This Model Beats Private Equity Returns (30-50%+ IRR)

Running a business can feel like you're doing it all alone—but you don’t have to.Scalepath connects you with a private network of over 2,000 experienced operators, and CEO Rand Larsen will personally intro you to 3 like-minded business owners in your area.It’s part mastermind, part growth engine, part therapy.👉 Book your free intro call at https://www.joinscalepath.com/Want to grow your B2B business? Start with your inbox.Spacebar Studios builds B2B newsletters that drive pipeline, build authority, and generate real revenue.- 115k+ subs in compliance- 7-figure ARR from emailFirst 6 founders get theirs built free👉 Reserve your slot here: https://www.spacebarstudios.co/inquireWhat if the key to building real wealth wasn’t in startups or VC, but in buying simple, cash-flowing businesses?In this episode, we dive deep into the minds of Royce Yudkoff and Rick Ruback — the Harvard professors who quietly shaped the world of search funds and acquisition entrepreneurship. Their ETA class at HBS has launched hundreds of successful HoldCos and operators.We explore the two paths of search (funded vs. self-funded), why the multiple matters more than growth, what red flags kill deals, and how great operators build empires by holding longer.If you’ve ever thought about buying a business — this is the playbook.Timestamps:00:00:00 - Intro: The Hidden Giants Behind ETA00:01:01 - The Bifurcation of Search: Funded vs. Self-Funded00:05:23 - Sponsor: Scalepath00:06:16 - The Magic Is in the Multiples, Not Growth00:09:51 - What to Look For: 5 Filters for Great Acquisitions00:13:58 - Sponsor: Spacebar Studios00:14:54 - Red Flags That Quietly Kill Deals00:19:01 - Where Real Growth Actually Comes From00:21:58 - Why Great Operators Still Sell Too Early00:25:51 - The Real Search Process (And Why It Works)00:29:45 - More Money Than Time: The Real Reason to Buy a Business----------------------------------------------Subscribe 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.