In this engaging episode, co-hosts Ayelet Shipley and Christian Hassold welcome Tom Shipley to share his journey of building and scaling businesses through acquisitions. He discusses the challenges and opportunities in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) present, emphasizing the importance of strategic thinking and relationship building. The conversation also explores partnership dynamics and the role of external partners in resolving conflicts. Tom highlights the power of acquisitions in overcoming business challenges and achieving growth, offering insights into the process of identifying and acquiring businesses.
Takeaways
Acquisitions can solve almost every business challenge.
Partnership dynamics often require external mediation.
Strategic thinking is crucial in M&A.
Building relationships is key to successful acquisitions.
Acquisitions offer a faster path to business growth.
Understanding seller motivation is essential in deals.
Partnership conflicts can hinder business progress.
Acquisitions can provide liquidity and strategic opportunities.
Chapters
00:46 Tom Shipley’s Path Into M&A
01:38 The First Acquisition That Changed Everything
05:34 Using Acquisitions to Solve Cash and Capability Gaps
08:28 Buy vs. Build: Rethinking Entrepreneurship
09:37 Seller Motivation and Why Deals Exist Everywhere
11:50 Organic Growth vs. Acquisition Math
13:41 Partnership Misalignment as a Growth Blocker
14:21 How M&A Can Resolve Partner Deadlock
19:26 Mergers as a Reset for Growth and Liquidity
28:40 The Valley of Despair for Mid-Market Founders
29:45 Buying the Next Chapter vs. Starting Over
31:50 Where to Find Acquisition Opportunities
37:49 Adding a Zero: Expanding the Mental Model
39:44 DealCon, Resources, and Community
Connect with Christian and Ayelet
Ayelet’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayelet-shipley-b16330149/
Christian’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hassold/
In/organic on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InorganicPodcast/featured
Connect with Tom Shipley
https://www.linkedin.com/in/t-shipley/
