Aaron and A.J. dive into the transformative concept of "making good trouble" in business: challenging the status quo, fostering innovative thinking, and balancing ambition with humility. From the importance of self-care as a founder to building resilient operating systems and cultures that can thrive independently of their founder, you’ll hear real strategies for turning audacious ideas into sustainable, high-value businesses.

A.J. unpacks how her experience at Google X shaped her approach to innovation—emphasizing experimentation, rapid learning through discreet signals, and the power of letting go when the signals are not right. You’ll learn why the healthiest cultures reward curiosity and critical questioning, and how even small businesses can adopt an R&D mindset to accelerate meaningful impact.

Aaron Alpeter sits down with Emily Reeves, VP of Capital Solutions at Bridge, to dig deep into the smart use of debt for growing, scaling, and prepping your business for a successful exit. Emily brings her extensive expertise in capital markets and private credit—especially in the CPG sector—to unpack some of the most nuanced questions founders face: How do you decide when debt is a strategic tool versus a dangerous liability? What signals does debt send to potential acquirers? And how can you leverage it to maximize valuation without risking the fundamentals of your business?

On this episode of Build a Business Worth Buying, host Aaron Alpeter sits down eith the powerhouse co-founders behind Athena Advisory Collective. Unlike the typical VC-backed founder stories, Cristy and Aggie specialize in helping female founders of agencies, service firms, and bootstrapped businesses build and exit on their own terms.

You'll hear why non-VC paths can be more sustainable—and potentially more lucrative—than the venture route, and learn exactly what makes a service business truly valuable and sellable. The conversation dives deep into topics like securing recurring revenue, designing bulletproof contracts, getting the founder out of day-to-day operations, and creating a turn-key business ready for a smooth exit. Cristy and Aggie also share candid insights on supporting women founders, the psychological hurdles around selling a “passion project,” and the importance of knowing your numbers.

In today’s episode, we’re diving into the unique world of physical assets—think trucks, warehouses, and sprawling logistics networks. Our guest is Peter Stefanovich, co-founder and Managing Partner of Left Lane Associates, Canada’s premier M&A advisory firm for the supply chain sector.

Together, we explore what really drives enterprise value when your business is built on tangible infrastructure, not just brand identity. Peter unpacks the nitty-gritty: how specialization can create a moat, why stability is more valuable than sky-high growth, and the common misconceptions founders face when it comes to selling an asset-heavy business. If you’ve ever wondered how to make your logistics, transportation, or service company truly attractive to buyers—or want to apply these rock-solid principles to your own operations—this episode is packed with actionable insights.

We unpack the emotional and strategic complexities of selling a business—including the hard-earned lessons Lane learned from his own exits, why perspective is so hard to find as a founder, and what really goes on behind the scenes of a successful deal. You’ll hear Lane’s take on the four key pillars buyers look for, why owner dependence is a dealbreaker, how to create a competitive process, and why building systems from day one sets your business up for a premium outcome.

In this episode, host Aaron Alpeter sits down with Dave DiGiacomo, partner at Michael Best and head of their cannabis practice, who brings a rare dual perspective as both M&A attorney and former founder. Dave’s journey from launching an organic pet food company to navigating deals from $10 million to over $1 billion gives him unique insight into what makes a business irresistible—or impossible—for buyers.

Aaron and Dave pull back the curtain on what really happens behind the scenes during an exit: how to work with your legal team to actually add value (not just avoid orange jumpsuits), why the cleanest businesses fetch the highest multiples, and the often-overlooked ways founders can set themselves up for a smoother, wealthier exit—years in advance.

On this episode of Build a Business Worth Buying, host Aaron Alpeter sits down with Curtis Matsko, the unconventional CEO and founder of Portland Leather Goods—a brand famous for its cult following, vertical integration, and refusal to follow the typical startup playbook. Curtis shares the behind-the-scenes story of transforming a garage side-hustle into a nearly $200 million business, all without raising venture capital.

You’ll hear how Curtis doubled revenues year after year, why he believes setting almost impossibly high goals matters, and how he built a winning team and culture rooted in creative risk-taking, authenticity, and a relentless focus on quality. Along with his assistant Mariana, Curtis candidly unpacks the hard decisions—like shutting down top-selling sales channels and boldly investing in in-house manufacturing—that set Portland Leather apart from the competition.

On this episode of Build a Business Worth Buying, host Aaron Alpeter sits down with Rodney Manzo, founder of Anvyl—a supply chain technology company that evolved from a startup serving spreadsheet-weary teams to a robust orchestration platform that caught the attention of Sage for acquisition. Rodney draws on his deep experience across Apple, Harry’s, and Anvyl to share practical wisdom about finding product-market fit, knowing when (and how) to pivot, building true enterprise value, and navigating the complexities of due diligence.

On this episode of Build a Business Worth Buying, host Aaron Alpeter sits down with Jess Meher, an accomplished entrepreneur and investor who co-founded Wonderment—an innovative e-commerce tracking and customer experience platform recently acquired by Loop Returns. Jess shares the true story behind Wonderment’s founding, from identifying a gap in post-purchase customer experience and finding early product-market fit, to the realities of building not just a product, but an enduring company. Jess takes us through navigating the choppy waters of scaling during the COVID era, understanding the critical decision points for a possible exit, and ultimately choosing a strategic acquisition with Loop Returns.

If you’re looking for real-world lessons on building a data-driven SaaS business, managing founder dynamics, evaluating acquisition opportunities, and what it really takes to build a business that buyers can’t resist, this episode is packed with actionable wisdom and candid reflections—perfect for anyone who wants to move beyond startup basics and scale with intent.