How They Invest in 6-8 Boring, Owner-Operated Businesses Each Month | Judd Goodrich interview

Jun 13, 2025

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In this episode of HoldCo Builders, I sit down with Jude Goodrick, Head of Capital Markets at Mainshares—a fast-growing platform that's quietly reshaping small business acquisitions.

Mainshares helps acquisition entrepreneurs find the capital they need to buy real, cash-flowing businesses. Jude has seen hundreds of deals and works directly with operators and investors to get them across the finish line.

Thank you to our newest sponsors:
Scalepath: https://www.joinscalepath.com/
Spacebar Studios: https://www.spacebarstudios.co/

In This Episode We Discuss:
00:00:00 - Intro: Why Jude Goodrick is at the center of SMB acquisitions
00:00:42 - Jude's background and journey from Carta to Mainshares
00:01:36 - The origin story of Mainshares and what problem it solves
00:03:09 - Solving the chicken-and-egg problem of deals vs. capital
00:04:39 - Sponsor: Scalepath
00:06:47 - Feedback from having 800 conversations with operators
00:07:59 - First acquisition took about a year
00:08:48 - How Mainshares makes money and structures deals
00:13:35 - Sponsor: Spacebar Studios
00:17:31 - A common reason operators come to them
00:19:47 - Why Mainshares isn't building a traditional PE firm
00:23:32 - Could Mainshares build a permanent HoldCo?
00:24:58 - Investor experience on the Mainshares platform
00:32:12 - What happens when a deal is oversubscribed?
00:36:10 - Post-acquisition support: credit lines, equipment loans
00:38:21 - Who are the operators? First-timers vs. seasoned pros
00:40:35 - MBA vs. blue-collar operators: who performs better?
00:43:17 - What happens when things go wrong post-acquisition?
00:45:00 - Structuring preferred equity and step-ups
00:48:40 - Jude’s advice to aspiring acquisition entrepreneurs
00:51:35 - What separates great operators from average ones
00:57:29 - What Jude enjoys most - and least - about his role
00:59:20 - Would Jude ever buy a business himself?

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This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions.