Acquiring Minds How to Build a $5m Media Business Into a $20m Flywheel
9 snips
Nov 6, 2025 In this discussion, Clayton Collins, Entrepreneur and CEO of HousingWire, shares his journey of acquiring the B2B publisher and scaling it from $4M to nearly $20M. He highlights the importance of in-person meetings with investors and rebuilding sales teams. Clayton also delves into the significance of events for deepening audience engagement and driving revenue. He discusses the integration of acquisitions like RealTrends and their flywheel strategy, where content, events, and data create cross-selling opportunities. His insights on hiring for growth reveal how talent fuels product innovation.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
From Banking To A Search Fund
- Clayton left RBC and launched a traditional search fund after being inspired by working on media M&A deals.
- He used his banking deal experience to pursue buying and operating a small media business.
Fill Skill Gaps With Smart Hires
- Hire people who fill your skill gaps instead of pretending you must own every skill.
- If you lack deal experience, hire experienced finance or deal talent or advisers to supplement you.
Fundraise Like A Roadshow
- Get on a plane and meet investors and sellers in person to differentiate yourself.
- Ask every contact for warm introductions to expand your investor network quickly.
