• 1 hour 25 minutes
    The Origin Story of a Compounder ($80m and Counting)

    Greg Shapiro & Zach Cooper-Vastola are building a long-term, compounding business they see as the anti-PE of the trades.

    Register for the webinar:
    Franchising for the ETA Buyer: Resales, Roll-Ups, and Real Deals - TODAY - https://bit.ly/49sKF4H


    Topics in Greg and Zach’s interview:

    • Founders combined technical and financial expertise
    • Shifted from SaaS to long-term ownership
    • Acquired century-old Manhattan HVAC company
    • High cost and complexities of New York market
    • Avoided SBA limits to scale acquisitions
    • What “Anti-PE” means to them
    • Digitization takes longer than you think
    • Living lean on low salaries
    • Predicting HVAC roll-up market shakeout ahead
    • Influence and investment from Will Thorndike

    References and how to contact Greg and Zach:

    Get a complimentary IT audit for acquisition diligence or post-close transition.

    The ecosystem for serious acquisition entrepreneurs—education, capital, community, and post-close support to buy and grow a business:

    Get complimentary due diligence on your acquisition's insurance & benefits program:

    Connect with Acquiring Minds:

    Edited by Anton Rohozov and produced by Pam Cameron

    4 June 2026, 7:00 am
  • 1 hour 46 minutes
    Started as SBA Searcher, Built to a PE Fund

    The first business Joe Wechsler bought had $280k of SDE. Seven years later, he runs a fund with $50m of buying power.

    Register for the webinar: 

    Topics in Joe’s interview:

    • Background in management consulting
    • Inspired by Rich Dad Poor Dad to own assets
    • Joining an early cohort of the Acquisition Lab
    • Searching is more fun with a partner
    • First deal died 10 days before closing
    • Discovering employees had never been paid overtime
    • Total office staff turnover in first 4 months
    • Acquiring 4 diverse businesses
    • Launching a $25M equity fund with 5 partners
    • It’s all about the people

    References and how to contact Joe:

    Get a free review of your books & financial ops from System Six (a $500 value):

    Download the New CEO’s Guide to Human Resources from Aspen HR:

    Work with an SBA loan team focused exclusively on helping entrepreneurs buy businesses:

    Connect with Acquiring Minds:

    Edited by Anton Rohozov and produced by Pam Cameron

    1 June 2026, 7:00 am
  • 1 hour 23 minutes
    Buying $1.5m of Earnings Without an SBA Loan

    As a South African in the US, Justus Luttig had to get creative to search then buy 2 trades businesses at the same time.

    Register for the webinar: 

    Topics in Justus’s interview: 

    • Growing up on a cattle ranch in South Africa
    • Disillusioned with the venture capital bubble
    • Perception of white collar work as “the dream”
    • Meeting successful owners of blue-collar businesses
    • Big deal failure on his birthday
    • Structuring a deal without the SBA
    • Challenges of searching on an H1B visa
    • Merging an HVAC with a plumbing business
    • The magic happens when you leave your desk
    • Acquiring during the slow season

    References and how to contact Justus:

    The ecosystem for serious acquisition entrepreneurs—education, capital, community, and post-close support to buy and grow a business:

    Get complimentary due diligence on your acquisition's insurance & benefits program:

    Download the New CEO’s Guide to Human Resources from Aspen HR:

    Connect with Acquiring Minds:

    Edited by Anton Rohozov and produced by Pam Cameron

    28 May 2026, 7:00 am
  • 1 hour 33 minutes
    The Magic of Low Multiple + Growth

    David Graf went after a business that had sat on the market, acquiring $750k of EBITDA for 2.7x. It's going well.

    Register for the webinars: 

    Topics in David’s interview: 

    • Drive to earn money as a kid
    • Choosing to skip business school
    • Advantages of acquiring in Texas
    • Preparing his case to convince his wife
    • Working full time while searching
    • Growth is often underpriced
    • Wholesaling real estate he didn’t want
    • How to decide whether to keep an employee
    • Joining a group for manufacturing owners
    • Near-crisis days before closing

    References and how to contact David:

    Work with an SBA loan team focused exclusively on helping entrepreneurs buy businesses:

    Get a complimentary IT audit for acquisition diligence or post-close transition.

    Get a free review of your books & financial ops from System Six (a $500 value):

    Connect with Acquiring Minds:

    Edited by Anton Rohozov and produced by Pam Cameron

    25 May 2026, 7:00 am
  • 1 hour 55 minutes
    Rolling Up an Industry with 1.5x Multiples

    Truc Nguyen has acquired 2 nail salons, an overlooked but fragmented industry where businesses trade at low multiples.

    Register for the webinar:

    Topics in Truc’s interview:

    • Why she chose the nail salon industry
    • Her vision for a rollup
    • Analyzing a current nail salon business listing
    • Low multiples in the nail space
    • Bargaining power of good nail techs
    • Square footage and number of chairs matters
    • Documenting SOPs for her first salon
    • Staffing a 7-day-a-week business
    • Creating a great company culture
    • The changing face of nail salons

    References and how to contact Truc:

    Get complimentary due diligence on your acquisition's insurance & benefits program:

    Work with an SBA loan team focused exclusively on helping entrepreneurs buy businesses:

    The ecosystem for serious acquisition entrepreneurs—education, capital, community, and post-close support to buy and grow a business:

    Connect with Acquiring Minds:

    Edited by Anton Rohozov and produced by Pam Cameron

    21 May 2026, 7:00 am
  • 1 hour 49 minutes
    The Origins and Future of a 9-Figure SMB Holdco

    Gant Elmore and Matt Moldenhauer each bought $2m businesses they built over years. Today their holdco does over $200m. 

    Register for the webinar:

    Topics in Matt & Gant’s interview:

    • 3 generations of acquisition entrepreneurs
    • Matt started as operator, became partner
    • Bain mentors warned Matt not to do ETA
    • Goal of owning 50 companies by 2050
    • Being the Ferrari in a price-competitive industry
    • Why they prefer holding to exiting
    • Challenge of giving control to an operator
    • Gant and his dad teach ETA together
    • War stories from small business operations
    • Demand exceeds supply of great businesses

    References and how to contact Matt & Gant:

    Download the New CEO’s Guide to Human Resources from Aspen HR:

    Get a free review of your books & financial ops from System Six (a $500 value):

    Get a complimentary IT audit for acquisition diligence or post-close transition.

    Connect with Acquiring Minds:

    Edited by Anton Rohozov and produced by Pam Cameron

    18 May 2026, 7:00 am
  • 1 hour 24 minutes
    Too Good to Be True: Year 1 in a $700k SDE Business

    Zack Mutnik thought he bought a $1.5m electrical contracting business for 2.3x. The numbers weren't what they seemed.

    Register for the webinar:

    Topics in Zack’s interview:

    • Learning leadership in the Navy
    • Managing chaos with ADHD
    • Undisclosed surprises after acquisition
    • Replacing 8/10 employees
    • Heavy emphasis on company culture
    • Deciding to change the business name
    • Training his employees to be independent
    • Growing revenue despite a rocky start
    • Marketing is not a quick fix
    • Finding employees in a rural market

    References and how to contact Zack:

    Get a complimentary IT audit for acquisition diligence or post-close transition.

    Download the New CEO’s Guide to Human Resources from Aspen HR:

    Get complimentary due diligence on your acquisition's insurance & benefits program:

    Connect with Acquiring Minds:

    Edited by Anton Rohozov and produced by Pam Cameron

    14 May 2026, 7:00 am
  • 1 hour 17 minutes
    How to Structure Around Risk in a $250k SDE Acquisition

    Alicia Powers wanted to buy a general contractor but understood the risks in such businesses and negotiated accordingly.

    Register for the webinar: 

    Topics in Alicia’s interview:

    • Air Force construction experience
    • Corporate job at an elevator company
    • Leading a shower remodeling startup
    • Layoff motivated her toward acquisition
    • Why franchising isn’t for her
    • Acquiring a small construction business
    • Getting her general contractor license
    • Specializing in home additions/ADUs
    • Tailwinds in the San Diego area
    • Surprisingly long sales cycle

    References and how to contact Alicia:

    Get a free review of your books & financial ops from System Six (a $500 value):

    The ecosystem for serious acquisition entrepreneurs—education, capital, community, and post-close support to buy and grow a business:

    Work with an SBA loan team focused exclusively on helping entrepreneurs buy businesses:

    Connect with Acquiring Minds:

    Edited by Anton Rohozov and produced by Pam Cameron

    11 May 2026, 7:00 am
  • 1 hour 23 minutes
    Buying Small to Build for the Long Term ($300k SDE)

    Brendan Duebner's goal is to build a healthy, long-term business of 20-40 people. Buying a $1.2m MSP was his first step.

    Topics in Brendan’s interview:

    • Learning to lead in the Army
    • Summer internship with Josh Medow
    • Cold calling is unpleasant but effective
    • Living and acquiring in the Bay Area
    • Working in the business before closing
    • Signs of seller integrity
    • 85% seller note with no personal guarantee
    • Implementing EOS himself
    • Choosing to only hire local
    • His mission of building a tribe

    References and how to contact Brendan:

    Work with an SBA loan team focused exclusively on helping entrepreneurs buy businesses:

    Get complimentary due diligence on your acquisition's insurance & benefits program:

    Download the New CEO’s Guide to Human Resources from Aspen HR:

    Connect with Acquiring Minds:

    Edited by Anton Rohozov and produced by Pam Cameron

    7 May 2026, 7:00 am
  • 1 hour 5 minutes
    A $800k Business to Start, $60m Portfolio Today

    Andrew Blazenko has made 6 acquisitions over the last ten years. Pairing businesses with operators is key to his model.

    Topics in Andrew’s interview:

    • Background as a business broker
    • Wanted the exit joy for himself
    • Danger of low barrier to entry
    • Finding great operators to run his businesses
    • Business acquisition requires reps
    • Executive in Residence program
    • Requiring operators to invest in the business
    • Difficulty of raising equity in Canada
    • Shipping costs as a natural moat
    • Living as a “gentleman of leisure” 

    References and how to contact Andrew:

    The ecosystem for serious acquisition entrepreneurs—education, capital, community, and post-close support to buy and grow a business:

    Get a complimentary IT audit for acquisition diligence or post-close transition.

    Get a free review of your books & financial ops from System Six (a $500 value):

    Connect with Acquiring Minds:

    Edited by Anton Rohozov and produced by Pam Cameron

    4 May 2026, 7:00 am
  • 1 hour 53 minutes
    Buying Then Losing a $2.1m HVAC Business

    Dan Burnside thought he got a great deal on an $800k SDE business. Instead he'd bought bad faith and years of struggle.

    Register for the webinar: 

    Topics in Dan’s interview:

    • Buying in a small, rural area
    • Discovering seller fraud after acquisition
    • Key employee leaves and starts competing business
    • Working to integrate himself into the community
    • HVAC techs resisted technology changes
    • Wife and kids unhappy in the new place
    • Getting his Master Mechanical Contractor license
    • Customers not paying their invoices
    • Hiring challenges in rural areas
    • Bankruptcy and his new AI venture

    References and how to contact Dan:

    Get complimentary due diligence on your acquisition's insurance & benefits program:

    Get a free review of your books & financial ops from System Six (a $500 value):

    The ecosystem for serious acquisition entrepreneurs—education, capital, community, and post-close support to buy and grow a business:

    Connect with Acquiring Minds:

    Edited by Anton Rohozov and produced by Pam Cameron

    30 April 2026, 7:00 am
  • More Episodes? Get the App