EP 116: How M&A, Product Innovation, and Family Legacy Built a $100M Industrial Platform

Drew Allen didn’t start Grace Technologies — he inherited it.But stepping into a family business isn’t just a continuation. It’s pressure: legacy, expectations, and the challenge of evolving something that already works without breaking it.In this episode, Drew shares what it’s really like taking over as CEO of a family-founded industrial tech company, and the mindset shift required when preservation meets reinvention.From international experience in Hong Kong to leading a U.S. Midwest manufacturing and safety tech business, he breaks down how Grace Technologies evolved from a traditional engineering firm into a full-stack industrial innovation platform.At the core of it all is a bigger question: How do you make a “boring business” not boring, and why does that transformation matter more than it seems?Why It Matters:This isn’t just a family business story; it’s about turning inherited structure into a system that can innovate.Drew shows that scale isn’t only driven by capital or speed, but by control of technology, clarity of vision, and building systems that evolve faster than the market.In industrial sectors — safety, manufacturing, infrastructure — most people overlook that adaptability can be the difference between downtime and danger.----------------------------------Raising capital?Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here: https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=EP+116&utm_campaign=%24100M+Exits  Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips:https://blog.thunder.vc/funding-101?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=EP+116&utm_campaign=%24100M+Exits  ABOUT DREW ALLEN Drew Allen is the CEO of Grace Technologies, where he leads the development and global distribution of innovative industrial technologies. A recipient of the National Association of Manufacturers’ 2020 Next-Generation Leadership Award, Drew has built his career around business development, international sales, product innovation, and family business leadership.Beyond Grace Technologies, Drew also serves as CEO of Percev, LLC and sits on the advisory board of Atom Power, bringing a strong passion for technology, product design, and scaling impactful businesses worldwide.You can reach out to Drew through:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allendrew Website: https://www.graceport.com ABOUT JASON KIRBYJason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder, a tech-enabled investment bank helping founders reach their ideal target outcomes through capital strategy and M&A. He is a serial entrepreneur with four exits and decades of experience in fundraising, M&A, and business building. In his career, he has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, M&A, and business development. He’s transacted over $135M, and his firm Thunder has transacted over $200M+You can reach out to Jason through:Email: [email protected]: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/ABOUT $100M EXITSMy goal is simple: to equip founders with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of capital strategy to take your company where you ultimately want it, by interviewing founders and investors who have already done it. For most, it’s a dream to sell for $100M+, but for others, it’s too cash flow or IPO. Founders doing over $5M in revenue will benefit the most from this podcast. Be sure to subscribe and let me know who you want me to interview next.