Growing Without Losing Sight of Your People with Shane Kim, Baleon Capital

Growth Currents

Can you drive growth without losing sight of the human side of business?

Shane Kim, Founder, Baleon Capital and Fingercheck Board Member, says yes. With over 20 years in growth equity, he's built his investment approach around empathy and connection—putting people first. From his early days as an analyst to co-founding Baleon, Shane has focused on fintech and healthcare, navigating market cycles and building strong partnerships.

Shane and host Chris Sugden dive into the realities of founding a private equity firm, from building resilient teams to handling high-stakes investments in unpredictable markets.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Using empathy as an investment strategy to build trust and strong partnerships

• Adapting to market cycles, from the dot-com bubble to today’s AI-driven economy

• Creating long-term value by focusing on collaboration and the people around you

Jump into the conversation:

(00:00) Meet Shane Kim, co-founder of Baleon Capital

(01:00) Shane’s journey from analyst to managing partner

(02:00) Founding Baleon Capital and its early-stage growth focus

(03:00) Building investment philosophy and partnership approaches

(05:00) The challenges of starting a growth equity firm

(07:00) Navigating market cycles and economic challenges

(09:00) The importance of empathy in founder-investor relationships

(15:00) Making processes more professional for sustainable growth

(20:00) Balancing roles as an investor and board member