Lightning in a bottle: Entrepreneurial journeys from idea to exit

Join host Josh Pottinger and Greg Sydor of Guardian Jet for an inside look at the world of private aviation—when it makes sense, how it works, and where investors can go wrong. The conversation breaks down the full spectrum of options—from charter to fractional to full ownership—along with the real costs, trade-offs, and decision frameworks behind each path. Greg also highlights the risks in an un...

Join hosts Josh Pottinger and Jason Chirogianis as they kick off the year with a deep dive into pre-sale planning for business owners. Joined by Deborah Phares, Senior Strategist – UBS Family Advisory and Jennifer Lan, UBS Senior Wealth Strategist – UBS Advanced Planning Group, the conversation explores why planning early—well before an LOI—is critical to optimizing tax outcomes, preserving legacy...

Join us as we welcome Admiral Jonathan Greenert, four-star admiral and 30th Chief of Naval Operations, for a candid conversation on today’s geopolitical and leadership challenges. Admiral Greenert shares his perspective on the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, the China–Taiwan dynamic, and the broader forces shaping global stability. The discussion also turns to executive leadership and tr...

After 44 years in Washington, John Savercool, former UBS Senior Lobbyist and Head of the U.S. Office of Public Policy at UBS—offers a rare, behind-the-scenes look at how the gears of American politics are turning right now. In this episode, we discuss what Congress is focused on heading into the fall, and what the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) means for business owners now that it’s officially law...

Mark Tepsich, UBS Family Office Design & Governance Strategist, returns to Lightning in a Bottle to unpack the concept of Family Office 3.0—the next phase in the evolution of wealth management for the ultra-affluent. We look back at how the family office model has changed over the years and dig into why a more robust, resource-rich approach is taking hold. From families managing wealth outside...

What’s keeping top entrepreneurs up at night in 2025? From navigating AI integration to retaining top talent in a competitive market, the landscape is shifting fast. Christian van Driel, Director and Client Solutions Specialist at UBS, joins us to break down key findings from the 2025 Global Entrepreneur Report, built on insights from over 150 UBS entrepreneur clients and network members. We explo...

As 2025 unfolds, what kind of economy is inheriting Trump 2.0? In this special episode featuring Paul Hsiao, UBS Asset Allocation Strategist, we dive into the latest Q1 2025 CEO Macro Briefing Book from the UBS Chief Investment Office, providing business owners with a high-level assessment of economic conditions, policy shifts, and market dynamics. With a resilient labor market, accommodative mone...

In this episode of Lightning in a Bottle, we sit down with Nick Adkins, healthcare tech entrepreneur and co-founder of PinkSocks. Life, to talk about life after an exit and the transition from building a company to building a movement. Nick shares his journey as a founder in the healthcare tech space, his experience exiting the company, and how he shifted gears to co-found PinkSocks, a global init...

In this episode, we’re joined by Senior Wealth Strategist, UBS Advanced Planning Group, Joyce Crivellari to explore preemptive planning strategies for founders. We discuss the looming sunset of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, business succession planning, and the evolving implications of the Corporate Transparency Act. Joyce also provides a valuable refresher on Qualified Small Business Stock, offering...

Cybersecurity isn’t just for the big players anymore—it’s a growing concern for businesses of all sizes. In this episode, we sit down with Morgan Kyauk from NightDragon, the leading VC firm specializing in cybersecurity, safety, and privacy, to break down today’s top threats and emerging innovations. We dive into the risks facing SMBs, how cyber threats can disrupt M&A transactions, and best p...

In this episode, we explore the role of rep and warranty (transaction) insurance in M&A and how it can help manage risks while keeping deals moving smoothly. Our guest, Matt Wiener, Managing Director with Aon’s M&A Transaction Solutions team (and true expert in this space), explains how this insurance works, its impact on deal structures, and how it can reduce the need for large escrow acc...

Business owners face a wide range of risks—some expected, others unforeseen. The absence or loss of a key employee can disrupt operations and revenue, while the sudden departure of an owner or co-founder due to death, disability, divorce, or retirement can jeopardize the company’s future. So how do you ensure business continuity, protect your company’s value, maintain ownership control, and avoid...

We’re going full legal eagle for this episode, bringing in Joe Walsh, seasoned M&A attorney with Selman, Munson & Lerner, to share his expertise and legal perspective for owners navigating the sale of a business. Joe represents buyers and sellers in M&A transactions involving both private and public businesses, specializing in negotiating with private equity, VC firms, investment banke...

When a business is in its growth phase, business owners often face a crucial decision of whether to raise capital through equity or debt. Since there are pros and cons to both, we decided to focus on the debt market for this episode, bringing in Mike Rudolph, Managing Director, KPMG Corporate Finance to provide some clarity. Together, we explore why a business owner would consider raising debt, th...

In Part II of our sell-side due diligence mini-series featuring Matt Bryce, Erin Horton, and Nico Bascunan with Alvarez & Marsal, we break down Operational Due Diligence (ODD), exploring its key components like business model investigation, scalability, and performance improvement opportunities. We also chat about why investors request ODD to uncover value, confirm costs, identify growth enabl...

Join us as we kick off Part 1 of our two-part series on sell-side due diligence featuring Grace Oh Auguste and Eric Renner from Alvarez & Marsal’s Global Transaction Advisory. During the episode we explore the crucial aspects of due diligence, what sellers can anticipate, and key focal points in financial/tax due diligence. Gain insights on optimizing transaction structures, identifying common...

Join us for a milestone episode of our Lightning in a Bottle podcast series! During this special edition, Josh sits down with Sean Hutchinson, Partner at Ready for Next Advisory Group, who brings over 25 years of experience in business strategy and value enhancement to the table. Sean tackles pressing questions from business owners who have been navigating through turbulent times, uncovering impac...

Discover the keys to uncommon success in this episode, where we delve into the world of wealth strategy for business owners and entrepreneurs. Join hosts Josh Pottinger and Justin Waring CFP®, UBS Senior Total Wealth Strategist, as they navigate the unique challenges faced by business owners before, during, and after a liquidity event. From understanding the distinctive needs of business owners in...

Join us as we sit down with Bianca Benedetti-Fang, Executive Director, UBS Business Owner Segment, to unravel key insights from the 2023 UBS Investor Watch – a report based on data from 500 business owners surveyed by UBS. We also navigate the unique challenges that female business owners encounter throughout the phases of building, growing, and selling their companies. Discover areas of financial...

Curious about family offices? Tune in to our latest podcast episode featuring Mark Tepsich, UBS Family Office Design & Governance Strategist. Throughout the episode we explore what family offices are, when to establish, and the varied approaches they take such as managing post-liquidity events and integrating businesses. We also discuss their shift from founder-centric models to including next...

In today’s episode, we have the honor of hosting James Jack, Managing Director of UBS's Business Owner Segment, a true expert in the world of business owners and entrepreneurship. Tune in to discover the latest findings from the latest UBS Investor Watch: Wind in your sails, exploring how business owners navigate challenges like higher interest rates and inflation. Gain expert advice on key bu...

Immerse yourself in the world of investment banking in this episode of Lightning in a Bottle. We’re joined by Brian from UBS Investment Banking, as we conduct a comprehensive exploration into this vital field. We dive into current industry trends, examine the art of capital raising, analyze the present M&A market, and discuss critical timelines to consider when planning to sell your business....

“In this exciting episode of Lightning in a Bottle, we take you behind the scenes at South by Southwest, one of the world's leading festivals for innovation and technology, set in the heart of Austin, Texas. Our format? Speed interviews! We chat with eight unique founders and business owners who've showcased their ventures at the festival, diving deep into their journeys, triumphs, and val...

Joining us today is Matthew Carter who is an Investment Strategist in our UBS Chief investment Office formulating research for business owners, executives and entrepreneurs. Matthew gives insight on different aspects of succession planning, the three part process of family succession, and what entrepreneurs need to consider during a liquidity event. This dynamic discussion will offer solutions tai...

Joining us today are Mark Achler and Mert Iseri, authors of book, Exit Right: How to Sell Your Startup, Maximize Your Return, and Build Your Legacy. Through strategic interviews with M&A leaders, attorneys, and founders-Exit Right provides a helpful roadmap for business owners to seek more successful exits with their companies. Furthermore, Marc and Mert discuss how trust becomes the ultimate...