{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/651b0df875e52b001192e36d/699cd4eb3a5156c5d2bd556d?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"E50: From Acquired Founder to Serial Acquirer at Veza Digital","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/651b0df875e52b001192e36d/1771943564042-c8fe9049-dbe8-4b7b-900f-77f4b5ade814.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p>In this episode, Yannick Lorenz uncovers his remarkable transition from building Shadow Digital to leading Vesa Digital’s aggressive M&amp;A and growth strategy. He talks openly about the ups and downs of agency life, the importance of building a sellable business, and stepping into a strategic role in acquisitions—all fueled by lessons learned the hard way.</p><p><br></p><p>Key Topics:</p><ul><li>How Yannick built Shadow Digital from a freelance side hustle into a successful agency</li><li>The pivotal moment when he realized the value of making his business sellable</li><li>The lessons learned from hitting rock bottom during a major agency crisis in 2020</li><li>The unique approach Vesa Digital takes to agency roll-ups and the concept of the VAN (Vesa Agency Network) strategy</li><li>Creative deal structures and the importance of leaving chips on the table during acquisitions</li><li>How Yannick is leveraging his CEO experience to now lead Vesa’s inorganic &amp; M&amp;A efforts</li><li>The impact of self-sourcing deals and avoiding traditional private equity pathways</li><li>Navigating culture fit, valuation, and deal negotiations with founders</li><li>Practical advice for founders about financial literacy, recurring revenue focus, and deal-making mindset</li></ul><p><br></p><p>Timestamps:</p><p>(0:13) The rapid evolution of Claude AI and setting up local coding interfaces</p><p>(1:27) The magic of task stacking versus answer approximation in Claude</p><p>(3:05) Introducing Yannick Lorenz and his entry into agency growth and exit</p><p>(4:26) Yannick’s background: from Germany to founder in California</p><p>(6:10) Building Shadow Digital: from side hustle to agency</p><p>(8:38) The turning point: landing a $20,000 deal and scaling</p><p>(11:26) Navigating the 2020 crisis and the push toward specialization</p><p>(12:24) Scaling rapidly with Webflow before the crash</p><p>(13:47) A major realization: building a business to sell and the importance of cash flow</p><p>(15:15) How Yannick connected with Vesa during a cold outreach mistake</p><p>(17:19) The evaluation process: fit, culture, and professionalism</p><p>(20:05) From lifestyle agency to a growth-focused exit plan</p><p>(22:14) Strategies for leaving cash in the business before an exit</p><p>(23:23) Reflecting on the emotional rollercoaster of entrepreneurship</p><p>(25:21) Learning the inorganic &amp; M&amp;A game from top experts</p><p>(27:48) Vesa’s current inorganic growth strategy and future plans</p><p>(29:55) Creative deal structures in agency acquisitions ($500K–$1M range)</p><p>(34:15) Lessons on being an empathetic versus aggressive acquirer</p><p>(36:25) Why financial literacy and recurring revenue are vital for deals</p><p>(38:35) How interested founders can connect with Yannick for opportunities</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Connect with Christian and Ayelet</strong></p><p>Ayelet’s LinkedIn: <a href=\"https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayelet-shipley-b16330149/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayelet-shipley-b16330149/</a></p><p>Christian's LinkedIn: <a href=\"https://www.linkedin.com/in/hassold/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://www.linkedin.com/in/hassold/</a></p><p>Web: <a href=\"https://www.inorganicpodcast.co\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://www.inorganicpodcast.co</a></p><p>In/organic on YouTube: <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/@InorganicPodcast/featured\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://www.youtube.com/@InorganicPodcast/featured</a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>Connect with Yannick Lorenz on LinkedIn</strong></p><p><a href=\"https://www.linkedin.com/in/shadowyaya/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://www.linkedin.com/in/shadowyaya/</a></p>","author_name":"Christian Hassold & Ayelet Shipley"}