What happens after you sell your company for millions and walk away with no earnout? In this episode, Bruce Eckfeldt sits down with Thomas Michael, a former SAP consultant turned founder who scaled an online training company and exited with a clean deal. Thomas shares how he transformed his business into a subscription model, prepared for acquisition with precision, and what surprised him most after the sale. A must-listen for founders planning their own exits.

Frank Williamson, CEO of Oaklyn Consulting, joins Bruce Eckfeldt to explore what happens when a business stagnates—performing decently, but not meeting growth or exit expectations. He shares real-world insights on managing misaligned cap tables, preparing for strategic exits, and dealing with investor pressure. Frank offers clear tactics to transform underperforming assets into saleable opportunities, making this episode a must-listen for founder-CEOs navigating the murky middle of the M&A landscape.

In this episode of From Angel to Exit, serial entrepreneur Sam Arman shares how he built and sold multiple companies—sometimes under pressure, sometimes for massive wins. From his first computer assembly business disrupted by Dell to a 10X private equity-backed exit during COVID, Sam reveals the emotional and strategic pitfalls founders face in M&A. He dives into how to choose the right buyer, protect your team’s morale, and leverage “second bites of the apple” to multiply your returns. His hard-earned lessons give founder-CEOs a blueprint for maximizing value while avoiding costly mistakes in high-stakes exits.

In this episode, Lysle Wickersham shares his journey from creative director to scaling a $170M agency and navigating multiple exits. As founder and CEO, he emphasizes the power of brand equity in driving enterprise value and achieving successful exits. Lysle breaks down how early-stage businesses can align positioning, brand strategy, and operations to create sustainable growth and higher transaction multiples. His insights bridge the gap between creativity and financial value, offering practical strategies for founder-CEOs preparing to scale or exit.

David Turner, CEO of Velocity Now and former CRO at IHS, joins the show to unpack what truly drives successful business exits. With firsthand experience leading 47 acquisitions and scaling IHS from $320M to $1.8B, David offers rare insight into the buyer’s mindset. Founders will gain actionable strategies to prepare for sale, avoid common missteps, and understand how to position their company for maximum value.

In this episode, Leslie Kraatz Adams shares the remarkable journey of scaling and exiting Federal Metals, a third-generation scrap metal business. Starting with deep family roots and evolving industry dynamics, Leslie transformed the company from a local scrapyard into a major regional player in Western Canada. She candidly discusses leadership challenges, navigating family dynamics, preparing for sale, and her pivot into health and wellness entrepreneurship with her new venture, At Work of Heart.

From washing cars as a teen to selling a business with over $290M in sales, Calvin Johnson’s entrepreneurial journey is nothing short of remarkable. In this episode, Calvin shares how he built and exited Lykki, an office supply and coffee delivery company, and the key lessons he learned around culture, technology, and timing. Founders looking to scale smart and exit well will gain real-world insights into M&A strategy, deal preparation, and post-exit purpose.

In this episode, Bruce Eckfeldt interviews Jordan Youkilis, founding partner of Key Investment Partners, to explore how cannabis investing offers unique challenges and opportunities for founders. Jordan shares his journey from traditional finance to cannabis private equity, highlighting lessons in capital deployment, deal structuring, and scaling businesses in tightly regulated environments.

Serial entrepreneur Pete Martin joins the show to unpack his journey across four business exits, including a standout 12x EBITDA sale to KPMG. Drawing from both personal and professional highs and lows, Pete shares powerful lessons on building scalable, values-driven companies, designing for exit, and avoiding the common pitfalls that sabotage founder success. From crafting a cultural manifesto to structuring clean financials, this episode is a masterclass in M&A readiness for founder-CEOs.

Alan McLaren, Co-founder of Strata Originals, shares his journey from corporate leadership to entrepreneurial success. In this episode, he reveals how he scaled two marketing agencies, built a powerful personal branding firm, and supports founders preparing for strategic business exits. Alan discusses M&A readiness, founder well-being, and how personal branding plays a crucial role in business growth and exit strategies.

Ross Shanken, founder and former CEO of Jornaya, shares the story behind building a pioneering lead verification platform and guiding it to a nine-figure exit. In this episode of From Angel to Exit, Ross unpacks the strategic frameworks, operational challenges, and personal insights that fueled his success—from initial market entry to final acquisition. It's a must-listen for founder-CEOs aiming to scale confidently and exit smartly.

In this episode of From Angel to Exit, Bruce Eckfeldt speaks with entrepreneur and investor Joshua Maidan, whose journey from Colombia to New York led to the creation of a high-end coffee brand with international acclaim. Maidan shares how he scaled the business using real estate savvy, aggressive strategy, and deep operational structure. The episode centers on how misaligned visions and lack of corporate governance led to a pivotal exit—and how those lessons now guide his investment philosophy and deal execution.

In this sharp and candid episode of From Angel to Exit, Bruce Eckfeldt interviews Bill Snow, Managing Director at Focus Investment Banking and author of several books on M&A. With nearly two decades of experience in the middle market, Bill shares blunt truths and practical advice on what it really takes to sell a business. From valuation myths to private equity dynamics, this episode is packed with critical insights for founder-CEOs planning to scale and exit.

In this compelling episode of From Angel to Exit, Bruce Eckfeldt interviews Vlada Lotkina, founder of ClassTag, an EdTech platform that transformed parent-teacher communication. From her entrepreneurial upbringing in Ukraine to a successful exit in the U.S., Vlada shares the challenges of monetizing in the K-12 sector, navigating a failed M&A, and rethinking her strategy for venture number two. Founder-CEOs will find inspiration and pragmatic lessons in her candid account of scaling a mission-driven business with resilience and clarity.

In this episode of From Angel to Exit, host Bruce Eckfeldt sits down with Eddie Geller, serial entrepreneur and founder of Unique World, to unpack the gritty, insightful journey from launching early web services to a high-stakes M&A exit. Geller candidly shares the highs and lows of scaling a business, from client concentration pitfalls to post-acquisition culture clashes. This episode is rich with takeaways for founder-CEOs aiming to build, scale, and eventually exit their businesses strategically and successfully.

In this episode of From Angel to Exit, Bruce Eckfeldt speaks with serial entrepreneur Shreesha Ramdas about his journey from risk-averse engineer to founder of multiple successful startups. Shreesha shares his unique “startup fitness” framework, lessons from bootstrapping LeadFormix through to its acquisition by SAP, and his current work with Lumber, a workforce optimization platform for the construction industry. Founders will gain deep insight into scaling deliberately, building with an exit in mind, and leveraging partnerships for strategic growth.

Shawn Freeman, founder of a successful managed service provider (MSP), joins Bruce Eckfeldt to share his journey from launching a tech side hustle to scaling a $5M business and executing a 1.4x revenue exit. He reflects on key inflection points in leadership, recurring revenue strategy, and the emotional and operational complexities of being acquired. Shawn’s insights are essential for founder-CEOs preparing for strategic exits.

 In this episode of From Angel to Exit, Bruce Eckfeldt speaks with Suren Kapse, a seasoned advisor and coach specializing in M&A and exit strategies. Suren shares hard-earned insights on how founders can prepare for successful exits, whether selling for people, assets, scale, or client access. He also unpacks how buyers evaluate cultural fit, valuation dynamics, and when to go international. A must-listen for CEOs planning to scale or exit.

Todd Taskey, an M&A advisor and angel investor, joins Bruce Eckfeldt to discuss the nuances of business exits and private equity partnerships. Taskey explains the importance of structuring deals to optimize cash, equity, and earnouts. He highlights how founders can use a sale to accelerate growth rather than just exit, and shares real-world examples of successful second-bite opportunities. This episode is packed with strategic insights for founders looking to navigate the complexities of M&A and maximize the value of their business sale.

In this episode of From Angel to Exit, host Bruce Eckfeldt sits down with Darren Mass, the founder of Mass Communications, to discuss his entrepreneurial journey from launch to acquisition. Darren shares how his early fascination with engineering led him to build a successful telecom company, the strategies he used to scale, and the key decision points that led to a $40 million exit. He also reflects on life post-sale, the challenges of transitioning from CEO to employee, and his new mission helping entrepreneurs navigate growth and exit planning.