Lloyd Metz (Partner, ICV Partners), Doug McCormick (Managing Partner, Oridian Capital Partners), and Sean Mooney (Founder & CEO, BluWave) are joined by James Aylward (Chief Product & Technology Officer, BluWave) and Nathan Plummer (Co-Executive Director, Venture Café Global Institute) to translate AI from concept into execution. The conversation moves beyond buzzwords to where firms are actually applying AI today—from coding and data strategy to real-time decision-making inside portfolio companies. They also address the practical barriers: data readiness, organizational adoption, and the risk of standing still. This is a clear look at what it takes to put AI to work in private equity—hit play. Episode Highlights 1:30 - Why AI is shifting from buzzword to practical tool for operators 9:45 - ChatGPT as the inflection point that changed AI adoption overnight 13:00 - AI moves from “thinking partner” to executing tasks autonomously 18:30 - Applied AI in industries like biotech and robotics reshaping outcomes 23:10 - Data becomes the primary competitive moat across portfolio companies 30:15 - Why most companies struggle: fragmented, unstructured data systems 44:00 - Real-world example: automating hiring workflows with AI tools For more information on the podcast, visit bestbutneverfinal.buzzsprout.com and embark on your journey to private equity excellence today. Visit us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-but-never-final-podcast/ Visit us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/bestbutneverfinal/ For information on Oridian Capital Partners, go to https://oridiancapital.com/ For information on ICV Partners, go to https://www.icvpartners.com For information on BluWave, go to https://www.bluwave.net
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