What Private Equity Buyers Really Want in a Business
In this episode Jacob Oros interviews Eric Wicklant, partner at Spaceside Equity, about the firm’s private‑equity strategy for middle‑market manufacturing businesses. Spaceside targets companies with $50‑500 million in revenue, focusing on misaligned ownership structures where they can apply a 27‑tool value‑creation system split into a "fix" phase and a "build" phase. Wicklant emphasizes that 20% of the work is finding the right targets, while 80% is transforming them, citing a ten‑fold EBITDA increase at Opta Group as a flagship success. He also shares insights on the challenges of independent sponsorship versus institutional funds and the impact of macro factors like tariffs on deal opportunities.
Why Buyers Are Searching for Your Professional Service Business
In this episode Jacob Oros interviews Eric Brenner, a seasoned financial advisor who has completed 11‑12 acquisitions of wealth management, tax, and accounting firms. Brenner explains how the market has shifted from a handful of buyers to intense competition, driven...
Getting to a $10M Valuation
To walk away with $10 million after a sale, founders must target a pre‑tax valuation of roughly $15 million to cover capital gains, state taxes and transaction fees. The podcast episode outlines how companies can break through the revenue ceiling by decentralizing...
Build a Business That Sells Without You
In this episode of M&A Talk, host Jacob Oros interviews serial entrepreneur Travis Jameson, who has founded and exited a dozen businesses across tech, e‑commerce, SaaS, and health products. Jameson shares his core lesson for building a sellable company: make...
Avoid the Trap of Golden Handcuffs After You Sell
In this episode, Jacob Oros interviews serial entrepreneur James Gardner about his experience selling a manufacturing business and staying on as part of the acquiring company—a situation he describes as "golden handcuffs." Gardner shares how the post‑sale transition felt restrictive,...
M&A Earnouts for VC-Backed Companies
In this 30‑minute episode, the hosts break down how earnouts can bridge the valuation gap for VC‑backed companies during M&A transactions, emphasizing the need for solid legal structures rather than verbal promises. They walk listeners through the key clauses that...
