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 MindsThe Upside & Downside of Search, from a 20-Year Veteran
A fireside chat with veteran searcher & investor Kent Weaver recorded at the Self-Funded Search Conference in Dallas. Topics in Kent's interview: Kent's…
Acquiring MindsPassion, Meet EBITDA: The Joy of Buying an Art Gallery
Sean Moore looked at a handful of businesses, but a fine art gallery with over $1m SDE won the art collector's heart. Topics in Sean’s interview: Pulling $1M…
Acquiring MindsGrowing EBITDA from $750k to $2m: Time to Sell?
John Hubbard returns to share how "chasing EBITDA over revenue" has benefited the trailer fabricator he bought in 2021. Topics in John’s interview: Losing…
Acquiring MindsHow I Invest My Millions I Earned From High-Stakes Poker | Alec Torelli Interview
Alec Torelli is one of the most respected poker players in the industry. With over $2,200,000 in tournament winnings and millions more in both live and online…
Acquiring MindsHow to Buy a SaaS Business with an SBA Loan
It CAN be done. Andrew Swiler acquired a SaaS business with $650k SDE using an SBA loan (and while living in Spain). Topics in Andrew’s interview: Why he…
Acquiring MindsBoom, Bust, Boom: Buying a Whiplash Business
Chandler Reed reflects on buying a project-based business in 2021, seeing sales soar, then crash, then surge again. Topics in Chandler’s interview: His…
Acquiring MindsPartnering with an Operator to Buy a Business
Landon Mance bought a $1.7m tree business alongside a minority partner who's operated the business full-time from Day 1. Topics in Landon’s interview: Crossing…
Acquiring MindsHow I Mastered LBOs (Leveraged Buyouts) and Built 8-Fig Holding Company | Sacha Jak Interview
Sacha Jak is the founder of a holding company with 8-figure revenue and 300 employees. He is an expert when it comes leverages buyouts. Sacha's most famous…
Acquiring MindsHow to Survive Going from Hedge Funds to SMB Owner
Neil Finneran had worked in hedge funds & as a CFO when the opportunity to buy a pest control business presented itself. Topics in Neil’s interview: His career…
Acquiring MindsA Reward for Widening Search to $300k SDE
A year into his search Jesse Sunquist realized he needed to lower his SDE floor to find a business to buy in his market. Topics in Jesse’s interview: Being…
Acquiring MindsHow I Built a Business Portfolio of $150M AUM | Sunny Desai Interview
Sunny Desai is the founder and CEO of Desai Companies, a diversified integrated holding company with a diversified portfolio and over $150,000,000 AUM. On this…
Acquiring MindsWhen Buying Small Goes Right (3x Growth)
George Vallone returns to share how he has grown revenue 3x in 2.5 years and laid a foundation for multi-city expansion. Topics in George’s interview: His…
Acquiring MindsBuying a $3m Candle Manufacturer That Had No Books
Chad Hildebrant knew the best deals have hair on them. The trick is finding the right hair, turning red flags green. Topics in Chad’s interview: Buying a…
Acquiring MindsBuying $1m+ Ice Cream Shops to Expand Nationally
Shawn Allard didn't want a food business, but an ice cream shop with good margins & a local following changed his mind. Topics in Shawn’s interview:Realizing…
Acquiring MindsBuy and 3x a Project-Based Business in Just 2 Years
In 2021, Johannes Hock bought an artificial turf installer business doing $5m. It's on track to exceed $15m in 2023. Topics in Johannes’s interview: Comparing…
Acquiring MindsHow I Built a Portfolio of 4 Wine Distribution Companies | Ranjit Chahal Interview
Ranjit Chahal is the founder of BEVIQUA, a wine and spirits distribution company with four B2C e-commerce sites across the alcohol and FMCG (fast moving…
Acquiring MindsHow to Buy the Business Where You Work
Corey Veverka acquired the business where he had worked for years, mitigating his risk & removing the need for a search. Topics in Corey’s interview: Corey…
Acquiring MindsThe $295m Search Fund Exit
Sandy Paige struggled to raise a search fund as a mid-career executive, then grew EBITDA by 7x and exited for 9 figures. Topics in Sandy’s interview: Delaying…
Acquiring MindsMr. X - 22 lessons from an anonymous investor whose last investment was $30M in a company with $170M in revenue
Mr. X is a solo PE investor who co-invests with four large ($3-6 billion AUM) family offices, as well as other wealthy individuals. His most recent deal size…
Acquiring MindsHiring a General Manager & Buying Business #2
Shane Ehrsam & Brandon Adams return to discuss hiring a GM, buying business #2, the rewards of SMB life & managing envy. Topics in Shane’s interview: Most…
Acquiring MindsLeaving a Big Salary in DC for Small Business in Wyoming
Eric Hayes was an accomplished executive in the DC area with 5 kids when he decided to buy a business in Laramie, WY. Topics in Eric’s interview: Walking away…
Acquiring MindsHow I Bought 18 Companies and Built A Holding Company That Does $140M in Revenue | Michael Byars Interview
Michael Byars is the founder of a holding company with the portfolio of 18 companies with total revenue of over $140,000,000 On this episode, PrivatEquityGuy &…
Acquiring MindsSeller's View of a Searcher Buying His Business
Peter Wild fielded offers to buy his business for years but sold only after being introduced to the searcher community. Topics in Peter & Carlos’ interview…
Acquiring MindsBuying a 45-Year-Old Industry Pioneer
After a successful military career, Don Gourley saw buying a business as the best means to "lead a unit" as a civilian. Topics in Don’s interview: Having a…
Acquiring MindsHow to Buy Internet Companies and Take it to IPO in 9 Years | Dom Wells Interview
Dom Wells is the founder and CEO of Onfolio.co - a public holding company of internet businesses. In this episode of HoldCo Builders, Dom shares the journey of…
Acquiring MindsBuy a Franchise Portfolio: How to Choose a Brand
AJ Wasserstein, Peter Mistretta & Mike Horowitz distill the selection of a franchise brand into 10 essential criteria. Topics in today’s interview with A.J…
Acquiring MindsRocky Transition: How to Survive, Then Thrive
Collapsing sales, unhelpful sellers, and a GM who quit. But 1 year later, Chris Jones is contemplating acquisition #2. Topics in Chris’s interview: Buying a…
Acquiring MindsHow I Built a $10M HoldCo of 6 Internet Businesses (100% Bootstrapped) | Greg Isenberg Interview
Greg Isenberg is the co-founder of Late Checkout - holding company of six internet businesses with combined revenue of over $10,000,000 He's spent the last 15…
Acquiring MindsFirst-Time Buyer Recipe for Success: Action & Small Steps
Connor Pera shares how taking incremental steps led to buying his first business much sooner than expected. Topics in Connor’s interview: Trade-offs of a…
Acquiring MindsUnlocking Growth in a 40-Year-Old Business
Josh Medow brought a mindset to his search that he would reshape whatever business he bought into a high-growth company. Topics in Josh’s interview: Calling…
Acquiring MindsHow to Get Insanely Lucky When Raising Capital | Daniel Pi Interview
Daniel Pi is the founder of Coterie Capital.Coterie Capital is a principal investments and corporate advisory firm based in Sydney. On this episode…
Acquiring MindsFrom Startup Founder to Buying a Small Business
Tim Ericson brings lessons from 13 years as a startup founder to the $4m printer rental company he recently bought. Topics in Tim’s interview: His experience…
Acquiring MindsBuying a Small Business to Build for Decades
August Felker did a search fund, then later a self-funded search so he could own & build his business for years to come. Topics in August’s interview: Buying a…
Acquiring MindsHow To Buy ATM Machines and Build a $10M EBITDA Business | Mitchell Sorkin Interview
Mitchell Sorkin is the co-founder of ATM holdco. Short two years ago he left a VC backed "sexy startup" to build a basic, boring business. In year 1 they went…
Acquiring MindsHoldco Entrepreneurs: A Peek Behind the Curtain
HoldCoConf co-founder Kelcey Lehrich shares key findings from a survey of 100+ holdco operators about their businesses. Topics in Kelcey’s interview: How…
Acquiring MindsA Non-Financial Reason to Buy a Business
Nick Akers had a vision for supportive, employee-first leadership. Buying a business enables him to realize this vision. Topics in Nick’s interview: His…
Acquiring MindsPostmortem of a Broken Deal
Nick Wheeler reflects on investing countless hours to buy a beautiful business, only to have the seller kill the deal. Topics in Nick’s interview: Finding a…
Acquiring MindsHow I Built a Luxury Property Holding Company That Pays $31,000 a Night | Michael Chen Interview
Michael Chen is Co-CEO, and the Founder of HakuLife and the developer of award-winning properties, Hakuchōzan and HakuVillas. Has over 20 years of professional…
Acquiring MindsThe Joys & Pain of Owning a $10m City Bus Business
George Goates bought a small shuttle business that he's grown 4x in 8 years, partly by running buses for municipalities. Topics in George’s interview:Buying a…
Acquiring MindsHow (and Why) to Buy a B2B Services Business
Sajama Mitta wanted to make strategic decisions at the head of an organization. Buying her own business was the answer. Topics in Sajama’s interview: Using her…
Acquiring Minds16 Months to Exit: Cleaning Up in Street Sweeping
Manny Saxena quickly bought 3 street-sweeping businesses to become the largest player in NorCal. A big PE fund noticed. Topics in Manny’s interview: The…
Acquiring MindsWhy Buy a Digital Service Business
Karl Hughes recently bought a podcast production agency & explains why "productized service" businesses are attractive. Topics in Karl’s interview: Starting a…
Acquiring MindsHow I Acquire HVAC Companies to Build a $45 Million Portfolio | Amir Haboosheh Interview
Amir Haboosheh cofounded Snowball Industries in 2020. In 2023, they generate more than $45 million in revenue. Prior to Snowball he was director of M&A at…
Acquiring MindsBuilding an ATM Empire
Mitchell Sorkin started by buying 3 ATMs in 2021. Today he has over 140 machines and is targeting $5m EBITDA in 3 years. Topics in Mitchell’s interview: The…
Acquiring MindsThe Life-Changing Potential of Buying a Business
Chris Munn, Bakari Akil, and Bruce Vann reflect on being Black men who bought businesses & why this path is so powerful. Topics in this interview: What…
Acquiring MindsHow One Tiny Acquisition Grew Into a Holdco
Matt Huggins bought a small water & cable utility doing $200k/year. 15 years later, his holdco is on track for $20m/yr. Topics in this interview: Matt's…
Acquiring Minds5x in 5 Years: Buying Small to Grow Quickly
Holdco entrepreneur Chase Murdock buys very small businesses with potential for rapid growth & decades of staying power. Topics in Chase’s interview: Starting…
Acquiring MindsSnowball Effect: Getting to $45m in 3 Years
Amir Haboosheh was drawn to the double-opportunity in acquiring home services businesses: the financial, and the impact. Topics in Amir’s interview: Why Amir…
Acquiring MindsHow I Semi-Retired at 28 as a Family Office Investor | Akshay Ramachandran Interview
Akshay Ramachandran is a semi-retired investor in his 20s. Akshay's most recent job was being sole analyst reporting directly to the portfolio manager. They…
Acquiring MindsDon't Overlook HR Diligence: 3 Items to Check
Mark Sinatra returns to explain what to diligence from an HR perspective when buying your business. Topics in Mark’s interview: Top 3 things to diligence in…
Acquiring MindsHow to Shorten Your Search: Big 3, Little 2
Sam Rosati shares a framework to clarify your search criteria & reduce the months it takes to find a business to buy. Topics in Sam’s interview: The reason…
Acquiring MindsThe Secret to $25m Success
James Bloom has 8x'd a small mechanical contractor he bought only 4 years ago, despite it being a competitive industry. Topics in James’s interview: How his…
Acquiring MindsWhat Buying Small Is Like When Crises Happen
3 days into Monte Marcum's acquisition of an established franchise, key equipment breaks. Then the crises kept coming. Topics in Monte’s interview: Buying 2…
Acquiring MindsSelf-Funded Search vs. Independent Sponsorship
Niklas James started off as a self-funded searcher, but evolved into being an independent sponsor of 7 acquisitions. Topics in Niklas’s interview: Why he…
Acquiring MindsThe Bumpy Reality of Buying an Ecommerce Business
Martin Bispels updates us on the DTC ecommerce business he bought in 2020 and had grown to almost $2m/yr one year later. Topics in Martin’s interview: Using…
Acquiring MindsOwner vs CEO: 2 Approaches to Buying a Business
Derek Turner has done both a traditional search fund and self-funded. We hear both stories & explore the differences. Topics in Derek’s interview: The…
Acquiring MindsOne Acquiring Minds Guest Buys Another
2 previous guests, Mike Botkin & Adrian Pinto, are joining forces to grow a landscaping empire throughout the Southeast. Topics in Adrian and Mike’s interview…
Acquiring MindsRaising $800k to Buy an $8m Business as a First-Timer
With no finance background, Kevin Bibelhausen learned to raise money from investors & buy a 20-year-old fabric business. Topics in Kevin’s interview: His…
Acquiring MindsIt Worked: Buying an Ecom Business to Gain Freedom
Alex Michael was seeking to acquire not just a business, but freedom. One year later, he reports back on how it's going. Topics in Alex’s interview: Top line…
Acquiring MindsBuy Big: How to Acquire a $3m EBITDA Roofing Business
How Austin Smoak raised money from investors to buy a very profitable roofing business that he found on BizBuySell. Topics in Austin's interview: How Goldman…