EP20: Fundraising, Acquisitions, & Market Valuations — What to Know and Critical Mistakes to Avoid

Fundraising, Acquisitions, & Market Valuations — What to Know and Critical Mistakes to Avoid - EP20 Subscribe to our newsletter! We drop weekly hot takes, totally unfiltered. Join us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://asompod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Thank you to Recharge for sponsoring the pod. Trusted by over 20,000 brands, Recharge is the #1 platform for your eCommerce subscription needs. Learn more at http://recharge.asompod.com/ Thank you to Salvit Advisors for sponsoring the pod. Salvit Advisors help eCommerce brands make profitable decisions by tailoring data-driven sights that are unique to your business. Learn more at https://www.salvit.com/ _______ This week’s episode of the ASOM Pod celebrates 20 episodes of podcasting magic with a no-nonsense, real-talk dive into fundraising, valuations, and business strategy. Hosts Jimmy Kim (CIO and Founder of Sendlane), John Roman (CEO & Co-Founder of BattlBox), Amer Grozdanic (CEO & Co-Founder of Praella), and Bryan MacDonald (Director of eCommerce at Oma's Pride) serve up personal stories, hard-earned lessons, and unfiltered advice on everything from startup funding to buying back businesses. If you’re a founder, operator, or just love a good business comeback story, this one’s for you. Listen in as the team breaks down: How Jimmy raised millions in startup funding—and the messy meetings along the way. Why EBITDA over revenue is key when it comes to business valuations. The wild story of John selling and buying back BattlBox—and why sometimes, the second time’s the charm. Build vs. Buy: When to develop in-house and when to purchase someone else’s solution. Why retention and recurring revenue are more valuable for valuations than hype. Planning for long-term wins—because sustainable growth beats overnight success every time. Future opportunities in elder care—an overlooked but promising market. How financial literacy empowers business leaders to make smarter decisions. This episode brings the perfect blend of real talk, practical tips, and founder energy. Whether you’re scaling, selling, or buying back, this conversation will leave you inspired and ready to take action.  _______ 00:00 Intro and Episode Kickoff 00:14 Podcasting Success Rates and Milestones 01:00 Host Introductions and Show Overview 01:56 Community Engagement and Upcoming Events 02:28 Fundraising Journey and Challenges 04:40 Valuation Realities and Market Trends 10:04 Agency Valuations and Retention Strategies 15:28 Family Business Dynamics and Growth 20:54 Acquisition Stories and Lessons Learned 24:16 The Buyback Dilemma 25:57 Founder Stories: Tony Shea and Zappos 26:51 Amers Agency Journey 30:46 The Challenges of Acquisitions 38:43 The Importance of Distribution 39:11 Future Opportunities in Elderly Care 43:57 Concluding Thoughts and Advice _____ Follow Jimmy Kim at:  X:  https://www.twitter.com/yojimmykim  Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/yojimmykim IG: https://www.instagram.com/@yojimmykim  Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yojimmykim Follow Bryan MacDonald at: X: https://www.twitter.com/bryanomaspride LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryan-macdonald-ct IG: https://www.instagram.com/@anythingbutasalad Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@anythingbutasalad Follow John Roman at:  X: https://www.twitter.com/@JohnMRoman Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-roman/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/@johnnyromes Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@johnmroman Follow Amer Grozdanic at:  X: https://www.twitter.com/@AmerGrozdanic Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amer-grozdanic IG: https://www.instagram.com/@amergrozdanic Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@amergrozdanic Contact us at [email protected] for sponsorships, appearance requests, interviews, or general information! Subscribe to our newsletter! We drop weekly hot takes, totally unfiltered. Join us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://asompod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠