David Zorub is the Founder and CIO of Parsifal Capital Management, a $1.5 billion hedge fund that invests in a concentrated portfolio of longs and shorts across geographies, sectors, and capital structures. David joined me on the show a few months before he launched Parsifal six years ago to discuss his plans. We got back together to talk about what’s happened since.

Our conversation covers the headwinds facing fundamental investing, Parsifal’s approach to counter those challenges, and the investment and business processes that led the firm to reach this point. Along the way, David shares keen insights into research, portfolio construction, and partner relationships that have combined to take Parsifal from a start-up hedge fund to a thriving organization in a difficult environment to do so.

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David Zorub is the founder of Parsifal Capital, a new hedge fund he is launching later this year.  Before founding Parsifal, Dave spent fifteen years in research and portfolio management at hedge funds and another few in investment banking and private equity. 

I interviewed David recently at Columbia University’s Student Investment Management Conference and that conversation follows. We cover his career path and his insights into the philosophy and structure of a hedge fund business and investment portfolio. It’s not easy starting a hedge fund these days, and those eager to try will get a sense of the challenges ahead by listening to an experienced investor who’s making a go of it.

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Brett Barth and Evan Roth are co-founders and Co-CEOs of BBR Partners, a multi-family office that oversees $32 billion on behalf of 180 families and is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. Brett appeared on episode 3 of Capital Allocators eight years ago and is a regular contributor in our Friends Reunion shows. I’ve observed BBR’s growth since first meeting Brett and Evan twenty-four years ago and was excited to hear more about their journey.

Our conversation covers BBR’s successes, missteps, and key lessons over the years. We discuss their investment philosophy and cultural principles, the “turbulent regimes” that cemented their approach with clients, and their shift in mindset from scrappy entrepreneurs to managers of an enduring business. Evan and Brett describe the business and investment decisions that allowed BBR to sustain success, create peace of mind for clients, and prepare for the next long chapter in BBR’s story.

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Brett Barth is a founder and the CIO of BBR Partners. BBR manages north of $12.5B on behalf of 125 families in its multi-family office. In this episode, we start talking about raising twins, a family issue close to both of our hearts. From there we learn about how Brett came to form BBR. We spend a lot of time going into depth on his firm’s asset allocation process and on the decision-making process of manager selection.  Along the way we touch on inefficiencies in Asia in the early days and in music royalties today.  Brett offers nuggets of practical substance for allocators of all types – from financial advisors to large institutional managers. Learn More Follow Ted on Twitter at @tseides or LinkedIn Subscribe to the mailing list Access Transcript with Premium Membership

What are the implications of consolidation in the private markets? The leading firms, which are mostly public companies, raised an insane amount of money last year, while the rest of the industry mostly struggled. What will this mean for private markets going forward? Have a listen to find out.

Read Ted’s blog here.

Michael Choe is the CEO and Co-Head of Flagship private equity strategy at Charlesbank Capital Partners, a $22B manager of middle-market private equity, credit, and technology opportunities that spun out of the Harvard Management Company in 1998. Our conversation covers Mike’s path from science to finance, including an immigrant story and a draw to decision-making at a young age. We discuss Charlesbank’s history and aspiration to manufacture sound decision-making as a path to investment success, applying its “fan of outcomes” thinking to talent, research, diligence, sourcing, and company operations. Learn More Follow Ted on Twitter at @tseides or LinkedIn Subscribe to the mailing list Access Transcript with Premium Membership

Ian Charles is a founding partner at Arctos Partners, a $10 billion private equity firm that strives to create valuable solutions to complex problems. In just five years, Arctos has become the leading institutional investor across the five major North American sports leagues. It also serves as a strategic partner to leading private market sponsors with bespoke capital and liquidity solutions. As part of its effort to support both ecosystems, Arctos publishes data-driven research and content under the Arctos Insights umbrella.

Ian is a repeat guest on the show. Our first conversation with co-founding partner Doc O’Connor describing the sports strategy is replayed in the feed.

This time around we walk through the changing competitive landscape of private equity, covering the most important narratives for GPs and LPs and how both sides are navigating the environment. We discuss Arctos’ taxonomy of private equity firms and the implications of its different levels to a GP’s strategic positioning and right to win. Ian has a long history serving the private equity market and is unusually insightful and blunt in describing the complex and evolving marketplace.

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Anthony Pompliano is an entrepreneur, media creator, and investor who has built one of the largest audiences of DIY investors. His following canvasses 1.6 million people on X, 560,000 on YouTube, and 260,000 on his daily The Pomp Letter. Anthony created Professional Capital Management, an investment company that builds and invests in early-stage companies by leveraging his audience. He’s not alone in his family in creating a following. Pomp’s wife Polina writes the popular blog, The Profile, and his brother Joe writes the sports business blog, Huddle Up. Pomp also recently published How to Live an Extraordinary Life, which shares life lessons through letters to his children. Our conversation covers Pomp’s passion for competing, leading, and problem-solving, formative business experience at Facebook, translating lessons to build a social media audience, and monetizing that audience through investing. We close touching on his wonderful book with a few anecdotes and lessons to share.

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Mitchell Green is the founder and managing partner of Lead Edge Capital, a growth equity firm with $5 billion in assets that invests in software, internet, and tech-enabled businesses. Lead Edge leverages its LPs, comprised of over 700 seasoned executives, entrepreneurs, deal makers, and celebrities to connect its portfolio companies with customers, partners, and talent. Unlike any other firm I’ve seen, the impressive list of LPs is publicly available on the firm’s website.

Our conversation covers Mitchell’s early exposure to business and finance, Lead Edge’s cold-calling strategies, investment criteria, and leverage of LPs to source, diligence, and add value to portfolio companies.

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Could 2025 be the year private equity fund flows return to normal? No. Not yet. Ted explains why in his latest post.

Read Ted’s blog here.