M&A Launchpad

Casey Minshew and Feras Moussa

Gain insights on acquiring, investing in, and selling profitable businesses in the lower to middle market. Whether you are a business owner, investor, or aspiring entrepreneur, The M&A Launchpad Podcast equips you with the knowledge and guidance to navigate the world of mergers and acquisitions. Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MALaunchpad Apply to be a guest: https://forms.gle/pqNb8xrzyFzVYxzq6 Join The M&A Launchpad Conference- https://www.malaunchpad.com/

  1. قبل ٣ ساعات

    How PE-Backed Companies Scale Fintech Revenue with Robert Checchia

    **Please note: There are periodic audio distortions.  Thank you for bearing with the tech glitches.  In this episode of the M&A Launchpad Podcast, hosts Casey Minshew and Feras Moussa sit down with Robert Checchia, CFO of Benzinga, to discuss what happens after private equity acquires a fast-growing media company and how leadership teams reposition businesses for long-term enterprise value. Robert shares how Benzinga evolved from a financial media platform into a fintech and data licensing company, why recurring revenue and sticky data products matter, and the operational playbook he uses when stepping into PE-backed businesses.  In This Episode We Discuss:  How Benzinga transitioned from financial media into a fintech and data licensing company  Robert’s 30-60-90-180 day CFO framework after joining a PE-backed acquisition  Why cash flow management and centralized data are critical after acquiring a business  The biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make when scaling and productizing companies  Guest Contact Info:  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/robert-g-checchia-cfa  Email: robert@benzinger.com or checchia.robert@gmail.com   Benzinga: https://www.benzinga.com  Additional Resources:  Equity Launchpad helps acquisition entrepreneurs, investors, and operators learn how to buy, scale, and grow businesses through strategic acquisitions. Explore educational resources, podcast episodes, and investment insights at https://www.equity-launchpad.com or contact Casey Minshew and Feras Moussa at info@equity-launchpad.com    About The M&A Launchpad: The M&A Launchpad provides insights into acquiring, investing in, and selling profitable businesses in the lower to middle market. Whether you are a business owner, investor, or aspiring entrepreneur, we will provide you with the knowledge, guidance, and capital to navigate the world of mergers and acquisitions. The M&A Launchpad presents a series of weekly podcast episodes and hosts an annual M&A Launchpad Conference tailored to the M&A community. Connect with M&A Launchpad: 🎧 Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0mW6i4ooujqC7eOPWmguU7 🎧 Podcast on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/m-a-launchpad/id1740382586 🎟️ Attend Upcoming M&A Launchpad Conference: http://malaunchpad.com/

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  2. ١٤ مايو

    Legal Mistakes that Kill Acquisitions with Fareed Kaisani

    In this episode of the M&A Launchpad Podcast, hosts Casey Minshew and Feras Moussa sit down with Fareed Kaisani of MW Law to discuss the legal side of buying businesses and the costly mistakes that can derail acquisitions. Fareed shares insights from working on lower middle market deals ranging from SBA-funded acquisitions to private equity rollups, including why buyers should engage counsel early, how working capital disputes kill deals, and why trying to save money on legal or QoE support can backfire.  In this podcast episode, we discuss:  • Why buyers should engage experienced M&A counsel before signing an LOI  • How working capital, holdbacks, escrows, and seller notes impact transactions  • The legal and financial mistakes that commonly blow up deals before closing  • Why AI-generated LOIs and “cheap” legal advice can create major problems for buyers  Guest Contact Info:  • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fareed-kaisani/  • Email: Fareed@MWFirm.com  Additional Resources:  • Thinking about buying a business? Connect with the Equity Launchpad team to learn more about acquisition entrepreneurship and upcoming opportunities.  • Contact Casey Minshew and Feras Moussa: info@equity-launchpad.com  • Explore more: https://www.equity-launchpad.com   About The M&A Launchpad: The M&A Launchpad provides insights into acquiring, investing in, and selling profitable businesses in the lower to middle market. Whether you are a business owner, investor, or aspiring entrepreneur, we will provide you with the knowledge, guidance, and capital to navigate the world of mergers and acquisitions. The M&A Launchpad presents a series of weekly podcast episodes and hosts an annual M&A Launchpad Conference tailored to the M&A community. Connect with M&A Launchpad: 🎧 Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0mW6i4ooujqC7eOPWmguU7 🎧 Podcast on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/m-a-launchpad/id1740382586 🎟️ Attend Upcoming M&A Launchpad Conference: http://malaunchpad.com/

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  3. ٢٣ أبريل

    Scaled a Business to $30M After a Brutal First Deal | Joe Van Deman

    He went from working at Google to driving trucks at 3AM after a brutal first acquisition—then turned those hard lessons into a business that scaled to nearly $30M.    Join us at the M&A Launchpad Conference on May 2, 2026 in Houston. Use code LAUNCH for $150 off. Get details: https://malaunchpad.com  Serious about buying a business? Start your acquisition journey here: https://equity-launchpad.com/invest-with-us/    In this episode of the M&A Launchpad Podcast, Casey Minshew and Ben Suttles sit down with Joe Van Deman of Circle City Capital Group to break down what it actually looks like to buy and operate small businesses.  After reviewing more than 1,200 deals, Joe and his partner acquired an overnight trucking business that looked great on paper but quickly became a grind of middle-of-the-night routes, missed drivers, and operational chaos. Instead of walking away, they stabilized it, grew it, and exited using that experience to reshape their entire strategy.  From there, they built a diversified portfolio across e-commerce, bookkeeping, and manufacturing, including scaling an American-made denim platform to nearly $30M in revenue. Their approach is simple: buy stable businesses, improve operations, and focus on long-term value, not hype.  In this episode, we discuss:  Reviewed over 1,200 businessesand still got the first deal wrong • Bought a “great on paper” business that had them driving trucks at 3 AM  • Doubled the business in year one and exited to a strategic buyer  • Scaled a niche denim manufacturing business from under $2M to ~$30M  • Built a portfolio by buying overlooked businesses most people ignore  Guest Contact Info:  Joe Van Deman  Email: joe@circlecitycapitalgroup.com  Website: https://circlecitycapitalgroup.com  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joevandeman/    Additional Resources:  Contact Casey Minshew, Ben Suttles and Feras Moussa at info@equitylaunchpad.com  https://www.equity-launchpad.com  About The M&A Launchpad: The M&A Launchpad provides insights into acquiring, investing in, and selling profitable businesses in the lower to middle market. Whether you are a business owner, investor, or aspiring entrepreneur, we will provide you with the knowledge, guidance, and capital to navigate the world of mergers and acquisitions. The M&A Launchpad presents a series of weekly podcast episodes and hosts an annual M&A Launchpad Conference tailored to the M&A community. Connect with M&A Launchpad: 🎧 Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0mW6i4ooujqC7eOPWmguU7 🎧 Podcast on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/m-a-launchpad/id1740382586 🎟️ Attend Upcoming M&A Launchpad Conference: http://malaunchpad.com/

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  4. ١٧ أبريل

    100 Days to Unlock Millions? How Sale-Leasebacks Work | Tyrell McGee

    Most investors leave millions locked inside their deals because they don’t understand how to turn real estate into usable capital through sale-leasebacks. Join us at the M&A Launchpad Conference on May 2, 2026 in Houston. Use code LAUNCH for $150 off. Get details: https://malaunchpad.com Looking to buy a business or scale through acquisition? Submit your information here: https://www.equity-launchpad.com In this episode of the M&A Launchpad Podcast, Casey Minshew sits down with Tyrell McGee, a commercial real estate expert specializing in sale-leaseback transactions. Ty shares how investors use real estate as a strategic tool to unlock capital, solve financing challenges, and accelerate growth. This conversation breaks down how sale-leasebacks work, when they make sense, and how operators, searchers, and private equity firms use them in real deals. From credit and EBITDA thresholds to lease structure and long-term risk, this episode gives a clear, practical look at one of the most powerful tools in M&A. In this episode, we discuss: What a sale-leaseback is and how it works in M&A How investors use real estate equity to fund acquisitions and growth A real-world example of solving a debt maturity using a sale-leaseback Minimum EBITDA and deal size thresholds that make deals viable How credit quality and operator strength impact deal structure The role of market rent and how lease rates are determined Risks of long-term lease obligations and overburdening the business When sale-leasebacks make sense for searchers vs private equity sponsors How to think about real estate as a strategic lever in acquisitions Guest Contact Info: Tyrell McGee Email: Tyrell.McGee@marcusmillichap.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyrellmcgee/ Additional Resources: Contact Casey Minshew and Feras Moussa: info@equitylaunchpad.com Explore more: https://www.equity-launchpad.com

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  5. ١٠ أبريل

    Infinite Banking for Business Buyers with Erica Neal

    In this episode of the M&A Launchpad Podcast, hosts Casey Minshew and Feras Moussa sit down with Erica Neal, an infinite banking practitioner, real estate investor, and acquisition entrepreneur. Erica breaks down how infinite banking works, how cash value life insurance can be used as a financial tool, and how she is applying these strategies to acquire and scale a CPA firm.    This episode connects liquidity strategy with deal execution, showing how entrepreneurs can build capital, protect assets, and deploy funds into acquisitions more efficiently.  In this episode, we discuss:  What infinite banking is and how it differs from traditional banking  How cash value whole life insurance functions as a private banking system  Borrowing against your policy while continuing to earn compound growth  Asset protection strategies and why policies act as a financial “vault”  Using life insurance to meet SBA liquidity and collateral requirements  Erica’s strategy for acquiring a CPA firm  The difference between buying a firm vs. a book of business  How she sourced deals using niche brokerage platforms  Negotiation dynamics including SBA delays and non-compete structuring  CPA firm valuation multiples and how timing impacted pricing  Using policy loans for down payments and maintaining control of capital  Turning your policy into a revolving source of capital for future deals  The role of masterminds and accountability in scaling a business  Guest Contact Information:  Email: erica@infinityinvestmentstrategies.com  Additional Resources:  Equity Launchpad – A platform for acquisition entrepreneurs, investors, and operators focused on buying and scaling businesses.  Explore more: https://www.equity-launchpad.com  Join us at the M&A Launchpad Conference on May 2, 2026 in Houston. This is a one-day, high-impact event focused on real deal execution. Use code LAUNCH for $150 off tickets: https://malaunchpad.com  Contact Casey Minshew and Feras Moussa: info@equity-launchpad.com  About The M&A Launchpad: The M&A Launchpad provides insights into acquiring, investing in, and selling profitable businesses in the lower to middle market. Whether you are a business owner, investor, or aspiring entrepreneur, we will provide you with the knowledge, guidance, and capital to navigate the world of mergers and acquisitions. The M&A Launchpad presents a series of weekly podcast episodes and hosts an annual M&A Launchpad Conference tailored to the M&A community. Connect with M&A Launchpad: 🎧 Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0mW6i4ooujqC7eOPWmguU7 🎧 Podcast on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/m-a-launchpad/id1740382586 🎟️ Attend Upcoming M&A Launchpad Conference: http://malaunchpad.com/

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  6. ٢ أبريل

    Why Most Business Deals Fall Apart | Drew Eckman

    In this episode of the M&A Launchpad Podcast, hosts Casey Minshew and Feras Moussa sit down with Drew Eckman, founder of SMB Loan Support. Drew shares his journey from M&A attorney to operator to advisor, and how he now helps acquisition entrepreneurs successfully finance and close deals.    They break down one of the most overlooked aspects of buying a business—structuring and financing—and why having the right team early can make or break your deal. Drew also dives into common mistakes buyers make, how lenders really think, and why working capital can quietly destroy an otherwise great acquisition.    If you're serious about buying a business, this episode is packed with real-world insight on how to actually get deals across the finish line.  In This Episode, We Discuss:  Why building the right deal team early is critical to closing successfully  The hidden risks in financing structures and how lenders actually evaluate deals  Working capital mistakes that can kill your business after closing  How to stand out in a competitive market when buying a business  Guest Contact Information  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drew-eckman-15918613/  Website: https://smbloansupport.co/  Additional Resources  Join us at the M&A Launchpad Conference on May 2, 2026 in Houston, Texas. Use code: LAUNCH for $150 off. Event details: https://www.malaunchpad.com/event/Houston2026/summary  Equity Launchpad – Resources, community, and support for acquisition entrepreneurs looking to buy, scale, and operate businesses. Website: https://www.equity-launchpad.com  Contact Casey Minshew and Feras Moussa: info@equity-launchpad.com  About The M&A Launchpad: The M&A Launchpad provides insights into acquiring, investing in, and selling profitable businesses in the lower to middle market. Whether you are a business owner, investor, or aspiring entrepreneur, we will provide you with the knowledge, guidance, and capital to navigate the world of mergers and acquisitions. The M&A Launchpad presents a series of weekly podcast episodes and hosts an annual M&A Launchpad Conference tailored to the M&A community. Connect with M&A Launchpad: 🎧 Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0mW6i4ooujqC7eOPWmguU7 🎧 Podcast on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/m-a-launchpad/id1740382586 🎟️ Attend Upcoming M&A Launchpad Conference: http://malaunchpad.com/

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  7. ٢٧ مارس

    Stop Wasting Time Searching for Deals with Liz Macrae

    In this episode of the M&A Launchpad Podcast, hosts Casey Minshew and Feras Moussa sit down with Liz MacRae, co-founder of Village Wealth, a deal management platform built specifically for acquisition entrepreneurs and self-funded searchers.  Liz shares how her experience as a business broker exposed major inefficiencies on the buy side—and how Village Wealth was created to solve them. From building credibility with brokers to organizing deal flow, underwriting opportunities, and leveraging AI to accelerate the acquisition process, this episode breaks down how serious buyers are gaining an edge.  The conversation also dives into the evolving M&A landscape, why it’s getting harder to stand out with brokers and sellers, and what it actually takes today to compete for quality deals.  In this episode, we discuss:  How Village Wealth helps buyers organize, evaluate, and accelerate their deal search    Why credibility with brokers is critical—and how to stand out in a crowded market    How AI and structured processes are changing how deals are sourced and underwritten    The realities of today’s acquisition market, including competition, proprietary sourcing challenges, and where opportunities still exist    Guest Contact Info:  Email: Liz@villagewellth.com   Additional Resources:  Join us at the M&A Launchpad Conference on May 2, 2026 in Houston, Texas. Use code: LAUNCH for $150 off your ticket.    Get details: https://malaunchpad.com    Ready to start your acquisition journey or scale faster?    Work directly with the Equity Launchpad team to source deals, structure acquisitions, and raise capital alongside experienced operators.    Contact Casey Minshew and Feras Moussa: info@equity-launchpad.com    Explore more: https://www.equity-launchpad.com      About The M&A Launchpad: The M&A Launchpad provides insights into acquiring, investing in, and selling profitable businesses in the lower to middle market. Whether you are a business owner, investor, or aspiring entrepreneur, we will provide you with the knowledge, guidance, and capital to navigate the world of mergers and acquisitions. The M&A Launchpad presents a series of weekly podcast episodes and hosts an annual M&A Launchpad Conference tailored to the M&A community. Connect with M&A Launchpad: 🎧 Podcast on Spotify: 🎧 Podcast on Apple: 🎟️ Attend Upcoming M&A Launchpad Conference: http://malaunchpad.com/

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  8. ١٧ مارس

    Independent Sponsor Deals: Structure, Capital, and Risk with Casey Minshew and Feras Moussa

    In this episode of the M&A Launchpad Podcast, Casey Minshew and Feras Moussa unpack one of the biggest topics in the acquisition world right now: the independent sponsor model. They walk through what an independent sponsor actually is, how the model compares to ETA and SBA-backed acquisitions, and why larger deals often require a completely different capital strategy.  They also get practical about how these deals come together in the real world, from seller conversations and LOIs to Quality of Earnings, lender outreach, data rooms, and the long timeline it can take to build credibility in the market. If you are trying to understand how independent sponsor deals are structured, how sponsors get paid, and what it really takes to close one, this episode gives you a grounded look at the path.  In this episode, we discuss:  What an independent sponsor is and how it differs from a traditional private equity fund  Why bigger deals often fall outside the SBA and classic ETA model  The tradeoff between control, risk, and upside in different acquisition structures  How independent sponsors get paid through upfront fees, management fees, and promote  Why SBIC lenders matter and how they can bring both debt and equity to a deal  What it takes to structure an LOI, align with a seller, and package a deal for capital partners  Why Quality of Earnings, a teaser, an NDA process, and a data room are all critical to fundraising  How long it can take to build traction as an independent sponsor and why patience matters  What lenders and equity partners want to see before they back a sponsor  Additional Resources:  Join us at the M&A Launchpad Conference on May 2, 2026 in Houston, Texas. Use code LAUNCH for $150 off your ticket. Get details: https://malaunchpad.com  Contact Casey Minshew and Feras Moussa: info@equity-launchpad.com  Explore more at Equity Launchpad: https://equity-launchpad.com  About The M&A Launchpad: The M&A Launchpad provides insights into acquiring, investing in, and selling profitable businesses in the lower to middle market. Whether you are a business owner, investor, or aspiring entrepreneur, we will provide you with the knowledge, guidance, and capital to navigate the world of mergers and acquisitions. The M&A Launchpad presents a series of weekly podcast episodes and hosts an annual M&A Launchpad Conference tailored to the M&A community. Connect with M&A Launchpad: 🎧 Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0mW6i4ooujqC7eOPWmguU7 🎧 Podcast on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/m-a-launchpad/id1740382586 🎟️ Attend Upcoming M&A Launchpad Conference: http://malaunchpad.com/

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Gain insights on acquiring, investing in, and selling profitable businesses in the lower to middle market. Whether you are a business owner, investor, or aspiring entrepreneur, The M&A Launchpad Podcast equips you with the knowledge and guidance to navigate the world of mergers and acquisitions. Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MALaunchpad Apply to be a guest: https://forms.gle/pqNb8xrzyFzVYxzq6 Join The M&A Launchpad Conference- https://www.malaunchpad.com/

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