David Rhoads is the Founder and CEO of Blue Street Capital, a privately owned financing company focused on pairing technology solutions providers with growing businesses. He is a recognized technology expert who focuses on understanding the business models of his customers to provide financing solutions that help them simplify and improve their operations. David's insights on the five-hour workday, work culture, and life balance have been featured in international media channels, such as The Wall Street Journal, MarketWatch, The Economist, and Financial Times.

Are you a technology solutions provider or manufacturer desiring to grow your company? Where can you get the funds required to facilitate your growth? 

Running and scaling a business requires money and is a challenge for technology providers. David Rhoads recommends partnering with financing companies that offer solutions for technology solutions companies. He shares his journey of starting, running, and scaling his company to provide customized financing programs designed to benefit the growth, development, and innovation of technology solutions providers and manufacturers. 

In this episode of The Game Is The Game Podcast, Keith Burns sits down with David Rhoads, Founder and CEO of Blue Street Capital, to discuss how he built a finance company for technology solutions providers. David talks about the genesis of Blue Street Capital and what it does, its business model, how he overcame his mistakes as a startup founder, the implementation of the five-hour workday program, and the company’s recruitment process.

Jason Jackson is the Co-founder of Search Fund Credit, a credit institution devoted exclusively to search funds. He is the Managing Partner of Barah Capital Partners, a traditional search fund he raised with his partner sponsored by a group of marquee investors. After 18 months of searching, Jason and his partner bought Detroit Dental and renamed it Unified Dental Care, where he is the CEO. He is also a Co-founder of the Black Search Network and a regular guest at Stanford Graduate School of Business.

Are you interested in becoming an entrepreneur? How can you acquire a business and get investors? What can you learn from someone that has gone through it and used the search fund process? 

Acquisition through a search fund model is one of the ways to become an entrepreneur, but it’s complicated. After going through the process and making multiple mistakes, Jason Jackson learned what it takes to make it work and has been in the space ever since. To protect your investment, he recommends due diligence on the investors and companies you intend to acquire. It’s also helpful to surround yourself with like-minded entrepreneurs who can help you with resources, advice, and support when you need it. 

In this episode of The Game is The Game Podcast, Keith Burns sits down with Jason Jackson, Co-founder of Search Fund Credit, to discuss how to go through a successful search fund process. Jason talks about his entrepreneurship journey through acquisitions, the search fund process, mistakes and lessons learned, and the Black Search Network and what it does.

Ravi Mallik is the Founder and Managing Principal of Sand Dollar Capital, a firm specializing in relative value trading and private investing using strategies including volatility arbitrage, correlation trading, long and short equity trading, and capitalizing on macro trends.

Before Sand Dollar, Ravi was the Vice President of Business Process Management for North America at Virtusa, a company that helps businesses scale by combining industry expertise and frictionless technology delivery. He also founded and was the CEO of Agora Group, a robotics process automation consulting company that he scaled to 75 employees with offices in the UK, India, Canada, and the US and sold after 15 years. His extensive operational investment experience has led Ravi to work in Fortune 500 companies, including IBM, American Express, Charles Schwab & Co., and Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Are you struggling to grow and scale your business? Would you like to learn from a serial entrepreneur who has been in your shoes and created thriving businesses?

After starting his first business, Agora Group, Ravi Mallik realized that beginning, running, and scaling a business is no easy feat. While bootstrapping and operating the first strategy and technology consulting firm in North America, he faced many difficulties and setbacks. However, in time, he overcame its challenges, and Agora thrived for 15 years, at which time he sold and exited the business. He took what he learned and started other entrepreneurial endeavors, and Ravi has advice and many tips to share with those who want to begin and grow their own companies.

In this episode of The Game is The Game Podcast, Keith Burns sits down with Ravi Mallik, Founder and Managing Principal of Sand Dollar Capital, to discuss what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur. Ravi shares his background and what drove him into entrepreneurship, how he overcame the early challenges and pitfalls of building Agora Group, dealing with life after exit, and the importance of mentorship.

Aaron Thomas is the Founder and Attorney of Prenups.com, a law firm that helps couples avoid predictable money problems with thoughtful, fair, and loving pre and postnups. He is a 2002 graduate of Harvard Law School and a three-time winner of Atlanta’s Best Divorce Attorney. Recognized by peers as one of the fastest-growing family law firms in Georgia from 2015-2022, Aaron is also the Founder of Aaron Thomas Law. He has represented clients with family law matters, including divorce, custody, child support, and prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, ranging from NBA stars and Superbowl winners to Grammy award-winning artists.

Many people getting married think it will be all roses until financial disagreements arise. What’s the best way to avoid marital financial tension, and why is it essential?

Money problems is one of the leading causes of divorce. After representing hundreds of clients going through a divorce, Aaron Thomas realized that the resentment and frustration brought on by financial disagreements caused marriages to fail. He believes couples can prevent a divorce if they have a prenuptial plan to counter the inevitable money issues that will eventually surface. To give marriages a fighting chance, Aaron created Prenups.com to offer thoughtful, fair, and loving prenuptial and postnuptial agreements.

In this episode of The Game is The Game Podcast, Keith Burns sits down with Aaron Thomas, Founder and Attorney of Prenups.com, to discuss how having a prenuptial agreement can help ensure a happy marriage. Aaron shares his entrepreneurial journey in the law industry, the genesis of Aaron Thomas Law and Prenups.com, the value of having postnuptial and prenuptial agreements, and tips for starting a prenup conversation with your partner.

Jeff Stevens is the Founder and Managing Partner of Anacapa Partners, a private equity fund with a strategic focus on partnering with principals who operate within the search fund framework and want to invest in companies with highly predictable revenue models. Through the last 12 years, Anacapa Partners has invested in over 200 entrepreneurs in over 80 operating companies.

He has over 30 years of experience forming, structuring, operating, and investing in search fund companies as a multiple-time CEO and investor. Jeff has managed three funded searches from 1990-2005, each one culminating in the acquisition of a lower-middle market company. Jeff has a bachelor's degree in arts and MBA from Stanford University and remains actively involved in the Stanford community through entrepreneurship courses at its Graduate School of Business.

Do you dream of becoming an entrepreneur but don’t think it’s possible? Acquiring, operating, and owning your own business is achievable if you use the search fund model. But where does anyone begin?

According to Jeff Stevens, you don't necessarily have to have experience or money to be an entrepreneur. You can become one through the search fund process — the most direct route to owning and managing a company. The objective of a search fund is to provide a vehicle for young, aspiring entrepreneurs who want to acquire, operate, manage, and grow a company. Along with his team, Jeff shares how they are partnering with promising young entrepreneurs and building thriving companies together.

In this episode of The Game is The Game Podcast, Keith Burns sits down with Jeff Stevens, Founder and Managing Partner of Anacapa Partners, to discuss how to become an entrepreneur through the search fund business model. Jeff talks about his entrepreneurial journey to the search fund space, the value of relationships and communication in the search fund ecosystem, the lessons he's learned from being an operator, and strategies for managing and facilitating the search fund process.

Markus Scott is the President and CEO of EyeQ Monitoring, a company leveraging the power of AI to virtualize traditional security guards and provide live video monitoring surveillance to protect business facilities and assets. Last year alone, EyeQ issued over 3,000 police reports and saved clients $20,000,000 in potential losses. For two years in a row, EyeQ was recognized in the Inc. 5000 list of America's fastest-growing independent small businesses and in the SDM 100 list of the top US security providers.

Markus has been a guest lecturer on entrepreneurship through acquisition at his alma mater, the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, and other prestigious colleges, including Harvard, Stanford, MIT, and the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth. Before EyeQ, Markus began his career in public accounting and private equity and earned an MBA in entrepreneurship and finance, a master’s in accounting, and a BS in finance.

Are you interested in becoming an entrepreneur but afraid of the risk that goes along with it? Apart from starting a business from the ground up, what other ways can you become an entrepreneur?

Rather than starting with an idea and building a business around it, a risk-averse person interested in entrepreneurship can consider an acquisition. After college Markus Scott already knew he wanted to create and build his own thing. Instead of building a business from scratch, he decided to invest in a company that he could clean up, grow, and scale. He went through the challenging process of searching for the right business and finding investors, which eventually paid off. In 2015, he acquired EyeQ Monitoring and grew it’s revenues over 1,200%. Listen as he shares the entire acquisition process and what he learned along the way.

In this episode of The Game is The Game Podcast, Keith Burns sits down with Markus Scott, President and CEO of EyeQ Monitoring, to discuss his entrepreneurial journey and the benefits of an acquisition. Markus talks about a business acquisition as a way of becoming an entrepreneur, the search fund process, the leadership traits it takes to grow and scale a successful company, and the early days of acquiring EyeQ Monitoring.

Brian O'Connor is the Founder and Managing Partner at NextGen Growth Partners, a lower middle market private equity firm that partners with entrepreneurs to acquire and build companies in growing industries. He teaches entrepreneurship through acquisition at his alma mater, the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, as an adjunct professor of entrepreneurship. Brian also serves as a board member and treasurer for Distinctively College Bound — a non-profit focused on creating opportunities for students to participate in extracurricular activities that cater to their talents and interests and promote continued education.

Before founding NextGen Growth Partners, Brian served as Co-CEO and Head of Business Development of Innflux, a hospitality-focused IT service company. He attained a BBA from Miami University and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Many people lack the idea or time to try to solve an undefined problem in a market that may or may not exist and figure out how to generate their first dollar of revenue to become an entrepreneur. They prefer acquiring an already established business. So, what does it take to become an entrepreneur through acquisition?

Searching for a company to acquire is challenging, and selling a business can also be difficult — sellers want to be sure that they are passing their businesses on to someone who cares as much as they do. Having done both successfully, Brian O'Connor has gained a lot of knowledge. He is now offering his expertise to entrepreneurs seeking to acquire small businesses by providing capital support, guidance, mentorship, and infrastructure to help them succeed.

In this episode of The Game is The Game Podcast, Keith Burns sits down with Brian O'Connor, Founder and Managing Partner at NextGen Growth Partners, to discuss entrepreneurship through acquisition. Brian explains the meaning of search funds, the experience behind acquiring a business and how to get through it, and exiting a business and recommendations for entrepreneurs.

A.J. Wasserstein is the Eugene F. Williams, Jr. Lecturer in the Practice of Management at the Yale School of Management. His research, writing, and teaching concentrate on search funds, entrepreneurship, programmatic acquisitions, and small businesses. Additionally, A.J. is a multiple-time CEO and private investor interested in lower middle-market firms and philanthropic organizations, where he can be a positive impact by using his experiences, time, and investment capital.

He received the Faculty Teaching Excellence Award for outstanding teaching in elective courses at the Yale School of Management in 2022. A.J. was also recognized as the Small Business Person of the Year in Connecticut by the US Small Business Administration. He is the author of What Matters Most: A Young Adult’s Roadmap For Life.

Many people have preconceived notions of what it takes to be an entrepreneur. So, who is equipped for entrepreneurship, and what does it take to become a thriving entrepreneur?

You don’t have to be a superhero to become an entrepreneur, but you must realize that it’s like running successive marathons. Even though the journey can be long, lonely, scary, and nebulous, anyone can be an entrepreneur with the right amount of determination and grit. The first step is picking a desirable industry for you before embarking on this journey. Once you’ve decided what that is, there are several ways to get started, including franchises, venture capital startups, search funds, or the genealogical takeover of a family business. With the appropriate information and confidence, aspiring entrepreneurs can rigorously evaluate which entrepreneurial path best suits their specific interests, needs, and goals by factoring risk, lifestyle, and exit strategies into their decision-making process.

In this episode of The Game is The Game Podcast, Keith Burns sits down with A.J. Wasserstein, Eugene F. Williams, Jr. Lecturer in the Practice of Management at the Yale School of Management, to discuss entrepreneurship. A.J. explains the four key questions aspiring entrepreneurs should ask themselves, the role investors play in the process, how to transition through the stages of entrepreneurial development, and his advice for post-exit entrepreneurs.

Michael Curry is the Chief Executive Officer of Lullwater, a private holding company focusing on small business investing and operations. Lullwater invests in entrepreneurs changing the world, one small business at a time. Michael is also the CEO of Apex Physics Partners, a company that provides expert, patient-focused, and relationship-driven partnerships that empower patient care and allow physicists to be physicists. He is the former CEO of Krueger-Gilbert Health Physics, LLC, where he directed the company’s strategy, sales, marketing, and business development. Michael worked as an MBA associate with HCP & Company and Pareto Capital Group. He began his career as an investment-banking analyst in London with Morgan Stanley.

The power of any business lies in how it can help others solve their problems. In the business arena, this is attained by having investment firms that solve the financial hurdles of smaller companies. So, how can you run a successful investment firm amidst many larger ones that have trillions of dollars they can use?

Michael Curry says that to become a great operator and investor, you should learn how others are doing it, understand the industry by investing your own money, and teach others what you've learned. These pillars provided a roadmap for how to run a successful investment firm. Michael now shares the challenges they've faced, how they overcame them, and the lessons they've learned maneuvering the investment industry.

In this episode of The Game is The Game Podcast, Chad Franzen of Rise25 sits down with Michael Curry, Chief Executive Officer of Lullwater and Apex Physics Partners, to discuss how to run a successful investment firm. Michael explains the three pillars to becoming great operators and investors, how they overcame the challenges they faced in the early days, and the lessons he learned about running a business from past jobs.

Jane Kaggwa-Snow is the Founder and CEO of AquaVita, a company that uses high-standard technology and top-notch customer service to help companies in East Africa (and beyond) bring fresh, filtered, bottleless water solutions to their organizations. AquaVita is helping these organizations become environmentally responsible based on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Jane is the Co-founder of Black Search Network and a board member of numerous organizations. Not only does she have a bachelor’s in finance, but she also earned an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management. As a leader with a vision, she believes in stepping forward to lead even when you don't know all the answers. Jane is also a mom on a mission to build long-lasting wealth that impacts communities and nations to create a better world.

Starting and running a successful business is tough enough but can be particularly challenging for women of color. How does a woman of color successfully navigate those challenges?

After working in finance, Jane Kaggwa-Snow decided to venture into entrepreneurship. With a vision for changing the world for the better, she founded AquaVita. Over its eight years, AquaVita has become a very successful company in East Africa. The company supports Jane’s vision of creating a service that is environment-friendly and has the capacity to grow and enter into even broader markets around the world. She now shares the challenges she faced, from ideation, funding, having a great team, and running a company as a woman of color to the career path she took to grow her business.

In this episode of The Game is The Game Podcast, Keith Burns sits down with Jane Kaggwa-Snow, Founder and CEO of AquaVita, to discuss her journey through running a successful company. Jane shares her personal and professional background as a woman of color, the importance of mentorship, how she raised capital to fund AquaVita and why she started it, things that hastened its growth, and the importance of mentorship and supportive networks for women of color.