In this episode of The Private Equity Podcast, Alex Rawlings welcomes Scott Neuberger, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Karmel Capital, a private equity firm investing in late-stage software and AI companies. Scott shares deep insights into how Karmel Capital leverages AI within its investment process, how they identify and evaluate late-stage tech businesses, and why they’re placing strategic bets in the infrastructure layer of AI.

Scott explains the firm's capital efficiency-focused strategy, how they rank companies, and what metrics truly distinguish iconic businesses from the rest. He also discusses how AI is transforming internal operations and why firms must go beyond the hype to truly implement impactful AI solutions.

Later in the conversation, Scott offers practical advice to portfolio company leaders on how to begin leveraging AI meaningfully—starting with labor-intensive areas like customer support. He finishes by outlining Karmel’s top-down investment approach to sectors like cybersecurity and why infrastructure plays offer value and growth.

Whether you're investing in tech, operating a portfolio company, or just curious about how AI intersects with private equity, this episode is packed with real-world insight.

⌛ Episode Highlights & Time Stamps:

00:03 – Introduction to Scott Neuberger and Karmel Capital
01:00 – Scott’s journey: entrepreneur turned investor
02:19 – The mistake of investing too early in venture capital
03:47 – Why Karmel focuses on measurable, repeatable metrics
04:45 – How they assess capital efficiency in tech companies
06:41 – Key metrics and importance of experienced management teams
08:38 – Evaluating human capital and talent within portfolio companies
10:05 – Zooming out: The “mosaic theory” of identifying strong investments
10:33 – How Karmel Capital uses AI internally for data collection & analysis
13:22 – AI investing: why infrastructure is Karmel’s focus
15:49 – Pick-and-shovel strategy: betting on infrastructure vs. applications
17:44 – Advice for portfolio execs on where to begin with AI
18:43 – Customer support as a high-impact AI use case
21:09 – Navigating noise in AI investing: how Karmel decides where to play
22:34 – Case study: AI in cybersecurity and the top-down analysis approach
24:59 – The arms race in cybersecurity: AI on both offense and defense
25:29 – Scott’s reading and listening habits (inc. 20VC podcast)
26:56 – How to contact Scott

Connect with Scott Neuberger:
📧 Email: scott@karmelcap.com

🌐 Website: www.karmelcapital.com

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: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexrawlings/

🌐 Visit Raw Selection: www.raw-selection.com

Looking to grow your team? Check out our Hiring Guides

for proven strategies, templates, and best practices to make smarter hires.

🗣️ Guest: Carola Kamuff – Presentation Coach | Author of Quick Guide Management Presentation
🎧 Host: Alex Rawlings, Founder of Raw Selection

⏱️ Key Topics & Timestamps:

00:00 – Meet Carola Kamuff
Former M&A exec turned expert in coaching management teams for exit presentations.

01:54 – Why Communication Matters
Carola explains her shift from numbers to narratives and why people—not just slides—drive deal success.

02:49 – The Biggest Mistake
Teams often prepare too little, too late—focusing on slides, not delivery or messaging.

04:15 – Rehearsal ≠ Training
Rehearsals test flow. Training transforms behavior, delivery, team dynamics, and confidence.

06:41 – Crafting a Powerful Story
From stats to storytelling—how real examples bring presentations to life and increase credibility.

09:35 – Even Experienced Execs Benefit
Exit presentations are high-stakes. Even confident leaders gain clarity, alignment, and polish from coaching.

12:51 – Does it Really Move the Needle?
Yes—Carola shares a real example where coaching turned around investor perception and revived interest.

14:47 – High Impact, Low Time Commitment
Just a few focused sessions over weeks can significantly improve presentation outcomes.

16:14 – Three Keys to Success

1. Storyline that resonates
2. Cohesive team delivery
3. Objective, external feedback

18:38 – Carola’s Recommended Reads & Listens
📚 Resonate, Slide:ology, Talk Like TED
🎧 Think Fast, Talk Smart, The Moth
📘 German: Quick Guide Management Presentation by Carola Kamuff

20:05 – Connect with Carola
Find her on LinkedIn: Carola Kamuff

Key Takeaway:
Your management presentation can boost—or break—your valuation. Great slides aren’t enough. Confidence, storytelling, and preparation make the difference.

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: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexrawlings/
🌐 Visit Raw Selection: www.raw-selection.com

Looking to grow your team? Check out our Hiring Guides

for proven strategies, templates, and best practices to make smarter hires.

In this episode, Alex Rawlings speaks with Jamyn Edis, digital transformation expert, former VC-backed CEO, and NYU professor. Jamyn shares actionable insights on using AI, data, and automation to drive performance across private equity firms and their portfolio companies.

From dynamic pricing models and A/B testing to agentic AI and accelerating product cycles, Jamyn explains how to cut through the hype, identify real opportunities, and turn AI into measurable value.

⏱️ Episode Highlights

00:00 – Meet Jamyn Edis
30+ years in consulting (Accenture), corporate (HBO, Take-Two), startups, and teaching at NYU. Focused on the intersection of tech, data, and private equity.

02:23 – Common Mistake in PE
Most firms treat data as plumbing, not strategy. Shift from backward-looking reporting to predictive and prescriptive analytics.

03:48 – AI That Delivers ROI
AI must be embedded into daily operations, not stuck in R&D. Productize, operationalize, and commercialize—or risk irrelevance.

05:15 – How AI Builds on Data
AI is powered by historical data but creates forward-looking insights. Use it to improve pricing, marketing, and operations.

06:42 – Case Study: Take-Two Interactive
Jamyn led data science initiatives to optimize pricing and marketing—replacing gut decisions with data-driven experimentation.

08:08 – AI as PE’s Next Value Driver
AI is the new operating system for PE. After leverage and digital transformation, the next edge is intelligence at scale.

09:31 – Advice to PE Firms
Skeptical? “Get out before the business gets out of you.” Overwhelmed? Start small, build prototypes, and focus on real use cases.

11:04 – Agentic AI in Action
Jamyn shares examples of cutting development cycles, boosting campaign ROI, and improving customer service with AI agents.

13:26 – From Problem to Prototype
Diagnose real pain points, create business and technical requirements, and build targeted AI tools that solve specific problems.

14:50 – AI Won’t Replace Humans, But...
Those who use AI will outperform those who don’t. Jamyn explains Jevons Paradox and why productivity leads to new jobs.

18:46 – How Jamyn Diagnoses Opportunities
Structured discovery process, stakeholder interviews, and clear roadmaps to identify where AI and tech can drive value.

22:10 – Every PE Firm Needs an AI Stack
Soon, AI tools will be as essential as data teams or web developers. Invest now in people, platforms, and processes.

23:06 – The Future is AI + Human Judgment
Firms that embed AI deeply—and pair it with operator judgment—will unlock the next generation of alpha.

24:21 – Jamyn’s Book: The Fifth Horseman
An exploration of how AI mirrors humanity and transforms the way we live and lead. AI is trained by us—and reflects us.

29:07 – What Jamyn Reads & Recommends
Books: The Hard Thing About Hard Things, Understanding Media
Podcasts: Pivot, Ezra Klein
TV: Succession – “Still the best corporate training program ever made.”

🔗 Connect with Alex Rawlings on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexrawlings/
🌐 Visit Raw Selection: www.raw-selection.com

Looking to grow your team? Check out our Hiring Guides

for proven strategies, templates, and best practices to make smarter hires.