Trust But Verify: Darrin Yee’s Leap from Pet-Sitting Startup to Private-Equity Deal Maker

In this episode of Beyond the Leap, host Brenda Jones talks with Darrin Yee, Chief Investment Officer at EverBridge Capital and co-founder of the Orange County JV real-estate community. Darrin traces his path from “Dudes & Dogs” college dog-sitting to buying, scaling, and exiting physical-therapy clinics—before pivoting into funding Main-Street acquisitions. He explains why trust, but verify guides every loan he underwrites and how the coming “silver tsunami” of retiring baby-boomer owners is the biggest wealth-transfer opportunity of our era.Together, Brenda and Darrin unpack:Dog-Sitter to Deal-Maker – turning a side hustle into two profitable clinics and a private-equity exit—then being fired and finding freedom in business lending.Buying the Boomers’ Businesses – 10–12 k owners retire daily; here’s how to spot, fund, and 3-4× sleepy cash-flow businesses.Trust-But-Verify Toolkit – credit/background screens, three-year financials, DSCR math, and why restaurants & Amazon FBAs rarely pass the test.Bridge-to-SBA Playbook – using short-term bridge loans, seller finance, and creative structures when a company’s books are a mess.Mindset & Mentorship – leveraging Pace Morby’s community, building OC JV to pay wisdom forward, and why “grit” beats pedigree every time.If you’re ready to turn disciplined due diligence into generational wealth—and use capital to buy freedom, not just assets—hit play, take notes, and start trusting and verifying today.