From Pokemon Cards to Gyms: Ujwal Velagapudi’s Journey to Serial Acquisition Entrepreneur

In this episode of the Small Business Mentor podcast, Alan Pentz is joined by Ujwal Velagapudi, a serial acquisition entrepreneur. They explore Ujwal’s journey from selling Pokemon cards in high school to completing fourteen acquisitions. Tune in to discover his unique approach to buying businesses, his thoughts on valuations, and his advice for budding entrepreneurs.

Ujwal’s professional career began in supply chain management in the aerospace and automotive manufacturing industries, which he left to pursue his entrepreneurial ventures full-time. With over ten years of entrepreneurial acquisition and operational experience, Ujwal has completed fourteen acquisition or sale transactions and learned priceless lessons along the way. He currently owns UV Holdings, HiByron, and Second Phase.If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.

Quotes:

• "So I came from a very different path through buying stuff off of Craigslist and just kind of hustling and really learning the more professional side of things today. Only in the last couple of years interacting with more proper buyers, professional buyers in the PE world and the banking world. I didn't know what a searcher was till I was on a date with a girl". 
• "So I'm thinking, OK, if the business is good, fundamentals are good. Should I just pay up? Should I just buy it?"
• "Everyone's looking for deal flow. Get on the phones, knock on some doors, go get some deal flow." 

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