Second Bite Podcast

Scott Scully is the Founder and CEO of Abstrakt Marketing Group, a B2B lead generation and business growth agency. In this role, he has led the company to become one of the most successful privately held marketing startups in the St. Louis region. Over the past 28 years, Scott has started, invested in, or played a major role in several companies in the marketing and lead generation space, three of which have exceeded $12 million in annual revenue.  In this episode… Although earnouts are tricky to structure and settle, these transactions are mutually beneficial and highly effective. Learn how one business owner leveraged an earnout to expand into new verticals. Founder and CEO of Abstrakt Marketing Group, Scott Scully, discusses how he structured an earnout to accelerate growth. With host Todd Taskey, Scott shares key considerations for M&A, how to approach an earnout sale, and his company’s recent acquisition. 

Ron Callis is the Co-founder and CEO of One Firefly, an award-winning marketing agency serving customer integration, security, and tech industries. As the author of numerous industry articles, he is frequently interviewed and cited as an authority in the home automation and smart building industries. Ron is also a Certified Instructor at CEDIA and a board member of Azione Unlimited. In this episode… Do you have what it takes to build a reputable, thriving business? How can you accelerate growth and value through acquisition opportunities? Co-founder and CEO of One Firefly, Ron Callis, describes how to engender customer and employee loyalty. With host Todd Taskey, Ron talks about the evolution of One Firefly’s services and culture, crucial considerations for market growth, and how he positions his business for the private equity market. 

Peter Lang is the Principal Co-founder of AVA (Agency Ventures Aggregator) Acquisitions, an advertising agency aggregation platform. In his role, he leads acquisitions of businesses with $1-10 million in revenue. As an entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist, Peter has more than 12 years of experience starting, building, buying, and selling companies across various industries.   In this episode… If you’re looking to grow your business, aggregations might be a good fit. This transaction method can help you scale rapidly and exponentially. So how can you aggregate your company? Principal Co-founder of AVA Acquisitions, Peter Lang, shares how he helps businesses triple their revenue in two years. With host Tood Taskey, Peter describes AVA’s arbitrage requirements, how to hire valuable salespeople, and the various transactions in private equity.

Dan Larkman is the Founder and CEO of Keynes Digital, a full-service programmatic advertising partner. He has ad operations expertise in management, leadership, international campaigns, and communications across multiple markets. Before founding Keynes Digital, Dan held various roles at SteelHouse, including Senior Director of Operations and VP of Client Services and Performance. In those roles, he managed numerous teams with direct and indirect reports.   In this episode… If you’re trying to grow your startup, private equity may not be an ideal approach. This funding method limits success since partners often lack the appropriate interest in your business. How can you bootstrap a startup and evaluate members for your board? Founder and CEO of Keynes Digital, Dan Larkman, shares his motivation for launching and growing his business. With host Todd Taskey, Dan shares tips for hiring and training COOs, why he bootstrapped his business, and how he assessed and selected board members. 

Ali Manouchehri is the Co-founder and Chairperson at Zoomph, which offers a one-stop platform for social media intelligence, measurement, and audience analytics to maximize brand revenue. Ali leads talented IT and business minds across the public and private sectors. He has been recognized as one of Inc. magazine’s “40 Under 40” and has conducted interviews with the Washington Business Journal, Washington Technology, and Forbes. In this episode… Are you looking to raise capital to fund a startup? Venture capital is effective when utilized as a series funding approach. The right planning and relationship can make this funding a strong foundation for a new company. How can you structure your finances and collaborate with investors to enhance profitability? Co-founder and Chairperson at Zoomph, Ali Manouchehri, discusses VC strategies for startups. With host Todd Taskey, Ali explains how to communicate value propositions to investors, how he structured his company’s option pool, and his series funding approach.

Kevin Biondi is the Managing Partner of Digital Marketing and Growth at Sproutward, a boutique marketing consultancy acquired by Power Digital. As an accomplished digital marketing and growth leader, he has over 15 years of experience in customer acquisition and retention in the online and mobile spaces. Kevin previously served as the Founder and Head of Digital Marketing and Growth at Clientside Interactive, where he advised startups and Fortune 10 companies. In this episode… When evaluating M&A transactions, strategic partnerships are important to consider for optimizing growth. However, these transactions require extensive due diligence and planning. What do strategic partnerships entail, and how can you streamline the process? Kevin Biondi, Sproutward’s Managing Partner of Digital Marketing and Growth, talks about his company’s acquisition with Power Digital. With host Todd Taskey, Kevin explains how he recovered from a failed transaction, how to integrate and adapt to company processes following an acquisition, and preparing for due diligence.

Kevin Lee is the Founder and Executive Chairman of Didit, a leading digital marketing and technology firm. Over the past five years, Didit has made 11 acquisitions to transform into a full-service marketing firm. They serve Fortune 500 as well as startup businesses, performing everything from strategy to execution. As a digital marketing pioneer, Kevin gives back to the industry regularly by writing books, attending over 500 speaking engagements, and publishing over 780 columns.   In this episode… Private equity is the standard method of executing M&A transactions. This approach often utilizes debt, however, which can hinder growth. How can you maximize business performance without employing private equity? Kevin Lee, Founder and Executive Chairman of Didit, discusses bootstrapping 11 acquisitions. With host Todd Taskey, Kevin explains his company’s due diligence for its first acquisition, the value of reframing transactions to mitigate risks, and how to identify and acquire CEOs to fuel growth.

Alex Rossman is the Founder and CEO of Rossman Media, an award-winning global creative and media agency focusing on social media. He founded Rossman with a mission to help consumer brands connect with their target audience on social media. Alex and his team have been named by Business Insider as the “Best New Social Media Agency” of 2020. Before founding Rossman Media, Alex spent time in sales and management for ADP and U.S. Bank where he developed his expertise. In this episode… Acqui-hiring is a viable acquisition method for startup agencies to enhance their value by obtaining industry-leading talent. So what should you know about these transactions, and how can you assess profitable opportunities? Founder and CEO of Rossman Media, Alex Rossman, shares his process for acqui-hiring. With host Todd Taskey, Alex talks about his decision to acquire an agency, how to conduct due diligence to identify prosperous deals, and how acquisitions boost company value. 

Matt Diteljan is a Board Member of NextGrad and the former Co-founder and CEO of Glacier, a higher-education advertising agency. As an innovator in the high school and youth media space, he has worked with student influencers and developed in-school ad placements and digital strategies. Matt has spoken at numerous conferences, including the American Marketing Association. In this episode… Are you considering selling your company? The acquisition process is lengthy and complex, often requiring experience that entrepreneurs don’t have yet. So what does this process involve, and how can you facilitate a successful transaction? Former Co-founder and CEO of Glacier, Matt Diteljan, talks about his journey selling his company. With host Todd Taskey, Matt explains why he sold Glacier, how he found clarity to make informed decisions, and the key factors influencing Glacier’s transaction.

Drew Bagot is the Founder and Managing Partner at Serata Capital Partners, a founder-friendly private equity firm that create partnerships that build lasting value for business owners and investors. As a private equity investor for over 15 years, he has founded and operated several entrepreneurial businesses. He also manages a private equity portfolio in Calidant Capital, where he is a founding partner.  Before Serata Capital Partners, Drew was an Associate Director at ORIX Corporation and a Senior Analyst at Pharos Capital Group.  In this episode… Private equity investments can maximize business value, but they require strategic partnerships to source and close a deal. Independent sponsors are invaluable partners for most private equity deals. So what are the benefits of these partners, and how can you best utilize them in your business? Founder and Managing Partner of Serata Capital Partners, Drew Bagot, talks about how his firm partners with independent sponsors. With host Todd Taskey, Drew explains the types of investors, carried interest in private equity, and how to position your business for acquisition.