In this episode, Sean Smith, Managing Partner of Search Fund Ventures and Founder of SMB Investor Network, sits down with Ariez Dustoor of NB Group, an experienced independent sponsor with meaningful reps investing in both sponsors and searchers.
Ariez shares a rare dual-sided view of the market—how he evaluates deals, how his sector focus evolved, how he builds pattern recognition, and what true discipline looks like in dealmaking. He breaks down the challenges of sourcing, negotiating, and closing transactions, the realities of post-close execution, and what he looks for in leadership teams.
Key themes include:
⚡️ If you’re a searcher, operator, LP, or independent sponsor, this conversation is packed with real-world lessons directly from the trenches.
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📩 Connect with the speakers: