Top M&A Entrepreneurs

SUMMARY
Meet Brian Slipka, a seasoned entrepreneur celebrated for his prowess in business acquisitions. Discover the mind behind the success.

**Mentorship Motivation - Defining Your Goals**
Uncover the pivotal role mentorship plays and the driving forces that fuel individuals to fervently pursue the art of business acquisitions.

**The First Acquisition - Learning from Experience**
Brian Slipka unveils his riveting narrative of navigating his inaugural business acquisition, offering invaluable lessons drawn from the trenches.

**Financing Strategies - Navigating the Financial Landscape**
Delve into the intricacies of financing as Brian divulges the strategies he employs, shedding light on the often complex financial facets of acquisitions.

**Learning from Challenges and Embracing Independence**
Navigate through Brian's approach to conquering challenges and embracing autonomy, defying external judgments and opinions.

**True North Management Company - A Strategic Approach**
Discover the True North Management Company and its pivotal role in shaping Brian Slipka's overarching business acquisition strategy.

**True North Portfolio Companies - Pursuit of Agility**
Unearth Brian's strategy for maintaining an agile portfolio of companies under the True North umbrella, adapting to changing tides.

**Cross-Pollinating Business Practices - Navigating Niches**
Explore the untapped potential and inherent challenges of transplanting successful business practices across different niches.

**Legacy and Personal Fulfillment**
Brian reflects on his enduring motivations, sharing his aspirations for a resounding impact and the fulfillment of his familial legacy.




SHOW NOTES:
00:00 This episode is sponsored by the Magnolia Firm Co.
00:54 Intro to Brian Slipka
08:32 Mentorship Motivation - what are you chasing
22:42 The story of his first acquisition
34:57 How he finances his acquisitions
39:46 Painful lessons & not giving a crap what other people think
41:42 True North Mgmt. Company
46:46 True North Portfolio Companies - Goal: Stay Nimble
54:30 Can you Cross Pollinate business practices in different niches
1:04:14 Are you making your dad proud?




LINKS to Brian Slipka
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinpetersen1/
https://www.truenorthequitypartners.com/

This episode was brought to you by The Magnolia Firm.  Helping business owners sell their company.  https://exit.themagnoliafirm.co/top

SUMMARY

Dive into a high-value podcast featuring Kevin Petersen, an accomplished authority in the SaaS acquisition sphere. The interview offers a succinct yet enlightening introduction to Petersen's background and his expertise in procuring SaaS companies.

At the core of the interview is Petersen's strategic approach to SaaS acquisitions, highlighted through his creation of the Growth Stack - a purposeful endeavor aimed at acquiring SaaS companies. He shares actionable insights from his journey, starting from his initial foray into the SaaS acquisition landscape.

A significant aspect of Petersen's trajectory is his decision to pursue a de facto MBA, lessons learned from micro acquisitions. This underscores the practical value of education in shaping real-world business ventures.

The interview navigates key aspects of SaaS acquisitions, encompassing competition analysis, effective negotiation strategies for off-market deals, and the driving forces compelling SaaS founders to sell their ventures.

Petersen emphasizes the significance of cultivating personal relationships with sellers and his preference for bootstrapped SaaS companies. He also distinguishes between negotiating with bootstrapped versus venture capital-backed sellers, shedding light on distinct negotiation dynamics.

The interview concludes with insights into financing strategies for acquisitions and a glimpse into the SaaS mastermind community.

For practical insights into the world of SaaS acquisitions, negotiation tactics, and the evolving entrepreneurial landscape, tune in to this podcast featuring Kevin Petersen. Gain actionable takeaways that deepen your understanding of SaaS business acquisitions and strategic growth.

SHOW NOTES:
00:00 This episode is sponsored by the Magnolia Firm Co. 
00:42  Intro to Kevin Petersen
18:45  Launching Growth Stack - acquiring SaaS companies
24:43  Where he started buying SaaS 
25:45  Getting his MBA with micro acquisitions
29:43  Rapid Acquisition Club: Let the Magnolia Firm Sell your business
31:05  When someone offers you 2X your money in 90 days...
34:49  Tell me about the competition
38:50 How long it take to Negotiate off market deals
40:50  The #1 Reason why SaaS founders sell
41:45  Why you develop personal relationships with sellers
43:52  Why he only buys bootstrapped SaaS companies
48:03  Difference between negotiating bootstrapped sellers and VC backed sellers
51:19  Developing the skill of patience
54:01  Deal Sourcing today and negotiating with Brokers
56:05  How he finances his deals
1:05:05  SaaS mastermind

This episode was brought to you by The Magnolia Firm.  Helping business owners sell their company.  https://exit.themagnoliafirm.co/top


SUMMARY
 In this episode focused on ecommerce mergers and acquisitions (M&A), Josh Marsden takes center stage as an expert in the field. The episode, sponsored by The Magnolia Firm's Deal of the Week, delves into various aspects of ecommerce M&A.

The discussion kicks off with an introduction to Josh Marsden and his expertise in the world of ecommerce acquisitions. It further explores the origins of his journey and how he ventured into the realm of ecommerce M&A.

Throughout the conversation, Josh shares insights into his specialization within ecommerce acquisitions and offers perspectives on what type of ecommerce customers are more likely to ensure success. He also delves into the practical execution of ecommerce acquisition plans, recounting his experiences in turning strategies into tangible actions.

Josh's insights extend to the challenges and triumphs of going solo in the ecommerce space and the futileness of attempting to revitalize stagnant businesses. He articulates the characteristics that define a prosperous ecommerce acquisition and introduces the ARM5 methodology for scaling ecommerce companies effectively.

The episode also sheds light on the financial aspects of these transactions, discussing how deals in ecommerce M&A are financed and the significance of capitalization structures. The role of mentors and mastermind groups is explored, emphasizing the influence of guidance and collaborative learning.

As the episode concludes, the spotlight turns to how Josh Marsden's net worth has evolved, and how he has matured,  as a result of his immersion in the world of ecommerce acquisitions. Overall, this episode provides an insightful journey through the intricacies and opportunities of ecommerce mergers and acquisitions, guided by Josh Marsden's expertise and experiences.


SHOW NOTES:
00:00  Episode brought to you by The Magnolia Firm's Deal of the Week! 
00:46  Intro to Josh Marsden
01:21  How the plan started
03:38  Domain of Expertise 
04:57  Best type of Ecomm Customer - to guarantee success
06:25  Executing on the plan
08:12  Going alone & reviving the dead
13:26  Characteristics of good ecomm acquisition
29:00  Methodology to Scale an Ecomm Company
34:44  Cap Stack - Financing the Deal
46:28  Mentors & Masterminds
53:32 How Net worth changed

This episode was brought to you by The Magnolia Firm.  Helping business owners sell their company.  https://exit.themagnoliafirm.co/top


SUMMARY
 In this episode focused on ecommerce mergers and acquisitions (M&A), Josh Marsden takes center stage as an expert in the field. The episode, sponsored by The Magnolia Firm's Deal of the Week, delves into various aspects of ecommerce M&A.

The discussion kicks off with an introduction to Josh Marsden and his expertise in the world of ecommerce acquisitions. It further explores the origins of his journey and how he ventured into the realm of ecommerce M&A.

Throughout the conversation, Josh shares insights into his specialization within ecommerce acquisitions and offers perspectives on what type of ecommerce customers are more likely to ensure success. He also delves into the practical execution of ecommerce acquisition plans, recounting his experiences in turning strategies into tangible actions.

Josh's insights extend to the challenges and triumphs of going solo in the ecommerce space and the futileness of attempting to revitalize stagnant businesses. He articulates the characteristics that define a prosperous ecommerce acquisition and introduces the ARM5 methodology for scaling ecommerce companies effectively.

The episode also sheds light on the financial aspects of these transactions, discussing how deals in ecommerce M&A are financed and the significance of capitalization structures. The role of mentors and mastermind groups is explored, emphasizing the influence of guidance and collaborative learning.

As the episode concludes, the spotlight turns to how Josh Marsden's net worth has evolved, and how he has matured,  as a result of his immersion in the world of ecommerce acquisitions. Overall, this episode provides an insightful journey through the intricacies and opportunities of ecommerce mergers and acquisitions, guided by Josh Marsden's expertise and experiences.


SHOW NOTES:
00:00  Episode brought to you by The Magnolia Firm's Deal of the Week! 
00:46  Intro to Josh Marsden
01:21  How the plan started
03:38  Domain of Expertise 
04:57  Best type of Ecomm Customer - to guarantee success
06:25  Executing on the plan
08:12  Going alone & reviving the dead
13:26  Characteristics of good ecomm acquisition
29:00  Methodology to Scale an Ecomm Company
34:44  Cap Stack - Financing the Deal
46:28  Mentors & Masterminds
53:32 How Net worth changed

This episode was brought to you by The Magnolia Firm.  Specialty M&A Business Brokerage firm helping business owners sell their company.  https://exit.themagnoliafirm.co/top


SUMMARY
In this video interview, Jon Stoddard talks with Mike Finger, an entrepreneur who has been involved in four successful business exits and now runs a company called Exit Oasis. Mike shares his journey, starting with a startup he and his wife founded in the mid-90s, providing back-office and support services to schools, nonprofits, and associations. He grew the business to 50 employees over a decade but eventually felt burnt out and decided to sell. However, when he approached brokers, they turned him down due to various issues in the business.

Over the next five years, Mike educated himself about what makes a business attractive to potential buyers. He shifted his perspective and made the necessary changes to transform his business into a sellable entity. Eventually, after a year of working with a broker, he successfully sold the business. The experience was a significant turning point in his life, leading him to further explore the world of acquisitions and exits. Mike continued his entrepreneurial journey, becoming a broker, running an incubator, and buying and selling other businesses, gaining valuable insights along the way.

In this video interview, Jon Stoddard talks with Mike Finger, an entrepreneur who has been involved in four successful business exits and now runs a company called Exit Oasis. Mike shares his journey, starting with a startup he and his wife founded in the mid-90s, providing back-office and support services to schools, nonprofits, and associations. He grew the business to 50 employees over a decade but eventually felt burnt out and decided to sell. However, when he approached brokers, they turned him down due to various issues in the business.

Over the next five years, Mike educated himself about what makes a business attractive to potential buyers. He shifted his perspective and made the necessary changes to transform his business into a sellable entity. Eventually, after a year of working with a broker, he successfully sold the business. The experience was a significant turning point in his life, leading him to further explore the world of acquisitions and exits. Mike continued his entrepreneurial journey, becoming a broker, running an incubator, and buying and selling other businesses, gaining valuable insights along the way.

Mike Finger also discusses four common problems he has observed among acquisition entrepreneurs


SHOW NOTES:
00:00  Episode brought to you by The Magnolia Firm's Deal of the Week! 
00:34  Intro to Mike Finger and his 4 exits
14:38  Launching ExitOasis
31:35  Sponsor:  Let the Magnolia Firm sell your company
32:17  The 4 Problems with Acquisition Entrepreneurs
32:40  Problem #1 M&A Porn
39:50  Problem #2 Regurgitating Guru Junk
45:05  Problem #3  no one has ever made money by just buying a business. 
48:25  Problem #4  Business Gigolo vs Business Owner 




LINKS to Mike Finger
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-finger
https://exitoasis.com/

This episode was brought to you by The Magnolia Firm.  Specialty M&A Business Brokerage firm helping business owners sell their company.  https://exit.themagnoliafirm.co/top


SUMMARY
In this video interview, Jon Stoddard talks with Mike Finger, an entrepreneur who has been involved in four successful business exits and now runs a company called Exit Oasis. Mike shares his journey, starting with a startup he and his wife founded in the mid-90s, providing back-office and support services to schools, nonprofits, and associations. He grew the business to 50 employees over a decade but eventually felt burnt out and decided to sell. However, when he approached brokers, they turned him down due to various issues in the business.

Over the next five years, Mike educated himself about what makes a business attractive to potential buyers. He shifted his perspective and made the necessary changes to transform his business into a sellable entity. Eventually, after a year of working with a broker, he successfully sold the business. The experience was a significant turning point in his life, leading him to further explore the world of acquisitions and exits. Mike continued his entrepreneurial journey, becoming a broker, running an incubator, and buying and selling other businesses, gaining valuable insights along the way.

In this video interview, Jon Stoddard talks with Mike Finger, an entrepreneur who has been involved in four successful business exits and now runs a company called Exit Oasis. Mike shares his journey, starting with a startup he and his wife founded in the mid-90s, providing back-office and support services to schools, nonprofits, and associations. He grew the business to 50 employees over a decade but eventually felt burnt out and decided to sell. However, when he approached brokers, they turned him down due to various issues in the business.

Over the next five years, Mike educated himself about what makes a business attractive to potential buyers. He shifted his perspective and made the necessary changes to transform his business into a sellable entity. Eventually, after a year of working with a broker, he successfully sold the business. The experience was a significant turning point in his life, leading him to further explore the world of acquisitions and exits. Mike continued his entrepreneurial journey, becoming a broker, running an incubator, and buying and selling other businesses, gaining valuable insights along the way.

Mike Finger also discusses four common problems he has observed among acquisition entrepreneurs


SHOW NOTES:
00:00  Episode brought to you by The Magnolia Firm's Deal of the Week! 
00:34  Intro to Mike Finger and his 4 exits
14:38  Launching ExitOasis
31:35  Sponsor:  Let the Magnolia Firm sell your company
32:17  The 4 Problems with Acquisition Entrepreneurs
32:40  Problem #1 M&A Porn
39:50  Problem #2 Regurgitating Guru Junk
45:05  Problem #3  no one has ever made money by just buying a business. 
48:25  Problem #4  Business Gigolo vs Business Owner 




LINKS to Mike Finger
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-finger
https://exitoasis.com/

This episode was brought to you by The Magnolia Firm.  Specialty M&A Business Brokerage firm helping business owners sell their company.  https://exit.themagnoliafirm.co/top

Mohit Tater shares his acquisitions and investment journey, including growth strategies, revenue verification, and a focus on content sites and affiliates. He discusses raising capital, cap table structuring, and launching Blackbook investments. Mohit explores deal sourcing, negotiation tactics, and lessons learned from failed deals. He addresses investor characteristics, the Multi Member LLC Investment Vehicle setup, and managing investments. He touches on mentors, Webstreet platform, and plans for diversification.



SHOW NOTES:
00:00  Episode brought to you by The Magnolia Firm
00:34  Intro to Mohit Tater - how it all started
03:09  What did you do to grow your first acquisition?
05:21  Do you still use Flippa?
05:36  2nd Acquisition - getting scammed 
06:55 What did you learn from getting scammed
07:38  How do you verify revenue 
09:29  His focus: Content sites and affiliates
09:55  When he started buying larger revenue site and his first investor
12:01  Formal Pitch or Friends and Family
13:02  Investors ROI over 3 years
14:11  Where he found the deal and revenue numbers
14:50  Conversation with investor to sell
15:19  Deciding to reduce risks
16:20  A deal that did not work out  - why it did not work out. 
17:34  How he first structured the cap table with investors
 18:40  Launching Blackbook investments
20:40  Minimum investment date of deployment
22:11  How many investors he has on his email list
22:47  Types, Size of Deals and On or Off Market & where he sells them
24:22  What he likes to do 
25:22   How he negotiates overpriced deals
26:58   Rolling equity
28:05  Proof
28:23  Partners?
28:45  Sell your business Magnolia Firm
29:09  How long did it take to build a list of investors
30:27  What do these investors look like?
31:36  How he sets up the Multi Member LLC Investment Vehicle 
33:56  Do investors get dividends?
34:47  How many investments do you current manage?
36:00  Where do you want this to go - what he needs in resources?
38:06  Who is your mentor?
39:38  Why not raise fund - and Webstreet
42:01  Webstreet Fees & value 
44:58  How the Webstreet rolling fund decides on deals
46:46  What Webstreet investors expect to see
48:22  Do investors push back on forecasts
48:57  How do you qualify to be on Webstreet
49:57  What about working capital investment?
51:00  How many acquisitions have you made from Webstreet money?
52:43  Plans to buy bigger websites?
53:57  What he needs & diversifying


LINKS to Mohit Tater
www.linkedin.com/in/mohittater/
https://bbi.xyz/


DealFlowSystem: https://dealflowsystem.net/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonstoddard/

This episode was brought to you by The Magnolia Firm.  Specialty M&A Business Brokerage firm helping business owners sell their company.  https://exit.themagnoliafirm.co/top

Mohit Tater shares his acquisitions and investment journey, including growth strategies, revenue verification, and a focus on content sites and affiliates. He discusses raising capital, cap table structuring, and launching Blackbook investments. Mohit explores deal sourcing, negotiation tactics, and lessons learned from failed deals. He addresses investor characteristics, the Multi Member LLC Investment Vehicle setup, and managing investments. He touches on mentors, Webstreet platform, and plans for diversification.



SHOW NOTES:
00:00  Episode brought to you by The Magnolia Firm
00:34  Intro to Mohit Tater - how it all started
03:09  What did you do to grow your first acquisition?
05:21  Do you still use Flippa?
05:36  2nd Acquisition - getting scammed 
06:55 What did you learn from getting scammed
07:38  How do you verify revenue 
09:29  His focus: Content sites and affiliates
09:55  When he started buying larger revenue site and his first investor
12:01  Formal Pitch or Friends and Family
13:02  Investors ROI over 3 years
14:11  Where he found the deal and revenue numbers
14:50  Conversation with investor to sell
15:19  Deciding to reduce risks
16:20  A deal that did not work out  - why it did not work out. 
17:34  How he first structured the cap table with investors
 18:40  Launching Blackbook investments
20:40  Minimum investment date of deployment
22:11  How many investors he has on his email list
22:47  Types, Size of Deals and On or Off Market & where he sells them
24:22  What he likes to do 
25:22   How he negotiates overpriced deals
26:58   Rolling equity
28:05  Proof
28:23  Partners?
28:45  Sell your business Magnolia Firm
29:09  How long did it take to build a list of investors
30:27  What do these investors look like?
31:36  How he sets up the Multi Member LLC Investment Vehicle 
33:56  Do investors get dividends?
34:47  How many investments do you current manage?
36:00  Where do you want this to go - what he needs in resources?
38:06  Who is your mentor?
39:38  Why not raise fund - and Webstreet
42:01  Webstreet Fees & value 
44:58  How the Webstreet rolling fund decides on deals
46:46  What Webstreet investors expect to see
48:22  Do investors push back on forecasts
48:57  How do you qualify to be on Webstreet
49:57  What about working capital investment?
51:00  How many acquisitions have you made from Webstreet money?
52:43  Plans to buy bigger websites?
53:57  What he needs & diversifying


LINKS to Mohit Tater
www.linkedin.com/in/mohittater/
https://bbi.xyz/


DealFlowSystem: https://dealflowsystem.net/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonstoddard/

SHOW NOTES:
00:00  Episode brought to you by The Magnolia Firm
00:51  intro to Malcolm Peace and his first look at acquisitions
04:10  Acquisitions are about "Buying Time"
05:56  Getting Inspiration
08:30  How his mentors guided him
11:10  Was the ERP project a skill test or real customer?
13:45  The Pieces start coming together when you are intentional
15:18  How Andre Agassi figured out Bjorn Borgs serve
15:59  Launching a PE firm as minority partner - and the blowup
22:26  Sourcing a deal and what happens when you get emotionally attached to a deal
26:56  What his PE experience taught him about Quality of Earnings
28:00   looking at deals closer to home
29:02   Episode brought to you by The Magnolia Firm
30:35  Broker or no broker - change the outcome?
31:00  Building an outreach system - before and after results
33:28  The search criteria thesis - The 3 D's
35:58  How long did it take to find your first acquisition
39:17  Helping owners to work above the business - to scale and exit
40:22  Malcom's 2nd Acquisition
42:37  How he financed the deal - Her Price My Terms
44:45  $900,000 in free cash flow - shrimp
47:43  How much he raised in capital - Why you need to stay in touch with investors
49:17   All cash Friends & Family round?
52:26  What is he doing with the excess free cash flow...bigger deals?
53:20  HoldCo dreams
53:49  Did company have GM in place?
54:17  How do you feel about this deal compared to losing first deal
56:25  Owner Second Guessing the Deal
57:43  What Malcom does settle himself

SHOW NOTES:
00:00  Episode brought to you by The Magnolia Firm
00:51  intro to Malcolm Peace and his first look at acquisitions
04:10  Acquisitions are about "Buying Time"
05:56  Getting Inspiration
08:30  How his mentors guided him
11:10  Was the ERP project a skill test or real customer?
13:45  The Pieces start coming together when you are intentional
15:18  How Andre Agassi figured out Bjorn Borgs serve
15:59  Launching a PE firm as minority partner - and the blowup
22:26  Sourcing a deal and what happens when you get emotionally attached to a deal
26:56  What his PE experience taught him about Quality of Earnings
28:00   looking at deals closer to home
29:02   Episode brought to you by The Magnolia Firm
30:35  Broker or no broker - change the outcome?
31:00  Building an outreach system - before and after results
33:28  The search criteria thesis - The 3 D's
35:58  How long did it take to find your first acquisition
39:17  Helping owners to work above the business - to scale and exit
40:22  Malcom's 2nd Acquisition
42:37  How he financed the deal - Her Price My Terms
44:45  $900,000 in free cash flow - shrimp
47:43  How much he raised in capital - Why you need to stay in touch with investors
49:17   All cash Friends & Family round?
52:26  What is he doing with the excess free cash flow...bigger deals?
53:20  HoldCo dreams
53:49  Did company have GM in place?
54:17  How do you feel about this deal compared to losing first deal
56:25  Owner Second Guessing the Deal
57:43  What Malcom does settle himself