Private Credit Strategist: Kayne Anderson’s Frank Karl

In this episode, we speak with Frank Karl, Managing Director of Kayne Anderson’s Private Credit strategies and President of Kayne Anderson BDC. Kayne Anderson Private Credit, the direct lending arm of Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors, has deployed over $14 billion since 2011 across senior credit funds, BDCs, and other vehicles, managing more than $7 billion in assets. The firm focuses on capital preservation through secured, cash-flow-generating investments in established middle-market companies, targeting stable businesses for attractive, risk-adjusted returns. Frank joined Kayne Anderson in 2013 and has focused on private credit strategies throughout his tenure. He was previously a member of Houlihan Lokey’s financial restructuring group, advising debtors and creditors, and holds a BBA magna cum laude from Notre Dame. Kayne Anderson Private Credit was recently recognized as a Top Private Credit Firm of 2025 by GrowthCap. Frank supports VOCEL. To learn more about this organization click here. I am your host, RJ Lumba. We hope you enjoy the show. If you like the episode, click to follow.

In this episode, we speak with Vinny Pujji, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Left Lane Capital, a New York- and London-based global venture capital and growth equity firm investing in hyper-growth consumer and technology businesses with enduring customer relationships. Founded in 2019, Left Lane manages approximately $2.5B in assets and operates with a lean, high-performance team focused on partnering with entrepreneurs building category-defining companies across high-growth sectors. As a founding partner, Vinny helps drive the firm’s global investment strategy and portfolio development and plays a key role overseeing Left Lane’s investment team. Prior to Left Lane, he was an investment professional at Insight Partners, where he helped deploy approximately $1B across a portfolio of leading technology companies. Vinny was recently recognized as a Top 40 Under 40 Growth Investor of 2025 by GrowthCap. I am your host, RJ Lumba. We hope you enjoy the show. If you like the episode, click to follow.

In this episode, we speak with Michael Henriques, Partner and Senior Portfolio Manager at Magnetar, a multi-strategy alternative investment manager with more than $22 billion in AUM. Founded in 2005, the firm invests across public and private markets in the U.S. and Europe, with a focus on alternative credit, fixed income, and venture strategies. Its Alternative Credit & Fixed Income business targets Specialty Finance, Structured Solutions, and Opportunistic Markets, seeking to generate attractive risk-adjusted returns, particularly during periods of market dislocation. Michael brings three decades of experience in fixed income, structured securities, and real estate. He joined the firm in 2007 and previously served as a Managing Director at Deutsche Bank. Before that, he spent more than ten years at Goldman Sachs, where he began as a structured finance analyst and ultimately co-headed the CDO and Synthetic ABS group. Michael received his MBA from Wharton and his BA from Princeton. Magnetar was recently recognized as a Top Private Credit Firm of 2025 by GrowthCap. Michael supports HE3AT. To learn more about this organization click here. I am your host, RJ Lumba. We hope you enjoy the show. If you like the episode, click to follow.

In this episode, we speak with Alexander Gorokhovskiy, Managing Director and Head of North American Corporate Direct Lending and Venture Debt at Deutsche Bank Private Credit & Infrastructure (“DB PCI”).  DB PCI provides financing, structuring, and risk management solutions across four product verticals: Corporate Direct Lending & Growth Debt, Fund Finance, Digital Infrastructure & Appraisable Assets, and Infrastructure & Energy. Together, these complementary businesses offer flexible financing solutions across the capital structure, including customized terms and product structures. Alexander’s responsibilities span underwriting, structuring, portfolio management, and syndication across DB PCI’s principal lending activities.  DB PCI was recently recognized as a Top Private Credit Firm of 2025 by GrowthCap. Alexander supports American Jewish Committee, UJA Federation NY, Hillel, and Yad Vashem. I am your host, RJ Lumba. We hope you enjoy the show. If you like the episode, click to follow.

In this episode, we speak with Adam Hemmer, Managing Director at TSG Consumer, a leading consumer-focused private equity firm with approximately $13 billion in assets under management. With a 35+ year track record of building iconic brands, TSG leverages deep consumer expertise to partner with exceptional leaders and transformational brands, helping them grow and adapt to the ever-evolving needs of their consumers. Adam works closely with TSG’s partner companies and is actively involved in originating, structuring, and conducting due diligence on new investment opportunities. Prior to joining TSG, he was a consultant at Kurt Salmon, advising private equity clients on transactions in consumer products and retail. Adam received a BA from Stanford University. He was recently recognized as a Top 40 Under 40 Growth Investor of 2025 by GrowthCap. I am your host, RJ Lumba. We hope you enjoy the show. If you like the episode, click to follow.

In this episode, we speak with Trevor Clark, Founder and Managing Partner of Twin Brook Capital Partners, TPG’s middle-market direct lending business. Founded in 2014, Twin Brook provides tailored, cash flow–based financing solutions to middle-market private equity–backed companies across North America.  Based in Chicago, Twin Brook has approximately 125 dedicated professionals and offers a flexible product suite supporting leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations, add-on acquisitions, growth capital, and other financing needs for companies typically generating between $3 million and $50 million in EBITDA. TPG Credit is part of TPG, a leading global alternative asset management firm with $286 billion in assets under management. Prior to founding Twin Brook, Trevor was a Co-Founder and CEO of Madison Capital Funding, a subsidiary of New York Life Investments, where he led the firm’s middle-market lending platform. Earlier in his career, he held underwriting and origination roles at Antares Capital, GE Capital, and Bank of America. TPG Twin Brook was recognized as a Top Private Credit Firm of 2025 by GrowthCap. Trevor support Culinary Care. To learn more about this organization click here. I am your host, RJ Lumba. We hope you enjoy the show. If you like the episode, click to follow.

In this episode, we speak with Brett Hickey, Founder and CEO of Star Mountain Capital, a specialized U.S. lower middle-market asset management firm. Founded in 2010, Star Mountain focuses on providing debt and equity capital to established, growing small and medium-sized businesses, as well as acquiring LP interests in lower middle-market funds, often at a discount. Star Mountain manages approximately $4.5 billion in assets under management and has completed more than 350 direct investments and over 40 secondary or fund investments since inception. The firm is 100% employee-owned, with more than 100 team members and senior advisors sharing in the firm’s investment profits. Brett founded Star Mountain after previously co-founding and serving as President of a multi-manager platform that included four U.S. state-sponsored small business investment funds. Earlier in his career, he worked as an investment banker at Citigroup Global Markets, advising leading asset managers and financial institutions on more than $8 billion in completed transactions. Star Mountain was recognized as a Top Private Credit Firm of 2025 by GrowthCap. Brett supports YMCA. To learn more about this organization click here. I am your host, RJ Lumba. We hope you enjoy the show. If you like the episode, click to follow.

In this episode, we speak with Ben Levin, Co-Founder and CEO of Level Equity, a lower middle market private investment firm focused on providing capital to rapidly growing software and technology-enabled businesses. Founded in 2009, Level Equity has raised over $4.5 billion across closed funds and co-investments, completed more than 125 investments, and operates out of New York City and Greenwich, CT. Ben shares how Level’s distinctive NextLevel Operations platform, a three-tiered operational model of internal operators, senior special operators, and curated external experts, drives tangible value for portfolio companies across go-to-market, product, and M&A initiatives. This approach ensures highly tailored support, enabling high-growth SaaS companies to scale efficiently and sustainably. Drawing on his experience investing in high-growth software companies since 1997, Ben discusses the firm’s disciplined approach to AI adoption, strategic engagement with portfolio companies, and focus on building a sustainable, high-performance culture that develops top-tier talent while preserving operational excellence. Level Equity and Ben Levin have received numerous accolades, most recently with Ben named a Top Software Investor of 2025 by GrowthCap, and Level Equity recognized as a Top Private Equity Firm of 2025, underscoring their enduring impact on the software growth investing landscape. I am your host, RJ Lumba. We hope you enjoy the show. If you like the episode, click to follow.

In this episode, we speak with Phil Dur, Co-Founder & Managing Partner of PeakSpan Capital, a leading growth equity firm focused exclusively on high-growth B2B software companies. Founded in 2015, PeakSpan manages $2.5 billion in assets and has a team of 24 investment professionals across its San Mateo and New York City offices. The firm has supported 54 software businesses, completed 19 full and partial exits, and raised approximately $1.9 billion in capital commitments, with each fund significantly oversubscribed. Before co-founding PeakSpan, Phil spent a decade at Investor Growth Capital, where he led software investing, and previously worked at Morgan Stanley Venture Partners and Morgan Stanley Capital Partners in technology investing roles. He is a graduate of Princeton University and the Stanford Graduate School of Business, and served as an officer in the U.S. Army Reserve for seven years. Phil was recently recognized as a Top Software Investor of 2025 by GrowthCap, and PeakSpan was named a Top Private Equity Firm of 2025. I am your host, RJ Lumba. We hope you enjoy the show. If you like the episode, click to follow.  

In this episode, we speak with Dave Evans, Partner at Apax Digital, the technology and growth equity investment arm of Apax Partners. Apax Digital focuses on growth equity and buyout investments in high-growth enterprise software, consumer internet, and technology-enabled services companies worldwide. The team leverages Apax Partners’ deep tech expertise, global platform, and specialized operating experts to help companies accelerate growth and realize their full potential. Apax has raised and advised funds with aggregate commitments of approximately $80 billion across three sectors—Tech, Services, and Internet/Consumer—providing long-term equity financing to build and strengthen world-class companies. Dave joined Apax in 2009 and focuses on high-growth internet, enterprise software, and tech-enabled services companies. He was previously in Morgan Stanley’s Financial Sponsors Group and holds an MBA from Wharton and a BA from Duke University. Dave was recently recognized as a Top Software Investor of 2025 by GrowthCap. Dave supports Innocence Project. To learn more about this organization click here. I am your host, RJ Lumba. We hope you enjoy the show. If you like the episode, click to follow.