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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...
By Dan Pender
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...
By Adam Burroughs
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...
By Adam Burroughs
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...
By Adam Burroughs
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....
By Adam Burroughs
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....
By Adam Burroughs
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....
By Adam Burroughs
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. ...
By Adam Burroughs
November 4, 2022
Dealmakers share their stories, evaluate the current deal market
At the Charlotte Smart Business Dealmakers Conference, a panel of C-suite executives, entrepreneurs, and an M&A financial adviser, led by moderator Greg Wilcox, a First National Bank Regional Manager, explored the state of the deal market and their respective organizational journeys amid a tightening interest- rate cycle, persistently high inflation, and challenging economic conditions....
By Adam Burroughs
October 14, 2022
When Acquiring an ESOP, Get ESOP Expert Help
Warren Equity Partners' Michael Ouyang on the process his firm takes when targeting companies that have an ESOP ownership structure....
By Adam Burroughs
September 15, 2022
CreativeCo Capital finds early success through data-driven outreach
CreativeCo Capital's Ashley Gautreaux on the progress her firm has been able to make in a short time and why. ...
By Adam Burroughs
August 19, 2022
Finding a sale at a crossroads
Fab Fours CEO Greg Higgs on his company's sale to Warn Industries and his post-deal plans. ...
By Adam Burroughs
July 22, 2022
How Relationships Brought Abatemaster and Plumb Line Capital Together
Plumb Line Capital's Matt Lindberg and Abatemaster's Jeff Chilton on the acquisition, growing a former family-operated business, and how relationships have played a role in every aspect of the deal. ...
By Adam Burroughs
June 22, 2022
Lessons learned from raising different types of capital
Stratifyd's Derek Wang on building Stratifyd, raising capital and growing his investor network. ...
By Adam Burroughs
May 26, 2022
How market changes helped Ascend ascend
Christine Nicodemus spoke on Ascend's acquisition by Aperture Education....
By Adam Burroughs
April 28, 2022
Capital alignment and speaking investors' languages
Amicus.io CEO and Co-Founder Cor Hoekstra, talks prior to the company's acquisition by TIFIN about attracting investors, differentiation, and what he sees as the future for the company. ...
By Adam Burroughs
April 8, 2022
Value Creation Throughout the Deal Lifecycle
RTC Partners' Tony Brindisi and Plumb Line Capital's Matt Lindberg, along with RSM's Steve Menaker and Luis Galarza, explain how they approach valuation creation, as well as current trends you can apply to your next deal....
By Adam Burroughs
March 11, 2022
Raising capital as a startup is about more than money
Rabbu CEO Emir Dukic talks about the process of raising capital and how he went about doing diligence on potential investors....
By Adam Burroughs
February 18, 2022
The growing concern of cyber security in deals
Moore & Van Allen's Todd Taylor, along with Aon's Michael Laskowitz, Greg Draddy and C.J. Dietzman, explore cyber security in M&A: asking the right questions, protecting data and IP, and making sure your company is ready for dealmaking....
By Adam Burroughs
January 21, 2022
Strong supply chains help sellers stand out
Woodforest National Bank's Julie Dargani, BDO's R.J. Romano and Chad Rash, along with Flywheel Greenville's Peter Marsh, discuss how supply chain and logistics issues affect such factors as valuations, the performance of portfolio companies, due diligence, negotiations, and even post-acquisition integration....
By Adam Burroughs
October 29, 2021
Factors affecting dealmaking today
Specialty Products & Insulation's Jon Perry, along with FNB Corp.’s Brad Jones and US Brick Holdings’ Mikee Johnson, talk about dealmaking in today’s market. ...
By Adam Burroughs
September 24, 2021
How M&A needs change throughout the lifecycle
MyEyeDr's David Sheffer along Falfurrias Capital Partners’ Chip Johnson, Pamlico Capital’s Jay Henry, Moore & Van Allen PLLC’s Rick Bange, and Frontier Growth‘s Richard MacLean explore how M&A needs change at different stages of a company’s lifecycle....
By Adam Burroughs
August 27, 2021
Nat Clarkson on the impact of investor moves downstream
CFV Ventures Managing Partner Nat Clarkson on what he’s seeing at the seed stage, and how firms at his level may look to adjust their strategies if larger firms became a player in the mix....
By Adam Burroughs
July 21, 2021
Forest2Market’s Pete Stewart says know your buyer
Pete Stewart, president and CEO of Forest2Market; Scott Anderson, partner at Womble Bond Dickinson; and Jim Benedict, senior vice president/senior wealth strategist at PNC; explore how to de-risk, plan and execute a liquidity event. ...
By Adam Burroughs
June 25, 2021
There’s more to a deal than the money
Kevin McCarthy and Scott Buschmann talk about Kian Capital Partners' T Sportline deal and how they see the balance of 2021's M&A market playing out....
By Adam Burroughs
May 21, 2021
Louis Foreman on how IP strategy creates value
Enventys Partners CEO Louis Foreman CEO on where startups struggle, and how they find success....
By Adam Burroughs
April 23, 2021
David Longo on what he learned about his company during a process
David Longo, Chairman & CEO of CBI Workplace Solutions, founded the workplace solutions company 27 years ago, a venture that began with the end in mind....
By Adam Burroughs
March 12, 2021
Jeff Dudan’s questions before investment
Jeff Dudan on what he looks for in investment opportunities....
By Adam Burroughs
February 12, 2021
Dan Roselli talks COVID vs VCs
Dan Roselli talks about the effect of COVID on early-stage investments fundamentals, the eagerness (or timidity) of capital, and the sectors with early-stage businesses that are attracting the most investor interest....
By Adam Burroughs
January 22, 2021
Raise capital, gain market validation with crowdfunding, says Louis Foreman
Louis Foreman, CEO, Enventys Partners talks about product innovation, raising capital, recent patent activity trends and the commonalities among his 15 clients who appeared on the TV show Shark Tank....
By Adam Burroughs
December 4, 2020
PNC Wealth’s Jim Benedict on navigating post-election tax environment
PNC Wealth Management’s Jim Benedict dives into wealth planning strategies business owners should consider heading into a transaction, as well as common issues they tend to overlook....
By Adam Burroughs
October 30, 2020
M&A Roundtable: A Culture of Acquisitions
Capitala Investment Advisors LLC Chairman and CEO Joe Alala; AmWINS Group Inc. COO Ben Sloop; LendingTree Founder, Chairman and CEO Doug Lebda; and Executive Vice President and Charlotte Regional President of FNB Corp. Brad Jones, offer their insights into the challenging M&A market....
By Adam Burroughs
