused on developing relationships with a funding sources, connect with the Independent Sponsors or Capital Providers specializing in investments in the industry sectors and markets you focus on. In advance of the event you will be provided with a full list of attendees, so you can choose to meet with the most relevant contacts and evaluate the potential for future business partnerships.
Sponsored by
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Designed to connect you with the right people to accelerate deal execution. These meetings are tailored to deal execution, including getting deals signed, financed, and closed. In advance of the event you will be provided with a full list of attendees, so you can choose to meet with the most relevant contacts and evaluate the potential for future business partnerships.
Sponsored by
Wrap up the day with a relaxed cocktail reception, a great way to unwind and reflect on the day with fellow attendees.
Sponsored by
Engage in focused conversations around active deals where your operational expertise can drive value. Meet directly with Independent Sponsors and Capital Providers who are seeking hands-on operating partners with proven experience in scaling businesses, improving performance, and supporting post-acquisition strategy. Prior to the event, you’ll receive a full list of attendees, enabling you to identify the most relevant dealmakers and connect with those whose portfolio needs align with your sector experience.
These curated 1x1 meetings will help you evaluate fit, explore opportunities to partner on value-creation initiatives, and position yourself for future collaborations within active or upcoming transactions.
Take a moment to recharge and connect with fellow attendees over fresh coffee and light refreshments.
Join your peers for a series of lively and interactive discussions on the most pressing topics you are facing today. The small group format will enable you to make meaningful connections and come up with out-of-the-box solutions to shared challenges.
Navigating New Labor and State Rules
Talent & Leadership for PortCos
Leveraging AI to grow portfolio companies
Enjoy lunch while connecting with peers, speakers, and industry leaders. It's the perfect opportunity to continue meaningful conversations, build new relationships, and refuel for the afternoon sessions.
Boosting Growth through Commercial Transformation
This workshop will explore how to overhaul go-to-market models, pricing, sales effectiveness and customer segmentation to unlock meaningful topline value. Attendees will get a fast-moving blueprint of practical moves that portfolio companies can deploy now.
Key Takeaways
How to shift from cost-plus to value-driven pricing and monetize differentiated offerings.
Facilitator
Founder & Principal
Aribella
How to align sales, marketing and customer success to maximise growth lifts.
Facilitator
Founder
The Owners and The Operators
Financial Foundations for Value Creation
Focused on refining the finance function to drive value: improved forecasting, KPI design, working capital optimisation, cost transparency and decision-support. Participants will leave with a concise checklist of high-impact financial levers.
Key Takeaways:
Facilitator
Operating Partner
The Peakstone Group
Tim Van Mieghem is an Operating Partner at The Peakstone Group, where he is responsible for deal evaluation and execution. Tim is also a Partner of The ProAction Group, an operational consulting firm which he co-founded in 1995.
Tim has 20 years of experience helping middle market companies improve operations. Tim has particular experience in manufacturing, sourcing, logistics, inventory management, and related operational areas. Tim is also the author of Implementing Supplier Partnerships and numerous articles on sourcing and logistics.
Prior to forming The ProAction Group, Tim worked in operational consulting at Arthur Andersen and a boutique supply chain consulting firm.
Moving beyond vanity metrics to meaningful performance indicators and accountability.
Facilitator
Portfolio Manager, Climate Investments
Muus
Kavita joined MUUS from MIT Sloan in 2021, and became Portfolio Manager in 2025, now overseeing MUUS’s investments in ~35 venture capital investments in sustainability-focused companies.
Kavita earned her MBA at MIT Sloan, as well as the Sustainability Certificate from the MIT Sloan Sustainability Initiative. While at Sloan, Kavita worked to enable a carbon-neutral future with Closed Loop Partners, International Finance Corporation’s Climate Finance group, and cleantech platform Station A. She has also worked with Women of the World Endowment to empower women who play a crucial role in mitigating climate change.
Kavita’s career has been rooted in her passion for sustainable and inclusive economic growth, and she began exploring the intersection of finance and sustainability while in college. After earning her B.S. in Business & Political Economy from NYU Stern, she joined BlackRock’s Financial Institutions Group.
At BlackRock, Kavita focused on sustainable investing initiatives across various topics, including climate change, the rise of ESG, and stranded asset analyses of investment portfolios. Her work helped clients understand ESG risks and opportunities, develop policies for sustainable investing, and allocate capital in line with impact objectives.
In her free time, Kavita enjoys exploring the NYC food and speakeasy scene, long walks in the park with her Westie, Tofu, and performing South Asian dance. She looks forward to snowboarding, scuba diving, and adventure travel whenever she can get away from the city.
Tactics to improve visibility, free up cash, and build resilience into the business model.
Facilitator
Senior Director, Value Creation
Littlejohn & Co
Mr. Abdelhalim joined Littlejohn in 2021 as a Value Creation Director to support Littlejohn portfolio companies on designing and executing against their value creation plans. He has supported IWS, Valcourt, and Hiller across a variety of topics to drive organic and inorganic growth. As a Senior Director, Mr. Abdelhalim is also responsible for onboarding new Value Creation Directors and sharing best practices across the portfolio.
Prior to joining Littlejohn, Mr. Abdelhalim spent four years working at Carrier and Bloom Energy where he held a variety of corporate strategy, operations, and product management roles. He also spent five years working as a management consultant at McKinsey & Company where he advised clients globally on strategy, operations, and M&A topics.
Mr. Abdelhalim holds a B.S. and M.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Florida and MIT, respectively, and he also completed minors in Business Administration & Sales Engineering.
Designed to help you build meaningful connections and expand your network, these 1x1 meetings provide direct access to key players in the value creation ecosystem. Connect with funding sources, Independent Sponsors, Capital Providers, and Operating Partners who specialize in investments and operational improvement in your target sectors and markets.
Prior to the event, you will receive a full list of attendees, allowing you to select the most relevant contacts and explore opportunities for strategic collaboration, co-investments, and future business partnerships.
These 1x1 meetings are designed to connect you with the right people to accelerate deal execution. Engage with funding sources, Independent Sponsors, Capital Providers, and Operating Partners who can help move transactions forward, from deal structuring and financing to signing and closing.
Ahead of the event, you will receive a full list of attendees, allowing you to select the most relevant contacts and explore opportunities for strategic collaboration, co-investments, and future business partnerships.
Celebrate the movers and shakers in the Independent Sponsor space, highlighting the innovative work that brings together some of the most unique middle-market deals in the industry.
Join us from 8am to pick up your badge and participate in the breakfast networking to kick start your day with new connections!
Engage in focused conversations around active deals where your operational expertise can drive value. Meet directly with Independent Sponsors and Capital Providers who are seeking hands-on operating partners with proven experience in scaling businesses, improving performance, and supporting post-acquisition strategy. Prior to the event, you’ll receive a full list of attendees, enabling you to identify the most relevant dealmakers and connect with those whose portfolio needs align with your sector experience.
These curated 1x1 meetings will help you evaluate fit, explore opportunities to partner on value-creation initiatives, and position yourself for future collaborations within active or upcoming transactions.
Take a moment to recharge and connect with fellow attendees over fresh coffee and light refreshments.
As the private equity landscape continues to evolve, so too does the art and science of value creation. This forward-looking panel brings together leading operating partners, investors, and industry strategists to discuss how the value creation model is transforming in today’s dynamic market.
The discussion will explore three key levers shaping the next generation of performance improvement:
Tech Enablement as a Value Creation Engine
This session focuses on leveraging technology (automation, data, systems) to scale the business, streamline operations, reduce cost and enable growth. The goal: practical tech-stack review, quick wins and scalable platform thinking.
Key Takeaways
Facilitator
AI Design Innovation
Vista Equity Partners
Where to start, what to automate, how to assess ROI and drive adoption.
Facilitator
Operating Partner
Diversis Capital
Scott Graham is an Operating Partner at Diversis and an expert on growth and marketing strategy. For over a decade, he has led and consulted technology companies and brands in designing products, experiences, and campaigns that grow their customers and revenues. Scott helps teams develop customer-centric, data-driven strategies and processes by leveraging cross-collaboration, rapid iteration, and continuous discovery methodologies. Throughout his career, he has led product, marketing, and growth teams for multiple technology companies including as VP of Product & Marketing at Carjojo (Sold in 2018), Co-Founder & COO of CommonGenuis (Named a Top Startup by Forbes, Collison, and Startup Grind Global), and VP of Marketing at Pinger (Backed by Kleiner Perkins and DAG Ventures). Scott is a frequent guest lecturer and a key contributor to the Growth Hacking curriculum at Berkeley's Haas School of Business. He also serves as a growth advisor for Carnegie Mellon's VentureBridge program, where he has helped consumer, textile, AR/VR, and travel industry companies hone their brands, products, and go-to-market strategies. Scott holds an MBA from the University of California, Berkeley Haas School of Business and a BBA with triple majors in Marketing, Finance, and Entrepreneurship from Emory University, Goizueta Business School.
Ensuring the architecture, legacy clean-up, data pipelines and platforms support future growth.
Facilitator
Founder & CEO
Insights7, Corp
Enjoy lunch while connecting with peers, speakers, and industry leaders. It's the perfect opportunity to continue meaningful conversations, build new relationships, and refuel for the afternoon sessions.
Unlocking Value through People & Organisation
Here, the focus is on the often-under-leveraged human side of value creation: aligning leadership, culture, talent, change management and operating-model shifts. Participants will take away a framework for embedding organisational change and talent acceleration.
Key Takeaways:
Facilitator
Founder
Berkida Ventures
Massimo Marinelli is the Founder of Berkida Ventures, a specialist investment and advisory firm, and an Operating Partner at Corrum Capital, an independent private investment platform focused on the Sports, Media, and Entertainment sectors. Through Berkida, he partners with private credit investors and family offices on strategic investments, financings, and acquisitions across professional sport, content, gaming, and IP-driven businesses. Recent work includes football club acquisitions and financings, as well as advising entrepreneurs on the sale of video gaming and gaming-related companies.
Previously, Massimo was CEO and a board member of Aser Ventures, overseeing a portfolio that included Leeds United Football Club, Eleven Sports (now part of DAZN Group), Gen-Z music agency Creed Media, and production company Neo Studios. He also served on the Board of Leeds United during its time in both the English Championship and the Premier League.
Earlier in his career, Massimo spent 15 years in investment banking in London and New York, most recently as Managing Director and Head of EMEA Media & Internet at UBS. He has led transactions for clients including Formula 1, Dorna/MotoGP, Sky, Viacom, ATG Entertainment, and Perform (now Stats Perform
How to lead transformations, engage teams, manage resistance and embed new ways of working.
Facilitator
Managing Director & Operating Partner
Cardinal Strategy Group
Structuring the right teams, roles and incentives to support rapid value-creation moves.
Designed to help you build meaningful connections and expand your network, these 1x1 meetings provide direct access to key players in the value creation ecosystem. Connect with funding sources, Independent Sponsors, Capital Providers, and Operating Partners who specialize in investments and operational improvement in your target sectors and markets.
Prior to the event, you will receive a full list of attendees, allowing you to select the most relevant contacts and explore opportunities for strategic collaboration, co-investments, and future business partnerships.
These 1x1 meetings are designed to connect you with the right people to accelerate deal execution. Engage with funding sources, Independent Sponsors, Capital Providers, and Operating Partners who can help move transactions forward, from deal structuring and financing to signing and closing.
Ahead of the event, you will receive a full list of attendees, allowing you to select the most relevant contacts and explore opportunities for strategic collaboration, co-investments, and future business partnerships.
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