About this episode
How do you raise $875M in one of the hardest fundraising markets in decades and still outperform on DPI, IRR, and culture?
In this episode, I sit down with Jesse D. Serventi and Atif Gilani, Founding Partners of Renovus Capital Partners, to unpack what actually compounds in private equity over 15+ years. We break down why staying in the lower end of the lower middle market creates structural advantage, how talent density became their real edge, and why portfolio construction—not deal hype—is the hidden driver of net returns. Jesse and Atif also share how Renovus evolved from three founders doing everything into a scaled firm built to last decades, not cycles.
Highlights:
How Renovus raised $875M while many peers struggled
Why sub-$10M EBITDA businesses create more “at bats”
Purchase price discipline and playing the game on “easy mode”
Talent density as the true compounding advantage
Boomerang CEOs and the Renovus ecosystem effect
Evolving from deal makers to firm builders
Recycling capital to invest ~120% of LP commitments
Why holding great businesses longer beats forced exits
“Invest and investigate” as a portfolio construction edge
Choosing LPs as long-term partners, not one-off capital
Guest Bio:
Jesse D. Serventi and Atif Gilani are Founding Partners of Renovus Capital Partners, a private equity firm focused on founder-owned businesses in the lower middle market. Prior to Renovus, Jesse was an investment professional at Leeds Equity Partners and began his career at Citigroup in investment banking and private equity. Atif was a Managing Director at Leeds Equity Partners and started his career in M&A at Merrill Lynch. Together, they have spent more than 15 years building Renovus into a scaled, culture-driven firm known for strong DPI, disciplined portfolio construction, and long-term alignment with founders, executives, and LPs.
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