This talk is an overview of our recent investigations of supersymmetric and near conformal gauge theories. We have studied extensively $\mathcal{N}=1$ super Yang-Mills theory, most recently with the gauge group \su{(3)}. In addition we have investigated theories that show indications for a conformal behavior at an infrared fixed point. We have included a mixed fundamental and adjoint fermion action setup in our studies. I will explain how this is related to the investigation of supersymmetric QCD on the lattice and present some first studies of the main obstacles that need to be addressed in the investigation of this theory.