How I Built a Businesses Portfolio Which Does $1B in Revenue | Eran Efrat Interview

“Don’t stop trying…”Eran used to work as an airport security to pay the bills.Today, VerDiesel Group does $1 billion in revenue…Turns out that KFC and McDonald's used cooking oil can be VERY big business.Add biodiesel, biogas, feedstock… it gets HUGE.Everything we touched in the first 2-3 years failed. Everything. We tried to touch everything but we had no experience.Every time I did not have the money, I said I would find the money. I then went and found the money.We discuss:– 4 years of market research with no success– First serious breakthrough in 2012– Forming a partnership with a BIG petrochemical company with no money or experience– Importance of relationships00:00 - Intro00:42 - Company size, revenue, markets they serve with their products/services02:29 - Studying law at the University of Bologna, army, a bartender, moved from Israel to Italy in 200405:05 - How they found opportunities in early days - wind turbines, equipment for bicycles08:17 - Partnership. Relying on each other's strengthsand the job him and his partner did to cover bills in early days14:07 - 100+ meetings with people with 30-40 years of industry experience is why I'm here today22:09 - I know how to sell and solve problems with customers and suppliers40:10 - Big money business means big and expensive mistakes47:05 - The future of the VerDiesel Group53:49 - Be willing to give equity if it keeps your business alive56:06 - Much of my success is thanks to my wifeMy full conversation with Eran Efran , the co-founder of VerDiesel Group — Stream now.Follow PrivatEquityGuy on Twitter: https://x.com/PrivatEquityGuyJoin HoldCo Builders weekly newsletter on finding deals, raising capital, and growing small profitable niche businesses: ⁠⁠⁠https://privatequityguy.beehiiv.com/⁠Eran on Twitter: https://x.com/Eran_EfratThis podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions.