Shows / Acquiring Minds
Acquiring Minds
Buying a business is an amazing path for many successful entrepreneurs. Learn how to buy a business from the entrepreneurs who have already done it. 2x per week: stories, insights, & valuable advice about acquisition entrepreneurship. Hosted by Will Smith, who is on his own path to acquire a business. Also on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AcquiringMinds Sign up for episode summaries at: https://acquiringminds.co
Episodes
Acquiring MindsStarted as SBA Searcher, Built to a PE Fund
The first business Joe Wechsler bought had $280k of SDE. Seven years later, he runs a fund with $50m of buying power. Register for the webinar: Franchising for…
Acquiring MindsBuying $1.5m of Earnings Without an SBA Loan
As a South African in the US, Justus Luttig had to get creative to search then buy 2 trades businesses at the same time. Register for the webinar: New $10m…
Acquiring MindsThe Magic of Low Multiple + Growth
David Graf went after a business that had sat on the market, acquiring $750k of EBITDA for 2.7x. It's going well. Register for the webinars: Negotiating…
Acquiring MindsHow We Bought 14 Businesses and Built a $120M HoldCo | Andrea Allegrini of Lindbergh
Andrea Allegrini is one of the key operators behind one of Europe’s most fascinating small-cap acquisition stories. Lindbergh is building what could become the…
Acquiring MindsRolling Up an Industry with 1.5x Multiples
Truc Nguyen has acquired 2 nail salons, an overlooked but fragmented industry where businesses trade at low multiples. Register for the webinar: Negotiating…
Acquiring MindsThe Origins and Future of a 9-Figure SMB Holdco
Gant Elmore and Matt Moldenhauer each bought $2m businesses they built over years. Today their holdco does over $200m. Register for the webinar: Revenue…
Acquiring MindsToo Good to Be True: Year 1 in a $700k SDE Business
Zack Mutnik thought he bought a $1.5m electrical contracting business for 2.3x. The numbers weren't what they seemed. Register for the webinar: Kill It Early…
Acquiring MindsHow We Bought 160 Businesses and Built a $1.5B HoldCo at 33 and 35 | Ramsey Sahyoun of Evergreen
Ramsey Sahyoun shares how Evergreen grew from a Berkshire-inspired idea into a $1.5B revenue, $250M EBITDA HoldCo with 160 acquisitions. We discuss proprietary…
Acquiring MindsHow to Structure Around Risk in a $250k SDE Acquisition
Alicia Powers wanted to buy a general contractor but understood the risks in such businesses and negotiated accordingly. Register for the webinar: Kill It…
Acquiring Minds35+ Acquisitions, $1.3B Exit and Backing 80+ Searchers | Mark Sinatra of ETA Equity
Mark Sinatra has lived the full search fund journey: discovering ETA at Wharton, acquiring Staff One HR, surviving the 2008 crisis, scaling the business…
Acquiring MindsBuying Small to Build for the Long Term ($300k SDE)
Brendan Duebner's goal is to build a healthy, long-term business of 20-40 people. Buying a $1.2m MSP was his first step. Topics in Brendan’s interview…
Acquiring MindsA $800k Business to Start, $60m Portfolio Today
Andrew Blazenko has made 6 acquisitions over the last ten years. Pairing businesses with operators is key to his model. Topics in Andrew’s interview…
Acquiring MindsBuying Then Losing a $2.1m HVAC Business
Dan Burnside thought he got a great deal on an $800k SDE business. Instead he'd bought bad faith and years of struggle. Register for the webinar: Add-Ons and…
Acquiring MindsWhat 137 Acquisitions Taught Me About Operational Excellence | Robert Irving Interview
In this episode, Robert Irving of Buffalo Growth Partners shares what he learned from building a fire protection business from zero to $20M in revenue, selling…
Acquiring MindsFrom $1m to $25m in 6 Years
Jeff Flannery is a great example of how franchising complements ETA, having rolled up 17 units since starting in 2019. Register for the webinars: Advanced Deal…
Acquiring MindsThe Searchers Building a $10m EBITDA Powerhouse
Nicolás Lulli bought a document storage business in Peru. 6 years later, it is a $25m leader in the Andean region. Register for the webinar: Advanced Deal…
Acquiring MindsBuying a $40m Business as a 49-Year-Old First-Timer
Greg Hirsch wants more seasoned professionals to understand how valuable their experience can be to an ETA journey. Topics in Greg’s interview: Fifteen years…
Acquiring MindsBuying Three Founder-Led SMEs: Lessons from the Trenches | Simon Plummer Interview
Simon Plummer is the co-founder of Arbor Permanent Owners, a holding company built for long-term ownership. In this episode, Simon drawing on his experience…
Acquiring MindsHow Business-Buyer Fit Led to 2.2x and No PG
Thanks to strong business-buyer fit, Joe Wynn negotiated great terms to acquire a $600k SDE sales & service business. Register for the webinar: Real Estate…
Acquiring MindsBuying a Business to Balance Ambition and Kids
Constrained in her job and seeking more time for her kids, Ana Lia Barragan bought a $385k/yr, 30-year-old business. Register for the webinars: Your First…
Acquiring MindsThe Buffett-Munger Introduction That Changed Everything
Why networks are one of the most underrated advantages in the lower middle market, and how to build them. We explore how trust, introductions, persistence, and…
Acquiring MindsA Search Fund Journey to $350m
Jenna Whigham and her brother bought a large business for a search fund, then grew it 6x larger over the last 5 years. Register for the webinar: The Operator’s…
Acquiring Minds"Life is Just Brighter" in a $1.2m Distribution Business
Joseph Cruz left a lucrative job in finance to pursue business ownership. Year 1 has gone well (despite losing his GM). Register for the webinars: What Type of…
Acquiring MindsFrom Management Buyout to Fund of Funds | P. V. Ramanathan (Ram) Interview
In this episode, I sit down with P.V. Ramanathan, or Ram, to unpack the story of how he helped lead a management buyout of a struggling cathodic protection…
Acquiring MindsFrom Small Acquisition to $30m Industry Leader
It took Robin Kovitz fours years to find her business, which she has built into an industry leader and her life's work. Register for the webinar: Quality of…
Acquiring MindsHow to Acquire 25 Franchise Units in 2.5 Years
Jack Foster & Jake McLaughlin raised $2.8m to buy 10 Meineke stores. That equity has taken them further than expected. Register for the webinars: Offshore…
Acquiring Minds9 Add-Ons in 24 Months | Dan Lifshits of Dwelly Interview
Dan Lifshits, co-founder of Dwelly, explains how he is building an AI-enabled roll-up in the UK lettings market by acquiring independent agencies and…
Acquiring MindsTurning $25k into a $3.2m Exit in Under 4 Years
Corey Mullins had worked in the trade over a decade when he bought a tiny, failing HVAC business for its phone number. Register for the webinars: What Actually…
Acquiring MindsHow We Built IDUN Industrier: 20 Acquisitions and 60x+ P/E Ratio
In this episode, we break down IDUN Industrier, a Swedish serial acquirer that has completed 20 acquisitions to date and now trades at roughly a 65x P/E…
Acquiring Minds40% Growth in Year 1 of a Paving Business
Eric Donahue quickly grew revenue to $6m thanks to operational enhancements, culture tweaks, and a little good luck. Register for the webinar: What Actually…
Acquiring MindsWhat 100+ Investments Taught Me About Great Acquirers | Lacey Wismer Interview
Mike Markus ( https://x.com/PrivatEquityGuy ) talks with Lacey Wismer of Hunter Search Capital ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/laceywismer/ ) about her journey…
Acquiring MindsLeaving Wall Street to Buy a $1m Manufacturing Business
After 25 years on The Street, Brian Anderson discovered passion in buying small businesses — despite brutal challenges. Register for the webinar: How to Handle…
Acquiring MindsA Serial Acquirer Masterclass and The Story Of 47 Acquisitions Per Year
Why serial acquirers remain one of the most powerful business models in the world. The best of them have acquired as many as 275 companies and traded at…
Acquiring MindsA $6.5m Business Worth Flying To
Naveen Vinta spends weekdays at the business he bought in Milkwaukee, away from home in Virginia. He's making it work. Register for the webinars: Add-Backs to…
Acquiring MindsBricklayer to Blue-Collar Empire
After building a masonry business over 5+ years, Justin Escajeda bought his first company in 2018 and never looked back. Register for the webinars: From Owner…
Acquiring Minds38 Acquisitions Generating $2 Billion in Revenue | Eric Wiklendt Interview
Mike Markus ( https://x.com/PrivatEquityGuy ) talks with Eric Wiklendt of Speyside Equity ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericwiklendt/ ) about Eric's journey…
Acquiring MindsNo SBA Loan and $75k Out of Pocket
After Megan McGee pivoted her search fund to a self-funded approach, she bought a business where she wanted to settle. Register for the webinars: From Owner to…
Acquiring MindsGrowing Profits 30% in the First 1.5 Years
Jonathan Taylor has quickly grown revenue 40% at his acquisition through digitization, process improvement, and sales. Topics in Jonathan’s interview…
Acquiring MindsHow I Left PE and Bought 16 Companies | Kaido Veske Interview
Mike Markus ( https://x.com/PrivatEquityGuy ) talks with Kaido Veske of Livonia Partners ( https://www.livoniapartners.com/ ) about Kaido’s journey from…
Acquiring MindsSecond Time's the Charm as Owner of a $4m Business
After his first ownership experience ended badly, Joe Springsteen bought a $3.2m maintenance business that is thriving. Topics in Joe’s interview: Background…
Acquiring Minds10 Acquisitions in 24 Months, No Fund | Travis Jamison Interview
Mike Markus ( https://x.com/PrivatEquityGuy ) talks to Travis Jamison of CapitalPad ( https://capitalpad.com/ ) about building a deal-by-deal investing…
Acquiring MindsTaking a Single-City Acquisition Nationwide
Edward McDonnell bought a local services business via traditional search fund and grew it to 8 branches across 5 states. Register for the webinar: SMB…
Acquiring MindsYear 1 in a $300k SDE Services Business
Scott Crosby weathered the challenges that come with buying a 4.5-employee services business, and Year 2 is looking up. Register for the webinars: Common Legal…
Acquiring MindsWhy This Operator Won’t Raise a Fund (17 Companies, 9 Exits) | Vic Keller
Mike Markus ( https://x.com/PrivatEquityGuy ) talks to Vic Keller of Experience Ventures ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/vickeller/ ) about building 17…
Acquiring MindsHow to 4x a Small Manufacturer
Tato Corcoran returns with updates on her ownership of a sink maker that had just $400k in revenue when she bought it. Register for the webinar: Red Flags That…
Acquiring MindsOff-Market Deal Flow for $2M-$200M Founder-Led Companies
Operators, independent sponsors, searchers, and lower middle market investors: this episode is about building repeatable deal flow in the $2-15M EBITDA range…
Acquiring MindsExiting for Millions vs. Long-Term Hold
Don Grigg reflects on the different outcomes for 2 businesses he bought in his 30s, one of which became his life's work. Register for the webinar: Red Flags…
Acquiring Minds5 Acquisitions in 24 Months: How I Got 60-70% Seller Financing | Millen Rastogi Interview
Mike Markus ( https://x.com/PrivatEquityGuy ) talks to Millen Rastogi of UniversaCare ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/millenrastogi/ ) about leaving his analyst…
Acquiring MindsHow to Own 20% of Multiple SMBs
In addition to buying his own business, Evan DiLeonardi trades buy-side services for equity in other SMB acquisitions. Topics in Evan’s interview: Entering the…
Acquiring Minds$20m Net Worth After 25 Years Buying Businesses
He started by buying a small flooring business in 2000. Today Paul Lajoie takes home $1m a year and works how he wants. Register for the webinar: Why Deal Flow…
Acquiring MindsHow I Left PE to Buy Three Businesses in 90 Days | Reza Jafer Interview
Mike Markus ( https://x.com/PrivatEquityGuy ) talks to Reza Jafer of Second Bite Capital ( https://x.com/rezajafer ) about how he left private equity to…
Acquiring MindsSBA Deal Structuring to Manage Risk in a Cyclical Industry
Andrew Kurzrok connected with his seller over his manufacturing background, leading to a successful deal and transition. Topics in Andrew’s interview…
Acquiring MindsThe Story of Bowles, Hollowell, Conner & Co
The lower middle market runs on trust and relationship building. In this episode, we explore Bowles Hollowell Conner & Co., the quiet Charlotte-based advisory…
Acquiring Minds$250k SDE Acquisition: Limited Downside, Big Upside
Sensing untapped potential, Ville-Matias Vilén bought a sub-million manufacturer with good IP and global distribution. Topics in Ville’s interview: Desire to…
Acquiring Minds30 Add-Ons in 48 Months | Luis Reyes of IBV
Mike Markus ( https://x.com/PrivatEquityGuy ) talks to Luis Reyes of Iberian Ventures ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/luiz/ ) about how he has completed over 30…
Acquiring MindsThe Late 40s Pivot Into Business Buying
Despite success in corporate, Jarom Wren wanted more freedom, so he traded 5 figures of salary for 7 figures of revenue. Topics in Jarom’s interview: Realizing…
Acquiring MindsThe First Steps to a Family Holdco
Family planning and entrepreneurship converged as Linh & Leo Van Deibel bought their first (and not last) business. Topics in Linh & Leo’s interview: Making…
Acquiring MindsSearch Fund Success Story: From $15M to $200M Through 7 Acquisitions
Mike Markus ( https://x.com/PrivatEquityGuy ) talks to Christa Glassburn about how she joined a search fund, acquired seven companies and scaled revenue from…
Acquiring MindsBuying a Platform with an SBA Loan
Jacob VosWinkel searched in tertiary markets to find a successful flooring store, his platform to build something big. Register for the webinar: What You’re…
Acquiring MindsA $25 million LOI with a Ferrari 488
This episode breaks down how Jeremy Giffon ( https://x.com/jeremygiffon ) thinks about special situations, forced sellers, and overlooked businesses, showing…