The Portco Fix
A weekly dispatch on what breaks inside PE-backed companies — and what to do about it. Written from the operator's chair, not the boardroom.
Short, diagnostic, weekly. One portco scenario. What went wrong. What the operator did.
2026
When the Investment Thesis Was Right but Execution Killed It
The company had the right market, right product, right timing. Operations couldn't scale. What the operator needed to fix first — and what happened when the board pushed for growth anyway.
Operational BreakdownThe 90-Day Diagnostic: What I Measure Before I Change Anything
PE sponsors want action immediately. This is why the first month should be measurement, not movement. The metrics that actually predict whether a portco will recover.
Operating FrameworkWhy Most Portco Sales Teams Fail After Acquisition
New ownership installs KPIs. Sales team games the metrics. Pipeline looks full but close rate craters. The fix is not more reps — it's fixing what happens after the handshake.
Revenue StallThe Portco That Was Growing Its Way Into Bankruptcy
Revenue was up 30% but EBITDA was collapsing. The board celebrated while cash burned. What the operating metrics actually showed — and the 6-week fix that saved the company.
Margin CollapseRecognize any of these patterns?
If something in here sounds like a portco in your portfolio, let's talk before it gets worse.