In this episode of Fund Fanatics, Jeff Maier and Scott Aleali team up with Matt Allard, Founder and Managing Partner of Case Study Capital Partners, for a lively dive into launching a new independent sponsor platform, the meaning behind the Case Study name and what he’s hearing from nearly 90 LP conversations in today’s unpredictable fundraising world.

Matt shares why the lower middle market is buzzing, how servant leadership shaped his boardroom style and what it’s really like to build a firm when you’re simultaneously the cook, cleaner and waiter. And of course, Michigan pride is on full display as Matt dishes on his family’s maize-and-blue legacy and offers up a must-hit Ann Arbor experience. Go blue!

Fund Fanatics hosts ⁠Scott Aleali and Jeff Maier team up with Taylor Robinson of Lexington Partners for a sharp, engaging dive into private equity’s hottest topics: liquidity, continuation funds, and the evolution of secondaries. Taylor shares how firms are adapting to shifting valuations and investor demands, plus a few stories from his championship squash days as the sport heads to the 2028 Olympics.

On this episode of Fund Fanatics, hosts Scott Aleali and Jeff Maier are joined by Blake Cholost, VP of Finance and Controller at Kinderhook Industries. Blake shares how Kinderhook scaled from $2B to $8.5B AUM while modernizing operations through outsourcing, automation, and AI. From data architecture to ROI—and even surviving as long-suffering Miami Dolphins fans—this episode blends finance insights with a dose of fun.