David Gagliardi

First, spend some time with us (and other firms), ideally with a portion of it in a more casual setting (e.g., lunch or dinner). Having that personal connection can make working together far more productive and interesting. Second, speak to those who have partnered with us in the past. We always offer this, but we’re surprised how many don’t take us up on it before making a decision. Lastly, don’t be afraid to ask questions.

Like all our portfolio companies, we want to grow. Along the way, we can’t lose sight of what has made us differentiated and successful to date. That means every investment gets the attention and resources it needs to flourish. If we’re careful about the people we add, we can expand our reach while still preserving our culture and approach.

In my early days as an investment banker, I had the chance to sell two companies: one for an entrepreneur running his family business, and the other for a public company. In the first case, this wasn't just another transaction, but an opportunity to continue a 50-year legacy and find the company’s next partner. While the second transaction may have made more headlines, I found that serving anonymous shareholders wasn’t nearly as rewarding to me as helping a team reach their aspirations and goals. That experience helped shape my career path and lead me to Fort Point.

While we have a diverse portfolio, most of the obstacles our companies encounter have similarities. Many of the companies are victims of their own successes. They’ve experienced such tremendous growth that it became difficult to scale the organization, systems, and processes at the same rate. Those are the types of challenges we know well and seek out in potential investments.

We get the privilege of meeting some incredible companies and teams. These companies help drive the American economy and create many of the great success stories that we all aspire to emulate. The positive impact that growth can have on employees and customers provides ample motivation to strive to get better every day.

Anyone who knows me knows how much I love to travel. In between trips, I’m often found talking about travel, planning travel, and trying to recruit friends to travel. My time in business school offered some great opportunities to see new places and expand my horizons. Highlights included trekking in Antarctica, interning in Mexico City and completing an exchange in Singapore. By my graduation date, I had visited all seven continents and created some incredible memories along the way. Since rejoining Fort Point, I’ve made it a goal to try to visit at least one or two new countries per year.