INTERN SPOTLIGHT

Om Patil, a junior at the Ohio State University studying computer science and engineering, is spending his winter internship alongside Matt Herring, one of our newest EIRs. Previously, Om interned with a traditional search fund.

Om Patil

The Ohio State University
Computer Science & Engineering ’24

Can you describe your background and how it led to your pursuit of an internship at NGP?

My background in Computer Science & Engineering and the Integrated Business & Engineering program at Ohio State ignited my interest in finance and product related roles. My freshman product design capstone highlighted the importance of innovation and market impact, building on my desire to blend technical skills with business. During my sophomore year, I worked with independent searchers, gaining insights into the search fund model. I discovered NGP through Eric Wilson’s guest talk at Buckeye Ventures, Ohio State’s venture capital and private equity club. I applied soon after, as NGP’s ETA and sponsored search model for entrepreneurs resonated with my career goals.

Can you tell us a bit about the work you’ve done so far, and any interesting learnings?

So far, I’ve done a deep dive into the Utilities industry, assessing whether the submetering services sub-vertical in the United States is a viable space to keep searching. Besides sourcing, I’ve attended several team meetings where I’ve gotten to interact with CEO Brian O’Connor and gotten direct insight into his search and advice on my career goals. On top of that, I’ve actively been involved with the deal team, conducting financial analysis on incoming deals from the knowledge I gained through ASM, NGP’s outside learning platform.

What is your team dynamic like?

I am working with Matt, one of the Entrepreneurs in Residence. While every team dynamic is different, he actively encourages us to share our goals so that he can take the right steps to make them happen. For me, that means making an introduction and helping me get active involvement with the deal team.

What you have you most enjoyed thus far?

So far, what I’ve enjoyed most is learning through NGP’s Lunch and Learns, where members of the executive team speak about various topics. So far, I’ve learned about various ETA models from the CEO and CFO of the firm.

Any skills you’ve gained or unique takeaways? Pre-existing skills you’re building upon?

The main skills I’m aiming to build upon from this internship are my ability to recognize a company’s driving / limiting factors and quickly assess whether it would be a viable investment. Specifically, I’m aiming to build my modelling skills and identify every part of the P&L / Balance sheets to get to know a business inside and out.

What stands out to you about NGP’s process that you’ve gotten to see first-hand?

NGP’s sponsored search model is the most organized and structured search process that I’ve encountered so far. This is because the firm was started by a successful searcher, for future searchers. I believe that their combined knowledge, dedicated deal team and established CRM drastically improves chances of a successful search and find this model to be the most appealing.

What do you envision yourself doing in the future, and how is interning with NGP building upon that?

After graduation, I see myself applying my technical background in business to working in a management consulting or an investment role. My goal is to develop an investment thesis tailored towards my background and a strong intuition for what makes a business successful. Eventually, I aim to pursue my own venture, likely via the Entrepreneurship through Acquisition model. NGP directly supports all of my goals through its daily operations, mentorship and relationship-focused culture.