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Acquiring Minds

Acquiring Minds

By: Will Smith
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Buying a business is an amazing path for many successful entrepreneurs. Learn how to buy a business from the entrepreneurs who have already done it. 2x per week: stories, insights, & valuable advice about acquisition entrepreneurship. Hosted by Will Smith, who is on his own path to acquire a business. Also on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AcquiringMinds Sign up for episode summaries at: https://acquiringminds.co2021 - 2023, Acquiring Minds Economics Leadership Management & Leadership Personal Finance
Episodes
  • Buying a Wide Moat in a Consolidating Industry
    Oct 27 2025

    Ania Aliev was so eager to buy her business, she worked the deal while in labor at the hospital. It's been worth it.

    Register for the webinar:

    • Tax Issues: Entity and Deal Structuring - Thu Oct 30 - http://bit.ly/43tlhIP

    Topics in Ania’s interview:

    • Rushing to get a deal closed before giving birth
    • Using her people skills to connect with sellers
    • Searching only in the Eastern US
    • Buying an AED sales and service company
    • Myths about AEDs
    • Figuring out the best pricing model
    • Lack of competition in the industry
    • Dealing with “Mom brain”
    • Willingness to say “I don’t know”
    • Stickiness of customers

    References and how to contact Ania:

    • Linkedin
    • Life Support Systems

    Learn more about Walker Deibel's done-with-you buy-side advisory:

    • The Acquisition Lab

    Get complimentary due diligence on your acquisition's insurance & benefits program:

    • Oberle Risk Strategies - Search Fund Team

    Get a free review of your books & financial ops from System Six (a $500 value):

    • Book a call with Tim or hello@systemsix.com and mention Acquiring Minds

    Connect with Acquiring Minds:

    • See past + future interviews on the YouTube channel
    • Connect with host Will Smith on LinkedIn
    • Follow Will on Twitter

    Edited by Anton Rohozov
    Produced by Pam Cameron

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 29 mins
  • From €4 Million, to Zero, to €12 Million
    Oct 23 2025

    Despite skepticism from her US investors, Ivona Butcher bought (and tripled) a business in her native Czech Republic.

    Topics in Ivona’s interview:

    • Doing business in a post-Soviet culture
    • Determination to acquire in the Czech Republic
    • Buying a business as a married couple
    • Getting into exhibition services right before Covid
    • Losing all revenue at onset of Covid
    • Pivoting to virtual events
    • Finding work for their carpenters and metalsmiths
    • Aggressively re-negotiating their loan with the bank
    • Buying back the seller note at a huge discount
    • Surviving Covid and doubling EBITDA

    References and how to contact Ivona:

    • Ivona Butcher
    • Corbin Butcher
    • Beire
    • Adam Rao on Acquiring Minds: Reviving a Covid-Crushed Business: $0 to $6M in 3 Years

    Get complimentary due diligence on your acquisition's insurance & benefits program:

    • Oberle Risk Strategies - Search Fund Team

    Get a free review of your books & financial ops from System Six (a $500 value):

    • Book a call with Tim or hello@systemsix.com and mention Acquiring Minds

    Get a complimentary IT audit of your target business:

    • Email Nick Akers at nick@inzotechnologies.com, and tell him you’re a searcher

    Connect with Acquiring Minds:

    • See past + future interviews on the YouTube channel
    • Connect with host Will Smith on LinkedIn
    • Follow Will on Twitter

    Edited by Anton Rohozov
    Produced by Pam Cameron

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 35 mins
  • Building Trust as New Owner of a $3m Business
    Oct 20 2025

    Ruchik Gandhi was a diligence CPA when he decided to get in the game himself. Becoming an owner has been an education.

    Topics in Ruchik’s interview:

    • India > Australia > US immigration
    • Discovery of the wonders of multiple arbitrage
    • Receiving the deal from another searcher
    • Paying a $20k finder’s fee
    • Buying a fabrics and upholstery workroom
    • Learning how to manage a blue-collar workforce
    • Mishandling employee relationships
    • Taking feedback from his managers
    • Earning the employees’ trust
    • His plan for growth in a fragmented industry

    References and how to contact Ruchik:

    • LinkedIn
    • Window 25

    Download the New CEO’s Guide to Human Resources from Aspen HR:

    • From this page or contact mark@aspenhr.com

    Work with an SBA loan team focused exclusively on helping entrepreneurs buy businesses:

    • Pioneer Capital Advisory

    Learn more about Walker Deibel's done-with-you buy-side advisory:

    • The Acquisition Lab

    Connect with Acquiring Minds:

    • See past + future interviews on the YouTube channel
    • Connect with host Will Smith on LinkedIn
    • Follow Will on Twitter

    Edited by Anton Rohozov
    Produced by Pam Cameron

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 25 mins
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