This Is M&A Podcast

Steven Monterroso
  • 5.0 (2)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Dealmaking without the B.S. Designed for the decision-makers navigating complex, high-stakes transactions, This is M&A is your front-row seat to the real world of mergers and acquisitions, capital raises, and strategic moves.  Whether you're a CEO, founder, corporate development leader, or senior executive, this podcast is for you.

  1. 2D AGO

    Time Kills Deals: A Masterclass on Surviving Distressed M&A with Phil Cassel | This Is M&A

    The cash runs thin. Debt piles up. The market turns against you. This is distress. In this episode of This Is M&A, Phil Cassel, Managing Director at Cassel Salpeter & Co., breaks down the early warning signs most founders miss, the playbook for protecting value under pressure, and why moving fast is the single most important thing you can do when things start to go wrong. Phil started his career at Alvarez & Marsal in the Turnaround and Restructuring Group, worked in private equity at Rialto Capital, and joined his father in building Cassel Salpeter & Co. into a 15-person boutique investment bank based in Miami. He has guided companies through distressed M&A, bankruptcy proceedings, and healthy transactions across healthcare, manufacturing, technology, consumer products, and more. In this episode, you will learn: The early warning signs that your business may be heading toward distress Why the most common mistake in distressed M&A is not moving fast enough How to retain key people, manage suppliers, and preserve value when cash is tight Why bankruptcy is not a dirty word and how it can actually protect jobs What a Quality of Earnings report does for your deal and why it pays for itself How lessons from distressed deals apply directly to healthy transactions Learn more about Phil and Cassel Salpeter & Co.:  Website: https://casselsalpeter.com/  LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/philipcassel/  Email: pcassel@cs-ib.com 🔗 Connect with your host, Steven Monterroso:  LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/determined2succeed/ Follow This Is M&A Podcast on LinkedIn:  https://linkedin.com/company/this-is-m-a/ Want to become our next guest?   Sign up or subscribe: https://sharevault.com/this-is-ma/ Listen now on Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Spotify, and all major podcast platforms. #thisismapodcast #mna #distressedma #restructuring #privateequity #founders #exitplanning #turnaround

    34 min

  2. APR 1

    The 4x Founder Who Borrowed $60K From His Grandma and Built Four Companies | This Is M&A

    James Marciano has built four companies, sold several, invested in a dozen more, and now helps founders exit. He has sat at every seat at the table — founder, angel, LP, banker — and he came out of retirement because he saw that most investment banks only close 35% of their deals. Last year, Tuck Advisors closed 100% of theirs. In this episode of This Is M&A, James breaks down what it actually felt like to build in the chaos of the early internet, what founders today are getting wrong with capital, and the tactical moves that matter most when it is time to sell. In this episode, you will learn: •  What building a startup in 1995 taught James that still applies today •  Why raising too much capital is often just as dangerous as raising too little •  How companies are bought, not sold — and what a UFO can cost you if you are not prepared •  Why you should never tell a buyer your number •  The one thing James would change across all four of his startups Learn more about James and Tuck Advisors:  Website: https://tuckadvisors.com  LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/marciano/  Email: justjames@tuckadvisors.com Specialties: Education, healthcare, sustainability, safety, pet industry Connect with your host, Steven Monterroso:  LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/determined2succeed/ Follow This Is M&A Podcast on LinkedIn:  https://linkedin.com/company/this-is-m-a/ Want to become our next guest?  Sign up or subscribe: https://sharevault.com/this-is-ma/ Listen now on Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Spotify, and all major podcast platforms. 01:00 - The Man Who Closed 100% Of His Deals Last Year 08:15 - What Building A Startup Felt Like Before The Internet Existed 13:20 - He Raised $6 Million Three Days Before The Dot-Com Cras 19:15 - Why You Should Think About Selling Before You Even Star 27:40 - How One Phone Call Doubled A $10 Million Exit 43:10 - Why Growing Up Poor Might Be The Best Business Training #thisismapodcast #mna #founders #startups #exitplanning #venturecapital #entrepreneurship

    49 min

  3. MAR 18

    Making Sense of Turmoil in Education Markets with Trace Urdan | This Is M&A

    Education is undergoing a fundamental shift driven by policy, capital flows and AI. Trace Urdan, Managing Director at Tyton Partners, joins This Is M&A to break down what is really happening beneath the surface and how buyers, founders and investors should be thinking about the sector today. With nearly 20 years of experience covering the global knowledge market across equity research and investment banking, Trace explains how regulation, consolidation and technology are reshaping outcomes in ways most dealmakers overlook. In this episode, you will learn: •  Why nonprofit consolidation introduces a different kind of deal complexity •  How AI in education is separating real platforms from hype •  What policy changes reveal about timing, valuation, and buyer behavior   📌 Learn more about Trace: Website: https://tytonpartners.com/ LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/traceurdan/ Email: turdan@tytonpartners.com 🎙 Connect with your host, Steven Monterroso: LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/determined2succeed/ 📢 Follow This Is M&A Podcast: https://www.linkedin.com/company/this-is-m-a/ 📩 Want to become our next guest? Sign up or subscribe 👉 https://sharevault.com/this-is-ma/ 🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio and Spotify   00:00 Intro 00:03:30 The Unique World of Nonprofit College M&A 00:07:50 When Culture Derails Deals Before They Start 00:10:19 AI in the Classroom: Separating Hype from Reality 00:18:49 How to Spot Real AI vs. Marketing Fluff in EdTech 00:28:04 When Policy Kills Deals: Navigating Regulatory Risk 00:35:04 The Path from Wall Street to Education M&A #thisismapodcast #mna #privateequity #education #edtech #founders #valuation

    43 min

  4. MAR 4

    Carve-Outs, Culture & Leadership: What Really Drives Deal Value with Rachel Smith | This Is M&A

    Most M&A deals do not fail at signing.  They fail after close. Rachel Smith, Vice President of Nota Consulting, joins This Is M&A to break down the human side of post-merger integration and why culture is revenue. Rachel has led integration efforts on multi-billion-dollar transactions, including execution on a $3.1B acquisition that delivered nearly $100M in cost savings. In this episode, she shares what actually drives post-close value creation and where leadership teams go wrong. You’ll learn: •  Why culture directly impacts revenue and execution •  The danger of surrounding yourself with yes-people •  How to win buy-in at every level of the organization •  What carve-outs teach leaders about operating under impossible deadlines •  How to execute integrations without burning out your team If you are a CEO, private equity leader, or corporate development executive navigating M&A integration, carve-outs, or enterprise transformation, this conversation is for you. Learn more about Rachel and Nota Consulting: Website: https://notaconsulting.com LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/rachelesmith1/ Email: rsmith@notaconsulting.com Want to become our next guest? Sign up or subscribe 👉 https://sharevault.com/this-is-ma/ Connect with your host, Steven Monterroso: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/determined2succeed/ Follow This Is M&A Podcast on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/this-is-m-a/ 🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio and Spotify. 👀 Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/L3utNE2wGTY #thisismandapodcast #mergersandacquisitions #postmergerintegration #carveout #privateequity #leadership #dealexecution 00:00 Intro 03:11 Why Culture Is Revenue (And It’s Not About Perks) 05:49 The Critical Need for Buy-In at All Levels 10:30 The Danger of Egos and "Yes People" 21:48 Executing a Carve-Out on an Impossible Deadline

    35 min

  5. FEB 19

    The Founder’s Dilemma: Growth Capital, Recap, or Full Exit with Matt Plooster | This Is M&A

    Every founder eventually faces it: Raise capital, recapitalize, or sell? Matt Plooster, CEO & Co-Founder of Bridgepoint Investment Banking, joins This Is M&A to break down how founders should think about control, liquidity and timing. With over $41B in completed transactions and experience at Morgan Stanley and Deutsche Bank, Matt shares how to: Raise growth capital without losing control Structure recapitalizations the right way Know when it is truly time to sell Run the private equity playbook without private equity Want to become our next guest? Sign up or subscribe 👉 https://sharevault.com/this-is-ma/ Bridgepoint Investment Banking advises middle market companies on capital raising and M&A across healthcare, industrials, consumer, transportation, and technology sectors. Learn more about Matt and Bridgepoint: Website: https://bridgepointib.com LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/matt-plooster-6b91741/ Email: mplooster@bridgepointib.com Connect with your host, Steven Monterroso: LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/determined2succeed/ Follow This Is M&A Podcast on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/this-is-m-a/ 🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio and all streaming platforms. #thisismapodcast #mna #founders #capitalraising #privateequity

    55 min

  6. FEB 5

    Founder-Owned Exits and Buyer Psychology with Nick Cipiti | This Is M&A

    Founder-owned exits are rarely clean breaks. In this episode, Nick Cipiti of CriticalPoint reveals the psychology behind partial exits and how buyers can structure deals where the founder wants to stay involved. Nick is a Managing Director at CriticalPoint with over a decade of experience in middle-market M&A. He specializes in founder-led transactions, carve-outs, and private equity deals where structure and alignment matter as much as valuation. With personal stories and tactical insight, Nick breaks down: • Why seller motivation isn’t always what it seems • How sponsors behave under dry powder pressure • The structures that align incentives without eroding trust Want to become our next guest? Sign up or subscribe 👉 https://sharevault.com/this-is-ma/ Learn more about Nick: Website: criticalpoint.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/nick-cipiti-7b099b9/ Email: ncipiti@criticalpoint.com Connect with your host, Steven Monterroso: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/determined2succeed/ Follow This Is M&A Podcast on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/this-is-m-a/ 🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio and Spotify. #thisismapodcast #mna #founders #privateequity #liquidityevent

    38 min

  7. JAN 21

    Cross-Border Deals, Red Flags, and What Sellers Get Wrong with Feng Han | This Is M&A

    Cross-border deals are tough and only a few teams get them right. Feng Han has executed 100+ transactions in over 13 countries across healthcare, life sciences, and MedTech. In this episode, he reveals the red flags sellers miss, why strategic fit matters more than you think, and how international acquirers are behaving in 2026. With decades of experience at Henry Schein, Fosun, and Pagoda Capital, Feng now leads Laurel Hollow Capital as Managing Partner. Founders and dealmakers will walk away with practical tools for avoiding value erosion in international M&A. 📌 Learn more about Feng:   Website: laurelhollowcapital.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/feng-han-55b1901 Email: feng.han@laurelhollowcapital.com 🎙 Connect with your host, Steven Monterroso: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/determined2succeed/ 📢 Follow This Is M&A Podcast: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/this-is-m-a/

    33 min

  8. JAN 7

    Busting the Biggest Myths About Selling Your Business with Hitesh Nathani | This Is M&A

    Selling your company is not as straightforward as it seems. In this episode of This Is M&A, Hitesh Nathani, Managing Director at CriticalPoint, reveals the myths that quietly destroy value, and what every founder, operator, and acquirer needs to understand before and after the LOI. With 19+ years of experience across valuation, private capital, and operating strategy, Hitesh exposes what really happens when private equity gets involved and why most companies fail to realize the value they expect. Founders, operators, and investors will walk away with a clearer view of what it takes to sell well, avoid post-close chaos, and command attention from serious buyers. Want to become our next guest? Sign up or subscribe for weekly updates 👉 https://sharevault.com/this-is-ma/ Connect with Hitesh Nathani: Website: criticalpoint.com Email: hnathani@criticalpoint.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/hiteshnathani/   Connect with your host, Steven Monterroso: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/determined2succeed/ Follow This Is M&A Podcast on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/this-is-m-a/   Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 01:45 Myth 1: “I’ll talk to bankers when I’m ready to retire” 07:02 Myth 2: “Selling my business is straightforward” 13:33 Myth 3: “I don’t need a banker—PE firms are calling me” 23:24 Hidden risks of engaging buyers directly 27:01 Myth 4: “The highest price is always the best deal” 34:44 Seller priorities beyond price (legacy, culture, outcomes) 35:00 Myth 5: “I don’t need a QOE report” 44:00 Hitesh’s Why: Why I left EY for founder-focused work 46:00 Conclusion And Contact Information

    48 min
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Dealmaking without the B.S. Designed for the decision-makers navigating complex, high-stakes transactions, This is M&A is your front-row seat to the real world of mergers and acquisitions, capital raises, and strategic moves.  Whether you're a CEO, founder, corporate development leader, or senior executive, this podcast is for you.

Information

  • Creator
    Steven Monterroso
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    17
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    This Is M&A Podcast