How We Build These Guides
UpLevered exists to be the technical reference PE professionals reach for on live deals. That only works if every page meets a standard we'd trust ourselves. Here's how we hold that line.
Written by a Practitioner, Not Researched by a Writer
Every technical guide on this site is written by Andrew Gallagher - a former middle-market PE Senior Associate and investment banker who has built the models, negotiated the terms, and worked the deal mechanics the content describes. We don't outsource writing, summarize textbooks, or repackage interview prep forums. If we haven't done it on a live transaction, we flag it clearly.
How We Use AI
We use AI tools the way a practitioner uses a research assistant and a fast first-draft typist, not the way a content farm uses a generator. The thinking is human. Andrew picks the topic, sets the angle, brings the deal experience, decides what is worth saying, and has the final word on every line. AI helps synthesize source material and turn that direction into working drafts.
What never gets delegated is the judgment, the original insight, and the accountability. Every figure, citation, and factual claim is checked against primary sources before anything publishes, and the named author stands behind it. When a draft and a source disagree, the source wins and the draft gets fixed. We would rather hold a piece than ship a number we have not verified.
So the byline means what a byline is supposed to mean: a real practitioner is responsible for the substance and the accuracy of what you are reading. AI is a tool in that process, never the author and never the authority.
The Canonical Page Standard
Our technical deep-dives follow a six-element framework designed for practitioners who need to use the information immediately:
TL;DR
What to do, not what it is. Actionable takeaway up front.
Worked Example
Real numbers and mechanics, not theory.
Traps / Failure Modes
What actually breaks in live models and deals.
Verification Checklist
What to check before you send the file.
Cross-Links
Adjacent concepts connected so the library navigates like a desk reference.
Update Log
What changed and when. A reference that doesn't update isn't a reference.
Not every page hits 6/6 yet. We're upgrading systematically; the update log on each page shows where it stands.
Sourcing & Accuracy
Compensation data cites primary sources (fund surveys, recruiter reports, disclosed ranges) and is tagged with the year collected. Market definitions reference established thresholds from Pitchbook, NVCA, and deal databases. Model mechanics reflect standard middle-market practice - where conventions vary, we note the alternatives.
If we get something wrong, we fix it and log the correction. Reach us at the email on our About page.
What We Don't Do
- We don't accept paid placements or sponsored content.
- We don't gate basic technical knowledge behind email walls. Lead magnets are supplementary tools (templates, models), not the core reference content.
- We don't inflate credentials. One practitioner writing from direct experience beats a content team researching from the outside.
Update Cadence
Compensation and recruiting data is refreshed annually. Technical guides are reviewed when market conventions shift (new accounting standards, regulatory changes, evolving deal structures). The update log on each page shows the last review date.
Examples and Confidentiality
Examples on UpLevered are simplified for educational purposes and are based on public information, illustrative assumptions, or general industry concepts unless otherwise noted. Nothing here reflects the confidential information of any past employer or client, and UpLevered is independent and not affiliated with, authorized by, or endorsed by any firm referenced in the content.