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/

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

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/

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/

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/

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/

In this episode of the M&A Launchpad Podcast, Casey Minshew and Feras Moussa sit down with Jeff Dudan, CEO of HomeFront Brands, to break down why franchising can be one of the most powerful wealth-creation models in the lower middle market. Jeff shares how he built a restoration business into a national franchise, scaled it to 240 locations across 37 states, and ultimately exited the company—plus what he learned about building durable systems and strong operator relationships along the way.

They also get tactical on what it really takes to franchise a concept the right way, including the operational proof required before selling franchises, what franchise fees actually cover, and why undercapitalized franchisors create failure downstream. If you’re evaluating a franchise acquisition, considering a franchise as an alternative to a standalone SMB purchase, or thinking about turning your business into a franchise system, this episode is packed with practical context.

In this episode, we discuss:

· Franchises vs. independent businesses: when a proven system wins

· The franchisor mindset: building relationships, engagement, and operator success

· How Jeff scaled AdvantaClean to 240 locations and exited the business

· What makes a franchise concept “ready” to franchise (proof, KPIs, and a second location run by someone else)

· The real cost of franchising: legal docs, operations manuals, and the capital needed to support owners

· Why initial franchise fees don’t “fund growth” (and what they actually pay for)

· What private equity is doing in franchising: moving from brands into the boxes

· Multi-brand ownership: when it works, when it doesn’t, and why focus matters

· Typical franchise royalty ranges and what buyers should expect

Guest Information:

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/jeffdudan

Website: https://www.jeffdudan.com

FranMastery: https://franmastery.com

HomeFront Brands: https://homefrontbrands.com

Additional Resources:

· Register for the M&A Launchpad Conference – May 2, 2026 in Houston, Texas: https://malaunchpad.com. Use code LAUNCH for $150 off your ticket

· Have a question for the hosts? Contact Casey Minshew and Feras Moussa: info@equitylaunchpad.com

· Visit Equity Launchpad — a Houston-based investment and acquisition firm that buys, scales, and grows established lower-to-middle-market businesses while providing opportunities for investors: 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/

In this episode of the M&A Launchpad Podcast, Casey Minshew and Feras Moussa sit down with Blake Hutchison, CEO of Flippa, to explore the rapidly evolving world of digital M&A. Flippa is one of the largest marketplaces to buy and sell online businesses, with over 1.6 million registered users and transactions ranging from $10,000 to $10 million.

Blake shares insights into current valuation trends across e-commerce, SaaS, and content businesses, how AI is reshaping deal sourcing, and what today’s buyers need to understand about skill sets, brand equity, and community-driven business models. If you're considering buying your first digital asset or integrating digital distribution into an existing company, this episode delivers practical guidance and forward-looking strategy.

In this episode, we discuss:

· What Flippa is and how the marketplace works

· Deal size ranges on Flippa: $10K to $10M

· Valuation multiples for e-commerce, SaaS, and content businesses

· Why brand equity and community matter more than ever

· What skill sets buyers need when acquiring digital businesses

· Financing options including SBA loans, seller financing, and syndicates

· Using digital assets as owned media and distribution channels

· Lauren AI: Flippa’s AI-powered off-market deal sourcing tool

· How AI is changing the M&A lifecycle

· Flippa’s partner directory and M&A ecosystem support

Guest Information:

· Email: blake@flippa.com · Website: https://flippa.com

Additional Resources:

· Register for the M&A Launchpad Conference – May 2, 2026 in Houston, Texas: https://malaunchpad.com. Use code LAUNCH for $150 off your ticket · Have a question for the hosts? Contact Casey Minshew and Feras Moussa: info@equity-launchpad.com

· Visit Equity Launchpad — a Houston-based investment and acquisition firm that buys, scales, and grows established lower-to-middle-market businesses while providing opportunities for investors: 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/