Today, we are covering the increasingly thematic market of venture secondaries. My guest is Ravi Viswanathan, founder and managing partner of NewView Capital.  We cover some of the basics around these transactions because so much of private markets are bespoke. And while Ravi confirmed that the bespoke nature makes each individual secondary deal unique, there are consistencies in terms of how they approach the opportunity.  We discuss the various players in the market and their motivations for buying and selling, whether they are VC sellers, founders, employee sellers, or VC buyers. Ravi lays out the structural dynamics that are likely to make this a larger market well into the future. Please enjoy this Breakdown of venture secondaries.  For the full show notes, transcript, and links to the best content to learn more, check out the episode page here. ----- This episode is brought to you by EightSleep, the temperature-controlled mattress cover that heats or cools your mattress to transform your sleep. The Pod 4 Ultra is the new gold standard in intelligent sleep systems. It can be added to your current mattress like a fitted sheet and is been clinically proven to give you up to an hour more quality of sleep every night. The cooling capability can cool your side of the bed to 20 degrees below room temperature, all managed by the pod's autopilot feature, which adjusts the temperature throughout the night. This holiday season go to eightsleep.com/breakdowns and use code JOYS for up to $600 off the Pod 4 Ultra when bundled.  — This episode is brought to you by Ridgeline. Ridgeline has built a complete, real-time, modern operating system for investment managers. It handles trading, portfolio management, compliance, customer reporting, and much more through an all-in-one real-time cloud platform. I think this platform will become the standard for investment managers, and if you run an investing firm, I highly recommend you find time to speak with them. Head to ridgelineapps.com to learn more about the platform. ----- Business Breakdowns is a property of Colossus, LLC. For more episodes of Business Breakdowns, visit joincolossus.com/episodes. Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com). Show Notes (00:00:00) Introduction to Secondary Transactions in Private Markets (00:08:43) Understanding the Basics of Secondary Transactions (00:10:28) Evolution and Growth of Venture Secondaries (00:13:12) Impact of Market Dynamics on Secondary Transactions (00:15:20) Pricing and Valuation in Secondary Markets (00:18:47) Challenges and Strategies in Secondary Transactions (00:28:25) Market Trends and Future Outlook (00:33:30) Venture Sponsor to Sponsor Transactions (00:34:05) Buyer Mentality and Exit Strategies (00:35:39) IPO Market and Valuation Trends (00:38:09) Focus on Growth and Profitability (00:40:04) Strategic Exits and Market Dynamics (00:49:48) Risk Dynamics and Market Competition (00:55:44) Key Lessons and Future of Venture Capital

This is Zack Fuss. Today we're breaking down Fastenal. Starting as a small fastener retailer in Minnesota, the company has evolved into a mission-critical supply chain partner for its industrial customers. Today, the business sports a nearly $50 billion market cap and produces nearly $8 billion in sales.  The impact of Fastenal's founder, Bob Kierlin, on Fastenal's commercial success can't be overstated. The industrial vending machine was his original idea, a vision he made a reality years later through its network of local branches, onsite locations, embedded with customers and innovative inventory management technologies. I'm joined by Delian Entchev, a portfolio manager at Aoris Investment Management. Today, we'll unpack the strategic choices, cultural DNA, and relentless customer focus that have fueled Fastenal's remarkable success. Please enjoy this Breakdown of Fastenal. Check out our new print publication Colossus Review. For the full show notes, transcript, and links to the best content to learn more, check out the episode page here. ----- This episode is brought to you by EightSleep, the temperature-controlled mattress cover that heats or cools your mattress to transform your sleep. The Pod 4 Ultra is the new gold standard in intelligent sleep systems. It can be added to your current mattress like a fitted sheet and is been clinically proven to give you up to an hour more quality of sleep every night. The cooling capability can cool your side of the bed to 20 degrees below room temperature, all managed by the pod's autopilot feature, which adjusts the temperature throughout the night. This holiday season, go to eightsleep.com/breakdowns and use code JOYS for up to $600 off the Pod 4 Ultra when bundled.  — This episode is brought to you by Ridgeline. Ridgeline has built a complete, real-time, modern operating system for investment managers. It handles trading, portfolio management, compliance, customer reporting, and much more through an all-in-one real-time cloud platform. I think this platform will become the standard for investment managers, and if you run an investing firm, I highly recommend you find time to speak with them. Head to ridgelineapps.com to learn more about the platform. ----- Business Breakdowns is a property of Colossus, LLC. For more episodes of Business Breakdowns, visit joincolossus.com/episodes. Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com). Show Notes (00:00:00) Welcome to Business Breakdowns (00:07:44) Understanding Fastenal's Business Model (00:08:24) The Amazon Connection (00:10:09) Fastenal's Founding Story (00:12:06) Pivot to Business Customers (00:13:18) Empowering Employees for Growth (00:14:44) Frugality and Culture at Fastenal (00:17:33) Expansion and Evolution (00:19:07) Onsite Services and Technological Innovations (00:22:17) International Growth and Future Opportunities (00:23:16) Financial Profile and Customer Relationships (00:28:36) Customer Integration: Fastenal's On-Site Business Model (00:29:21) Three Pillars of Fastenal's Service: Experts, Inventory, and Technology (00:30:39) Customization and Proximity: Tailoring On-Site Solutions (00:31:56) Economic Relationships and Customer Spend (00:33:56) Fastenal's Competitive Edge: Value Proposition and Culture (00:37:54) Growth and Market Share: Fastenal's Expansion Strategies (00:44:52) Financial Discipline and Capital Allocation (00:50:14) Lessons from Fastenal: Transparency and In-Person Visits