Build a Business Worth Buying

When Procter & Gamble acquired Native, the deodorant brand that had become one of the most recognizable names in DTC personal care, the real challenge wasn't the deal. It was what came next. John Huljak was one of a small number of P&G veterans asked to join the Native team post-acquisition. His assignment had no playbook: go in, learn, and figure out where you can help. What happened over...

Marc Held has started and sold multiple supply chain companies — and he's developed a clear framework for why businesses actually get acquired. In this episode, Aaron and Marc break down the 5 real reasons buyers write checks, why venture investors and founders are less aligned than you think, and how to use data as a moat that actually holds up. Marc also shares his take on when to raise angel vs...

Most founders think scaling creates value. In reality, poorly designed operations destroy it long before diligence begins. This episode is for founders, operators, and investors who want to build businesses that scale predictably, survive leadership transitions, and become truly acquirable.

Most founders think valuation and fundraising determine success, but Steven Edelstein argues the real drivers are differentiation, emotional conviction, and operational clarity. This episode is for founders, operators, and CEOs who want to build durable companies that scale intelligently and become genuinely attractive acquisition targets.

Most founders think profitability equals safety, but this episode shows why cash flow and discipline matter far more. This is for founders and operators who want to build businesses that survive downturns and actually get acquired.

Most founders think scientific validation drives value in consumer brands. In reality, buyers care far more about repeat purchase behavior, profitability, and customer love. This episode is for founders building in beauty, CPG, or any product category where marketing claims can blur with real differentiation. If you are thinking about exit, this conversation reframes what actually moves multiples.

Most founders think great product equals great business. In apparel, that belief can quietly destroy margins, inventory turns, and ultimately exit value. This episode is for founders and operators who want to build scalable, sellable brands by balancing creativity with commercial discipline.

Most founders assume they must build their companies entirely through organic growth. In reality, acquisitions can accelerate growth, reduce risk, and dramatically increase enterprise value. This episode is for founders and operators who want to scale intelligently and build a business that buyers actually want.

Most founders think growth is enough to earn an exit. It is not. In this episode of Build a Business Worth Buying, Ilya Seglin of Cascadia Capital breaks down what strategic buyers and private equity firms actually look for in beauty brands and why so many fast growing companies quietly become unacquirable. If you are building toward an exit, raising capital, or trying to understand what makes a b...

Adi Gullia scaled Grace & Stella from an Amazon experiment into a globally distributed brand before exiting to private equity.  In this episode of Build a Business Worth Buying, he breaks down what actually creates leverage in a business and what quietly destroys it. If you care about building something durable, lean, and acquirable, this conversation will reframe how you think about growth, r...

Most founders follow the same beauty brand playbook. Raise capital. Chase Sephora. Scale Amazon. Pour money into ads. Kate Assaraf did the opposite. Kate is the founder of DIP, a sustainability-forward hair care brand built around refill stores, local partnerships, and real-world trust. No Amazon. No paid ads. No big box retail. And yet, the business is profitable, growing, and deeply resilient. I...

Most founders don’t fail because their idea is bad. They fail because the business outgrows the systems and the founder burns out before clarity arrives. In this episode of Build a Business Worth Buying, Aaron Alpeter sits down with Jaz Fenton and Jamil Bhuya, founders behind multiple ventures across restaurants, ecommerce, and digital services, to talk candidly about: • The hidden costs of “growt...

What does it really take to scale a global business without losing control, blowing up costs, or breaking your supply chain? In this episode of Build a Business Worth Buying , host Aaron Alpeter sits down with Holger Carlsson , who spent nearly 25 years helping shape procurement and supply chain strategy at IKEA , before leading operational resilience efforts at the United Nations . Holger shares...

On today’s episode, host Aaron Alpeter sits down with Kelcey Lehrich, co-founder and co-CEO of 365 Holdings, a firm renowned for acquiring and transforming direct-to-consumer companies with a focus on durable, high-quality brands. Dive into Kelcey’s journey from scrappy, seller-financed service businesses to building a diversified portfolio of thriving e-commerce brands. You’ll get a candid look a...

On this episode of BwB, host Aaron Alpeter sits down with Arash Farin, founder and CEO of Centerstone Capital, to dive deep into the world of high-stakes acquisitions and what it really takes to build a business worth buying. With nearly 15 years of experience at the Sage Group and roles at Goldman Sachs, Blackstone, and Lehman Brothers, Arash Farin brings a wealth of real-world insights from the...

n today’s episode, host Aaron Alpeter sits down with Neil Twa, founder and CEO of Voltage Holdings and host of the High Voltage Business Builders Podcast. With nearly two decades spent building, scaling, and successfully exiting Amazon FBA businesses, Neil Twa brings a wealth of knowledge right to the intersection of Amazon’s powerful infrastructure and entrepreneurial ambition. You’ll hear how Am...

Aaron Alpeter sits down with Nick Papanicolaou—a founder, investor, and former head of M&A at Pernod Ricard—to unpack the art and science of building consumer brands in the highly regulated world of beverage alcohol. Nick brings a rare perspective, having journeyed from early-stage entrepreneurship to corporate M&A, and back again as a founder and investor. Together, they dive into what tr...

Aaron and A.J. dive into the transformative concept of "making good trouble" in business: challenging the status quo, fostering innovative thinking, and balancing ambition with humility. From the importance of self-care as a founder to building resilient operating systems and cultures that can thrive independently of their founder, you’ll hear real strategies for turning audacious ideas into susta...

Aaron Alpeter sits down with Emily Reeves, VP of Capital Solutions at Bridge, to dig deep into the smart use of debt for growing, scaling, and prepping your business for a successful exit. Emily brings her extensive expertise in capital markets and private credit—especially in the CPG sector—to unpack some of the most nuanced questions founders face: How do you decide when debt is a strategic tool...

On this episode of Build a Business Worth Buying, host Aaron Alpeter sits down eith the powerhouse co-founders behind Athena Advisory Collective. Unlike the typical VC-backed founder stories, Cristy and Aggie specialize in helping female founders of agencies, service firms, and bootstrapped businesses build and exit on their own terms. You'll hear why non-VC paths can be more sustainable—and poten...

In today’s episode, we’re diving into the unique world of physical assets—think trucks, warehouses, and sprawling logistics networks. Our guest is Peter Stefanovich, co-founder and Managing Partner of Left Lane Associates, Canada’s premier M&A advisory firm for the supply chain sector. Together, we explore what really drives enterprise value when your business is built on tangible infrastructu...

We unpack the emotional and strategic complexities of selling a business—including the hard-earned lessons Lane learned from his own exits, why perspective is so hard to find as a founder, and what really goes on behind the scenes of a successful deal. You’ll hear Lane’s take on the four key pillars buyers look for, why owner dependence is a dealbreaker, how to create a competitive process, and wh...

In this episode, host Aaron Alpeter sits down with Dave DiGiacomo, partner at Michael Best and head of their cannabis practice, who brings a rare dual perspective as both M&A attorney and former founder. Dave’s journey from launching an organic pet food company to navigating deals from $10 million to over $1 billion gives him unique insight into what makes a business irresistible—or impossible...

On this episode of Build a Business Worth Buying, host Aaron Alpeter sits down with Curtis Matsko, the unconventional CEO and founder of Portland Leather Goods—a brand famous for its cult following, vertical integration, and refusal to follow the typical startup playbook. Curtis shares the behind-the-scenes story of transforming a garage side-hustle into a nearly $200 million business, all without...