ETA Insider Podcast

Manny Saxena, Founder and Chairman at Mars Energy Group, discusses his experiences in corporate America and the startup world. He shares pivotal decision-making moments that led him to embrace ETA, the importance of confidence and emotional intelligence, building a support network, and successfully competing in the contract sweeping industry. Manny also talks about his new venture in the solar industry and his plans to acquire multiple companies.

This month’s episode of the ETA Insider Podcast features Lisa Forrest, Director of Live Oak Bank. At the time of the taping last March, the LMM SBA market was in the throws of adjusting to the interest rate shocks. Deal flow at that time was in a state of disarray as buyers, sellers, and lenders were all trying to figure out acquisition structures in this rate environment. Almost 7 months later, the market is starting to adjust and many lenders like Live Oak Bank will end up with solid 2023 production and heading into 2024 with a good pipeline of transactions. Ms. Forrest also refers to some potential SBA SOP changes that, as of this drop, are still in flux. It would be an understatement to say that the LMM for self-funded searchers has seen disruption in 2023. But with disruption also comes opportunity. Released October 31, 2023

Tim Lahey, CEO of r:Home, discusses personal risk assessment in entrepreneurship, acquisition process, challenges of scaling a service-oriented business, and the value of industry knowledge. He reflects on personal growth and learning experiences in ETA, encouraging aspiring entrepreneurs.

Clement Lucas, Principal of Relay Investment, discusses the importance of diversity within the ETA ecosystem and the value it brings to both resumes and teams. The episode also covers the significance of partnering with investors who have pattern recognition and values alignment, common mistakes in ETA, and advice for aspiring searchers and CEOs.

This month’s episode of the ETA Insider Podcast features Jan Simon, the Managing Partner of Vonzeo Capital, a Professor of the Practice of Management in Entrepreneurship at IESE, and the Academic Director of its International Search Fund Center. Jan’s expertise and research focuses on investment strategies, mergers and acquisitions, and entrepreneurial acquisitions. Prior to working in the investment world, Jan spent four years in the Special Forces. In his conversation with Brian, Jan discusses how to think about market inefficiencies, performance persistence, stage-appropriate capital, and risk-adjusted returns in ETA.

In this episode of the ETA Insider Podcast, Brian interviews Nick Oberhouse, MBA ‘20, CEO of DAWGS (Door and Window Guard Systems, Inc.). After graduating from Chicago Booth, Nick partnered with NextGen Growth Partners (NGP) to acquire a business, eventually acquiring DAWGS in October 2021. DAWGS serves municipal and commercial property owners by securing their buildings with DAWGS' patented steel security system. Nick discusses how he transitioned from a background in consulting to a career in ETA, how he navigated building long term relationships with businesses during the global and economic uncertainty of the pandemic, why he chose an incubated/sponsored search as his search method, and how he maintains a symbiotic relationship with the original founder of DAWGS.

This special edition, live episode of the ETA Insider Podcast features Brian Vanderheyden, MBA ‘14, Founder and CEO of Glass Lake Holdings. When Brian joined the podcast in 2020, he was CEO of the Richmond Alarm Company, which he acquired in July 2017 out of his search fund. In this episode, recorded live at the Chicago Booth Harper Center in front of an audience of students and alumni, Brian discusses his recent exit, including the process of working with a bank and choosing between financial and strategic buyers. Brian also fields questions on life post-exit from the live audience, discussing his introspection process on his next steps and how to design his work/life balance through his next endeavor.

This episode features Mia Jackson, CEO of Vital Care Industries, a medical surgical supplies manufacturer. With a background in operations, supply chain, and finance, Mia discusses how acquiring Vital Care Industries combined her expertise with her passion for healthcare. In this episode, Brian interviews Mia on her career in entrepreneurship through acquisition, her advice to future searchers on how to strategically prepare to operate during the search, and the importance of building networks throughout the search process and as an operator.

Brian interviews Jason Pananos and Jay Davis, cofounders of the Nashton Company, on their careers in entrepreneurship through acquisition. Jason and Jay discuss how they developed a serial acquisition strategy, the benefits of long-term growth, and how their experience with ETA has informed how they think about investing today.

Addie Epstein and Ashley Quisol, principals and cofounders of Benton Place Partners, join Brian to discuss their journey into entrepreneurship through acquisition. Addie and Ashley share their search philosophy and highlight the importance of playing to your strengths, how to market yourself to business owners, and lessons learned from the ups and downs of searching.