.png)
What’s up, everyone? Today, we’re hitting some highlights from an interview Lincoln Archibald had with Krista Morgan about her female-led private equity firm!
About Stage
“Stage Fund, founded in 2009, is a majority female-led private equity fund focused on acquiring controlling interest in companies undergoing a change in capital structure, strategy, operations, or growth.
Stage offers small and medium-sized enterprises both the capital and management expertise to rethink their approach to growth” (Stage LinkedIn).
Lincoln: Let’s hear the elevator pitch on Stage!
Krista: We’re an early-stage private equity firm who makes full-control acquistions of tech companies that are moving off the venture path. It was founded by my partner, Dan, in 2009. He started it by following a deal-by-deal investment strategy. I joined in 2020, and we decided to launch a fund! So, the Stage Fund has only been around for a few years, but the thesis and operations have been underway for 15 years. We raised under $10M for our first fund, and our second is currently over $20M.
Unique Strategy
Lincoln: Tell me more about your investment thesis
Krista: We focus on distressed tech companies. We buy majority positions in the companies and turn them over. More specifically, we invest in companies that align with this criteria…
- Post series A
- Previous venture investments
- Spent $20M+ in R&D
- Launched a product to market
- $3-5M in revenue
It’s not a typical private equity strategy because we invest heavily in the growth of these companies.
Advice for PE Fund Managers
Lincoln: What advice would you give to someone trying to get into this business?
Krista: Network now so that you can have a deal flow later. Deal flow is everything, networking is everything, and doing what you commit to is everything. If you start dealing with people in a wishy-washy way, you’ll see less and less deals and business.
Conclusion
Thanks for reading up on “Female-led Private Equity” with Krista Morgan at Stage! That’s all we’re covering today, but click here to listen to the rest!
If you want help starting your own private equity fund, visit Fund Launch! Or, read more content like this on the Fund Launch Blog!
Thanks for stopping by,
Want to get direct guidance for your fund? Schedule a time with my Fund Advisors!
DISCLAIMER: This content is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not to be taken as tax, financial, or legal advice. You should always consult a legal professional before taking action. Furthermore, this is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security. The content is solely just the opinion of the authors.
