Acquiring Minds

Ivona Butcher, Co-CEO of Bayeret and former Kellogg MBA, shares her inspiring journey from acquiring a business in the Czech Republic to facing a total revenue collapse during COVID-19. She discusses the challenges of operating in a post-Soviet culture and pivoting to virtual events to keep her staff employed. Ivona highlights her aggressive strategies in negotiating with banks, successfully buying back a seller note, and ultimately tripling revenue and doubling EBITDA post-crisis. Her insights on entrepreneurship alongside her husband offer valuable lessons for aspiring business owners.

Ruchik Gandhi, a former CPA turned business owner, shares his journey from financial due diligence to owning a $3M workroom specializing in upholstery and fabrication. He discusses the importance of building employee trust and learning to manage a blue-collar workforce. Ruchik reflects on navigating initial skepticism from staff and the importance of hands-on leadership. His growth strategy includes expanding through acquisitions and enhancing service offerings in a fragmented market. Tune in to hear his insights on balancing operations with growth while fostering strong team relationships.

Danyelle Nys, an entrepreneur and owner of Decorus Home Staging, shares her inspiring journey of acquiring a $1.6M staging business. She discusses overcoming self-doubt, the decision to buy rather than start a business, and the valuable coaching that guided her. Danyelle reveals how she grew the company by investing in inventory and people, as well as raising prices. She reflects on the challenges of moving inventory and navigating commercial leases, all while targeting the luxury market for future growth.

Kyle Paul, a former LinkedIn Learning and Gympass executive, shares his transformative journey in merging two rival companies to create a market leader. He discusses the emotional highs and lows of his acquisition process, including lessons from a failed deal that ultimately led to success. Kyle dives into the intricate details of due diligence, the importance of aligning incentives, and the strategic benefits of combining businesses. He also reflects on the transferable skills gained from his past roles and how they shaped his approach to running Get Out Pass.

Brian Seeling, owner of PGM and a former MSP founder, shares his journey from IT to acquiring a $2.6M appliance repair business. He emphasizes the importance of choosing a solid management team and the challenges of SBA lending. Brian also discusses the satisfaction of developing his staff and the benefits of implementing tech upgrades. He offers insights into generating revenue through preventive maintenance programs and shares growth strategies for expanding his business in the competitive Tampa market.

Nick Keegan, the Founder and CEO of MailMetrics, transitioned from a struggling €1M software start-up to a powerhouse generating over €210M through strategic acquisitions. He shares his journey from military aspirations to entrepreneurial endeavors, including the pivot that transformed his company. Nick discusses acquiring two printing firms simultaneously and his approach to financing high-interest deals. His unique four-pillar strategy emphasizes M&A and tech enablement, guiding MailMetrics toward ambitious growth and expansion plans, including a future in the US market.

Onu Okebie and Brian Boland, co-founders of HTL Freight, share their journey of building a logistics roll-up using an SBA loan. They discuss the challenges of bootstrapping their first acquisition while still in business school and emphasize the importance of persistence and personal sacrifices. Their focus on niche freight specialties led to five acquisitions in under five years, showcasing their innovative operational improvements and capital optimization strategies. The duo highlights the value of embracing imperfection and continually evolving as leaders.

Isaac Zimmerman, founder of Chicago's Jay Blanton plumbing company, shares his entrepreneurial journey from acquiring the business during business school to scaling it from $6M to $25M in just three years. He emphasizes the endless opportunities in home services and his ambition to reach $1 billion in revenue. Isaac advocates for a founder mode approach, focusing on organic growth and digital marketing. His youthful energy offers a competitive edge, and he believes in meticulously curating customer experiences to drive success.

James Bohannon, Senior Vice President at Belzberg & Co., sheds light on family offices—private wealth management vehicles for families. He explains their structure, highlighting how they offer unique advantages to searchers and independent sponsors. Discover the importance of relationships for accessing family office capital, the preference for long-term investments, and the collaborative nature of family office investing. Bohannon also discusses the balance between flexibility and decision-making speed within these entities, making them appealing partners in the private market landscape.

Jack Saville, a former owner-operator who transformed a commercial fencing business after attending SMBootcamp, chats with Sam Rosati, the founder of SMBootcamp. They delve into Jack's motivation for entrepreneurship, the challenges of running a small business in a tourist town, and the importance of continuously questioning one’s purpose. Jack shares his journey of selling his business to Perimeter Solutions Group and how it led to new opportunities. This insightful conversation explores the risks, rewards, and lessons learned in small business ownership.