Mike Nunez founded AffiliateManager.com with his brother but always wanted to work for Channel Intelligence in Orlando. After a random encounter with the CEO of Channel Intelligence, he was called up to work for them. Six years later Channel Intelligence was acquired by Google for $125 million in an all-cash deal.

Now Mike’s back growing AffilateManager.com into an industry leader by applying all the techniques he learned selling to Google.

If you listen, you will learn:

How a start-up company operates with the clear goal of acquisition

The importance of taking advantage of networking opportunities

What Google looks for when acquiring a company and how to align your business to be ready for an acquisition

The importance of having a clear vision and initiatives in your business

How Google handles acquisitions and the merging of employees

Having a solid team of employees is everything

Channel Intelligence

Mike Nunez always wanted to work at Channel Intelligence in Orlando. They were a good company with a great reputation. Mark knew he couldn’t get hired there right out of college so built up his experience. He discovered affiliate marketing in college and ran a few different affiliate marketing programs at different companies as well as working on his own business.

While networking at a conference, he met the CEO of the company he always wanted to pursue. Eight months later he was recruited to work for Channel Intelligence (CI). CI just received $15 million in funding so the company grew to around 150 employees in 2007, six years before they were acquired by the big guy, Google.

Aligning with Google

Channel Intelligence was a provider of technology to companies that enabled customers to buy their products online. They were active in over 30 countries working with over 850 retailers such as Best Buy and Target.

Acquisition was always the goal at Channel Intelligence. The owners were very transparent about this. They never talked about going public or staying private. Every employee knew this and marched toward the same goal.

In 2012, the CEO of Channel Intelligence left the company and the new CEO provided much needed focus. He helped align the company with Google and Google Shopping. They focused only on their “Where to Buy” feature on websites as well as feed syndication.

Google soon came knocking after analyzing the company. Google had big goals for Google Shopping and wanted to acquire the company to be able to hit their goals quicker. It was a strategic acquisition and after some back and forth and due diligence, Google acquired CI for $125 million, 4X their gross revenue.

“Everybody was very excited. We all felt like we were getting called home by the Mothership. We were all just super excited to be acquired by Google. Everybody gets to put Google on their resume,” says Mike.

Life After Google

Mike loved working for the Mothership but had more of entrepreneurial spirit. He wanted to change people’s lives and make more of a measurable impact. After 4 years with Google, he left to put more time into AfflilateManager.com.

“The thing that us entrepreneurs want is that we want to feel like we are making an impact. In one year after the Google acquisition I sold more than Channel Intelligence had acquired in the 13 years prior. It was significant yet the impact on Google’s bottom line was the smallest of decimal points of percentages,” says Mike.

Mike now works with medium sized businesses at AffiliateManager.com. Unlike Channel Intelligence and Google, he does not focus on the big fi