🔹 Episode Overview: In this episode, we’re joined by William Corner, Partner at Prelude Growth Partners, a New York-based private equity firm dedicated to the high-growth consumer space. William shares insights from his impressive journey through investment banking and private equity at firms like Goldman Sachs and TowerBrook Capital, to now helping build Prelude Growth from its inception to the recent close of Fund III. He explores critical investment lessons, the importance of talent, consumer industry trends, and the real-life challenges and rewards of building a PE firm from the ground up.00:00 – Intro to William Corner & Prelude Growth Partners<ul><li>William’s background: Goldman Sachs, TowerBrook, and JP Morgan</li><li>Prelude’s focus: high-growth consumer sectors like beauty, health & wellness, pet, baby, and food/beverage</li><li>Just closed Fund III – now managing $1.3B in AUM</li></ul>02:24 – Common Mistakes in PE & Consumer Investing<ul><li>Misunderstanding the type of risk (product, category, brand, execution)</li><li>Lack of clarity on risk-return profile per category</li><li>Undervaluing the importance of top-tier talent in portfolio companies</li></ul>05:18 – Evaluating Talent and Leadership<ul><li>Differences between a great founder/CEO and an average one</li><li>Importance of building the right team early</li><li>Partnership model: working closely with founders as a minority investor</li></ul>07:41 – Passion for the Consumer Industry<ul><li>How deep focus and passion improve investment intuition</li><li>Recognizing industry "tourists" vs committed insiders</li><li>Benefits of building a tight, focused ecosystem</li></ul>09:39 – Lessons from Goldman Sachs & TowerBrook<ul><li>Seeing institutional rigor and process</li><li>Learning high-standard due diligence and underwriting</li><li>Wanting to work up the risk curve and help build something from scratch</li></ul>11:29 – The Startup Journey of Prelude Growth<ul><li>From $85M in Fund I (2018) to $600M in Fund III (2025)</li><li>Early-stage scrappiness and challenges</li><li>Most rewarding part: building a recognized brand and seeing portfolio companies become category leaders</li></ul>16:55 – Current Consumer Industry Trends & Outlook<ul><li>Growth brands more insulated from macro headwinds</li><li>Tariff uncertainty and its impact on planning</li><li>Strategic reshuffling by large CPG players creating investment opportunities</li><li>Concerns around consumer debt and buy-now-pay-later risks</li><li>LP skepticism toward consumer-focused funds, but Prelude bucks the trend</li></ul>20:35 – Content Recommendations<ul><li>Podcasts: Pivot (Kara Swisher & Scott Galloway), Acquired, SmartLess</li><li>Business newsletters: Axios Pro Rata, Term Sheet</li><li>Substack content for niche consumer insights</li></ul>21:32 – How to Connect with William 📧 Email: <a href='mailto:will@preludegrowth.com'>will@preludegrowth.com</a>🔚 Closing Thoughts: William offers a masterclass in consumer investing; from risk frameworks and talent strategy to fundraising and sector specialization. His journey from major institutions to entrepreneurial investing highlights the power of clarity, conviction, and cultural fit in PE.Raw Selection partners with Private Equity firms and their portfolio companies to secure exceptional executive talent. We focus on de-risking executive recruitment through meticulous search and selection processes, ensuring top-tier performance and long-term success.🔗 Connect with Alex Rawlings on LinkedIn: <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexrawlings/'>https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexrawlings/</a> 🌐 Visit Raw Selection: <a href='http://www.raw-selection.com/'>www.raw-selection.com</a>

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How Top Talent & Consumer Trends Drive $1.3B Growth With William Corner

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