Episodes
SPAC Updates: What Changed, What’s Working, and What to Watch in 2026
Mike Blankenship kicks off a new SPAC Updates series, breaking down how the SPAC market has evolved heading into 2026. He covers SPAC 2.0 structures, sponsor economics, IPO and de-SPAC trends, capital costs, PIPE dynamics, re...
How to Choose the Right Legal Counsel and Underwriter for a SPAC
Chris Cottone explains how SPAC sponsors should think about selecting legal counsel and underwriters. He outlines why fees should never be the primary decision factor, why SPACs require highly specialized legal experience, an...
How the SPAC Model Has Matured, What Still Gets Misunderstood
Andrejka Bernatova explains how the SPAC model has evolved since the boom years and why many misconceptions still persist. She shares why SPACs should be viewed as a long-standing capital markets tool, not a short-term trend,...
What an Ideal SPAC Board Should Look Like
Chris Cottone explains how SPAC sponsors should think about board composition. From NASDAQ independence requirements to the importance of financial, legal, and M&A experience, he breaks down why a lean, well-balanced board is...
The Next Phase of the SPAC Market: Fewer Deals, Better Sponsors
Chris Sorrells shares his view on where the SPAC market is headed next. After years of excess, he explains why rationalization, more experienced sponsors, cleaner vehicles, and better capital alignment are critical for long-t...
How to Form a SPAC Entity and Where to Incorporate
Chris Cottone explains how to properly form a SPAC entity and why incorporation choice matters. He breaks down the pros and cons of Delaware, Nevada, and Cayman structures, highlighting tax considerations, litigation risk, an...
What the Rise of Continuation Vehicles Means for Public Markets and S…
As continuation vehicles and secondaries gain momentum in private equity, Andrejka Bernatova explains what this shift means for investors, sponsors, and LPs. She shares why IPOs and SPACs should still be primary exit paths, h...
Why Operator Experience Is the Real Advantage in SPAC Leadership
Andrejka Bernatova explains how being both an operator and a sponsor shapes a fundamentally different approach to SPACs. She shares why the real work starts after the DESPAC, how balance sheet structure and public-company rea...
What “Risk Capital” Really Means for SPAC Sponsors
Chris Cottone explains what risk capital is in a SPAC, why it’s required, and how much sponsors should realistically expect to commit. He breaks down IPO and DESPAC costs, typical risk capital ranges, and how sponsor syndicat...
How SPAC Structures Have Evolved and What Investors Care About Today
Chris Cottone breaks down how SPAC structures have evolved and what investors are seeing in today’s market. He explains the role of rights, warrants, and time-to-close terms, and why longer SPAC timelines are becoming more at...
Why Discipline Wins When Capital Is Hard to Raise
In this episode, Andrejka Bernatova shares why her team was able to complete one of the largest equity raises since 2021 while many others struggled. She explains how disciplined decision-making, operator-level experience, an...
Guest Spotlight: Andrejka Bernatova
In this clip, Andrejka Bernatov a introduces her global background spanning investment banking, private equity, sovereign wealth investing, and executive leadership across energy and infrastructure. She shares how experience ...
What’s the Right Size for a SPAC?
What’s the ideal size for a SPAC? Chris Cattone explains why the sweet spot is often between $100M and $150M in trust, balancing fee efficiency, target quality, and flexibility through the DESPAC process. Connect with the Gue...
Are SPAC Warrants Still Undervalued?
Warrants are misunderstood, not obsolete. James C. explains how he evaluates SPAC warrants, why pricing under 25 cents still matters, and how basket strategies can create asymmetric outcomes with defined risk. This is a disci...
Guest Spotlight: Chris Cottone
Chris Cattone joins The SPAC Podcast to share his background and perspective from inside a multi-location family office. As a partner at Greentree Financial, Chris works closely with companies preparing for IPOs and follow-on...
Which SPAC Sponsors Matter Most Right Now
In today’s SPAC market, experience matters more than ever. James C. highlights the sponsors he’s watching and explains why repeat execution, investor trust, and deal-closing credibility separate leaders from noise. For invest...
SPAC Deals to Watch Right Now
Markets don’t recover in theory. They recover through real deals. James C. walks through the SPAC transactions he’s watching closely and explains why PIPE strength, investor quality, and deal execution will determine whether ...
Are SPACs Still a Good Investment?
Are SPACs still worth investing in? The answer depends on how you use them. James explains why SPACs can be a strong portfolio addition for investors who understand capital timing, yield floors, and upside optionality. Stabil...
Which SPACs Has James Invested In And Why
SPAC selection isn’t about volume. It’s about sponsors. James C. breaks down the SPACs he’s invested in and why sponsor quality has become the defining factor in today’s market. From Churchill to Betsy Cohen and Cantor-backed...
Guest Spotlight: James Campanella
From the NYSE trading floor in 1994 to navigating multiple SPAC booms and pullbacks, James Campanella has seen capital markets from every angle. In this opening clip, James shares his background, how his perspective evolved b...
Structural Shifts in SPAC IPOs
In this SPAC Podcast Spotlight , Managing Director Dimitre Genov of Brookline Capital Markets outlines the structural changes reshaping SPAC IPOs since 2020. From the rise of non-managing anchor investors and the dominance of...
The Key Differences Between European and US SPACs
In this episode of The SPAC Podcast , co-hosts Michael Blankenship and Joshua Wilson speak with Dr. Daniele D’Alvia, Lecturer in Banking and Finance Law at Queen Mary University of London and Deputy Director of the Institute ...
What PIPE Investors Tell You About a SPAC Deal
PIPE investors act as a real-time market check on a SPAC deal. Ryan McGuire explains what their participation (or hesitation) reveals about a transaction’s fairness and long-term outlook. Guest: Ryan McGuire: https://www.link...
When Should Should You Engage with a Transfer Agent
In this episode of The SPAC Podcast , transfer agent veteran Seth Farbman explains when founders, CFOs, and pre-IPO companies should engage a transfer agent. Whether you're considering a traditional IPO or a SPAC transaction,...