Summary: Nathan Hirsch, a serial entrepreneur, shares his journey of building and selling his company, FreeUp, which utilized remote workforces. He discusses the importance of having clean books and financials, as well as the value of virtual assistants and outsourced labor. Nathan emphasizes the need to hire the right level of talent, whether they are followers, doers, or experts. He also highlights the significance of building trust and relationships with your team and the importance of...

Summary: In this episode, Todd Sullivan interviews Meighan Newhouse, the co-founder and former CEO of Inspirant Group, a management consulting firm that was acquired by 10 Pearls. Meighan shares her journey as an entrepreneur and the decision-making process behind selling her business. She emphasizes the importance of understanding the why and the end goal of the sale, as well as finding a buyer that aligns with the company's culture and values. Meighan also discusses the challenges and...

George Sandmann shares his thoughts on:  Creating business engines that deliver predictable profits, cash flow, and sustainable growth Driving predictable, transferable value and a more lucrative M&A transaction GUEST BIO:George Sandmann is an entrepreneur turned growth advisor.  An attorney by training, George is an entrepreneur with almost 30 years experience starting and growing companies. After a lifetime of startup success and challenges, George founded his current company, Growth...

Mike Finger highlights the three elements all small business owners should focus on when building a company for a future M&A exit: Are your business results desirable?  Will an acquirer see value and opportunity in what you have built? Can a buyer duplicate your results?  Can the buyer run the business without you? Can you document your results?  Is there a playbook written that can be followed once you are gone? GUEST BIO:Mike Finger is a serial entrepreneur and business advisor who's...

EPISODE 64: THIS WEEK'S GUEST - CHRIS WISEIn this episode, Chris talks about: Asking for help when building your company for the future Coaching founders on how to remove themselves from their businesses to create transferable value How taking care of yourself as a founder or business owner can significantly increase productivity and prevent burnout GUEST BIO:Chris Wise is a seasoned business advisor with over 30 years of experience and the founder of Wise Profits. With a notable track...

EPISODE 63: THIS WEEK'S GUEST - ROBB GREENIn this episode, Robb talks about: His evaluation criteria for starting eCommerce brands How he decides when it's time to sell a business How he brings his teenage kids into these companies and exposes them to the highs and lows of the life of an entrepreneur GUEST BIO:Robb Green is the owner and visionary behind the formulation and execution of strategies aimed at mastering the art of e-commerce brand establishment. Solving Alpha has founded 9...

EPISODE 62: THIS WEEK'S GUEST - WAYNE PARRISH In this episode, Wayne talks about: His early beginnings as a student journalist at the University of British Columbia Becoming the CEO of Canada Basketball and his relationship with Jerry Colangelo A history lesson of SPORT Magazine, Sports Illustrated, Sports Insider, and ESPN The Magazine How he purchased the most significant collection of images related to 20th century sport anywhere in the world Finding the next owner for The Sport...

EPISODE 61: THIS WEEK'S GUEST - CHRISTINE NICHOLSONIn this episode, Christine talks about: The three things that every founder needs to focus on when building their business The difference between exit planning and succession planning What a perfect succession plan look like GUEST BIO:Christine Nicholson is a serial entrepreneur with multiple exits under her belt, who has now turned her attention to helping fellow business owners with succession planning before the sale of their...

EPISODE 60: THIS WEEK'S GUEST - EDIN BASICIn this episode, Edin talks about: The importance of understanding market trends to know when to invest and when to sell  Understanding your exit strategy to make the right decisions while you're building your business, and; How to be ready when your ideal buyer comes knocking GUEST BIO:Edin Basic began his journey as a refugee from war torn Bosnia, leaving school before completing his final exams to escape to London with no money in his pocket (and...

EPISODE 59: THIS WEEK'S GUEST - SARAH GREIFENBERGERIn this episode, Sarah talks about: The various reasons that a business owner considers a business valuation The difference between fair market value, and valuing a business for sale Becoming an Exitwise Ambassador and referring Fathead.com for sale in October, 2023 GUEST BIO:Sarah has been a Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA) for over 10 years and is also a Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA). Prior to becoming a CVA, Sarah was Director...

EPISODE 58: THIS WEEK'S GUEST - JEAN ANNE BOOTHIn this episode, Jean Anne talks about: Having multiple strategic investors on your cap table Being prepared for your buyer to change the terms of your exit days before signing Knowing what you should say no to when raising capital or selling your company GUEST BIO:Jean Anne Booth is a serial entrepreneur with a number of successful exits, including selling Luminary Micro to Texas Instruments in 2009 and Intrinsity to Apple in the early 2000's. ...

EPISODE 57: THIS WEEK'S GUEST - RALEIGH WILLIAMSIn this episode, Raleigh talks about: Why business owners should trust their intuition when deciding when to sell their companies How to renegotiate business contracts to make them transferable in an acquisition  When you're at the goal line, how you should focus on your why you are selling and not quibbling over every last dollar. GUEST BIO:Raleigh Williams is a former M&A attorney turned entrepreneur who quit his job as a lawyer to start...

EPISODE 56: THIS WEEK'S GUEST - ANDY PAIIn this episode, Andy talks about:  His entrepreneurial journey of leaving his job as an investment banker and moving to San Francisco with a dream of building a company with several college friends Managing the expectations and attraction of multiple M&A "off-ramps" along the entrepreneurial journey How he identified the buyer intent that helped the Finbox team build a successful suite of products that led to an acquisition by Investing.com   His...

EPISODE 55: THIS WEEK'S GUEST - AUSTIN OGILVIEIn this episode, Austin talks about:  Turning a Series A Term Sheet into multiple growth and exit options for the business The value of seeking guidance from seasoned CEOs and professionals who have gone through the M&A process in order to structure the right agreements when it came time to sell his business Being critically organized with your startup's Employee Agreements, Client Contracts, and Company financials GUEST BIO:Austin Ogilvie is...

EPISODE 54: THIS WEEK'S GUEST - LLOYED LOBOIn this episode, Lloyed shares: His views on how outsourcing the financial role to professionals helps when it's time to sell the business How bootstrapping (vs. Venture Capital) allowed him to sell on his timetable Why building community is a key differentiator and value driver in any business and even more when it's time to sell GUEST BIO:Lloyed Lobo is an incredible, self-made entrepreneur.  As a Kuwaiti refugee and former engineer turned serial...

E53: THIS WEEK'S GUEST - MATT BLUMBERGIn this episode, Matt talks about how: Creating better personal relationships with acquirers can de-risk M&A transactions To bounce back from a failed M&A transaction Building a company with a work/life balance in mind can lead to a great outcome GUEST BIO:Matt Blumberg, a former management consultant, a venture capitalist and early employee who helped MovieFone move into the Internet age and get acquired by AOL. With his well-rounded training,...

E52: THIS WEEK'S GUEST - PROFESSOR JOE O'MAHONEYIn this episode, Joe talks about: How his personal M&A experience helps improve his consultancy for his clients How professional service firms are valued during an M&A transaction What great companies do to prepare for an exit How AI is disrupting the M&A world and what founders and entrepreneurs can do to leverage it GUEST BIO:Professor Joe O'Mahoney, an industry specific business consultant who built and sold his own company in...

E51: THIS WEEK'S GUEST - KENAN SALEH In this episode, Kenan talks about: His decision to sell Halo Cars to Lyft so early in his entrepreneurial journey  How mentally and emotionally difficult due diligence is after signing an LOI during M&A His advice for other founders thinking about the M&A process, and how his experience will influence his next venture GUEST BIO: In October, 2018 as a student at Wharton (University of Pennsylvania), Kenan Saleh co-founded Halo Cars, a...

E50: THIS WEEK'S GUEST - OLIVER LOW In this episode, Oliver talks about: Finding the right buyer for your startup (private equity, family office, strategic buyer, or holding company) The value of surrounding yourself with M&A expertise when selling your business How selling in the "4th inning" can often lead to better liquidity and professional options   GUEST BIO: Oliver started his career at Microsoft in 2006.  He spent time at MySpace from 2008 to 2010 and then launched a digital...

E49: THIS WEEK'S GUEST - JONAH MIDANIK In this episode, Jonah discusses: The value of putting an entrepreneurial win on the board Deciding to step down from the CEO role to prepare his company for its next stage of growth Advice for fellow founders thinking about fundraising and the M&A process GUEST BIO:Jonah has been fortunate to see the startup journey from many different perspectives. First, as a successful bootstrapped founder of Casino Media Group, an advertising agency focused on...

E48:  ELISE MITCHELL - 3 TIME FOUNDER & CEO and TIGER 21 CHAIR Today, my guest is Tiger 21 chair and three-time entrepreneur Elise Mitchell, who founded Mitchell Communications Group, which was named a top ten fastest growing PR firm globally. Elise was named PR Week's Public Relations Professional of the Year and a top 50 power player in PR. She's also the author of Leading Through the Turn.  Under Elise's Leadership, her agency grew initially using an outsourced talent model while...

E47:  SVEN MILDER - FOUNDER, STARTUP ADVISOR, and M&A EXPERTToday, Todd Sullivan talks to Sven Milder, a serial entrepreneur who has built, purchased and sold multiple companies throughout Europe and Southeast Asia. Sven understands how to raise capital, how to leverage low cost workforces, and how to use technology to improve efficiencies and profitability in any business he's involved in. Sven shares how he thinks about fundraising for startups, why he's now buying profitable companies...

E46:  MELISSA KWAN - 3X BOOTSTRAPPER / CEO OF EWEBINAR Join Todd Sullivan in a conversation with Melissa Kwan, the co-founder and CEO of eWebinar, a top automated webinar platform. Prior to eWebinar, Melissa spent 13 years building three successful companies without venture capital backing. Her last company, Spacio, became the real estate industry's number one open house sign-in solution, helping agents automate lead capture and follow up.  Melissa sold Spacio in 2019 to a strategic buyer....

E45:  Ryan Vaughn - Executive Coach/Founder of Inside Out Leadership Today Todd Sullivan is joined by Ryan Vaughn, the founder of VNN Sports, one of the largest marketing platforms in the U.S. for high school sports. Ryan caught the entrepreneurial bug at an early age when he started selling Pogs to his classmates in the fourth grade. Through the following years of self-discovery, as well as trial and error, Ryan raised capital and willed VNN to life. Ryan made the decision to personally...