In this episode of Founders, Future, with host Karyn Vadnais, we sit down with Soumam Debgupta, founder of Lightyear Ventures, a firm dedicated to helping mid-market businesses boost their valuations through digital transformation. With over 17 years of experience at companies like Amazon and JLL, Soumam shares his motivation for starting Lightyear Ventures—rooted in his father’s small business journey and the realization that many SMBs struggle with scaling and exit strategies. He breaks down the ideal client profile, core offerings (outsourcing non-core tasks, operational tech optimization, and digital marketing for pricing/margin growth), and the vision behind building a buy-sell ecosystem for small business owners looking to retire or transition.

Soumam dives into Lightyear Ventures’ unique approach to client acquisition (leveraging LinkedIn outreach, broker networks, and targeted content) and future scaling plans, including perfecting a repeatable operating model before expanding digital marketing efforts. He also shares invaluable advice for founders in the digital transformation space—urging them to niche down early, perfect their solution before scaling, and embrace AI tools to stay ahead. The conversation highlights how Lightyear Ventures bridges the gap between traditional small business ownership and modern, valuation-driven growth strategies.