In this episode of the M&A Launchpad Podcast, hosts Feras Moussa and Casey Minshew welcome special guest Rory Tyer. This past year, Rory bought a retail garden center in his hometown of Greenville, South Carolina. Although Rory had a career before his dive into ETA (Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition), he spent several years searching for the right type of business to buy. Rory’s previous career ventures included being a singer/song writer, videographer, and even in the seminary. Once Rory found the business, the work began to secure, acquire, and operate. We dive deep into the intricacies of searching for and acquiring a business, as well as what challenges Rory faced in this process. Besides owning and operating the South Pleasantburg Nursery, Rory spends time as an executive coach. Rory drops many coaching tips throughout the episode.

In this podcast episode, we discuss:

· Owning a Nursery

· Executive Coaching Tips

· Working With A Seller

· How Life Changes in ETA

You can connect with Rory by LinkedIn or Twitter (X): @rorytyer

Additional Resources:

· 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. Quality of earnings service provider · Access our archive of video interviews on YouTube · Get in touch with show hosts Casey Minshew and Feras Moussa at - [email protected]

· Looking to invest in M&A opportunities or partner with an advisor to acquire, scale or sell your business? Visit Equity Launchpad

In this episode of the M&A Launchpad Podcast, hosts Feras Moussa and Casey Minshew welcome special guest John Murphy. John shares his transition from a military career to working at a Fortune 50 company, investing in real estate, and ultimately buying his business.  John received his college degree and decided to serve his country in the military.  After his time in the military, he began to pursue a career in corporate America.  Like many of the listeners to our show, John read about the M&A space and decided to pursue his own acquisition.  After a few attempts in the ETA space, John finally landed on Dave Cole Decorators which he currently owns and operates.

John discusses the leadership skills he transferred from his military experience to entrepreneurship, the challenges of managing cash flow, and the implementation of the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) in his company. The conversation also covers the importance of networking, due diligence in business acquisitions, and strategies for long-term growth and stability in a commercial painting business. 

In this podcast episode, we discuss:

You can connect with John by email: [email protected]

Additional Resources:

In this episode of the M&A Launchpad Podcast, hosts Feras Moussa and Casey Minshew welcome special guest Blake Hutchison, the CEO of Flippa. Blake has been running Flippa for six years and shares many insights into how finds the edge to stand out as a giant in the industry.  Flippa is a marketplace that allows buyers and sellers to transact on technology-backed businesses.

The discussion explores how the landscape of digital business acquisitions has evolved, particularly through Flippa's unique marketplace that connects buyers and sellers of digital assets. Feras reminisces about the early days of Flippa in 2009 and reflects on its transformation into a diverse platform for acquiring digital assets such as websites, SaaS products, apps, YouTube channels, and more.

Blake shares insights into current market trends, multiples for different asset classes, and examples of successful acquisitions facilitated through Flippa. The episode provides valuable information for anyone interested in the potential of digital assets to enhance or pioneer their entrepreneurial ventures.

In this podcast episode, we discuss:

You can connect with Blake by LinkedIn: Blake Hutchison - Flippa.com | LinkedIn

Additional Resources:

In this episode of the M&A Launchpad Podcast, hosts Feras Moussa and Casey Minshew welcome special guest David Sinkinson. David and his brother Chris founded AppArmor. David discusses his experience founding and growing this public safety software company with his brother. The discussion navigates through their journey from bootstrapping the startup, achieving significant revenue growth, overcoming setbacks, and eventually negotiating a major acquisition by Rave Mobile Safety in 2022. However, that is not the end of the story. Soon after their first exit to Rave, Motorola acquired the business for over $500 million.

David shares key insights on startup methodologies like the lean model canvas, iterating and scaling efficiently, managing customer feedback, and effective strategies for achieving a successful exit. The episode also offers a glimpse into the acquisition process, from initial approaches and negotiations to due diligence and closing the deal, providing valuable lessons for both aspiring and experienced entrepreneurs.

In this episode we discuss:

You can connect with David on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidsinkinson/

Additional Resources:

In this episode of the M&A Launchpad Podcast, hosts Feras Moussa and Casey Minshew welcome special guest Jordan Hammond. Jordan shares his journey from experiencing the failure of his first business to building a successful business through strategic acquisitions.

After a successful second start-up, Jordan decided that rather than deploying his cash into real estate, as many of his friends did, he would pursue the M&A industry. The discussion touches on the rollup strategy he employed, the challenges of integrating new businesses, and the transformational growth achieved. The roll-up strategy is seen as a great way to quickly and efficiently grow the top line in order to become a larger force in the market. On top of growing through acquisition, Jordan discusses his organic growth strategy that he is currently focused on to reach the next level.

In this podcast episode, we discuss:

· Wealth Preservation vs Growth

· Roll-Up Strategy

· Gaining a Competitive Advantage

You can connect with Jordan by LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-hammond-9a79562a/

Additional Resources:

In this episode of the M&A Launchpad Podcast, hosts Feras Moussa and Casey Minshew welcome special guest Steve Divitkos, discussing the challenges of launching and growing a search fund. Steve shares his experiences as a first-time CEO, the emotional toll, strategic decisions, and the eventual exit from his company.  Steve dives deep into what it’s like to be a CEO.  For example, the challenges he faced around the perception of young CEOs, as well as the decision process between firing and hiring top talent.  At the end of the day, Steve states that the path to growth is not line, smooth, nor easy. 

The podcast also highlights Steve’s current venture, Mineola Search Partners, his own podcast “In the Trenches”, and his perspective on investing in search funds. Steve is the type of person that, if you are looking to acquire a business, or invest in one, is a great guide/resource to talk to.  The episode provides valuable insights if you are looking to acquire a business or invest in a search fund. 

In this podcast episode, we discuss:

You can connect with Steve by his podcast: In The Trenches Podcast - Apple Podcasts

Additional Resources:

In this episode of the M&A Launchpad Podcast, hosts Feras Moussa & Casey Minshew interview Ned MacPherson, who shares his compelling journey of bootstrapping a business from scratch, scaling it rapidly, and eventually exiting to a private equity firm.

Ned, who has a background in statistics, brought these skills he gained in college and applied them to his love and desire for entrepreneurship.  Ned started a few ventures after graduating, and after several attempts at building companies, he finally settled on a data analytics company. After scaling the company, Ned was able to take his first exit with a PE firm.  He debunks many stereotypes that people have when talking about the troubles of working with bigger PE firms, and highlights his good experience while selling.  Ned highlights the importance of focus, understanding market gaps, effective deal structuring, and maintaining a profitable growth model.

He also shares valuable advice on navigating private equity acquisitions, the significance of rolling forward equity, and the role of cultural integration in successful M&A deals. Tune in to learn from Ned’s experiences and strategies for entrepreneurial success.

In this podcast episode, we discuss:

You can connect with Ned by LinkedIn or email: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ned-macpherson or at [email protected]

Additional Resources:

In this episode of the M&A Launchpad Podcast, hosts Feras Moussa and Casey Minshew interview Jens Grudno, delving into his journey from a finance background to acquiring and turning around a struggling German manufacturing business. Jens shares the challenges and intricacies of transitioning from corporate roles to entrepreneurship, including the complex process of acquiring a division of a bankrupt company, managing legacy issues, and scaling the business. Jens now currently owns and operates DOVO, a 100+ year old German straight-razor company with an incredible brand and story.  Although the business ran into turbulent times, Jens recognized the opportunity and acquired the business a few years back. 

The discussion covers Jens' unique market in traditional straight razors, his strategic decision-making, and key lessons from his four-year experience. The episode offers valuable insights into the manufacturing sector, turnaround strategies, and the importance of tenacity in business.

Jens is an open book, and if you want to learn more about his story or are interested in talking through a potential acquisition or investment, he encourages you to contact him!

For 25% off DOVO Razors or Kits - Discount Code: LAUNCHPAD

In this podcast episode, we discuss:

• Turning Around a Distressed Business

You can connect with Jens by email: [email protected]

Additional Resources:

• Access our archive of video interviews on YouTube

In this episode of the M&A Launchpad Podcast, hosts Feras Moussa and Casey Minshew welcome special guest Richard Parker. We delve deep into the world of M&A with Richard, who has successfully bought and sold dozens of companies.  Richard currently manages Roy Street Advisors, an investment banking firm representing business owners and buyers in the sale of companies.  Richard also provides great resources and courses on how to become an expert in the M&A world of buying good businesses. 

The episode also covers insights from working with notable figures like Ray and Devon Dalio, emphasizing practical M&A strategies such as building rapport with sellers, securing funding, and thorough due diligence.  The conversation touches on personal and professional growth, reflecting on experiences with industry leaders, and the essential role of operator relationships.

In this podcast episode, we discuss:

• Making Mistakes in M&A

You can connect with Richard Parker by Website: richardparker.com

Additional Resources:

• Access our archive of video interviews on YouTube

In this episode of the M&A Launchpad Podcast, hosts Feras Moussa and Casey Minshew welcome special guest Patrick O'Connell.  Today we are focusing on the role of a quality of earnings (QoE) in the M&A process. Patrick discusses the importance of conducting a quality of earnings analysis when transacting. The QoE is used to verify what the seller has told you about the business verses what is reported in the business.  The QoE is a great financial tool to establish facts, rather than opinions, for valuing a business acquisition. 

Patrick looks to empower entrepreneurs to buy or sell lower middle market deals.  We explore his role in evaluating business financial health and ensuring smooth transactions. The conversation covers practical insights on managing buyer-seller relationships, emphasizing working capital and negotiation strategies. The episode also highlights the importance of experienced advisory roles in acquisitions.

In this podcast episode, we discuss:

• What is a Quality of Earnings?

You can connect with Patrick by LinkedIn or X: “SMB Deal Guy”

Patrick’s Firm: Quality of earnings service provider (oconnelladvisorygroup.com)

Additional Resources:

• Access our archive of video interviews on YouTube