Inorganic Podcast

By Christian Hassold & Ayelet Shipley

Ayelet Shipley and Christian Hassold host the Inorganic Podcast. Ayelet and Christian have combined 20 years of experience helping venture and private equity sponsors execute mergers and acquisitio

... more

Download on the App Store

Download on the App Store

Get it on Google Play

FAQs about Inorganic Podcast:

How many episodes does Inorganic Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 44 episodes available.

Inorganic Podcast episodes:

December 02, 2025E42: Deal Reveal - Wpromotes' Acquisition of Giant Spoon
In this episode, co-hosts Ayelet Shipley and Christian Hassold discuss WPromote's acquisition of Giant Spoon. They delve into the intricacies of the acquisition process, emphasizing the importance of trust and the contributions of a strong deal team. The conversation also touches on market reactions to the acquisition and the importance of post-merger integration planning. The hosts conclude with reflections on lessons learned and future goals for the newly formed agency.

Takeaways
Thanksgiving cooking hacks can lead to perfect meals.
The acquisition of Giant Spoon by WPromote is a significant industry move.
Trust and communication are crucial in the deal process.
Shared expectations workshops can enhance collaboration.
Having a partner to navigate complex P&Ls is critical to navigating technical financial discussions in a deal process
Market reactions can provide insights into industry perceptions.
The integration process should be planned from the start.
Maintaining brand identity is important post-acquisition.
Future goals and objectives are vital for continued growth.

Chapters
00:00 Thanksgiving Reflections and Cooking Hacks
02:12 Major Acquisition Announcement: WPromote and Giant Spoon
05:05 The Search for the Right Agency: A Corporate Development Journey
10:08 Navigating the Deal Process: Trust and Communication
17:31 Building Trust: Shared Expectations Workshop
21:30 Challenges and Insights from the Deal Process
25:05 Market Reactions and Industry Perspectives
29:21 Final Thoughts and Future Goals

Connect with Christian and Ayelet
Ayelet’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayelet-shipley-b16330149/
Christian's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hassold/
Web: https://www.inorganicpodcast.co
In/organic on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InorganicPodcast/featured

Episode References
Ad Age Deal Announcement
GE’s Opening Day Commercial by Giant Spoon
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
35min
November 17, 2025E41: KPMG Tech M&A Conf & SaaS M&A Market Update
Summary
In this episode of the In/organic Podcast, co-host Christian Hassold shares insights from the KPMG Technology M&A Conference, discussing the current landscape of mergers and acquisitions, particularly in the tech sector. In this episode, Christian shares highlights from the conference, including the pervasive influence of AI on M&A decisions, the challenges and opportunities presented by the AI investing landscape, and the importance of creative deal structures in navigating the current market dynamics. The episode also covers the “operator's dilemma” faced by CEOs - that is, the rise in peer pressure to do M&A, and what are the best practices are from leading strategics. Finally, Hassold provides an overview of current B2B SaaS deal activity and market trends based on Pitchbook data.

Takeaways
The KPMG M&A Conference provided valuable insights into current market dynamics.
AI is a major factor influencing M&A decisions and strategies.
VCs are increasingly making investments in AI startups without getting governance rights, and not always checking the underlying economics of the business
The operator's dilemma highlights the challenges that CEOs face in mergers and acquisitions (M&A).
Corporate development roles are seeing a significant increase in demand.
Top CEOs simplify their M&A strategies to focus on core problems.
Deal activity in the tech sector is on the rise, indicating a healthy market.
Earnouts are becoming a significant component of deal structures.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Context of the Episode
02:50 Insights from the KPMG M&A and Tech Conference
06:04 AI's Pervasive Influence on Tech and M&A
08:54 The AI Investing Landscape
11:40 Deal Structures Sparking Innovation
16:42 The Operator's Dilemma in M&A
21:48 Corporate Development and Deal Activity
24:38 Priorities in M&A for Corporates vs. Private Equity
29:19 Case Studies of Successful M&A Strategies
32:59 Market Update on Deal Activity and Earnouts

Connect with Christian and Ayelet
Ayelet’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayelet-shipley-b16330149/
Christian's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hassold/
Web: https://www.inorganicpodcast.co
In/organic on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InorganicPodcast/featured

Episode References
KPMG M&A Conference Agenda
KPMG 2025 Deal Market Study (buyer priorities)
Kirkland & Ellis M&A Bring Down Report 2025 (earnout data)
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
40min
November 06, 2025E40: The Art of Tuck-in Deals w/Brian Burt of Canopy Management
Summary
In this episode of the Inorganic Podcast, co-hosts Ayelet Shipley and Christian Hassold welcome Brian Burt, founder & CEO of Canopy Management. In this episode, we discuss Brian's entrepreneurial journey, with an emphasis on his principles for building the business and expanding through highly accretive tuck-in M&A transactions. Brian also shares the importance of cultural fit in successful integrations. He then discusses the challenges and opportunities presented by AI in the retail media space, emphasizing the need for omnichannel marketing strategies. The conversation underscores the importance of momentum in business and the role of performance-based incentives in sustaining an entrepreneurial spirit within acquired teams.

Takeaways
Canopy Management has grown without external investment, focusing on mergers and acquisitions for expansion.
The need for operational efficiency and scalability drove the first acquisition.
Cultural fit and shared values are crucial in successful acquisitions.
Integrating new teams requires clear communication and defined outcomes.
Performance-based incentives help maintain entrepreneurial spirit in acquired teams.
AI presents both a threat and an opportunity for the agency space.
Omnichannel marketing is essential for modern e-commerce success.
Building a strong personal brand aids in building an acquisition funnel
Momentum in business is key to successful integration and growth.?

Chapters
00:26 Brian Burt’s Background
02:38 Growing through M&A
12:31 Culture Fit and Founder Alignment
13:09 Integrating the First Acquisition
16:36 Defining and Executing Acquihires
20:45 Evolving the Playbook
23:46 Incentives Pods, and Integration Strategy
27:44 Scale Synergy and Sustainable Growth
31:28 Market Outlook: Retail Media Omnichannel and AI
37:14 Closing Thoughts and Takeaways

Connect with Christian and Ayelet
Ayelet’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayelet-shipley-b16330149/
Christian's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hassold/
Web: https://www.inorganicpodcast.co
In/organic on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InorganicPodcast/featured

Connect with guest Brian Burt
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianburt1/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
38min
October 28, 2025E39: The Future of Omni & Retail Media w/Jeff Cohen
Summary
On this episode of the Inorganic Podcast, co-hosts Christian Hassold and Ayelet Shipley are joined by guest Jeff Cohen, newly minted Chief Business Development Officer of Skai, former Principal Evangelist for Amazon Ads, and in general a seasoned operator with an extensive background in commerce and tech. In this episode, the hosts and guest explore the current state and future vision of omnichannel commerce. Their discussion spans the immediate and long-term prospects of retail media agencies and the defensibility of these businesses based on their commonly observed category-specific expertise. As a part of this discussion, they talk about notable retail media agencies including Podean, Cartograph, and Envision Horizons. The conversation emphasizes the need for agencies to adapt and innovate in a rapidly changing market.

Takeaways
E-commerce is growing at a rate of 6-8%.
Retail media is experiencing growth rates in the low to mid 20s.
Omnichannel connectivity is crucial for brands.
Brands often underutilize Amazon's audience capabilities.
Organizational silos hinder effective marketing strategies.
Audience planning is essential for successful media execution.
Agencies should act as partners, not just service providers.
The future of retail media agencies is evolving rapidly.
AI can significantly enhance operational efficiency in marketing.

Chapters
01:01 Introduction & Why Omnichannel Commerce Matters
02:40 Jeff Cohen’s Journey
04:46 The Growth of Commerce Talent
05:58 Defining Omnichannel Commerce
07:39 Are Brands Underutilizing Amazon’s Potential?
11:58 Balancing In-House and Agency Collaboration
14:21 Audience Planning: The Core of Retail Media
18:31 How Retail Media Agencies Differentiate and Mature
22:00 The Future of Agencies with AI & Tech
34:07 Inside Skai: AI Tools and Omnichannel Evolution
37:25 Platform Strategy & The Broader Tech Landscape
40:40 Closing Reflections & Takeaways

Connect with Christian and Ayelet
Ayelet’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayelet-shipley-b16330149/
Christian's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hassold/
Web: https://www.inorganicpodcast.co
In/organic on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InorganicPodcast/featured

Connect with guest Jeff Cohen
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreycohen/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
44min
October 19, 2025E38: Valuations Deep Dive w/Matt Bodnar of Eidolon Capital
Summary
In this episode of the In/organic Podcat, co-hosts Christian Hassold and Ayelet Shipley welcome guest Matt Bodnar, founder and managing partner at Eidolon Capital. Matt is a business owner and investor with substantial experience using M&A as a lever to acquire and grow businesses. In this episode, Matt discusses how he has leveraged his intellectual interest in valuations and deal structuring to execute creative and accretive deals. Further, Matt discusses the importance of understanding earnings and multiples in business valuation, the impact of size on valuation, and the challenges of customer concentration. Additionally, he provides strategies for sellers to maximize their exit value, emphasizing the need for thoughtful analysis and potential acquisitions to enhance business value.

Takeaways
Valuation can be simplified to earnings and multiples.
Size significantly impacts business valuation multiples.
Customer concentration can negatively affect valuation.
Sellers should consider adding businesses to increase value.
Earnings adjustments can significantly influence business valuation.
Understanding market perceptions is crucial for sellers.
Agencies offer unique opportunities for cross-selling and growth.

Chapters
00:00 Coffee Preferences and Brewing Techniques
02:54 Restaurant Business Insights and Challenges
05:42 Valuation Philosophy and Business Insights
14:44 Valuation Fundamentals: Understanding Multiples
22:12 Earnings and Adjustments: The Art of Valuation
34:20 The Size Premium: Why Bigger is Better
38:12 Customer Concentration: Risks and Strategies
41:53 Maximizing Exit Value: Key Strategies for Sellers

Pepperdine Capital Markets Report discussed on the podcast
https://digitalcommons.pepperdine.edu/gsbm_pcm_pcmr/

Connect with Christian and Ayelet
Ayelet’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayelet-shipley-b16330149/
Christian's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hassold/
Web: https://www.inorganicpodcast.co
In/organic on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InorganicPodcast/featured

Connect with guest Matt Bodnar
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattbodnar/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
41min
October 11, 2025E37: DealCon Roundup Part 2: Earnouts in Agency M&A
Summary
In this episode of the Inorganic Podcast, co-hosts Ayelet Shipley and Christian Hassold discuss the complexities of earnouts in agency acquisitions in the context of discussions covered at DealCon 2025. In this episode, Ayelet and Christian explore the reasons earnouts are used, the difficulties in negotiating them, and the importance of maintaining operational control and alignment between buyers and sellers. The conversation emphasizes the need for clear expectations and mutual understanding to navigate the intricacies of earnouts effectively.

Takeaways
Earnouts are often used to bridge valuation gaps in acquisitions
Buyers typically dislike the complexity of earnouts but find them necessary
According research, significant percentage of earnouts (>55%) are never paid
Negotiating earnouts should ideally happen early in the deal process
Operational controls are necessary for buyers and sellers to achieve earnout targets
Cultural alignment between buyers and sellers is essential for success
Earnouts should generally not exceed 15-20% of the total transaction value
Protracted earnout negotiations can lead to deal fatigue, which can pose risk to deal timeline or completion

Chapters
0:26 Introduction to Earnouts
1:05 Why Earnouts Are a Key Topic
1:34 The Purpose and Function of Earnouts
02:21 Common Uses of Earnouts in M&A
3:45 Challenges in Structuring Earnouts
5:58 Pipeline Credit and Control in Earnouts
10:24 Negotiating Earnouts & Deal Fatigue
12:05 Maintaining Seller Control for Earnout Success
15:15 Cultural Alignment in Earnout Negotiations
14:41 Structuring Earnouts Strategically
16:29 Key Takeaways on Earnouts

Connect with Christian and Ayelet
Ayelet’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayelet-shipley-b16330149/
Christian's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hassold/
Web: https://www.inorganicpodcast.co
In/organic on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InorganicPodcast/featured
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
18min
October 02, 2025E36: Deal Con Roundup: Capital Access, Culture Fit in Deals, and Access to Capital for Inorganic Growth
Summary
This conversation explores the insights and experiences gained at DealCon, an event focused on agency founders and owners looking to grow through mergers and acquisitions (M&A). The speakers discuss the importance of understanding the intricacies of deal-making, the role of capital in acquisitions, and the dynamics of cultural integration. They also touch on the common feelings of imposter syndrome among those in the M&A space and the various paths to success in this field.

Takeaways
DealCon is a platform for agency founders to learn about M&A.
Many agency founders are interested in inorganic growth.
Understanding market multiples is crucial for agency exits.
Cultural fit is essential in M&A success.
Pressure testing cultural alignment can prevent future conflicts.
Access to capital is vital for agency acquisitions.
Risk-taking is inherent in entrepreneurship and M&A.
Imposter syndrome is common among M&A practitioners.
There are alternative paths to success in M&A.
The human element in M&A is often more challenging than the financial aspects.

Chapters
00:43 Opening & DealCon Overview
01:37 Why Founders Are Chasing Acquisitions
02:42 The Backstory: How DealCon Began
05:14 Access to Capital & Funding Options
07:37 Challenges of M&A
08:24 Culture Fit: The Real Test of M&A
13:47 Risk-Taking Founders vs. Cautious Teams
16:16 Non-traditional Paths & Beating Imposter Syndrome
19:57 Deal Math vs. The Human Element
20:28 Wrapping Up

Connect with Christian and Ayelet
Ayelet’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayelet-shipley-b16330149/
Christian's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hassold/
Web: https://www.inorganicpodcast.co
In/organic on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InorganicPodcast/featured
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
21min
September 30, 2025 E35: Correction! Update on Details of Verisk's Planned Acquisition of Acculynx
In this episode of the Inorganic Podcast, Co-host Christian Hassold provides a follow-up on episode 29, correcting the previously reported details on the planned acquisition of Acculinks by Verisk. He explains that Acculinks, a 165-person company specializing in rooftop estimation software, will be acquired for $2.35 billion. Despite initial confusion about the high purchase price, Hassold reveals that Acculinks has impressive financial metrics, including $150 million in annual revenue, 80% of which is recurring, and a 55% EBITDA margin. The planned acquisition is notable for its high ARR and EBITDA multiples, which are significantly above market averages. Hassold also discusses the financial strategies Verisk employed to fund the contemplated acquisition, including leveraging debt. The deal is still pending regulatory review and finalization of debt financing.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
8min
September 28, 2025 E34: Syndigo & 1WorldSync Explainer: What do these companies do?
In this episode of the Inorganic Podcast, co-host Christian Hassold provides an explainer for episode 33, which discussed the acquisition of 1WorldSync by Syndigo. In this explainer episode, he gives a detailed explanation of what both of the companies do, including their important role in syndicating content to product detail pages (often referred to as PDP's). In addition, he explains the difference between product detail page content and supply chain content. Christian also elaborates on why the multi-billion-dollar industry of standardizing and communicating accurate product information to retailers exists and how it benefits consumers.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
12min
September 20, 2025E33: Syndigo’s Billion $ Acquisition of 1WorldSync
Summary
In this episode, co-hosts Ayelet Shipley and Christian Hassold welcome guests Erik Morton, former EVP of Corporate Development for Rithum (formerly CommerceHub & ChannelAdvisor), and Chris Barnes, former SVP of Corporate Development for Syndigo, to discuss the announced acquisition of 1WorldSync by Syndigo. In this episode, the guests discuss the origin of both Syndigo and 1WorldSync, the deal rationale, as well as some of the reasons why the acquired business had some potential barriers to finding the right acquirer over the course of its year long sale process. The discussion highlights the dynamics of M&A in the e-commerce sector, the competitive dynamics between major players like Syndigo, Bazaarvoice, and Salsify, and the prospects of inorganic growth following years of aggressive M&A activity.

Takeaways
Syndigo’s growth trajectory from Gladson to a materially sized platform in the commerce ecosystem
1WordSync’s origin and significance in the product information space
The competitive dynamics between 1Worldsync, Syndigo, and Salsify in the commerce market
The significance of geographical expansion in M&A strategies.
The importance and benefits of strong alignment between sponsors and holding company executive leadership on M&A strategy

Chapters
0:12 Deal Context
1:43 Guest Backgrounds
5:48 Syndigo Founding and Acquisition Strategy
9:32 Investor View on Syndigo’s M&A Thesis
13:47 1WorldSync Origins and Strategy
18:07 PowerReviews and Strategic Misalignment
22:09 Syndigo Deal Execution and Private Equity Dynamics
24:04 Running Out of Targets
25:40 Industrial Logic Behind the Merger
27:39 Competitive Landscape and Salsify
30:49 Future Outlook on Marketplaces and IPO
38:38 Wrap-Up and Final Thoughts

Connect with Christian and Ayelet
Ayelet’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayelet-shipley-b16330149/
Christian's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hassold/
Web: https://www.inorganicpodcast.co
In/organic on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InorganicPodcast/featured

Connect with our guest Chris Barnes on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-barnes-a0a7022/

Connect with our guest Erik Morton on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/erikimorton/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
40min

FAQs about Inorganic Podcast:

How many episodes does Inorganic Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 44 episodes available.