How We Acquired 20 Companies (Podcast)
HoldCo Builders is a podcast hosted by Mikk Markus (@PrivatEquityGuy) exploring how entrepreneurs start, buy, and scale companies within long-term holding company structures. This recent episode features Sequoya Borgman breaking down what he’s learned after acquiring 20 companies and building one of the most interesting retail-funded private equity engines in America. So far, every deal has been oversubscribed, backed by a network of more than 500 individual investors. In this episode, Sequoya shares the principles behind Borgman Capital’s independent-sponsor model and why retail-backed private equity is creating new opportunities in the lower middle market.
What listeners can expect to take away from the podcast:
Why we “fish” in second-tier cities and why those markets often hold the most overlooked value.
Why Borgman Capital chose hundreds of retail investors instead of a traditional fund, and how that decision drives alignment, flexibility, and consistent oversubscription.
How founder transitions and leadership fit can become the biggest risks in private equity, and why people and culture matter more than numbers.
The state of private equity today, including deal flow, uncertainty, and why long-term stewardship continues to win over short-term flips.