Blake West: Private Equity Investor
Blake West: Private Equity Investor  
Podcast: The Investor With Joel Palathinkal
Published On: Sun Aug 31 2025
Description: On this podcast, you’ll get a front-row seat to how private equity investors think about building businesses, scaling operations, and creating long-term value. Expect deep dives into the lower middle market, lessons learned from real investments, and practical insights for entrepreneurs, operators, and aspiring investors.Blake, our guest, is an experienced private equity investor currently working as a Generalist in the Small Business Private Equity Group. Previously, he was at ICV Capital Partners, where he focused on healthcare services, business services, and platform investments such as Mintz Group and Cherry Tree Dental. ICV, with offices in Miami and Atlanta, has made 30 investments in high-margin, market-leading businesses, partnering with proven managers to elevate performance. Before his time in private equity, Blake was at Siebert Williams Shank & Co., a premier investment banking and financial services firm.Tune in to hear Blake’s journey from investment banking to private equity, what it really takes to grow a company, and actionable advice for those looking to break into the industry or take their business to the next level.