Invest Like the Best with Patrick O'Shaughnessy

Justin Ishbia - Lessons from Acquiring 586 Companies [Invest Like the Best, REPLAY]

304 snips
Sep 2, 2025
Justin Ishbia, Founding Partner of Shore Capital, shares his insights on acquiring nearly 600 companies in three years. He discusses the importance of operational excellence and structured systems in private equity, especially in microcap investments. Ishbia emphasizes nurturing young talent and building effective boards, while also exploring negotiation tactics in private finance. He reflects on the value of strong personal relationships and how innovation stacking can create competitive advantages in diverse sectors, particularly healthcare and real estate.
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INSIGHT

System Over Star

  • Justin argues the firm must be a system where the process, not a single star, creates consistent outcomes.
  • He codifies every step from idea to exit so junior people can repeat and scale success.
ANECDOTE

The $10M Pre-Fund Gamble

  • Justin recounts raising a $10M pre-fund when he had no track record and found it easier to deploy capital into multiple add-ons.
  • That committed pool avoided constant fundraising and let them prove theses before raising larger funds.
ADVICE

Buy Small In Growing Niches

  • Pick industries with long-term growth and many small operators where consolidation creates value.
  • Buy small platforms at low multiples, under-lever them, and use add-ons to improve margin and downside protection.
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