In this episode, we sit down with Gokul Padmanabhan, the founder of the newly rebranded Restoration Advisors of America, to break down what’s really happening in 2026.

From a slowdown in M&A activity to the rise of tech-driven private equity, the landscape is shifting in ways every restoration business owner needs to understand. We explore the concept of K-shaped consolidation, why investors are doubling down on hyper-local platforms, and how leading companies are moving from reactive work to proactive, contract-based revenue models that drive higher valuations.