From Fund I to $1.6B: The Playbook | Chris Sznewajs of Pacific Avenue Capital Partners

Описание: Topics:

00:00 Intro & Setup
1:27 Systematizing Carve-Outs
06:18 Seller Promise
10:27 Ops Win + Painful Lesson
15:50 Strategy on One Page
18:10 Hire for IQ, Hustle, Leadership
28:16 Fundraising Advice for Independent Sponsors
32:33 Building IR and Back Office
41:25 What’s Next: Scale, Europe, Sector Depth
43:28 Operating Playbook: 100-Day Approach
50:02 Getting Unstuck & Finding True North
54:12 Parenting, Perspective & Balance

Top Takeaways

Keep strategy simple.
Instead of 50-slide strategy decks, Chris insists on a one-pager with two to four clear priorities. Every team member, from associate to partner, should be able to recite them. Simplicity drives alignment and execution.

3 actionable tips for hiring executives.
First, focus on three traits: intelligence, hustle, and the ability to lead. Second, use third-party assessment tools to better evaluate candidates. Third, test humility in real life. At Pacific Avenue, that means taking candidates out to a meal and watching the small interactions. If someone can’t treat people well in everyday settings, they won’t be a good leader inside the company.

Make it safe to fail, so you can win consistently.
Pacific Avenue’s rule: surface mistakes quickly, fix them, and move on. In fundraising, it’s asking for genuine feedback when LPs push back and refining the pitch. In operations, it’s changing course when a carve-out plan isn’t working. As Chris puts it, “It’s okay to be wrong. It's not okay to stay wrong.”

Look at the past to plan the future.
When assessing carve-outs, Pacific Avenue starts by asking: What did this business look like before the corporate parent? Often, it was a strong, growing standalone that later got deprioritized. That history matters because if the business thrived once, there’s a strong case it can thrive again with the right strategy.

About Chris Sznewajs
Chris Sznewajs is the Managing Partner and Founder of Pacific Avenue Capital Partners. A veteran investor in complex carve-outs and special situations, he brings decades of experience in private equity and operational turnarounds. Before launching Pacific Avenue in 2018, he was a Principal at The Gores Group and began his career in Bain & Company’s restructuring practice.

About Pacific Avenue Capital Partners
Pacific Avenue Capital Partners is an LA-based private equity firm focused on middle-market carve-outs, corporate divestitures, and other complex situations. The firm works hand-in-hand with management teams to unlock value through operational improvements and growth strategies. With the rapid close of its $1.6B Fund II in under four months, Pacific Avenue now manages over $3.8B in AUM.

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