OODA Loop Offers a Solid Framework for Agile, Fast-Moving Companies
When I left my partner position at a PE fund to start BluWave, I sought an operating framework to help us build the company in an agile and customer-centric way. I embraced a model conceived by Air Force Colonel John Boyd called the OODA Loop (Observe, Orient, Decide, Act). This framework has been extremely helpful as we’ve grown to serving more than 350 PE funds in a short period […]
Research Finds PE-backed Companies More Resilient Than Others During Economic Contractions
Although states and businesses are beginning to reopen amid progress in the fight against COVID-19, the economic fallout has been devastating. Over the past nine weeks, almost 40 million Americans have filed for unemployment while the unemployment rate reached almost 15 percent in April – a number that has steadily increased since then. The private […]
How Companies Can Leverage Interim Leadership for a World in Flux
A rapid transformation of the global workforce has been taking place, fueled by digital transformation, specialization, and an increasingly on-demand labor pool. This transformation will only accelerate in light of the Coronavirus pandemic. Your company can’t afford to be paralyzed. In fact, when the world starts rotating again, now more than ever you and global […]
How the alternative workforce fits into the future
A few weeks ago, before the world seemingly imploded with the Nashville tornado and news that the coronavirus was on the move and spreading fast, BluWave was tapped for an Inc. Magazine article about how the “alternative workforce” fits into the future of work.
In retrospect, and without knowing it at the time, the insights we gave couldn’t be more true—particularly now that millions of companies have been upended and will rely on fast-moving, highly-skilled experts to help them rebuild and steer their ships in the right direction.
This has to be the strangest St. Patrick’s Day on record. To me, the business world feels a lot like the fog during the few weeks after 9/11 and when the bank meltdowns reached a fever pitch in 2008. Just like then, I’m quite sure that calm will prevail and that “this too shall pass.”
We’ve been getting all sorts of calls the last two weeks from fellow PE fund and portco clients to help understand how they can best get ahead during uncertain times. If nothing else, it feels good having contingency plans in process versus waiting to see what fate has in store.
On Thursday, March 5, 2020, we hosted a COVID-19 Intel Session for our PE fund stakeholders featuring leading experts from healthcare, government, and supply chain risks. For those who missed it, or perhaps aren’t officially part of our network yet, we wanted to provide the key takeaways on this important and rapidly-evolving topic.
Why Your Company Needs a Fully Realized Digital Marketing Strategy
As a player in the private equity space, you know the struggles of growing a company under tight deadlines and budgets. While you may think that digital marketing is better suited for “the other guys,” e.g. B2C firms, larger companies, groups targeting millennials, this isn’t the case. Middle market businesses across verticals can harness the […]
After nearly 20 years in private equity, I appreciate how hard it is to build and grow businesses in a constrained environment. Nothing is easy, but most things are possible with the right people and resources. Top private equity funds regularly ask us about ideas to help drive growth and reduce costs. Here are a […]
How You Should Be Selecting the Right Service Providers
When used correctly, service providers can meaningfully improve the efficiency and productivity of your business and can dramatically help increase value. In a perfect world, your service providers work autonomously and efficiently to make universal improvements to your business. But that’s not often the case. Service providers not only need the right capabilities, but also […]
Interim Controller Guide: When, Why & How PE Firms Secure Temporary Finance Leadership
An interim controller provides immediate, temporary financial leadership to stabilize accounting operations, ensure compliance, and maintain reporting continuity during transitions – delivering PE-grade expertise without the long-term commitment of a permanent hire. When portfolio companies face financial leadership gaps, private equity firms need swift, effective solutions that maintain operational continuity without compromising quality. An interim controller […]
BluWave Awards 2025: Alpine Investors is PE Innovator of the Year
We’re proud to announce Alpine Investors as Innovator of the Year in the fourth annual BluWave private equity awards*. The San Francisco-based firm was selected for its for exemplary innovation and leadership. “Innovation is at the heart of everything we do at Alpine,” said Graham Weaver, CEO and Founder of Alpine. “Building a culture of innovation […]
BluWave Awards 2025: Top Private Equity Innovators
We’re proud to announce the fourth annual Top Private Equity Innovators with the 2025 BluWave Awards*. “We’re regularly asked by market leaders about the best practices that are being embraced by the most innovative private equity firms,” said BluWave founder and CEO Sean Mooney, talking about the impetus for creating the awards. Learn more about […]
