Build and Exit

David B Horne - Why only 1.9% of females successfully secure funding

Gender bias exists when applying for funding in the venture capital industry.
 
It’s a fact, women are less likely than men to not only succeed in getting funding but for applying for it in the first place.
 
This disadvantage is something that has driven my guest in this episode, David B Horne, to help rectify. David is the Founder of Funding Focus, a social enterprise whose mission is to level the uneven playing field that female and underrepresented entrepreneurs face when raising capital.
 
He shares the shocking statistics behind this disadvantage and why women get less funding and don’t want to go for it in the first place. He also gives his advice on how to level the playing field when pitching to investors.
 
This is not to be missed if you are a woman looking to apply for funding.
 
“The level of funding to female founders is currently 1.9%” – David B Horne
 
Timestamps
 
02:07 - Why do women get less funding?
04:50 - An introduction to David
07:52 - Why don't women go for funding?
14:20 - Advice to women starting the process
18:21 - David's advice for pitching to investors
21:01 - David's thoughts on pitching competitions
22:34 - Funding for the M&A journey
25:33 - How David helps female founders
 
Connect with David B Horne:
 
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-b-horne/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/davidbhorne/
Linktree - https://linktr.ee/DavidBHorne
 
Connect With Julie Wilkinson
 
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliewilkinson-accounting/
Tik Tok – https://www.tiktok.com/@wasolutions
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUvq6gfNoP_4dfIJulL6C6A
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/wilkinsonaccountingsolutions
Website - https://wilkinsonaccountingsolutions.co.uk/
 
Before you go, don’t forget to leave a comment and review if you got something out of this episode!

Kemi Egan - £677,000 unknown tax liabilities due to fraudulent pension scheme uncovered

What’s the worst thing that could happen during an acquisition?
 
Up there at the top must be finding fraud from the seller.
 
Kemi Egan is my guest in this episode, and she found just this during one of her acquisitions. A seller was using a fraudulent pension scheme discovered by HMRC. Even then during the legal process the seller, and their defence have denied any wrongdoing despite evidence to the contrary.
 
Kemi shares the stress this caused her and what has been happening since. She also shares her wealth of experience, having completed 30 acquisitions in the last 5 years with 10 exits. As well as what she learned from this experience.
 
“Every step it was just so irrational” – Kemi Egan
 
Timestamps
 
01:39 - An introduction to Kemi
03:26 - How Kemi got into M&A
11:04 - Kemi on discovering fraudulent activities
19:51 - Was the business owner aware of fraud?
21:19 - What Kemi learnt from the experience
23:52 - Is there anything that could have been done differently?
25:16 - Julie on how to track changes
28:29 - Kemi's current acquisitions                                       
 
Connect with Kemi Egan:
 
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kemiegan/
Linktree - https://linktr.ee/kemiegan
 
 
Connect With Julie Wilkinson
 
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliewilkinson-accounting/
Tik Tok – https://www.tiktok.com/@wasolutions
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUvq6gfNoP_4dfIJulL6C6A
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/wilkinsonaccountingsolutions
Website - https://wilkinsonaccountingsolutions.co.uk/
 
Before you go, don’t forget to leave a comment and review if you got something out of this episode!

Al Zucker - Deal fails due to deteriorated assets that drained cash reserves

Many sellers have no idea how resilient their business is going into the sale.
 
This can massively impact the final valuation of the business, but you can avoid this if you have things set up the right way to sell.
 
In this episode I am joined by Al Zucker a Lawyer that helps entrepreneurs and firms raise, acquire and exit successfully. He has seen a lot of bad deals, and he gives insights into why this happens. From experiences with deteriorated assets to why no money down deals aren’t what they are cracked up to be.
 
Al gives you the reasons why balance sheets, due diligence and heads of terms are so important for a deal going through and he shares his doomsday scenarios.
 
“Your balance sheet tells you how resilient you are” – Al Zucker
 
Timestamps
 
01:45 - An introduction to Al
03:26 - The difference between equity and debt
06:20 - Levels of equity
12:06 - Al's view on no money down deals
17:52 - The doomsday scenario
22:11 - Al experience with deteriorated assets
26:51 - Diligence and terms sheets
31:52 - Julie on linked companies
 
Connect with Al Zucker:
 
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ajzucker/
 
Connect With Julie Wilkinson
 
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliewilkinson-accounting/
Tik Tok – https://www.tiktok.com/@wasolutions
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUvq6gfNoP_4dfIJulL6C6A
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/wilkinsonaccountingsolutions
Website - https://wilkinsonaccountingsolutions.co.uk/
 
Before you go, don’t forget to leave a comment and review if you got something out of this episode!

Marc Adams - £3m cost saving on outsourcing activities

You can cash out of your business tax free, so you get the amount you need to retire and support your family’s future.
 
The problem is many don’t know how to get there.
 
In this episode I am joined by Marc Adams, a visionary entrepreneur, acclaimed author, who explains how to do just that. Marc is an expert in business transformation, and as the CEO of Acquisitions 4 U, Marc specializes in helping businesses unlock their full potential, multiply their value, and achieve tax-free exits.
 
Listen as Marc emphasizes the importance of saving money by outsourcing tasks and optimizing marketing efforts. He highlights the potential of acquisitions to quickly grow a business and increase its value. He also advises business owners to consider structuring their business sales to minimize tax liabilities and protect their assets.
 
And as a special bonus Marc offers his book for FREE to our podcast listeners, check out the offer at the end of the episode.
 
“You don't need to write big checks on day one to do an acquisition” – Marc Adams
 
Timestamps
 
01:20 - An introduction to Marc
08:56 - Saving Money and Increasing Profitability
15:32 - Effective Marketing Strategies for Business Growth
27:46 - Maximizing Value through Personal Tax Planning
32:05 - Protecting Assets for Future Generations
35:49 - Offer: Free Copy of Marc's Book
 
Connect with Marc
 
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/1marcadams/
Acquisitions4you - https://acquisitions4you.com/
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@1marcadams
 
Read Marc’s book - Secrets To 10Xing Your Business: And Cashing Out Tax-Free
 
https://rb.gy/4vzcee
 
Get your FREE copy by emailing Marc at marc@acquisitions4you.com
 
*This offer is only available within 2 weeks of the episode going live*
 
Connect With Julie Wilkinson
 
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliewilkinson-accounting/
Tik Tok – https://www.tiktok.com/@wasolutions
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUvq6gfNoP_4dfIJulL6C6A
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/wilkinsonaccountingsolutions
Website - https://wilkinsonaccountingsolutions.co.uk/
 
Before you go, don’t forget to leave a comment and review if you got something out of this episode!

Steve Lawrence - Resigned from a job to close an acquisition that failed

Acquisitions can be an opportunity to change your career.
 
But what if you quit your job and the deal falls through?
 
You’re left with no job and no deal.
 
This is exactly what happened to my guest in this episode, Steve Lawrence. The seller decided not to go ahead at the last-minute leaving Steve in the lurch.
 
Steve shares the ups and downs of his acquisition experience from his first failed acquisition to then finding the company he went on to buy through a Google search. He talks about the struggles and the positives after the acquisition went through, as well as his huge learning curve of why heads of terms are so important.
 
“The deal just completely fell out” – Steve Lawrence
 
Timestamps
 
01:49 - Steve's failed acquisition
03:39 - An introduction to Steve
07:32 - Did Steve get any reimbursements?
08:30 - Steve's successful acquisition
13:48 - The importance of heads of terms
17:41 - Post acquisition struggles
24:14 - Advice on small term loans
27:03 - Post acquisition positives      
 
Connect with Steve
 
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/uncomplicatedsteve/
Uncomplicated Group - https://www.uncomplicatedgroup.co.uk/
 
Connect With Julie Wilkinson
 
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliewilkinson-accounting/
Tik Tok – https://www.tiktok.com/@wasolutions
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUvq6gfNoP_4dfIJulL6C6A
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/wilkinsonaccountingsolutions
Website - https://wilkinsonaccountingsolutions.co.uk/
 
Before you go, don’t forget to leave a comment and review if you got something out of this episode!

Judith Hamilton & Christine Nicholson - £5m in debt because of hidden receipts

Imagine not even knowing you are about to go bankrupt.
 
Many business owners don’t know what is going with their accounts. With £5 million pounds of debt and another £1 million in stocks that anyone could have taken, this was the reality for one business.
 
In this episode I am joined by Judith Hamilton and Christine Nicholson, 2 brilliant women working in the exit planning and financial world. We share our experiences working with businesses and what needs to be in place for a well-structured exit.
 
We also discuss what corporate governance is and why it matters for businesses and exit plans, what you should be looking for in people and why you need to keep your processes simple.
 
“By the time I opened all the envelopes, have discovered that this business was £5 million in debt” – Christine Nicholson
 
Timestamps
 
00:58 - An introduction to Judith and Christine
04:50 - What does processing systems mean?
08:39 - Start with simple processes
12:13 - The key things around controls
20:09 - Governance information needed at exit
26:45 - What you should be looking for with people
31:06 - The 2 biggest things Julie's sees in exits
 
Connect with Judith
 
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/judith-hamilton/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/judith_evimero/
 
Connect with Christine
 
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-nicholson/
Christine’s website - https://christinenicholson.co.uk/
Get Exit Ready - https://getexitready.co.uk/
 
Connect With Julie Wilkinson
 
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliewilkinson-accounting/
Tik Tok – https://www.tiktok.com/@wasolutions
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUvq6gfNoP_4dfIJulL6C6A
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/wilkinsonaccountingsolutions
Website - https://wilkinsonaccountingsolutions.co.uk/
 
Before you go, don’t forget to leave a comment and review if you got something out of this episode!

Nigel Carley - Why investing in fractional ownership differs to time share

Most businesses are built from people’s dreams. The challenge is taking it from that dream to reality.
 
In this episode I am joined by Nigel Carley who has achieved this through creating The Pinelli Group, as he approached retirement. A company that sells properties in Italy through fractional ownership.
 
Nigel fell in love with Italy over his career with Alfa Romeo and through hard work and investing his time he found the right properties that would allow him to create the business he dreamed of.
 
He shares his story on how he created the business, found the properties and transitioned from retirement to business owner.
 
“Everyone I spoke to literally said, you're absolutely bonkers” – Nigel Carley
 
Timestamps
 
02:16 – A personal story of how The Pinelli Group started
11:07 – Successful businesses are built off of dreams
17:30 – Transitioning from retirement plan to business
23:00 – Making it affordable for investors
30:20 – How Nigel’s mindset changed
34:44 – You have to put in the hard work to create change
37:47 – Did Nigel face any negativity?
40:34 – What properties does Nigel currently have
 
Connect with Nigel
 
The Pinelli Group - https://thepinelligroup.com/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/thepinelligroup
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thepinelligroup/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nigel-carley-94a024298/
 
Connect With Julie Wilkinson
 
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliewilkinson-accounting/
Tik Tok – https://www.tiktok.com/@wasolutions
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUvq6gfNoP_4dfIJulL6C6A
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/wilkinsonaccountingsolutions
Website - https://wilkinsonaccountingsolutions.co.uk/
 
Before you go, don’t forget to leave a comment and review if you got something out of this episode!

Meena Kumari Adnani - Losing everything to hitting 7 figures

Financial freedoms means different things to everybody. Achieving it means living the life you want but imagine having it and then losing it all.
 
In this episode I am joined by Meena Adnani, who worked hard against the expectations those around her had. She was judged, because of being a woman and also because of her cultural background. All of which she blocked out to reach her dreams and achieve financial freedom.
 
She reveals how she lost everything to then build her life back up and reach 7 figures. And she shares how she achieved this, the connection between self-worth and net worth and the importance of a growth mindset.
 
“All the money that I saved until I was 46 was gone” – Meena Adnani
 
 
Timestamps
 
02:09 – The importance of adversity to Meena
05:50 – Meena’s constant need to prove herself
12:03 – Meena on coping with financial loss
18:07 – Julie’s personal healing journey
22:03 – Meena on overcoming financial loss
28:25 – The importance of a growth mindset
 
Connect with Meena
 
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/meena-kumari-adnani/
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/STRONGANDSHINE
Strong and Shine - https://www.strongandshine.com/
Linktree - https://linktr.ee/meenakumariadnani
The Comeback Masterclass - https://www.strongandshine.com/the-comeback
 
Connect With Julie Wilkinson
 
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliewilkinson-accounting/
Tik Tok – https://www.tiktok.com/@wasolutions
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUvq6gfNoP_4dfIJulL6C6A
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/wilkinsonaccountingsolutions
Website - https://wilkinsonaccountingsolutions.co.uk/
 
Before you go, don’t forget to leave a comment and review if you got something out of this episode!

Della Kirkman - How buying a job built her wealth

Imagine going from waitress to financial freedom all through acquisitions.
 
That is exactly what my guest in this episode, Della Kirkman, achieved. She found a way to buy small businesses and grow them organically to build and exit. She is now on a mission to supports 10,000 women to build wealth through acquisition.
 
In this episode Della reveals how she achieved financial freedom through acquisitions, and how she changed her career from waitress to business owner. She also shares her experiences in making the deals and what her top tips are for anyone looking to take the leap into entrepreneurship.
 
 
“I bought a job and grew that organically and was able to exit” – Della Kirkman
 
Timestamps
 
01:47 – From waitress to business owner
04:38 – What the deal structure looked like
07:30 - Buying and selling with creative financing strategies
10:55 – How Della’s deal worked
12:30 – The power of confidence in making deals
16:55 – Della’s top tips for becoming a business owner
 
Connect with Della
 
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dellakirkmancpa/
Shift-n-Gears - https://www.shift-n-gears.com/
Shift-n-Gears Newsletter - https://www.shift-n-gears.com/newsletter
9 Steps to selling your business - https://www.shift-n-gears.com/9-steps-to-selling-your-businessDella's Acquisition Expressway - https://www.dellakirkman.com/a/2147831762/qLE3Joz6
 
Connect With Julie Wilkinson
 
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliewilkinson-accounting/
Tik Tok – https://www.tiktok.com/@wasolutions
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@wilkinsonaccountingsolutio4018
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/wilkinsonaccountingsolutions
Website - https://wilkinsonaccountingsolutions.co.uk/
 
Before you go, don’t forget to leave a comment and review if you got something out of this episode!

Kush Birdi - Managing cashflow risk post-acquisition

Acquisitions would be far easier if all sellers were educated on what’s involved.
 
Knowing what happens post-acquisition is part of the learning that needs to happen to secure a successful deal.
 
In this episode Kush Birdi and I discuss the importance of KPI based target setting and why you should audit the legal aspects of your deals. We also share why being truthful is so important for the seller to ensure the buyer sees your business as a good deal. We also talk about the fact that selling in full is not your only option for a happy retirement.
 
“You’ve got to know the truth” – Julie Wilkinson
 
Timestamps
 
02:41 - What post acquisition integration involves  
04:52 - Why targets need to come from KPIs
06:39 - Auditing your legals
08:52 - Why sellers need to know the truth
11:09 - Why you need to invest in the right resources         
14:51 - Becoming a more educated seller
 
Connect with Kush Birdi
 
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kushbirdi/
X - https://twitter.com/KushBirdi
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/BirdiandCoSolicitors/
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnxnIW2dWuwRRMTLC4-tUhg 
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/birdiandcosolicitors/
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@birdiandcosolicitors
Birdilaw - https://birdilaw.com/
 
Connect With Julie Wilkinson
 
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliewilkinson-accounting/
Tik Tok – https://www.tiktok.com/@wasolutions
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@wilkinsonaccountingsolutio4018
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/wilkinsonaccountingsolutions
Website - https://wilkinsonaccountingsolutions.co.uk/
 
Before you go, don’t forget to leave a comment and review if you got something out of this episode!