September 12, 2025
Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Riverwood Capital
In this episode of declarations., Todd Rich is joined by Francisco Alvarez-Demalde, co-founder and managing partner of Riverwood Capital. Francisco shares how his upbringing in Argentina shaped his entrepreneurial spirit, how he defines success as the constant pursuit of building, learning, and creating opportunity for others and how he and his partners built a global growth equity platform focused on scaling technology businesses. Their discussion also covers lessons from cycles in the private equity and tech markets, the importance of combining vision with execution, and the role of education and philanthropy in creating lasting impact.
They discuss:
• Francisco’s declaration to make a positive impact on others
• Lessons from growing up in Argentina and early exposure to tech startups
• Founding Riverwood Capital and building a differentiated growth equity model
• Partnering with management teams to scale businesses sustainably
• Insights on global markets, including opportunities and challenges in Latin America
Topics:
(00:00:00) – Intro
(00:03:11) – Francisco’s declaration and values
(00:04:35) – Early life and education in Argentina
(00:07:43) – Career beginnings and move to the US
(00:12:55) – Founding Riverwood Capital
(00:17:26) – Investment philosophy and market dynamics
(00:29:41) – Growth and scalability in tech investments
(00:32:23) – Building a global company
(00:33:08) – The importance of exits in private equity
(00:33:46) – Investing, building, and monetizing
(00:34:31) – Partnering with management teams
(00:37:00) – Balancing ambition and execution
(00:40:09) – Global tech opportunities
(00:43:12) – Navigating emerging markets
(00:45:38) – Argentina’s economic outlook
(00:51:34) – Personal insights and philanthropy
(00:56:40) – Closing thoughts and reflections
Episode #10
Dan Mueller and Les Baquiran explore their unique paths from immigrant family upbringings to building a global placement and advisory firm.
Episode #2
Bennett Goodman shares his remarkable journey—from his formative years influenced by his uncle, the famed LSU baseball coach Skip Bertman, to his groundbreaking career in credit markets, and ultimately to building Hunter Point Capital and his family office, Hunter Creek.
Episode #5
Kari Firestone reflects on lessons in risk-taking, balancing career and family, and why listening and learning remain central to her “declaration” in life.
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