As founders of VC-backed startups face tough choices between down rounds and running out of cash, Jesse Tinsley is turning unprofitable startups profitable at incredible speed by tossing out the typical M&A playbook.

Jesse is a prominent entrepreneur and investor in the HR technology and recruitment industry. He is Founder and CEO of multiple successful companies, including Employer.com and Recruiter.com.

In this conversation with Mercury CEO Immad Akhund and Tribe co-founder Raj Suri, Jesse unveils his counterintuitive strategy—from how he finds companies, why VCs actually love working with him, and how he structures deals with limited capital.

He shares candid details about his recent acquisition of Bench Accounting and even discusses his current bid for TikTok, offering a masterclass in seeing opportunity where others see distress.