7 Acquisitions Done — Buying Businesses on “Easy Mode” in 2025 (here’s why)

Buying a small business and raising the equity shouldn’t take a roadshow.In this episode, Donza Worden (ex–institutional PE, Clear Peak Capital) and Travis Jamison (multi-exit founder turned investor) break down how CapitalPad makes both sides easier:1) curated deal flow for accredited investors;2) and a streamlined path to capital for independent sponsors/searchers.Start deploying today with CapitalPad: https://capitalpad.com/ - A deal-by-deal private equity investing platformWe cover:00:00 Intro — making buying businesses & raising capital easier00:27 Danza’s path: IB/PE → Clear Peak → the CapitalPad problem02:01 Travis’s path: founder → exits → discovering SMB deals03:35 Why SMB acquisitions: return studies & the access gap05:11 The marketplace solution: deal flow + right-sized checks06:45 Build & launch timeline; choosing curation over “open”07:46 Fees & alignment: investors pay (20% carry + 1.5% close), sponsors free10:36 Curation filters: leverage, concentration, valuation, tough industries15:13 Do good deals fund? Understanding complexity & platform growth16:51 Searcher flow: teaser, VDR, interview, listing, go-live18:02 Investor experience: NDAs, Q&A, allocations, SPV mechanics19:54 Post-close: reporting discipline & early outcomes21:42 Portfolio design: illiquidity + diversify (expect some failures)22:45 Market temperature: pricing sanity, avoiding froth23:55 Common searcher mistakes; why post-LOI matters27:33 Beyond capital: better governance31:01 No pay-for-priority access; keeping incentives aligned32:14 Roadmap: expert LP involvement & operator supportSubscribe on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/6lr5bE3SNZF2uEE7Nb0DHh?si=cP_nAarhRmep1lvnR6uk5gSubscribe on Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/holdco-builders/id1695713724Follow Mikk/PrivatEquityGuy on Twitter: ⁠⁠https://x.com/PrivatEquityGuyThis podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions.