M&A Launchpad

In this episode of the M&A Launchpad Podcast, hosts Casey Minshew and Feras Moussa sit down with Liz MacRae, co-founder of Village Wealth, a deal management platform built specifically for acquisition entrepreneurs and self-funded searchers. 

Liz shares how her experience as a business broker exposed major inefficiencies on the buy side—and how Village Wealth was created to solve them. From building credibility with brokers to organizing deal flow, underwriting opportunities, and leveraging AI to accelerate the acquisition process, this episode breaks down how serious buyers are gaining an edge. 

The conversation also dives into the evolving M&A landscape, why it’s getting harder to stand out with brokers and sellers, and what it actually takes today to compete for quality deals. 

In this episode, we discuss: 

Guest Contact Info: 

Additional Resources: 

Work directly with the Equity Launchpad team to source deals, structure acquisitions, and raise capital alongside experienced operators.   

Contact Casey Minshew and Feras Moussa: [email protected]   

Explore more: https://www.equity-launchpad.com   

About The M&A Launchpad: The M&A Launchpad provides insights into acquiring, investing in, and selling profitable businesses in the lower to middle market. Whether you are a business owner, investor, or aspiring entrepreneur, we will provide you with the knowledge, guidance, and capital to navigate the world of mergers and acquisitions. The M&A Launchpad presents a series of weekly podcast episodes and hosts an annual M&A Launchpad Conference tailored to the M&A community. Connect with M&A Launchpad: 🎧 Podcast on Spotify: 🎧 Podcast on Apple: 🎟️ Attend Upcoming M&A Launchpad Conference: http://malaunchpad.com/

In this episode of the M&A Launchpad Podcast, Casey Minshew and Feras Moussa unpack one of the biggest topics in the acquisition world right now: the independent sponsor model. They walk through what an independent sponsor actually is, how the model compares to ETA and SBA-backed acquisitions, and why larger deals often require a completely different capital strategy. 

They also get practical about how these deals come together in the real world, from seller conversations and LOIs to Quality of Earnings, lender outreach, data rooms, and the long timeline it can take to build credibility in the market. If you are trying to understand how independent sponsor deals are structured, how sponsors get paid, and what it really takes to close one, this episode gives you a grounded look at the path. 

In this episode, we discuss: 

Additional Resources: 

In this episode of the M&A Launchpad Podcast, Casey Minshew and Feras Moussa sit down with Jeff Dudan, CEO of HomeFront Brands, to break down why franchising can be one of the most powerful wealth-creation models in the lower middle market. Jeff shares how he built a restoration business into a national franchise, scaled it to 240 locations across 37 states, and ultimately exited the company—plus what he learned about building durable systems and strong operator relationships along the way.

They also get tactical on what it really takes to franchise a concept the right way, including the operational proof required before selling franchises, what franchise fees actually cover, and why undercapitalized franchisors create failure downstream. If you’re evaluating a franchise acquisition, considering a franchise as an alternative to a standalone SMB purchase, or thinking about turning your business into a franchise system, this episode is packed with practical context.

In this episode, we discuss:

· Franchises vs. independent businesses: when a proven system wins

· The franchisor mindset: building relationships, engagement, and operator success

· How Jeff scaled AdvantaClean to 240 locations and exited the business

· What makes a franchise concept “ready” to franchise (proof, KPIs, and a second location run by someone else)

· The real cost of franchising: legal docs, operations manuals, and the capital needed to support owners

· Why initial franchise fees don’t “fund growth” (and what they actually pay for)

· What private equity is doing in franchising: moving from brands into the boxes

· Multi-brand ownership: when it works, when it doesn’t, and why focus matters

· Typical franchise royalty ranges and what buyers should expect

Guest Information:

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/jeffdudan

Website: https://www.jeffdudan.com

FranMastery: https://franmastery.com

HomeFront Brands: https://homefrontbrands.com

Additional Resources:

· Register for the M&A Launchpad Conference – May 2, 2026 in Houston, Texas: https://malaunchpad.com. Use code LAUNCH for $150 off your ticket

· Have a question for the hosts? Contact Casey Minshew and Feras Moussa: [email protected]

· Visit Equity Launchpad — a Houston-based investment and acquisition firm that buys, scales, and grows established lower-to-middle-market businesses while providing opportunities for investors: https://equity-launchpad.com

In this episode of the M&A Launchpad Podcast, Casey Minshew and Feras Moussa sit down with Blake Hutchison, CEO of Flippa, to explore the rapidly evolving world of digital M&A. Flippa is one of the largest marketplaces to buy and sell online businesses, with over 1.6 million registered users and transactions ranging from $10,000 to $10 million.

Blake shares insights into current valuation trends across e-commerce, SaaS, and content businesses, how AI is reshaping deal sourcing, and what today’s buyers need to understand about skill sets, brand equity, and community-driven business models. If you're considering buying your first digital asset or integrating digital distribution into an existing company, this episode delivers practical guidance and forward-looking strategy.

In this episode, we discuss:

· What Flippa is and how the marketplace works

· Deal size ranges on Flippa: $10K to $10M

· Valuation multiples for e-commerce, SaaS, and content businesses

· Why brand equity and community matter more than ever

· What skill sets buyers need when acquiring digital businesses

· Financing options including SBA loans, seller financing, and syndicates

· Using digital assets as owned media and distribution channels

· Lauren AI: Flippa’s AI-powered off-market deal sourcing tool

· How AI is changing the M&A lifecycle

· Flippa’s partner directory and M&A ecosystem support

Guest Information:

· Email: [email protected] · Website: https://flippa.com

Additional Resources:

· Register for the M&A Launchpad Conference – May 2, 2026 in Houston, Texas: https://malaunchpad.com. Use code LAUNCH for $150 off your ticket · Have a question for the hosts? Contact Casey Minshew and Feras Moussa: [email protected]

· Visit Equity Launchpad — a Houston-based investment and acquisition firm that buys, scales, and grows established lower-to-middle-market businesses while providing opportunities for investors: https://equity-launchpad.com

In this episode of the M&A Launchpad Podcast, hosts Casey Minshew and Feras Moussa sit down with Marci LaRouech, CEO and owner of Seay HR, to unpack her path from two decades in HR outsourcing to buying a 60-year-old HR consulting firm. Marci shares how she narrowed her search, why she chose a self-funded acquisition, what she actually bought (a book of fractional HR clients and a strong team), and how she modernized operations while keeping the business stable for long-tenured clients. 

In this podcast episode, we discuss: 

Guest Contact Info: 

Email: [email protected] 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mLaRouech/ 

Additional Resources: 

In this episode of the M&A Launchpad Podcast, hosts Casey Minshew and Feras Moussa sit down with Clint Fiore, Founder and CEO of Dealonomy, to break down what really happens behind the scenes in lower middle market mergers and acquisitions.

Clint shares how his journey started with a simple goal: buy a business. That curiosity led him deep into the world of business brokerage, deal structuring, and valuation — and ultimately to building Dealonomy, a firm designed to bring more education, transparency, and alignment to the transaction process.

The conversation dives into the biggest misconceptions buyers and sellers have, how SBA financing actually works in practice, and why many deals fall apart. Clint also explains why Dealonomy does not charge sellers and how that approach shifts incentives in meaningful ways.

If you are considering buying your first business, selling a company, or building a career in M&A, this episode provides practical insight from someone who has structured and supported real transactions.

In this podcast episode, we discuss:

· How Clint Fiore built Dealonomy after exploring business ownership himself

· The truth about business valuation and why education matters for sellers

· Navigating SBA loans, deal terms, and common financing pitfalls

· How broker incentives shape transactions and why Dealonomy does not charge sellers

Guest Contact Information

Clint Fiore

Founder & CEO, Dealonomy

Website: https://www.dealonomy.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clintfiore/

Additional Resources

Join us at the M&A Launchpad Conference on May 2, 2026 in Houston, TX. This event brings together serious buyers, sellers, brokers, lenders, and operators who are actively closing deals.

Use code LAUNCH for $200 off your ticket.

Register at: https://malaunchpad.com

To learn more about working with Equity Launchpad on acquiring, scaling, or exiting a business, visit: https://www.equity-launchpad.com

For direct inquiries, email: [email protected]

In this episode of the M&A Launchpad Podcast, hosts Casey Minshew and Ben Suttles sit down with Bob Stabell of Think Tax Strategies to discuss how R&D tax credits, revitalized and expanded under the One Big Beautiful Bill, are creating real leverage for business buyers. Bob breaks down what qualifies today, how credits can be accessed retroactively in certain situations, and why these incentives matter far beyond traditional manufacturing or technology companies.

Bob Stabell

Sponsored by O’Connell Advisory Group – Work with a trusted Quality of Earnings and Financial Diligence partner who focuses solely on business acquisitions.

       00:00 – M&A Launchpad Conference invitation + code LAUNCH for $150 off

In this episode of the M&A Launchpad Podcast, hosts Casey Minshew and Feras Moussa sit down with Kevin Ramsier, founder of Sier Capital, to unpack what it really takes to build and scale a private equity platform.

Kevin shares his journey from leaving a stable corporate career to launching a firm built on disciplined deal sourcing, strong relationships, and flexible investment structures. He explains why private equity success hinges on three core pillars—equity, deals, and people—and how an imbalance in any one area can limit growth.

The conversation goes beyond theory and dives into execution, highlighting the realities of sourcing deals, structuring investments, and surrounding yourself with people who elevate the business. Kevin also reflects on risk-taking, adaptability, and the personal growth that comes with entrepreneurship in the M&A space.

Key Topics Discussed

Contact:

Kevin Ramsier  Founder, Sier Capital  [email protected]

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/askramsier/

Additional Resources

Schedule a discovery call with Patrick of O'Connell Advisory Group.   Visit: www.oconnelladvisorygroup.com 

Chapters

00:00 – M&A Launchpad Conference overview 

01:21 – Meet Kevin Ramsier and his background 

02:59 – Leaving corporate and betting on entrepreneurship 

07:43 – The three legs of private equity: people, deals, and capital 

10:40 – Deal sourcing and relationship-driven growth 

19:13 – Recent deal structures and financing strategies 

23:44 – Investment flexibility and aligning with investors 

28:39 – Favorite types of businesses and future goals 

31:06 – Rocket Round

In this episode of the M&A Launchpad Podcast, hosts Casey Minshew and Ben Suttles sit down with Enrique Rodriguez, owner of Mag General Power Solutions. Enrique shares how he went from electrical engineer, master electrician, and professional engineer to business owner by acquiring an electrical contracting business for $450,000 in an all-cash deal in September 2024.  

In this podcast episode, we discuss: 

Guest Contact Info: 

Additional Resources: 

In this episode, the M&A Launchpad Podcast hosts, Feras Moussa and Casey Minshew, share the unfiltered story behind their acquisition of H&M Plating, an industrial chrome plating company with multiple locations and a large operational footprint. They walk through how the deal was sourced off-market, how the capital stack evolved after a significant appraisal gap, and what it took to operate the business post-close. This is a candid look at the realities of buying and running a heavy manufacturing business—and the lessons they learned the hard way.

Key Topics Discussed:

· Sourcing an off-market manufacturing acquisition

· Structuring a $20M deal when valuations change

· AR lending, seller notes, and earnouts

· Reps & warranties in equipment-heavy businesses

· Navigating the post-acquisition J-curve

· ERP implementation, culture change, and leadership turnover

M&A Launchpad Conference

Join us at the M&A Launchpad Conference happening in May in Houston. This one-day, high-impact event is designed for acquisition entrepreneurs serious about sourcing, structuring, and closing deals. Use code LAUNCH for $200 off.

Learn more at: https://www.malaunchpad.com

Sponsor

Sponsored by O’Connell Advisory Group – Work with a trusted Quality of Earnings and Financial Diligence partner who focuses solely on business acquisitions.

Schedule a discovery call with Patrick of O'Connell Advisory Group—your dynamic Quality of Earnings partner.

Visit: www.oconnelladvisorygroup.com.

About Equity Launchpad

Equity Launchpad helps acquisition entrepreneurs move from interest to ownership through education, content, community, and real-world deal experience. Through conferences, podcasts, and insights from active buyers, Equity Launchpad supports those serious about buying and operating businesses.

Learn more at: https://www.equity-launchpad.com

Reach out to Casey and Feras at [email protected]

About The M&A Launchpad: