Ashish Achlerkar, Founder and Chairman of NearU, discusses his journey from investment banking to building a thriving business in the skilled trades. He reveals how he leverages M&A to fuel entrepreneurial growth and addresses the unique opportunities in this fragmented industry. Ashish shares insights on crafting a strong investment thesis, the importance of cultural alignment with private equity partners, and strategies for enhancing customer experience through technology. His journey is a masterclass in turning challenges into opportunities.
M&A should be perceived as a strategic tool for entrepreneurs to foster growth and not merely a financial transaction.
The skilled trades sector offers unique opportunities for acquiring businesses due to its resilience and value amidst increasing service demands.
Collaboration with private equity requires cultural alignment and transparency to ensure beneficial partnerships that support core values and business growth.
Deep dives
Transitioning to Buyer-Led M&A
The concept of buyer-led mergers and acquisitions (M&A) highlights the necessity for corporate acquirers to take control of their deals rather than follow the narrative set by sellers or advisors. This approach empowers buyers to dictate terms, from sourcing opportunities to successfully integrating acquired businesses. The goal is to enable integrated strategies that allow acquirers to scale rapidly, as demonstrated by companies like IVC Evidentia, which executed 300 acquisitions in one year across multiple countries. This model emphasizes practical advice from experienced M&A professionals, focusing on actionable strategies rather than theoretical frameworks.
Lessons in Entrepreneurship Through M&A
Entrepreneurship through acquisitions offers a fresh perspective on business building, emphasizing the importance of people over mere financial metrics. The insights gained from experience, particularly the notion that M&A should be viewed as an enabling tool for growth rather than just an endpoint, underscore the human-centric nature of successful enterprises. Acquirers must prioritize nurturing cultures and aligning core values to build sustainable businesses and realize growth potential. It's crucial to understand that acquiring businesses is not just about financial returns but should aim at creating substantial value for all stakeholders involved.
Identifying Opportunities in Skilled Trades
The skilled trades sector presents a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs looking to make a meaningful impact on labor shortages while addressing critical services. As demand for these services skyrockets, entrepreneurs can identify gaps in workforce training and operational efficiencies, which can be leveraged for business growth. This industry, valued at over $100 billion, remains resilient against technological disruptions, making it an attractive market for ambitious entrepreneurs. By focusing on building relationships with skilled professionals and improving customer experiences, entrepreneurs can bridge gaps and create significant value.
Challenges in Scaling Businesses
As businesses expand, they face evolving challenges that shift from securing capital and finding the right talent to maintaining culture and operational consistency. Entrepreneurs must ensure that their vision scales alongside their team size to prevent dilution of core values and mission. The workplace dynamics shift as organizations grow, necessitating robust infrastructure and clear processes to maintain effective communication and morale among employees. A constant emphasis on humility and adaptability remains critical, enabling leaders to pivot strategies as market conditions and organizational needs evolve.
Navigating Private Equity Partnerships
Collaborating with private equity firms can either enhance or hinder business growth, depending on the cultural alignment between the entrepreneur and the investors. It is essential for entrepreneurs to seek partners who share a common vision and ethical approach to value creation while preserving the organization’s core values. Successful collaboration can lead to shared resources and strategic insights that propel businesses forward without sacrificing their culture. Entrepreneurs can foster trust by being transparent about their objectives and challenges, encouraging a collaborative relationship that benefits all parties involved.
Starting a business from scratch is challenging, but Ashish Achlerkar, Founder and Chairman of NearU, took a unique path—leveraging M&A as a tool for entrepreneurship. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Ashish shares how he transitioned from investment banking to building a multi-state, multi-million-dollar business in the skilled trades industry.
Ashish’s journey is a masterclass in leveraging M&A for business expansion, focusing on strategic acquisitions, cultural alignment, and operational efficiency to build a thriving company in an industry ripe for disruption.
Things you will learn:
Entrepreneurship through acquisition – Why M&A is a tool, not an end goal
How to evaluate industries for acquisition – Why the skilled trades industry was the perfect fit
Building a scalable business post-acquisition – The importance of training and technology
Working with private equity – How to find the right partner and maintain control
This isn’t just another webinar—it’s an interactive experience designed to give you the tools and strategies to lead your M&A deals with confidence. This half-day event brings together corporate development leaders and M&A experts to explore Buyer-Led M&A™, showing how you can take control of every stage of the deal. Register Now
Episode Timestamps:
[00:01:30] Ashish’s Journey from Banking to Entrepreneurship
[00:02:30] Lessons Learned from the Entrepreneurial Journey
[00:07:00] Defining Purpose and the ‘Why’ Behind Entrepreneurship
[00:10:30] Making the Leap from Corporate to Startup Life
[00:13:00] Selecting a Sector Through First Principles Thinking
[00:18:00] Building the Investment Thesis for NearU
[00:26:30] Executing the First Deal with a Bootstrap Approach
[00:31:30] Sourcing Deals Through Relationships & Reputation
[00:37:00] Challenges in Early and Scaling Phases
[00:40:00] Working with Private Equity While Preserving Vision
[00:48:00] Final Reflections: Transparency, Integrity & Doing the Right Thing
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