Exit Algorithms

In this episode, I sit down with Ricky Ho, co-founder and CEO of SourceReady, the AI-powered search engine for finding factories and suppliers globally. Ricky dropped out of UC Berkeley at 19, built and sold his first supply chain tech company by 23, raised $22 million, landed on Forbes 30 Under 30, and now leads SourceReady, which is already trusted by Fortune 500 brands just two years in.​​ This...

In this episode, I sit down with Brian Root, former Amazon and Walmart Labs product executive, US patent holder in e-commerce product classification, and now the founder of two simultaneous ventures: Norris Advisory, where he helps SMB buyers navigate due diligence and acquisitions, and Rooted in Product, his fractional CPO practice helping companies scale through smart technology decisions. Brian...

In this episode, I sit down with Nate Littlewood, founder of Future Ready CFO and host of Profits on Purpose, who helps ecommerce and CPG founders master cash flow, profitability, and fundraising so they can scale with clarity instead of chaos. Nate bootstrapped his own urban gardening brand from a small Kickstarter to seven figures, worked on Wall Street, mentored at a New York accelerator, and n...

In this episode, I sit down with Ken Himmler, personal wealth strategist with over 40 years of experience, author of multiple books including the upcoming One Wealth Map, former host of Money Talks radio, and founder of a family office practice serving business owners from $2M to $25M in net worth. Ken breaks down exactly why most business owners leave millions on the table when they sell, why wai...

In this episode, I sit down with Charlie Safro, founder and CEO of CS Recruiting, to break down what it really takes to build a people-first recruiting firm, scale through uncertainty, retain top talent, and navigate an exit without losing the culture that made the business work in the first place.​ Charlie bootstrapped CS Recruiting from an accidental start into a leading supply chain recruiting...

Lexson Mathieu is the co-founder of Odase Investment Consortium, a holding company that acquires and scales operating businesses across fragmented industries. Before stepping into M&A, Lexson was an undefeated professional boxer and IBF champion who walked away from his belt during COVID, cashed out of crypto at the top of the market, and used that discipline to make 10,000 cold calls before c...

Robyn Goldenberg is the president of Strategy Leaders, a 30-year-old business consulting firm, and co-founder of Find Staff, helping small and mid-sized businesses hire skilled global team members faster and with less friction. In this episode, Robyn breaks down exactly what it takes to move from a business that runs on the owner to one that is scalable, profitable, and ready to sell.​ We discuss:...

In this episode, I sit down with Lenny Feinstein, a serial entrepreneur who bootstrapped multiple eight-figure businesses from the ground up and successfully exited both a commercial cleaning company at $30 million in revenue to private equity, and a 512-unit property management portfolio in Tampa.​ We discuss: – Lenny's unconventional journey from juvenile delinquent and hitchhiker to building a...

In this episode, I sit down with Cameron Bishop, Managing Director at Raincatcher, an award-winning national business brokerage and M&A advisory firm, to break down how entrepreneurs can maximize the value of their life's work before a high-value exit.​ We discuss: – Cameron's unusual 40-year career path, from journalism to scaling a business to $400 million in revenue, and his hard-learned le...

In this episode, I sit down with Mike Stoll, Co-founder of Ready Smart Go and the Business Resilience Society, to explore how entrepreneurs can build companies that survive disruptions and secure high-value exits.​ We discuss: – Mike's 30-year journey from founding TMC Computer Services to building frameworks for business resilience, and how his early experiences shaped his perspective.​ – Why tak...

Liz Macrae is co-founder and president of Village Wellth, a certified exit planning advisor, former business broker, and two-time entrepreneur who has lived the full buy-build-sell cycle. Under her leadership, Village Wellth acquired Buyandsellabusiness.com, a marketplace that has facilitated over $4.5 billion in successful transactions. She now leads a platform built entirely for the buy side, he...

In this episode, I sit down with Joe Dunaway, President and CEO of Vici Financial and serial entrepreneur, to break down how small business owners can move from financial anxiety to financial authority through better cash flow management, proactive tax strategy, and the systems that make a business both scalable and exit-ready.​ We discuss: – Joe's path from the Marine Corps to serial entrepreneur...

In this episode, I sit down with Dani Kaplan, Principal at SMC Data Systems and veteran ERP and supply chain consultant, to unpack how modern ERP implementation, inventory management, and warehouse management system (WMS) integration can drive operational excellence and support a higher value exit.​ We discuss: – Dani’s five decade journey with enterprise software, from early mainframes to modern...

In this episode, I sit down with Matt Middendorp, Director at Vision Point Capital and nationally recognized ESOP expert, to unpack how employee stock ownership plans can serve as a powerful exit strategy for owners who care about valuation, culture, and their people.​ We discuss: – Matt’s journey from banker to founder to ESOP advisor, and what selling his own consulting firm taught him about ide...

In this episode, I sit down with Jennifer Lee, founder of Modern Wealth and author of Squeeze the Juice, to explore the financial and emotional side of business exit planning. With nearly three decades of experience, Jennifer specializes in transition planning for business owners navigating what she calls collision zones: moments where high emotions meet critical financial decisions.​ We discuss:...

In this episode, I sit down with Mahavir Jain, Founder and CEO of Source Select Inc., a global e-commerce fulfillment and 3PL logistics company he's led for over 28 years from Silicon Valley. Mahavir brings enterprise-level supply chain capability to small and mid-sized companies, helping them scale without massive infrastructure costs. We discuss: – Mahavir's journey from Silicon Valley tech to b...

In this episode, I sit down with John Solleder, a best-selling author and organizational consultant who turned a $32 investment into a lifetime of entrepreneurial success. With over four decades of experience and direct mentorship from personal development legend Jim Rohn, John bridges the gap between old-school business wisdom and the new era of AI-driven growth. We discuss: – John's journey from...

In this episode, I sit down with Marc Rust, a brand strategist with deep roots in the financial sector, to break down exactly how branding influences your company's bottom line and exit value. Marc explains why your logo is just the tip of the iceberg and how true value comes from understanding your audience's deepest needs. We discuss: – Marc's journey from learning language through TV commercial...

In this episode, I sit down with Steven Loewer, founder of Lion’s Den Capital and the Private Mortgage Mastery Academy. Steven manages over $400 million in funded deals and teaches investors how to secure predictable, high-yield returns through private mortgage lending—without the headaches of being a landlord. We discuss:– Steven's journey from scrubbing carpets in rental properties to building a...

In this episode, I sit down with Chris Champion, an investor, entrepreneur, and AI builder who has invested in over 120 companies and has raised more than $300 million across his career. Chris is the creator behind Champion AI and tools like Champion Introductions, where he uses AI agents and one of the largest databases of transcribed podcasts to automate high-quality outreach and bookings. He al...

In this episode of Exit Algorithms, Host Pete Vera sits down with George Rivera, founder of Buyback Time Formula and a serial entrepreneur who has built multiple eight-figure companies. George shares his journey from “founder prison” to building scalable, exit-ready businesses, and reveals the frameworks and mindset shifts that allowed him to reclaim his time, scale his companies, and focus on wha...

Amber McCollum, co-founder of the Active Income Network and billion dollar fund manager, breaks down why passive income is a myth and how AI-powered active income builds real freedom and exit readiness. She shares her journey from teacher to capital raiser, explains why downturns wipe out investors without active cash flow, and walks through live AI strategies for lead scraping, marketing arbitrag...

In this episode of Exit Algorithms, Asa Patterson, retired Marine Corps captain and co-founder of Premier 72, shares his proven Retirement Bank Method for helping baby boomer business owners unlock hidden wealth and plan successful exits—even if they’re not ready to sell yet. Discover why most owners get stuck in retirement limbo, the biggest obstacles to selling, and how Asa’s approach transforms...

In this episode, Pete Vera sits down with Charlie Heaton, an industrial financial consultant with over 22 years of experience closing deals up to $400 million with firms like Bear Stearns and General Electric. Charlie shares his journey from aspiring pilot to exit strategist, revealing how forensic accounting uncovers hidden business value through cost segregation audits and strategic tax tools li...

In this episode, I sit down with Tony Leroy, owner of J.D. Sewer & Sons, a family-run plumbing business serving southern Illinois for over three decades. Tony grew up in the industry, starting in the field at just 12 years old and taking over the company seven years ago. Since then, he has led one of the most impressive operational transformations in the home services space, moving from a comp...