HoldCo Builders

In this discussion, Jack Bennett, co-founder of Lighthouse Capital and an expert in small business acquisitions, shares his journey from a small Canadian town to closing over 20 deals worth $8M in revenue. He reveals the importance of personal discipline learned early on and how it translated into his entrepreneurial success. Jack delves into the evolution of their M&A services, their unique dual structure of advisory and investment, and offers strategic insights into investing in small businesses while navigating the complexities of the market.

Luca Hany, founder of Amboro Capital, shares insights from his journey transitioning from investment banking to building a search fund focused on Swiss SMEs. He highlights the unique gaps in the Swiss market and the ongoing succession crisis within SMEs. Luca discusses innovative strategies for generating deal flow by directly engaging with business owners, overcoming the lack of public company data, and raising capital without prior operational experience. His approach shows how personal connections can unlock opportunities in the investment landscape.

Two world-class DJs turned investors reveal their surprising journey from music stardom to a $200M investment firm. They discuss the challenges and sacrifices behind their success, emphasizing the importance of robust systems for sustainable growth. The duo highlights the need to embrace authenticity, both in creativity and investment strategies. Their insights on brand identity and long-term relationships offer actionable lessons for entrepreneurs aiming to connect deeply with their audience and build trust.

Sam Mahmood, co-founder of Pave, dives into his impressive transition from medical device sales to the paving industry, revealing how he identified lucrative opportunities in this overlooked market. He discusses his strategic approach to building a successful advisory board and shares insights on raising $2.5M from retail investors in just 30 days. With fascinating anecdotes from his acquisitions, Sam emphasizes the importance of genuine relationships in business and the unique challenges of navigating the paving landscape without prior experience.

Explore the remarkable rise of RDCP Group, transforming a £2 million investment into over £400 million in revenue. Discover innovative financing techniques that sidestep traditional capital and learn how strategic acquisitions in the care home sector paved the way for growth. Gain insights into the philosophical differences between holding companies and investment funds, and unravel the significance of branding and storytelling in successful negotiations. This journey showcases the resilience of entrepreneurs navigating economic challenges in their pursuit of business success.

Dev Shah, the 23-year-old founder of Pocket Fund, dives into his journey of acquiring seven businesses without external capital. He reveals how he discovered his first acquisition, Sourcely.ai, which yielded a staggering 37.5x return. Dev shares strategies for building a successful portfolio, focusing on talent acquisition and operational efficiency in India. He also discusses the importance of personalized business models and his motivations for avoiding VC funding, emphasizing long-term growth and organic success.

In this engaging conversation, Jamal Muse, a former math teacher and BlackRock analytics pro, shares his journey as a serial entrepreneur. He discusses the financial power of selling businesses and the vital mindset shift from treating a company as a 'baby' to seeing it as a valuable asset. Jamal reveals his three-year roadmap for building and exiting e-commerce brands, touches on emotional complexities in selling, and identifies common pitfalls that can thwart exits. His personal transformation story serves as inspiration for other aspiring entrepreneurs.

Discover how True Potential has achieved an astonishing 40% CAGR for over 15 years, becoming a leader in the UK wealth management sector. The podcast dives into their effective vertical integration and hybrid advice model, revealing the secrets behind their impressive profitability. Learn about their unique in-house fund distribution and the role it plays in driving profits. Explore the innovative M&A strategies that allow True Potential to acquire retiring advisors' client books, standing out in a competitive industry rife with regulatory challenges.

Mike Botkin, Partner and CEO of Canvas Outdoors, transitioned from a real estate private equity COO to acquiring a $780K landscaping business. He discusses taking risks despite feeling unqualified and how he scaled up through six strategic acquisitions in just 23 months. Mike emphasizes the importance of focusing on profitable customers and the role of talented leadership in successful acquisitions. He shares insights on increasing operational efficiency and the significance of finding mid-career owners rather than tired sellers.

The $3 Billion Rollup: Inside Moonbug’s Epic Exit (with Alex Prokofjev from Rollup Europe)What do Cocomelon, Blippi, and Little Baby Bum have in common? They were all part of one of the most impressive media rollups in history: Moonbug Entertainment — a business that scaled from 0 to $100M EBITDA in under four years and exited for $3 billion to Candle Media (backed by Blackstone).Thank you to our newest sponsors:Scalepath: https://www.joinscalepath.com/Spacebar Studios: https://www.spacebarstudios.co/In this episode, I sit down with Alex Prokofjev, co-founder of Rollup Europe, who did a deep dive into Moonbug’s strategy. We unpack the insane deal-making, content flywheel, multi-channel monetization, and the unique cap table structure that fueled this rocketship.We explore:00:00:00 - Intro: The Most Fascinating Exit in Modern Media?00:00:42 - Why Moonbug Was a Contrarian Bet in 201800:02:15 - Meet the Dream Team: Disney + Wildbrain + M&A00:03:35 - How They Scaled to $3B in Just 3.5 Years00:05:00 - Moonbug’s Playbook: Monetizing Kids' IP Across Channels00:06:15 - Cap Table Deep Dive: 6 Share Classes & Incentive Design00:07:30 - How Moonbug Achieved 50% EBITDA Margins Across 30 Brands00:09:00 - Little Baby Bum: The $90M Deal That Changed Everything00:13:00 - Moonbug’s Exit to Candle Media: Was $3B Worth It?00:16:00 - Why Moonbug Hasn’t Been Copied (Successfully)00:17:20 - The Legal Battles & Risks Behind the Scenes00:19:35 - Founders’ Payday: Who Made How Much in the Exit?00:20:30 - Top 3 Lessons for Today’s Rollup Operators----------------------------------------------Subscribe on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/6lr5bE3SNZF2uEE7Nb0DHhSubscribe on Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/holdco-builders/id1695713724Follow Mikk/PrivatEquityGuy on Twitter: https://x.com/PrivatEquityGuy⁠⁠⁠Alex from RollUp Europe: https://rollupeurope.beehiiv.com/This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions.