M&A Launchpad

In this episode of the M&A Launchpad Podcast, hosts Casey Minshew and Feras Moussa sit down with Sarah Andrews, SBA Senior Business Development Officer at Northwest Bank, who reviews 200 to 300 acquisition deals a year with her partner Lisa Forrest. Sarah shares what lenders look for in buyers, how to pitch a deal to your bank, and what the latest SBA rule changes mean for acquisition entrepreneurs. In this episode, we discuss: Why lenders now weigh the buyer as heavily as the business, and why grit matters How to stand out to a lender with a one-to-four slide summary instead of the broker's CIM New SBA rules on QoE for deals of $3M or more, the 10% equity requirement, seller notes, and investor distributions Loan deferrals, the 75% SBA guarantee, and the 20% rule for trusts in the cap table Guest Contact Information Sarah Andrews SBA Senior Business Development Officer, Northwest Bank LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-andrews-22a78364/ Email: [email protected] Office Hours: Every Wednesday at noon, covering all things SBA and the Northwest process 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: [email protected] 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/

Hazem Ahmed co-founded a bank in 2007, grew it to $800M, and sold it. Then he did it again — building Integrity Bank, SSB from scratch into a $360M institution in just 23 months, one of only seven de novo bank charters approved nationwide in 2024. In this episode, Hazem breaks down what it really takes to charter a bank (an 1,800-page application, a 14-15 month approval process, a $40-50M capital raise) and why he measures success in relationships and reputation, not just the balance sheet. In this podcast episode, we discuss: Hazem's path from a reluctant banking intern to a 25-year career banker, building and selling the original Integrity Bank (2007, grown to ~$800 million, sold to a North Texas regional bank) What it actually takes to charter a de novo bank: an ~1,800-page regulatory application, 14-15 months to conditional approval, and raising a $40-50 million minimum capital target amid a shifting 2024 market Being one of only seven de novo banks chartered nationwide, opening in October 2024, and reaching ~$360 million in total assets by month 23 Why “familiarity” and local ownership are Integrity Bank's edge over national institutions, and how Hazem measures success through relationships and reputation rather than just balance sheet growth Guest Contact Info: Hazem Ahmed, Founder & President, Integrity Bank, SSB LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hazema/ 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: [email protected] Explore more: https://www.equity-launchpad.com Save the Date: M&A Launchpad Conference is coming May 8, 2027. Learn more at malaunchpad.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 Ben Suttles sit down with Mike Ehrle, founder of FinParency, to discuss one of the most overlooked problems in the lower-middle market: business owners who simply lock the door and walk away rather than securing a proper exit. Mike draws on his experience watching UnitedHealth Group complete 65 acquisitions and leading companies through multiple private equity and family office transactions to explain how FinParency is building a platform to get small business owners exit-ready, match them with the right buyers from a pool of 4,500+ private equity groups and 4,000+ family offices, and bridge the knowledge gap that causes so many deals to fall apart. In this podcast episode, we discuss: Why roughly 20% of small business owners in their 60s plan to shut down rather than sell -- and what's driving that trend How FinParency's platform diagnoses a business, scores its exit-readiness, and flags red flags before buyers ever see them What business owners need to understand about add-backs, working capital, and cleaning up financials before going to market How cutting costs (especially benefits and insurance) directly increases your exit multiple Inside look at how strategic buyers like UnitedHealth Group approach acquisitions differently than private equity How FinParency matches sellers with the right buyers -- PE groups, family offices, and individual investors -- and when to bring in a banker Guest Contact Info: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeehrle/ Email: [email protected] Website: finparency.ai or finparency.com Additional Resources: Thinking about buying or selling a business? Connect with the Equity Launchpad team to learn more about acquisition entrepreneurship and upcoming opportunities. Contact Casey Minshew and Ben Suttles: [email protected] 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/

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: [email protected] 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: [email protected] • 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/

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: [email protected] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyrellmcgee/ Additional Resources: Contact Casey Minshew and Feras Moussa: [email protected] 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 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: [email protected] 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 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: [email protected] 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 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: [email protected] · 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: [email protected] · 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/