Unlocking Value Podcast – listen to Alex Thomson’s insights

As part of the six-episode ‘Unlocking Value’ podcast series hosted by Garwood Growth, Partner Alex Thomson joined the episode titled “What Buyers Look For – and What Spooks Them” to share his insights on what makes a deal succeed or fail in the professional services sector.

Alex appeared alongside host John Howard of Garwood Growth and Frank Shephard, Partner and Global Head of Corporate at DWF. The panel explored the key factors that shape deal outcomes. Drawing on over 20 years of experience investing in high-growth consulting and technology businesses, Alex provided practical insight into what truly builds or breaks investor confidence during a transaction.

Whether considering investment, planning an exit, or simply wanting to understand how buyers think, listeners can gain valuable perspective from the podcast, hearing directly from those who sit across the deal table.

Key Discussion Points:

• What builds investor confidence?
  What private equity investors look for during diligence and what signals a strong opportunity.
• Common Deal Pitfalls
  From messy data to unclear narratives, the team discussed what often derailed deals and how to avoid these traps.
• Hard vs. Soft Diligence
  Insights into both the factual and emotional factors that shaped how a business was valued.
• Inside the Deal Room
  Real-world experiences from across legal, financial and investment perspectives on what sets successful deals apart.

Video

In this clip, Alex discusses how GCP looks to ensure that the businesses we partner with demonstrate strong annual compound growth over our investment lifecycle. This highlights a sustainable, scaled business and when it comes to our exit, there is a successful outcome for all stakeholders.

Minos Ataliotis, CEO & Founder of our portfolio partner CloudRock, also featured on the podcast, joining the episode “What Makes a Business Valuable?”. In this clip, Minos shares why founders must build strong management teams and how diverse ideas and personalities can drive long-term value.

You can listen to the whole ‘Unlocking Value’ podcast series via this link. Unlocking Value Podcast | Equity Insights for Founders