GovCon M&A Talk

Sharon Heaton⁠ , the founder of sbLiftOff and a leading small business, growth strategies, and M&A SME, talks with Meghan Gifford  about lessons from Octo. Topics covered: ● Integration tips gleaned after four Octo acquisitions ● Never underestimate the impact of uncertainty – avoid mystery ● How IBM integrated Octo into its federal business ● Why owners experience “the crisis after the sale”...

Sharon Heaton⁠ , the founder of sbLiftOff and a leading small business, growth strategies, and M&A SME, talks with Venu Ayala about his Zen transaction: Topics covered: ● Bootstrapping with zero capital ● Recovering from contract losses ● Closing a deal before the SBA’s Jan 17, 2026 deadline ● Selling, becoming a wholly owned subsidiary and freedom    To connect with Venu, visit her LinkedIn p...

Sharon Heaton⁠ , the founder of sbLiftOff and a leading small business, growth strategies, and M&A SME, talks with Kate Troendle , Managing Director of KippsDeSanto & Co.. Topics covered: ● What’s next for aerospace, technology and defense ● Impacts of DOGE, tariffs and Administration procurement priorities on buyer certainty  ● Defense tech “comes roaring back” ● Not using AI? You’re “beh...

Sharon Heaton⁠ , the founder of sbLiftOff and a leading small business, growth strategies, and M&A SME, talks with Sam Le , formerly of the SBA: Topics covered: ● What’s next for the remaining 3,400 8(a)s ● FAR overhaul and impact of Rule of 2 ● Using Mentor-Protégé joint ventures effectively ● Small Business Set-Asides Momentum and Strength To connect with Sam, visit his LinkedIn page ⁠here⁠...

Sharon Heaton⁠ , the founder of sbLiftOff and a leading small business, growth strategies, and M&A SME, talks with Dyson Richards of Foxstead, a private investment firm. Topics covered: ● From the start of the computer era to the GovCon AI era ● Why founders in GovCon need strategic capital ● Patience among thoughtful private equity ● Growing by knowing defense needs To connect with Dyson, vis...

Sharon Heaton⁠ , the founder of sbLiftOff and a leading small business, growth strategies, and M&A SME, talks with  Brianna Bowling , author of Start Manage & Exit a Profitable Government Contracting Firm. Topics covered: ● Local roots and business ● Learning the art of proposal writing ● Technology pain points and the government customer ● When it’s right to sell Learn more about Brianna'...

Sharon Heaton⁠ , the founder of sbLiftOff and a leading small business, growth strategies, and M&A SME, talks with Matt Stavish of Republic Access Capital. Topics covered: ● DOW appetite for product ● Working capital financing ● Private debt markets demystified ● Creating relationships, creating solutions ● Future of the small business M&A market To connect with Matt, visit him LinkedIn pa...

Sharon Heaton⁠ , the founder of sbLiftOff and a leading small business, growth strategies, and M&A SME, talks with  Scott Jensen , CEO of the National Veteran Small Business Coalition. Topics covered: ● Customer intimacy vs customer concentration: SDVOSB strategies ● Adding commercial lines and building transferable value ● Prospects for VOSBs (veteran owned small businesses) ● What veterans w...

Sharon Heaton⁠ , the founder of sbLiftOff and a leading small business, growth strategies, and M&A SME, talks with growth guru Heather Newlin . Topics covered: ● Bridging the gap between strategy and execution ● Understanding longterm consequences of fixed term contracts ● Diversifying agencies AND diversifying contracts ● Not all growth is equal To connect with Heater, visit her LinkedIn page...

Sharon Heaton⁠ , the founder of sbLiftOff and a leading small business, growth strategies, and M&A SME, talks with  Stephanie Alexander , former owner of BOOST. Topics covered: BD, OPS and G&A need to be tied together Needing capital to grow People and culture are King Managing expectations during an M&A To connect with Stephanie, visit her LinkedIn page ⁠here⁠ . To learn more about BO...

Sharon Heaton⁠ , the founder of sbLiftOff and a leading small business, growth strategies, and M&A SME, talks with serial entrepreneur Baly Ambegaoker of BTMS. Topics covered: Build a Company to Sell It Run a Company to Keep It Taking “Gambles” as an Entrepreneur Technology and the Government Customer To connect with Baly, visit her LinkedIn page ⁠here⁠ . To learn more about BTMS, visit their...

Sharon Heaton⁠ , the founder of sbLiftOff and a leading small business, growth strategies, and M&A SME, talks with serial entrepreneur Michael Graveline of KMRG. Topics covered: ● Selling a small company to an industry legend ● Starting and selling a GovCon company in 3 years ● Winning your first prime contract in 9 months ● When it's time for inorganic growth ● When to sell and when to hold;...

Sharon Heaton⁠ , the founder of sbLiftOff and a leading small business, growth strategies, and M&A SME, talks with Marty Brennan of the GovCon strategy group Deep Water Point: Topics covered: Why due diligence matters more in 2026 How uncertainty affects today's deal structuring Shifting risk versus sharing risk Why solution focused companies not "hour focused " companies are a magnet for buye...

Sharon Heaton⁠ , the founder of sbLiftOff and a leading small business, growth strategies, and M&A SME, talks with Huntsville M&A lawyer Mike Johnson of Maynard Nexsen: Topics covered: ● M&A impact from the last shutdown ● Buyers looking at fundamentals in 2026 ● Aligning with the Administration’s priorities, including hypersonics & intelligence ● Consolidations among “smalls” To c...

Sharon Heaton⁠ , the founder of sbLiftOff and a leading small business, growth strategies, and M&A SME, talks with veteran entrepreneur Will Fortier of the Hive Group. Topics covered: Acquisition with a big A and little A The procurement life cycle Quick revenue growth Dealing with the death of a business partner To connect with Will, visit his LinkedIn page ⁠here⁠ . To learn more about Hive G...

Sharon Heaton , the founder of sbLiftOff and a leading small business, growth strategies, and M&A SME, talks with serial entrepreneur Kathryn Freeland of A-TEK: Topics covered: Founding and selling an IT GovCon company Balancing life challenges with business challenges Buying a GovCon platform to grow Digital services for today’s GovCon customer To connect with Kathryn, visit her LinkedIn page...

Sharon Heaton , the founder of sbLiftOff and a leading small business, growth strategies, and M&A SME, talks with veteran Kevin Harkins of Harkcon about his “hairy” management buyout. Topics covered: Founding and running a company with many owners Treating multiple owners fairly in a management buyout Choosing the right M&A advisor Ownership control brings responsibility and freedom To con...

Sharon Heaton , the founder of sbLiftOff and a leading small business, growth strategies, and M&A SME, talks with  Morgan Higgins of Blue Delta Capital Partners about what investors see as they survey today's GovCon M&A landscape. Topics covered: ● Backing leadership teams who feel their best days are ahead ● The genius of founders ● Turbo charging inorganic growth ● Partnering as a minori...

Sharon Heaton , the founder of sbLiftOff and a leading small business, growth strategies, and M&A SME, talks with Aaron Moak of PingWind about growing an SDVOSB company with the help of several acquisitions. Topics covered: How organic growth can power inorganic growth How to look for the right strategic acquisition Integration and people as key assets Acquisitions as “growth vehicles” To conn...

Sharon Heaton , the founder of sbLiftOff and a leading small business, growth strategies, and M&A SME, talks with lawyer Richard Arnholt of Bass Berry & Sims about the future of the set-aside market and the impact the new Administration has had on M&A. Topics covered: ● Changes to 8A and what's likely ahead ● The future of small business contracting goals ● Keeping designation talk out...

Sharon Heaton , the founder of sbLiftOff and a leading small business, growth strategies, and M&A SME, talks with Dave Barber about what it takes to scale a GovCon business, find your unique niche, and plan that important sale. Topics covered: ● Strategy on inorganic growth  ● Learning from your customers' pain points  ● Putting yourself in the shoes of the warfighter ● Preparing for sale and...

Sharon Heaton , the founder of sbLiftOff and a leading small business, growth strategies and M&A SME, talks with Brandon Muniz  about what it takes for a young veteran to buy a small government contracting business in today's unsteady climate. Topics covered: ● Developing requirements for the business you will buy ● How to handle buyers' risk and stay married ● How to cobble together financing...

Sharon Heaton , the founder of sbLiftOff and a leading small business, growth strategies and M&A SME, talks with Heidi Gerding, one of the first women to graduate from the Naval Academy, about selling a service disabled veteran owned small business. Topics covered: ● Planning your sale ● Putting senior management in place ● Coping with DOGE risks ● Choosing your M&A team To connect with He...

Sharon Heaton , the founder of sbLiftOff and a leading small business, growth strategies and M&A SME, talks with Kelly Kunkle about the software industry. Kelly is a new M&A advisor at sbLiftOff focused on technology, from software to SaaS, robotics and more. Topics covered: ● Strategic buyers and software roll-ups ●Direction of the Software Industry in the future ● How software companies...

Sharon Heaton , the founder of sbLiftOff and a leading small business, growth strategies and M&A SME, talks with Christine Williamson about the GAUGE Report (Government compliance, Accounting, Utilization, Growth, Efficiency), the annual review of government contracting put out each year by CohnReznick and Unanet. This year’s GAUGE Report,  titled “Mastering Resource Planning and Project Execu...