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December 7, 2023
Setting Up The Next Generations
By Adam Burroughs
Lisa Ingram, president and CEO of White Castle, on how the 10,000-employee company prepares its family to participate in the business.
December 7, 2023
Tackling The People Part Of Deals
Borgman Capital's Megan Brobson on communication strategies for buyers and sellers involved in an M&A process.
December 7, 2023
Buyers, Take It One Deal At A Time
Stellex Capital Management's Shankar Kiru on the importance of approaching deals on a case-by-case basis.
December 7, 2023
Building a Bridge of Opportunity from Corner to Corner
Compelled by Jesus’ invitation to ‘love our neighbors as we love ourselves,’ Corner to Corner was founded by Will and Tiffany Acuff in 2011. The young couple wanted to create a relationship-centered
December 1, 2023
To Thrive, A Family Business Needs Rules
Jim Jurgielewicz, of Joe Jurgielewicz & Son Ltd., on the rough couple years the business experienced and how the rules the family set help them keep it together.
December 1, 2023
Level Agency's Patrick Patterson Raises The Growth Bar
Level Agency's Patrick Patterson on the management buyout, how he connected with his PE backers and what it took to close the deal, what life is like with a PE partner and the agency's plans for the future.
December 1, 2023
Why Deals Fall Apart + Reason For Caution With Earn Outs
The Riverside Company's Cheryl Strom on why most deals fall apart, as well as why sellers should use caution when earn outs are part of a deal.
November 21, 2023
Buyer Honesty Can Mean Greater Seller Buy-In
Tendit Group CEO Alejandra Harvey Oliver on how the seller mindset can affect the deal process.
November 17, 2023
For SCLogic, Time Is Ticking For An Exit
Mike Saldi, founder and CEO of SCLogic, feels he's running out of time. And that in part why his company began running a process. "At 60 years old, I've got to figure out what's next," Saldi said at
November 17, 2023
See Your Business Through Buyers' Eyes
The advice to business owners looking to exit is often to get the right advisers and plan well ahead of going to market. But for many, that's not always the reality. "We deal with the business owners
November 17, 2023
How Buyer Type Affects Deal Prep
When running businesses for private equity groups, Kevin Matkin, CEO of Maysteel Industries LLC says what's often important when preparing for a sale depends on the buyer type. For a financial buyer,
November 17, 2023
The Fourth Quarter Comeback
Sports enthusiasts can attest that there are few scenarios more thrilling than a fourth quarter comeback. And no NFL quarterback has led more fourth quarter comebacks than future Hall of Famer Tom
November 17, 2023
Reimagine Care Shifts Oncology Care to Patient’s Home
While service providers such as hotels and restaurants were severely debilitated by the pandemic shutdown, others thrived. One such example is Reimagine Care, a Nashville-based in-home cancer care
November 16, 2023
The Impact of Human Capital on M&A Deals
Caliber Midstream Company's Joseph Mills and Cooper Machinery Services' John O'Brien on the power of people in dealmaking.
November 10, 2023
Mayor, Business Leaders On The Evolution Of Downtown Minneapolis
Minneapolis city and business leaders discuss downtown revitalization and the role that the business community leaders play in making a dynamic and vibrant downtown a reality.
November 10, 2023
Deal Activity: The 4th Quarter Comeback
A brief look at history would indicate that total U.S. deal volume and Tom Brady have something in common: completing a 4th quarter comeback.
November 3, 2023
Ven Raju On Investor Opportunities In Pittsburgh
After years of investing in early-stage companies in the SaaS, robotics, Internet of Things, health and fin tech spaces, Ven Raju has taken his talents from New York to Pittsburgh where he now heads
November 3, 2023
Putting Your Superpower To Work Post Exit
It's always a good time to start thinking about life after the sale of a business, says North Coast Ventures Managing Director Todd Federman. That, he says, can help business owners avoid being one of
November 3, 2023
Greater Diligence Means Greater Deal Prep
In the market today, there's been a change in availability of debt and the cost of that debt, says Mereo Capital Partners Managing Partner John O'Hare. There's also an issue of meeting seller
October 27, 2023
Deeper Diligence Puts More Onus On Sellers
Macroeconomic factors are driving due diligence that is much deeper, taking longer and is more important to deal making, says Mark Kessler, a partner at Palmares Capital Partners. Looking across the
October 27, 2023
Announcing Minneapolis' Smart Business Network Dealmaker Award Winners and 2023 Dealmakers Hall of Fame Class!
The Smart Business Dealmakers Dealmaker of the Year Awards recognize exceptional individuals who are shaping the landscape of business and innovation in Minneapolis. In addition, The Minneapolis
October 27, 2023
The Search For Clean Deals
No deal is perfect, but Dan Weingartz, CEO of W&P Management, says that it's just gotten to where there needs to be cleanliness across everything — the financials, the strategy, the leadership and
October 20, 2023
Cleveland Deal Activity: Rise In Bankruptcies Drive Distressed M&A Activity
Throughout 2023, the U.S. M&A landscape has been significantly shaped by a notable rise in distressed M&A transactions. According to bankruptcy filings from the U.S. Courts, the number of Chapter 11
October 20, 2023
Charlotte M&A Honorees Announced!
The Smart Business Dealmakers Dealmaker of the Year Awards recognize exceptional individuals who are shaping the landscape of business and innovation in Charlotte. The 2023 class of winners — who will
October 20, 2023
Buying What's Not In The Numbers
Randy Overton says in health care M&A in recent years, he's seen all kinds of books. "All of the sudden, everybody is the most valuable company in the world," says Overton, CFO of FastPace Health.
October 20, 2023
Steve Ball On Growing Zesty Paws Ahead Of Its $610M Sale
Steve Ball, the former CEO and board member of Zesty Paws, helped lead the pet supplements company to extraordinary growth that eventually led to its sale to Health & Happiness (H&H) Group
October 13, 2023
In This Market, Creative Dealmakers Thrive
Slow M&A deal flow in 2022 has trickled into 2023 as more people are standing on the sidelines concerned about rising interest rates and the perpetual threat of a recession. Though deal flow as picked
October 13, 2023
When Selling, Ask Many Questions
As he was looking into selling Insight Publications, Publisher Brian Rasmussen had a lot to think about. Given his age, energy level, and a sense that, given the nature of his business, he wasn't
October 13, 2023
Midwest Values Bouy Businesses When Fundamentals Are The Focus
The Chicago Smart Business Dealmakers Conference kicked off with insights and strategies for navigating the post-exit landscape, as well as the speakers' perspective on what's been a tricky M&A
October 6, 2023
The Million-Dollar Question When Considering A Sale
Knowing when to sell a business is challenging, says Richard Hamlin, executive vice president of The Reserve Group, a family office and management company. While much depends on the owner's personal
October 6, 2023
Interest Rates Effect Strategy, But Multiples Remain Insulated
Interest rates have an impact on a variety of factors — not just in M&A, but in business in general. That's causing businesses to develop strategies to minimize the impact of those rising rates to
September 29, 2023
Chicago M&A Honorees Named
The Smart Business Dealmakers Dealmaker of the Year awards recognize exceptional individuals who are shaping the landscape of business and innovation in Greater Chicago. The 2023 class of winners —
September 29, 2023
Optimism For Better M&A Times Is On The Horizon
Headlines of articles covering the M&A market over the past couple of months and years have painted a challenging picture, says UBS Market Executive, Philadelphia & DC Market Julie Fox. However, they
September 29, 2023
The 15-Year Process Of Selling CollabraSpace
CollabraSpace Co-Founder Ray Schwemmer says he would get cold calls all the time from people looking to buy his software company. "We basically just ignored them," he said at the Baltimore Smart
September 29, 2023
Transparency Is Needed When Selling A Family Business
Multigenerational family businesses, says Richard J. Wolkowitz, CEO and Family Advisor at Xylogenesis | Family Office Advisory, are tough. The family working in the business may have a different
September 22, 2023
Selling Sgt. Clean
Two years ago, Brian Krusz, co-founder and director of growth and development at Sgt. Clean Car Wash, brought on a financial partner, Prairie Capital, who he says has helped the decade-old,
September 22, 2023
Increasing investment in Central Ohio
On the heels of the Intel announcement that created much buzz in Central Ohio, Chris Michael a partner at Ice Miller LLP, led the kickoff panel at the Columbus Smart Business Dealmakers Conference
September 22, 2023
How Not Listening To Advice Benefitted SkySpecs
SkySpecs CEO Danny Ellis has raised a few rounds of funding — six in total — and has learned several lessons from the experience. "A lot of mistakes in the early days," Ellis says. "We probably over
September 15, 2023
4 Tips For Preparing To Sell Your Business
Northern Lakes Capital partner Joel Grebenick share what sellers should consider when thinking about an exit.
September 14, 2023
For A Successful Sale, Know What You Want
With early-stage tech companies, it's important to figure out what the entrepreneur wants because often the entrepreneur is near burnout, says Sig Mosley, managing partner of Mosley Ventures.
September 14, 2023
Candid Reasons Not To Pass Your Business To The Next Generation
How — and why — Thomas J. Young sold Arrowhead Systems, a business he had no intention of selling.
September 8, 2023
Cleveland Deal Activity: Navigating M&A deal structures in a tightened debt market
As interest rates and borrowing costs move in parallel, buyers are faced with the challenge of navigating increasing costs of debt to finance acquisitions, especially in deals where the seller has
September 8, 2023
COVID Turbulence Drew Project Admission's Focus Inward
Stephen Glicken is working to disrupt ticket sales as we know it with his company, Project Admission. It's a unique model that managed to survive the collapse of live events during COVID and continue
September 8, 2023
Philadelphia's 2023 Smart Business Network Dealmaker Award Winners: Trailblazers in Business and Innovation
The 2023 Smart Business Network Philadelphia Dealmaker Awards have recognized exceptional individuals who are shaping the landscape of business and innovation in the City of Brotherly Love. These
September 1, 2023
Wellist Founder Ashley Reid On The Importance Of Perspective
Wellist Founder and CEO Ashley Reid discusses growing into the company's national presence, what outside board seats have taught her about running her own business and the evolution of the company's fundraising.
September 1, 2023
When Buying, Understand The Seller’s Post-Close Intentions
John Dolan, President and CEO of PFI InStore, has been part of many exits and acquisitions. From that experience, he says he’s learned many lessons, a number of which focus on the human capital side
September 1, 2023
Buyers’ Industry Knowledge Can Help Land The Best Deal
Dr. Nithin Krishna is a board licensed psychiatrist and serial mental health entrepreneur who formerly led as CEO the multimillion dollar Bloom Health Centers. Krishna acquired Psych Associates of
August 25, 2023
From Sell To Sell And Buy
General Die Casters has been in business since 1957 making high-pressure aluminum die castings of parts for everything from automobiles to chainsaws. About a year ago, CEO Brian Lennon says the
August 25, 2023
Take The Stigma Out Of The Exit Talk
CEOs are often hesitant to talk about exits because there's a stigma attached to it, says MATH Venture Partners Managing Director Mark Achler. "There's a concern that if you start to talk about an
August 25, 2023
Deals Can Be Like A Marriage, But Also Like A Divorce
Christy Brown has had multiple entrepreneurial journeys. For each, there are three common factors that ultimately led to the sale of each. "One was typically I was looking for a strategic partner for
August 25, 2023
People On A Deal P&L
As Detroit Manufacturing Systems sets out to make acquisitions, people are top of mind, says then CFO, now EVP of Sales, Purchasing and Strategy Scott Cieslak. "One of the first things we had to do
August 18, 2023
Shaun Stimpson On Buying A Business And Becoming An Operator
Shaun Stimpson left a nearly 20-year career in wealth management to launch North Iron Holdings. The purpose of North Iron was to be a vehicle to acquire an industrial distribution company. After an
August 18, 2023
Columbus Deal Activity: Navigating M&A deal structures in a tightened debt market
As interest rates and borrowing costs move in parallel, buyers are faced with the challenge of navigating increasing costs of debt to finance acquisitions, especially in deals where the seller has
August 18, 2023
Value Creation Starts Day 1
RTC Partners Partner Tony Brindisi says he thinks of value creation from a growth perspective. "Whenever we're approaching an acquisition, we try to take a full, holistic account of the value that can
August 18, 2023
An Uncertain Economy Brings The Focus Inward
The uncertainty of the current state of the economy has driven Jim Banovich, CEO of Marsh Electronics to invest into the company and start getting it in position for the next generation and the next
August 10, 2023
Anthony Manna On Growing His Family Business
Anthony Manna on lessons learned for establishing a family-owned enterprise that generates value and how he's preparing the company to transition to the next generation.
August 10, 2023
How The Peach Truck Found The Right Partner
How Jessica and Stephen Rose found the right partner to capitalize on The Peach Truck's significant growth.
August 10, 2023
Fit Matters More Under Increasing Deal Scrutiny
BMO Capital Markets' Dan McIntosh on how changing market conditions mean finding the right fit is the key to success.
August 4, 2023
To Maximize Value, Prepare
David Nicholson, Vice Chairman of Polyconcept North America has, over 15 years, gone through three private equity buyouts of the business and has done multiple strategic acquisitions within the
August 4, 2023
Cultivation Capital: A Fund By Entrepreneurs, For Entrepreneurs
Barry Sandweiss started Cultivation Capital around 2011 along with former entrepreneurs. So, he says, the fund is naturally entrepreneurial. "We know what it's like to sit in the chair of a founder,"
August 4, 2023
Deal Close Is Not The End Of The Marathon
Rendia, founded by an eye doctor and his three children to help doctors and patients understand each other better, was sold to a strategic buyer, PatientPoint, this past October. To personally prepare
July 28, 2023
Slowed inflation to temper rising cost of capital ... hopefully
Sharply increasing inflation rates over the past two and a half years in the U.S. are a result of several contributing factors, but none more than the relationship between the prices for goods and
July 28, 2023
Don't Force Family Into Taking Over The Business
When it comes to making a successful transition within a family business, education and communication are by far the most important factors. Waldron Private Wealth Partner & Chief Investment Officer
July 28, 2023
When It Comes To Investors, Look For Finance +
Emily Morris is founder and CEO of Emrgy, an Atlanta-based climate tech startup that recently closed an $18.5 million and is deploying a new asset class of renewable energy worldwide. The technology
July 21, 2023
Luke Haverhals' Company Is Working To Solve The World's Biggest Problem
Luke Haverhals, founder and CEO of Natural Fiber Welding, says he's an accidental entrepreneur. As the former chemistry professor at the United States Naval Academy tells it, he was fortunate to be in
July 21, 2023
If You Swing In This Market, Don't Miss
Omar Jorge's family started Compare Foods Supermarkets in 1989. The international grocer is focused on importing products from Latin America, offering patrons products they usually can't get out of a
July 21, 2023
Lessons Learned From Selling A Business ... Twice
Bruce Milen, Chairman of the Board of Jax Kar Wash, first sold his business back in 1998 during a period of consolidation and roll ups. He had and took the opportunity to buy it back three years later
July 14, 2023
Robert H. Schottenstein On How He Diligences Land, Company Acquisitions
M/I Homes, Inc. started in Columbus in 1976, and today is one of the largest home builders in the U.S. Chairman and CEO Robert H. Schottenstein's dad was one of the co-founders of a business that
July 14, 2023
View Deal Risk Within The Larger Context
John “Ozzie” Nelson Jr., Chairman and CEO of NELSON Worldwide, has led the award-winning design, architecture, branding, and consulting services organization's hypergrowth from one-office to more than
July 7, 2023
The Importance Of Connections In Dealmaking
OMNI Systems, founded 33 years ago out of the CEO's garage, is now a $100 million company. "So, we know a bit about growth," said David Campbell, OMNI's CFO, at the Cleveland Smart Business Dealmakers
July 7, 2023
John Cerasuolo On Making The Leap To A New Industry Focus
John Cerasuolo leads incredibly acquisitive companies. At ADS Security, he led the business through 45 acquisitions in a direct-to-owner model that relied on relationships and an internal team to
July 7, 2023
How Three Long-Time Competitors Merged
Massachusetts-based technology advisory firms ROI Communications, Blue Front Technology Group and allConnex joined forces in late 2022 under one banner as Amplix. The three agencies — long-time, mutually respectful competitors — agreed to a merger backed by Gemspring Capital ManagemenT. The deal has worked for all three, and now a fourth major player, NET7, has joined the team.
June 29, 2023
Funding To Cross The Valley of Death
In 1985, Sanjiv Singh worked on the first autonomous ground vehicles to operate outdoors. By 2010, he led a team that demonstrated the first autonomous full-scale helicopter flight. Now he's with Near
June 29, 2023
Prepare At The Beginning For The Best End
Harold Green launched Chamberlain Contractors, an asphalt paving company, back in 1975, and sold it to Pavement Partners, a portfolio company of Shoreline Equity Partners, in January 2022. While he
June 29, 2023
In This Economy, Buyers Must Look Deeper
Given the volatility in today's Market, Emily Martin, president of Aschinger Electric - A Guarantee Electrical Company, says both buyers and sellers are facing economic pressures that are impacting
June 23, 2023
Culture Takes Priority Post Acquisition
In this choppy economic environment, Jody Richards, CEO of Process Technology says she's seen some order cancellations and some order push-outs. And while some would say semiconductors are supposedly
June 23, 2023
Cindy Monroe On Using Networking To Find The Right Partner For Thirty-One
Thirty-One Gifts founder Cindy Monroe took on a growth equity partner in Kanbrick, the investment firm led by former Warren Buffett deputy Tracy Britt Cool and Brian Humphrey, in July 2020. While she
June 23, 2023
Trust Your Gut And Get Good Advice
Kathleen Craig, founder and CEO Plinqit, has raised more than $10 million in venture funding for the SaaS fintech company, which licenses its software to banks and credit unions across the country.
June 23, 2023
Transition Options For Family Businesses
There comes a time for family businesses to make a transition. In some cases, the business is passed down to the family's next generation. But when that's not an option, there are other transitions
June 23, 2023
Exiting Is A Juggling Act For Owners
After a stint practicing law, Ron Cundy decided, during the depths of the Great Recession, to start a company. He and a partner launched recteq, a business that made grills, but couldn't get a product
June 16, 2023
Authenticity, Transparency Key In Deal Negotiations
When preparing to sell a business, Womble Bond Dickinson LLP Partner Scott Anderson says it's best not to hide anything because the buyer, through diligence, is going to find it. "So, you might as
June 16, 2023
Buyers: Learn To Be Great Listeners
One lesson Milton Kuyers, CEO of Faustel Inc. and Kuyers LLC, has learned through the 65 acquisitions he's personally been a part of throughout his career is that if you don't grow, your business will
June 16, 2023
Life After Selling
Jai Shekhawat founded Fieldglass, a cloud-based VMS platform, in 1999, grew it to be the largest vendor management software firm in the world, then sold it in 2014 for $1 billion. He's raised capital,
June 9, 2023
Superstar CEO Roundtable Kicks Off Cleveland Conference
Kicking off the 2023 Cleveland Smart Business Dealmakers Conference were several of the region’s top executives talking with moderator Jeff Bechtel, President - Cleveland Region, First National Bank,
June 9, 2023
Ray Pineault On Expanding The Brand
From a property in Connecticut that quickly became one of the world’s largest casinos, Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment has grown exponentially through a combination of organic and inorganic
June 9, 2023
Selling To Make The Business Better
Having sold his business, the once-high-growth startup focused on high-acuity homecare programs, Contessa Health, Co-Founder Travis Messina says when they ran their process, they used an investment
June 9, 2023
To Enhance Value, Start Early
When it comes to building the right team around a family business to help create value, not every company has the right people in their family tree to do that. That, says Messerli Kramer Attorney and
June 2, 2023
Estate Tax Planning Considerations for Contemplated M&A Transactions
The landscape of estate tax planning is set to undergo a significant change in the coming years, as the estate tax exemption is set to revert to pre-2018 levels at the end of 2025. This means that
June 2, 2023
AGCO's Eric Hansotia On The Ag Giant's M&A Strategy
AGCO Corporation is the largest pure-play farm machinery company in the world, competing against industry giants. Headquartered in Duluth, Georgia, this year they'll do about $14.5 billion in sales
June 2, 2023
To Manage Through Fundraising, Transactions, Sign Up With Commitment
LabCorp recently paid a reported $450 million to acquire Personal Genome Diagnostics, known as PGDx, a genomic testing company. Earlier that same year, PGDx successfully raised a $103 million Series
June 2, 2023
The Misperception Of Investors
Balto founder and CEO Marc Bernstein has built a SaaS platform designed to provide real-time guidance to contact center agents. He's scaling fast and having fun doing it, even after adding multiple
May 26, 2023
Recognizing The 2023 Dealmakers of the Year Award Winners
Hundreds of millions of dollars have been channeled to the 2023 Smart Business Dealmakers Dealmaker of the Year Awards honorees. But raising funds is not all this year's class of entrepreneurs have
May 26, 2023
The Inaugural Cleveland Dealmakers Hall of Fame Class Sets The Stage
Welcome the inaugural class for the Cleveland Dealmakers Hall of Fame! This group of dealmakers has made an often-groundbreaking impact on their organizations, industries and the Northeast Ohio region
May 26, 2023
Stifel Financial Corp.'s Greg Urban On The Mixed M&A Market and Its Culprits
Confidence in the macro environment is a significant driver of M&A activity in this uneven market, says Stifel Financial Corp Managing Director Greg Urban. "The availability of equity capital —
May 19, 2023
Biju Kulathakal On Launching Halo, Fundraising
Halo Investing is a platform for structured notes or, as the company's Co-Founder and CEO Biju Kulathakal puts it, defined outcome investing. "It's a financial product that's a $3 trillion market
May 19, 2023
Sellers Should Be Clear About What They Want In A Deal
Gridiron Capital Managing Director Joe Saldutti says, as a private equity investor, what attracts him to businesses and helps him prioritize investing in one company versus another is when it's a
May 19, 2023
Renewed Focus On Estate Tax As Law Reverts
The landscape of estate tax planning is set to undergo a significant change in the coming years, as the estate tax exemption is set to revert to pre-2018 levels at the end of 2025. This means that
May 19, 2023
Whether buying or selling, alignment is key
Investors have had a lot to process recently — COVID bumps in their portfolio companies, whether positive or negative; supply chain issues; inflation impacting working capital, to name a few. While
May 19, 2023
Whether buying, selling or raising capital, timing is everything
When it comes to capital opportunities, timing, says Foro Capital Markets Managing Director, CFO and Chief Compliance Officer Mike Marr, can be everything. In December of ‘21, the company raised some
May 12, 2023
Estate Tax Planning Considerations for Contemplated M&A Transactions
The landscape of estate tax planning is set to undergo a significant change in the coming years, as the estate tax exemption is set to revert to pre-2018 levels at the end of 2025. This means that
May 12, 2023
Porter Road's Path To Changing The World
"Originally, when (co-founder) Chris (Carter) and I went out, we had $50 suits that we got at Goodwill and we had a crazy idea, which was opening a high-end butcher shop in East Nashville. At the time, and traditionally, East Nashville wasn't a very wealthy neighborhood. It was a very working class, rougher area. Most banks and financing people didn't see the opportunity that was going to happen." - Porter Road Co-Founder James Peisker on why banks hesitated to fund the company and how capital and ideas from VC and PE led to its remarkable growth.
May 12, 2023
Demystifying Alternative Capital Sources
It's very hard to get into a PE fund, says Datassential Inc. CEO Jim Emling. In order to do the kind of work he does within private equity, typically a person would have to have sold to their business
May 12, 2023
Best Practices in Preparing for a Sale
As business owners begin preparing their company for sale, something to consider is how much time it would take to fix a problem if one is found. "The way we thought about it is, what are the things
May 5, 2023
Facing Economic Headwinds, Deal Math Changes
Several area dealmakers chimed in on how they see the current market; how buyers, sellers and entrepreneurs are faring; and their expectations for how the remainder of the deal year plays out. Check out what they have to say.
May 5, 2023
Protecting The Value Of 2021 Deals In A Much Different Market
Aon's Jessica Harger on issues buyers are facing after a year of fast-paced deals.
May 5, 2023
Baltimore Business Leaders See An Economy of Both Ups And Downs
Mahogany Inc.'s Jeff Hargrave, Acme Paper & Supply Co.'s Andy Attman, MacKenzie, Commercial Real Estate Services' Owen Rouse, Jr., and FNB Corp.'s Mac Tisdale share anecdotes from their experiences on the front lines and observations of trends during this choppy economy.
May 5, 2023
How Communication Breakdowns Can Kill Deals
CE Consulting Group's Gary Cerrone spoke during the Smart Business Dealmakers Conference about a deal that almost didn't get done in part because of a communication breakdown.
April 26, 2023
What TRG's Sean Kennedy Learned Making Two Foreign Acquisitions
TRG's Sean Kennedy on the company's growth, the differences between its domestic and international acquisitions, as well as the process of integrating teams that come from much different cultures.
April 26, 2023
Hall of Fame Roundtable Weighs In On Today's Deal Challenges
Valenti Capital's Sam Valenti III, along with MSX International's Fred Minturn, BELLE Michigan Impact Fund's Carolyn Cassin, and BDO Consulting Group's Robert Berdanier share their view on the current M&A climate.
April 26, 2023
The 180° Turn of M&A Conditions
Gavin Slader, head of the investment bank for JMP, a Citizens company, offers his state of M&A — an overview of the conditions dealmakers are facing and predictions for how the 2023 deal year finishes up.
April 26, 2023
Deal Pulse: It's the best of times and the worst of times
The domestic M&A market is in a state of great disparity. Valuations from buyers receded to pre-pandemic levels while sellers continue to expect the lofty valuations seen in the latter portion of 2020
April 21, 2023
Sellers Must Believe In Their Projections
Foundation Wellness CEO Sean Williams on message control and the importance of believing in what you're selling.
April 21, 2023
The Importance Of A Good First Impression
Blank Rome's Louis Rappaport on best practices for gaining the upper hand in deals done in a highly competitive environment.
April 21, 2023
How Redback's Famous IPO Almost Wasn't
Dennis Barsema on his experience with Redback, the issue that almost prevented him from taking the company public, and how his path eventually led him to teaching future entrepreneurs.
April 21, 2023
Finding Opportunity In Disruption
Defiant Capital Group Founder Jonathan Dane on launching the firm, his perspective on how the investor mindset has changed over the years since, and offers tips on post-business investment life.
April 14, 2023
Deal Pulse: Best of times, worst of times
The domestic M&A market is in a state of great disparity. Valuations from buyers receded to pre-pandemic levels while sellers continue to expect the lofty valuations seen in the latter portion of 2020
April 14, 2023
The Deal Environment In Turbulent Times
Accel International Holdings' Tony Oh, Boston Celtics Co-Owner Rob Hale, and Citizens' David Dunstan and Jerry Sargent on what CEOs are saying about today’s climate for dealmaking and their experiences on the front lines.
April 14, 2023
How to get a FAIR deal
MATH Venture Partners' Mert Iseri and Mark Achler, along with UBS's James Jack and Ryan Wood, on the valuable personal lessons they've learned over several successful exits.
April 14, 2023
Identifying Gaps In Charlotte’s Startup Scene
Innovate Charlotte Managing Director Juan Garzón on his perspective on the Charlotte startup scene — its strengths, its gaps, and the progress it's made ... and still needs to make.
April 6, 2023
Hugh Slater on Buying, Building And Selling EGC Enterprises
Slater Capital Managing Partner Hugh Slater on buying, building and growing EGC Enterprises.
April 6, 2023
Raising Capital Requires Warm Relationships
TCARE Co-Founder Ali Ahmadi on the company, its growth and the lessons he's learned about raising capital.
April 6, 2023
Changing Deal Conditions Require Buyer, Seller Adjustments
Babst Calland Attorney at Law Kevin Wills on how deals are being affected by economic headwinds and what both buyers and sellers are doing to keep deals flowing.
April 6, 2023
Suzanne Yoon On Launching Kinzie Capital Partners
Kinzie Capital Partners Founder and Managing Partner Suzanne Yoon on launching the firm.
March 31, 2023
The Importance Of Knowledgeable CFOs In Deals
TalentLaunch's Matt Lyon and Resilience Capital Partners' Bassem Mansour on post-acquisition integration and how the CFO role plays a part in making sure the deal pays off.
March 31, 2023
Five elements to achieve best in class business status
Barnes Wendling Director Mike Pappas on the key elements to achieving best in class and how it increases company value.
March 31, 2023
How To Smooth Out The Deal Backend From The Frontend
Priiva Consulting Corporation's Bill Forquer and Stewart Title Group's Sean Stoner on best practices designed to create a smoother process and more successful deals.
March 31, 2023
Facing Headwinds, Buyers and Sellers Need To Be Patient
Norwest Equity Partners' Adam Garcia Eveloff, Aon's Vipul Patel, Wealth Enhancement Group's Jim Cahn and NJK Holding Corporation Florida's Rhonda Donahoe on navigating evolving deal terms and pitfalls in buy-side deals.
March 31, 2023
Sylvester Hester On Partnership And Job Creation When Launching LM Manufacturing
LM Manufacturing President and CEO Sylvester Hester on launching the business, how the opportunity came about and the importance of being a job creator in Detroit
March 24, 2023
FHN Facilitates Service for Underbanked Consumers
Jennifer Tescher on her company’s investments strategies and goals for assisting their partners during harsh economic times.
March 24, 2023
Working Capital’s Vital Role in M&A
Tony Montanaro, partner in the forensic, litigation & valuation department at Louis Plung & Company, on working capital’s role in an M&A transaction.
March 24, 2023
Faris Ghawi On Vytalize's $100M Raise
Vytalize CEO and co-founder Faris Ghawi, along with Chief Marketing Officer Matt Buder Shapiro, on the company's big raise, how they'll apply it, the growth its perpetuating and what comes next.
March 24, 2023
Capital As An Accelerant
RallyBright Founder and CEO John Estafanous on founding his first company and how that has informed building the second, what he learned selling that first business, his experience raising capital, and the importance of connecting with the right investors.
March 24, 2023
Viewing Risk Deal By Deal
U.S. Venture Inc. Associate General Counsel Jennifer Schwitzer on mitigating deal risk.
March 24, 2023
How Buyers Leverage Weaknesses In A Deal
Guardian Capital Partners Managing Partner Peter Haabestad on the ways buyers pick apart deals and how business owners can maximize the opportunity of a sale.
March 17, 2023
Selling means more than just money
Marcum LLP Senior Partner Greg Skoda on why money might not be the most important part of a deal.
March 17, 2023
Andrew Bennett on Provide's Sale To Fifth Third Bank
Provide Chief Business Officer Andrew Bennett spoke on the Smart Business Dealmakers Podcast about Provide's sale to Fifth Third.
March 17, 2023
How preparing to sell your company is like a bike ride with friends
Justine E. Tobin, founder and managing partner of Tobin & Company Investment Banking Group, on how starting with the end in mind can maximize a sale opportunity and speed up the process.
March 17, 2023
Sellers Sharpen Their Pencils Looking For The Right Transaction In 2023
Brightstar Capital Partners Principal Jacob Herschend, along with Wallis Companies CEO Anson Scoville and CIBC Cleary Gull Director Brian Howley, kicked off the 2023 St. Louis Smart Business Conference talking about the climate for sell-side M&A transactions in 2023 and how it might impact deals
March 16, 2023
FOLX Health Looks to Expand
CEO Liana Douillet Guzmán on raising capital in frothy times versus during a return-to-normal environment.
March 16, 2023
Luck, Likeability and Respect Go A Long Way
Alto’s Eric Satz discusses how his company is democratizing access to alternative assets and attracting investors along the way.
March 10, 2023
Cleveland Deal Pulse: The Role of the Rollover
MelCap Partners David Shibley looks at trends and deals in the Northeast Ohio M&A market over the month of February.
March 10, 2023
Pittsburgh Deal Pulse: The Role of the Rollover
MelCap Partners David Shibley looks at trends and deals in the Greater Pittsburgh M&A market over the month of February.
March 10, 2023
No "Risky Bets" When Investing In CEOs
The Edgewater Funds Senior Partner David Tolmie on what he looks for in an executive, investment red flags, preparing for exits and negotiating deal terms.
March 10, 2023
Data, Transparency Play Large Roles In A Deal
Highwood USA CEO and Founder John Quarmley talks through the company's recent sale process.
March 3, 2023
Columbus Deal Pulse: Positive Trends During Turbulent Times
The Central Ohio M&A market realized a modest decline in deal volume of 20 percent during January 2023 compared to January 2022. Still, several noteworthy transactions occurred in Central Ohio during the month.
March 3, 2023
How Ascent Solution Managed A Change In Business Model And Ownership
Ascent Solutions' Chairman and CEO JD Harris on the firm's ownership transition as well as the switch that was made in its business model.
March 3, 2023
The Consequences Of A Shifting Market
Co-Founder and CEO of Sensorium Therapeutics Dick Simon on the company's mission and its search for the right investors.
March 3, 2023
Overcome Buy-Side Arrogance, Or Risk Overpaying
Atlas Holdings Partner Ramzi Hermiz and Lorient Capital Vice President Doug Shinkle on de-risking a deal from the buy-side.
March 3, 2023
The Three-Phase Set Up of Society Brands' Success
Society Brands CEO Michael Sirpilla on financing business growth.
February 24, 2023
Sellers Be Ready
Summit Fire & Security Regional VP Steve DeJohn on the signs that a company is ready for a sale.
February 24, 2023
Borrowing Against IP
Mark Fox, managing partner at Ghost Tree Partners, and Joseph Rossi, AVP, Aon Intellectual Property Solutions at Aon, on methods for lending against a company's IP.
February 24, 2023
Earn Out Can Be A Dirty Word
Paul Stillmank, former CEO of 7Summits, on earn outs — when they're useful and when they should be avoided.
February 24, 2023
VendEngine Revs Up Revenue Prior to Sale
Silas Deane on his company, VendEngine, Inc.,which created a way to improve the process of gifting money to inmates and later sold the company for $83 million.
February 24, 2023
Is The Sky Falling In 2023?
3 Rivers Capital's Rob Carskadden, Continuim Equity Partners' George Pilafas, Metz Lewis Brodman Must O'Keefe's John Lewis and SDI Companies' Scott Kiger offer their predictions on what changes occurring in 2023 will be the most impactful.
February 24, 2023
Lifting Lucy Creates Opportunities for BIWOC
Tranice Watts created Lifting Lucy when she was in her early twenties, working in an industry not known for much diversity. Watts, the first Black woman to co-own and operate a craft brewery in the state of Maryland, was on a subcommittee of the Craft Brewers Conference (CBC). She noticed an area where people could do proposals for diversity, equity and inclusion. Lifting Lucy has since grown into a network of businesses, organizations, and philanthropists serious about disrupting the barriers of entry and major hindrances toward the progress for Black, Indigenous, and other Women of Color (BIWOC) in the brewing industry.
February 24, 2023
Hirewell's Matt Massucci Is Ready For The Next Challenge
Hirewell CEO Matt Massucci on the company's post-capital-raise growth, acquisitions, and how these changes are affecting the company.
February 17, 2023
Positive Trends During Turbulent Times
Private equity fundraising, driven by an increase in capital from private investors, has remained near historic highs. However, private equity groups will also be tasked with balancing the challenges of securing debt capital as credit tightens.
February 17, 2023
Are You Emotionally Prepared To Sell?
Windsor Advisory Group Partner Jon Eesley on the personal toll an M&A sales process can take, how to emotionally prepare for an event, and where to get objective advice.
February 17, 2023
Digital Health Frenzy Propelled SteadyMD
Guy Friedman is a Co-Founder and serves as Chief Executive Officer and President at SteadyMD, a B2B telehealth infrastructure provider that enables telehealth patient experiences in all 50 states. He spoke on the Dealmakers Podcast about how he built SteadyMD as a direct-to-consumer offering, but quickly realized it’s value to other businesses.
February 10, 2023
Avoid Just-In-Time Raises By Planning Ahead
IRA record keeping and technology solutions provider IRALOGIX has raised an $11 million expansion of its Series B in 2021 and $22 million Series C in 2022. Founding Partner Joe Hipsky spoke on the Smart Business Dealmakers Podcast about those raises and some things, looking back, he might do differently.
February 10, 2023
Halo Investing Brings Structured Notes to the Masses
Halo’s vision and execution has propelled it to one of the top FinTechs in the U.S. That success also allowed it to easily raise capital to further its long-term goal of making structured notes accessible for just one dollar. Jason Barsema, co-founder and president, joined the Deamlamers Podcast to talk about how they built the company to where it is today and what we can expect in the future.
February 10, 2023
Sanjay Singh On The Critical 100 Days Post-Acquisition
Sanjay Singh, before he was chairman and CEO of Mace Security International, lead a business in the acquisition of a lower-middle-market manufacturing company that was a fierce competitor. That made post-deal integration a challenge.
February 10, 2023
In Fundraising, Reputation Matters
Lucid Technologies Founder and CEO Andrew Ashur on launching the business and how his fundraising process has evolved along the way.
February 10, 2023
Bill Yoh On Adding Structure To The Family Business
Day & Zimmerman Co-Owner Bill Yoh on how to have the tough conversations necessary to have a thriving family business for generations.
February 3, 2023
Tom Goodmanson On Calabrio's Two Transactions
Tom Goodmanson, former CEO of Calabrio, spoke on the Smart Business Dealmakers Podcast about the KKR transaction and the Thoma Bravo transaction that would follow, what each was like, how he prepared and what the future holds for the business.
February 3, 2023
Optimism For A Return To Normal Pervades In M&A For 2023
Dave Dunstan spoke on the Smart Business Dealmakers Podcast about the survey results and the expectation among buyers and sellers for the 2023 deal year.
February 3, 2023
Functional Fluidics Looks To Expand Market For Unique Platform
Functional Fluidics CEO Patrick Hines spoke on the Smart Business Dealmakers Podcast about his company, its progress and fundraising.
February 3, 2023
ChromoCare's Hugh Cathey On Lessons That Shaped His Career
In a more personal interview, Hugh Cathey, CEO of ChromoCare, a genetics testing firm, spoke on Smart Business SmartTalk about his successes and missteps, who and what helped shape his career, what motivates him and more.
January 27, 2023
DealTalk: Blue Point Capital’s Acquisition of Water Lilies
Blue Point Capital has a lot of experience in the food and beverage space, so it was natural that the Cleveland-based PE firm would jump at the chance to acquire Water Lilies, a 27-year-old private label manufacturer of premium frozen Asian-inspired food.
January 27, 2023
Tough Decisions In Family-Led Businesses
Herschend Family Entertainment started in 1960 in Branson, Missouri by Jacob Herschend's grandparents. They leased a cave and made it available for tours. As it increased in popularity, they built
January 27, 2023
Serial Entrepreneur Gabriela Isturiz Turns Investor with The Fund XX
Serial entrepreneur and early-stage investor Gabriela Isturiz, who founded two high-growth technology companies that she sold to Fortune 500 companies, recently co-founded The Fund XX, which makes
January 27, 2023
The Shift In Diligence From Risk to Reward
West Monroe Senior Partner Keith Campbell is a co-author of the report, The Future of Diligence in Private Equity, which highlights survey findings from 100 U.S. PE companies to explore the shifts in diligence approach that move away from identifying risk to identifying opportunity. That shift is happening in part because of unique market factors. Campbell says 80 percent or more of diligence used to be on site pre-COVID.
January 27, 2023
The Impact Of Tax Structuring On A Deal
There have been times when tax issues had significant implications on deals for David Bovenizer, CEO of Lionheart Industrial Group LLC. Recently, he says, his company was trying to acquire a strategic target in the aerospace and defense sector. It was a good strategic match for the business, but the company had a lot of the hallmarks of a smaller company, including a lack of tax planning. It was a single individual owner C-corp, which meant there were fewer structuring options for a deal. And they also had issues such as a history expensing all their purchases and no inventory accounted for on the books.
January 20, 2023
STAQ Pharma Expands Operations to Columbus
STAQ Pharma recently raised an estimated $45 Million of Series C venture funding to build a $70 million facility on the West side of Columbus, which will add 300 jobs to the area. Its 503B Outsourcing Facility will produce compounded medications under the Current Good Manufacturing Process (cGMP) quality system, a Federal Drug Administration (FDA) standard. CEO Joe Bagan sat down with Smart Business Network to discuss the capital raises and the new, much larger facility being built in Columbus.
January 20, 2023
The Dos and Don’ts in Today’s M&A Landscape
Chuck Morton, Partner, Venable LLP, has been recognized for decades as one of best middle-market deal lawyers in the United States. During his time as an M&A attorney, he’s seen business leaders make some excellent choices and some not-so-brilliant decisions. He sat down for a discussion on the Smart Business Dealmakers Podcast to elaborate.
January 20, 2023
Cleveland Deal Pulse: Earnouts Increase In Popularity
Earnouts can align buyer and seller interests, incentivizing sellers to stick around post-sale to realize an economic benefit from the continued success of the business. Increasingly, they're being used to align total deal value to the ongoing performance of the business in a period of uncertainty, says Carter Hatina, an analyst with MelCap Partners, LLC.
January 20, 2023
Jared Paquette Examines His Firm With The Eyes Of An Investor
After 20 years working in private equity, Jared Paquette recently struck out on his own, launching Conanicut Capital, a PE firm focused on the lower middle-market. "I went to a great lower-middle-market firm for about 10 years. And what I found in going to the lower middle market is you get much closer to the founders and the owners of businesses," he says. "Some of the best deals that I've been a part of are ones in which you're really working as the first institutional pool of capital."
January 20, 2023
Debbie Gordon On Maximizing Her Time During Fundraising
Cloud Range is a cyber security company helping large organizations proactively prepare for cyberattacks. In an environment in which cybersecurity attacks are increasing significantly, CEO Debbie
January 13, 2023
Lance Hill On How To Think About Capital Raises
Within3 Founder and CEO Lance Hill on what to consider when raising capital.
January 13, 2023
Preparing For A Sale When You're A Social Entrepreneur
Founder and former CEO of Union Packaging Michael K. Pearson on selling his company and preparing for life after a sale.
January 13, 2023
Deal Pulse Pittsburgh: Earnouts Increase In Popularity
Given today’s challenging economic environment, earnouts will likely remain an important feature in M&A deals.
January 13, 2023
With SmartWitness, Business Liability Tool Turns Into $200M Return For Nick Merchef
Nick Mirchef and his son-in-law, Chris Pflanz, went through the trails and tribulations of early-stage capital raises with their company SmartWitness and found a big payday at the end of it all. Today, they’re offering others advice using their experience as a guide.
January 6, 2023
Rocco DiLillo On His M&A Legacy
Rocco DiLillo on the many businesses he's built, bought and sold, and offers advice to entrepreneurs looking to experience similar successes.
January 6, 2023
In M&A, it's no longer Hungry Hungry Hippos. It's Risk.
The Chartis Group Director - PE Advisory Practice Leader Eric Mayeda on how the economic conditions are changing buyer behavior and what that means for sellers.
January 6, 2023
Trust But Verify Is An Important M&A Lesson To Learn
Eliassen Group CEO David MacKeen on what he's learned as a buyer and how he's applied that the company's acquisition process moving forward.
January 6, 2023
So You Want To Invest In Cannabis ...
Scot Crowe, a governing board member at Dickinson Wright and head of the law firm's private equity practice, on the latest trends in the red-hot cannabis industry.
January 6, 2023
Airspace Link Creates Drone Navigation Highway
In four short years, Detroit startup Airspace Link went from a couple founders and a few employees to recently raising $23 million in a Series B to aid its global expansion. It started with a $100,000 convertible note, a $3 million pre-seed, a $10 million Series A and now the global expansion raise. Michael Healander, co-founder, president and CEO, is a drone pilot enthusiast who envisions the positive impact drones could provide to economies and quality of life. His company is creating a roadmap in the sky for drones of all types and sizes.
December 16, 2022
Deal Pulse Pittsburgh: M&A Key To Corporate Strategies Despite Uncertainty
Rising inflation and interest rates, as well as a looming recessionary period, continue to be top-of-mind for dealmakers. The economic uncertainty caused by these issues has led to modest M&A volatility. However, valuations for high-quality businesses remain lofty.
December 16, 2022
The Importance To Buyers Of High Probability Of Close
Mereo Capital Partners Co-Founder Leo Helmers on the indicators of a high probability to close and why those matter to buyers.
December 16, 2022
What To Consider When Raising Debt
Cequel III Vice President Mike Pizzella, Jr., former CEO of StayLock Storage on current trends in financing business growth — including debt-based financing — and how to best leverage financial tools for different stages of your business lifecycle.
December 16, 2022
Entrepreneur Focus: Jennifer Tescher
Financial Health Network President and CEO Jennifer Tescher on her company, its mission and the challenges it faces.
December 16, 2022
Cleveland Deal Pulse: M&A Key To Corporate Strategies Despite Uncertainty
Rising inflation and interest rates, as well as a looming recessionary period, continue to be top-of-mind for dealmakers. The economic uncertainty caused by these issues has led to modest M&A volatility. However, valuations for high-quality businesses remain lofty.
December 16, 2022
Boon Logic Offers Silicon Valley Opportunity in Minnesota
Boon Logic, developer of machine-learning based anomaly detection algorithm, is completing its second funding round over the last four years with a nearly $40 million pre-money valuation to support the commercialization of two disruptive services. CEO Grant Goris sat down with the Smart Business Podcast team to discuss how is company was born, how it has grown, and what he’s learned about raising capital along the way.
December 9, 2022
Chris Whelan On Selling Health Express Urgent Care
Health Express Urgent Care Owner Chris Whelan on selling his business to South Shore Health System.
December 9, 2022
Value Proposition Tops List In Battery Solutions' Deal Prep
Battery Solutions CFO Craig Fishel on preparing for his company's sale earlier this year to Retriev Technologies.
December 9, 2022
Dr. Shante P. Williams Learns From The Past To Build Black Pearl Global Investments
Black Pearl Global Investments CEO Dr. Shante P. Williams on what she's learned launching several businesses, and how her most recent venture, Black Pearl Global Investments, is making an impact on underserved communities.
December 9, 2022
Reasons To Consider A Family Office
Walnut Ridge CEO and Managing Partner Mike Moran on the pros and cons for sellers partnering with a family office, how family offices differ from other options, and what life is like for owners post-transaction.
December 9, 2022
Plenty Of Prep Helps Updox Accelerate Sale Timeline
Former Updox CEO Mike Morgan on building up Updox, the process of selling to EverCommerce, and why he chose to leave the company after the sale.
December 1, 2022
Flexibility Has Advantages In Deal Negotiations
Brian Gale, Tucker Ellis' Jayne Juvan and Blue Point Capital's Chip Chaikin, share advice on how flexibility can win deals over price.
December 1, 2022
To Win The Deal, Get Creative
Hartwood Point's Ben Rizzo, Continuim Equity Partners’ George Pilafas and RDX/Navisite’s Buddy Flerl on best practices in winning the deal.
