Growthink Podcast

Most business owners have a number in their head for what their company is worth. The problem? Buyers don't care about your expectations—they care about risk, cash flow, growth, and market reality. In this episode, Tim Martinez sits down with Antonio Barzagli to break down an actual company valuation in real time. Starting with a seller's $36M valuation, Antonio walks through the assumptio...

Most business owners think selling a company is simple: hire a banker, find a buyer, close the deal, and move on. That’s not how it actually works. The moment you take your company to market, everything gets exposed — your financials, leadership team, customer concentration, operational weaknesses, systems, contracts, and even your own emotional attachment to the business. Contact:https://growthin...

Most people spend decades learning how to build wealth. Almost nobody teaches them how to psychologically manage it once it arrives. In this episode, Tim Martinez sits down with Geoff Sokol to explore the hidden reality of “complex wealth” — the emotional, relational, and strategic challenges that emerge when your balance sheet grows faster than your ability to manage it. From sudden liquidity eve...

Why do companies with “strong pipelines” still miss revenue targets—and why do investors keep overvaluing them? In this episode of the Growthink Podcast, we break down The Pipeline Fallacy—the dangerous assumption that pipeline equals revenue, growth, or valuation. The reality? Most pipelines are inflated, misaligned with strategy, and misunderstood by both operators and private equity firms. We u...

Why do so many business owners retire broke—even after a big exit? In this episode, we break down the uncomfortable truth most entrepreneurs ignore: selling your business doesn’t guarantee financial freedom. From poor tax planning to lifestyle creep and bad reinvestment decisions, we unpack the real reasons wealth disappears—and what to do differently. What you’ll learn: - The #1 mistake that can...

Is your portfolio company actually broken… or just poorly executed? Too many private equity firms default to rebuilding—new strategy, new systems, new leadership. But in most cases, the real issue isn’t the business… it’s execution. In this conversation, we break down how to diagnose underperformance, uncover hidden profit, and drive results without unnecessary transformation or spend. If you'...

Whether your exit is 1 year away or 5, understanding these strategies now can dramatically impact your outcome. What you’ll learn:• How taxes and deal structure impact your net proceeds• The biggest mistakes that cost owners millions at exit• Tax-efficient strategies used in sophisticated transactions• Why timing (3–5 years out) is critical for planning• How to build the right advisory team for yo...

Why do so many CPG brands lose momentum after early growth? In this episode, Tim Martinez sits down with Priscilla Frick, CPG growth and go-to-market expert, to break down what happens when a consumer packaged goods brand starts to slow down - and what founders, operators, and brand leaders need to do next. They cover the real drivers behind sales decline in CPG, how to defend shelf space, improve...

In this episode, we sit down with Jay Turo to break down the real attributes of top-performing investment bankers — especially within the world of boutique investment banking, M&A advisory, and business brokerage. Beyond technical skills, the best dealmakers distinguish themselves through character, trust, work ethic, creativity, and a true client-first mindset. Whether you're a business owner...

Most business owners don’t lose value when they sell - they lose it during due diligence. In this session, Jeff Jones, Managing Director at Growthink Capital, explains how buyers actually use diligence to reprice risk, why deals retrade, and how sellers can prepare so diligence becomes a confirmation - not an investigation. Speaker: Jeff Jones, Managing Director, Growthink Capital Email: jeff.jone...

AI just collapsed the cost and time of building a modern family office. What used to require big legal + CPA bills and countless admin hours can now be blueprinted in ~30 minutes using the right AI prompts. In this conversation, Geoff Sokol (Investment Adviser at Growthink RIA) walks through 10 practical ways to use AI to design your family office operating system - without replacing professionals...

When private equity meets founder-led companies, there’s an invisible fault line:the people who manage the capital and the people who manage innovation are playing two different games. In this episode, Tim Martinez sits down with Bert Carter of Growthink Advisory to unpack the real source of friction inside PE-backed portfolio companies—the generational gap between Boomer PE managers and Millennia...

Most business owners don’t understand how they actually get paid when they sell their company—and that confusion is exactly why so many walk away with far less than they should. In this episode of Show Me the Money, we sit down with Jeff Jones and Eddie Clay of Growthink Capital to break down the real mechanics behind exit payouts:- Cash vs “paper”- Earnouts that actually pay- How (and when) to ro...

If you’re prepping for a sale, buying a company, or just EBITDA-curious, this session breaks down EBITDA add-backs (aka adjustments): what qualifies, what gets rejected, and how buyers, PE firms, and QoE providers treat them in diligence. We define EBITDA vs Adjusted EBITDA, show how owner discretionary expenses, one-time or non-recurring costs, rent normalization, and above-market owner compensat...

Operational discipline isn’t red tape - it’s the engine of innovation, speed, and enterprise value. In this episode we break down operational discipline vs. bureaucracy, show how systems, processes, and dashboards actually accelerate growth, and share a practical playbook for PE operating partners and portfolio company CEOs to scale faster, reduce churn, and increase exit multiples. You’ll learn:...

When business owners talk about selling, many say they’ll “run it forever” or “die at their desk.” And that’s fine—if the right protections are in place. In this episode, we sit down with Geoff Sokol, Wealth Advisor at GTRIA (a Registered Investment Advisory firm), to unpack the realities of succession planning, insurance, partnerships, and why 50% of business exits are forced due to the 5 Ds: Dea...

What if you could retire before you sell your business? Most business owners think they have to wait for a big payday to enjoy freedom. But what if the real strategy is building wealth while you're still in the game? In this Live session, we’ll unpack what it means to exit on your own terms—without stepping away from your business. You’ll learn how smart saving, intentional planning, and a few...

Recurring revenue isn’t just nice to have—it’s the backbone of valuation, investor interest, and exit potential. If you're building a business that needs to scale, attract capital, or sell one day, this episode is non-negotiable. You’ll learn: * The 5 core recurring revenue models (and how to pick yours) * Why recurring is not the same as re-occurring (words matter, so does your model) * How p...

What if there was a perfectly legal way to sell your company and pay little to no taxes on the gains? In this episode, we sit down with tax strategist Geoff Sokol to uncover the powerful—but often overlooked—benefits of Qualified Small Business Stock (QSBS). We break down what it is, who qualifies, and how founders, early employees, and investors can potentially exclude up to 100% of their capital...

What’s Really Stopping You From Exit Planning? In this candid conversation, Tim Martinez sits down with Bert Carder to explore the real emotional hurdles that stop business owners from preparing for an exit—even when they know they should. From fears around price and control to uncertainty about life after the sale, we break down the 7 most common mindset blocks… and how to move through them. Work...

In this episode, we explore the strategic and emotional process behind exit planning for business owners, featuring expert insights from the team at Growthink Capital. If you're a business owner thinking about selling your company—whether it's 1 year or 5 years away—this conversation is a must-watch.🔑 Key Topics Covered: Why you need to “start at the end” when planning a business exit How...

In this insightful episode, we sit down with Geoff Sokol to unpack the real cost of financial inaction, especially for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and high-income professionals. Framed through the lens of personal financial planning, behavioral finance, and exit strategy, this conversation explores why even the most organized business operators often neglect their own wealth building. We...

In this insightful video, Eddie Clay from Growthink Capital shares expert advice on what buyers, whether strategic or private equity, look for in potential deals. Learn key strategies for evaluating acquisitions, understanding investor criteria, and preparing your business if you're a seller. Discover essential tips on deal sourcing, valuation, due diligence, deal structuring, and negotiation...

In this powerful and emotional episode of Entrepreneur Unscripted, we sit down with David Ergisi, the visionary CEO of the TyMe Cancer Institute Foundation—a groundbreaking cancer prevention center leading a new era of innovation in early detection, holistic health, and community-driven support. Founded in honor of David’s late son Tyler, whose courageous battle with cancer inspired a mission to t...

In this eye-opening conversation, we sit down with Antonio Barzagli from Growthink Capital’s London office to uncover the 8 biggest myths about business exits that can quietly destroy your valuation — or worse, cost you millions. Whether you’re a founder planning your first exit or an experienced entrepreneur eyeing your next big move, this is a must-watch. We break down:Why “waiting for the perfe...