Top Private Equity Innovator of the Year 2026: Bertram Capital with Jeff Drazan
Podcast: Private Equity Podcast: Karma School of BusinessPublished On: Sat Mar 14 2026
Description: Jeff Drazan, Managing Partner at Bertram Capital and BluWave's 2026 Private Equity Innovator of the Year, explains how a technology-first operating model reshaped his transition from venture capital to private equity and became a durable competitive advantage. He details how Bertram Labs embeds software, data, and digital execution directly into diligence and value creation—well before the deal closes. Jeff also shares the investment principles that matter most today: large markets, strong margins, and customer trust. This episode lays out what modern private equity innovation actually looks like—hit play. Episode Highlights: 1:18 – From Princeton engineering and Bell Labs to venture capital on the West Coast 6:05 – Treating early career roles as paid fellowships, not permanent destinations 14:37 – Why technology was the missing link in traditional private equity models 16:25 – Founding Bertram Capital to bring digital transformation to lower-tech businesses 21:06 – Inside Bertram Labs: in-house software, data, and execution—not just advice 27:14 – Winning deals by fixing problems during diligence, not after closing 33:39 – The two non-negotiables: large TAMs and meaningful gross margins 48:45 – Why continuous innovation is the only sustainable edge in private equity To learn more about Bertram Capital, visit https://www.bertramcapital.com/ For details on BluWave's 2026 Top Private Equity Innovator Awards and Bertram Capital's recognition, visit www.bluwave.net/awards To discover more about Jeff Drazan, visit https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffdrazan
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