Views From the Market Episode 144 - First-Time Searcher to Full-Time CEO: Anatomy of a Successful Acquisition
Sep 25, 2025
In this engaging discussion, David To, the founder of Lnkd Capital and CEO of AT Safety Training, shares his entrepreneurial journey from the apparel industry to successful business acquisition. He details his extensive search strategy, exploring 16-20 sectors and employing a unique email campaign that led him to AT Safety Training. David emphasizes the importance of relationship-building with business owners and navigating emotional ties during the acquisition. He also reflects on his first days as CEO and the growth opportunities ahead for his newly acquired company.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Raise Fast By Calling Investors
- Raise a traditional search fund by preparing a clear PPM and proactively calling investors.
- Move quickly to connect with appropriate investors and pick up the phone early in the process.
Narrow Your Sector List
- Build a focused sector list before launching outreach and include areas that match your skills and investor expectations.
- Limit your initial target list to manageable sectors to avoid overbuilding your tech stack.
Email Engine Scales Proprietary Flow
- A high-volume email tech stack can accelerate proprietary deal flow but may be overbuilt for one searcher.
- Expect campaign optimization to improve responses over multiple touches.