{"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/69f4ca2bad98579289b0ab1c?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"E59: A Mystery Strategic Buyer Is Coming for Independents, Brkthru's x Gigawatt & Instacart Deal","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/651b0df875e52b001192e36d/1777649645653-f39cd9c9-e330-4e85-97b8-97d303bbc73e.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p>Something big is coming!...</p><p><br></p><p>Water cooler conversations at the Possible conference are pointing to a major deal announcement in the next two weeks — a strategic buyer nobody has seen coming, going after independent agencies with significant media underspend. Christian and Ayelet are on the story. Stay close.</p><p><br></p><p>But first: two deals, two market insights from the Ad Age House session at Possible, and one very clean example of how a bootstrapped independent agency is running corp dev with zero institutional capital behind it.</p><p><br></p><p>Two deals. One major tease. Under 16 minutes.</p><p><br></p><p>⏱️ TIMESTAMPS</p><p>0:00 — Post-Possible recovery, thank yous, and let's get into it</p><p>0:37 — Market insight #1: Rollups in fragmented categories are the PE thesis right now</p><p>2:00 — Why PE backs away when two players already control 40% of a category</p><p>2:30 — Market insight #2: AI is breaking reps and warranties in M&amp;A deals</p><p>4:00 — The 12-18 month outlook: legacy media consolidation, take privates, dry powder still parked</p><p>5:20 — Deal #1: Brkthru acquires Gigawatt — bootstrapped agency runs corp dev in-house</p><p>7:00 — Why Breakthrough's January acquisition announcement was genius top-of-funnel</p><p>8:00 — The vertical thesis: hospitality and tourism, low-risk test case deal</p><p>9:00 — You don't need institutional capital to run an M&amp;A strategy</p><p>9:48 — Deal #2: Instacart acquires InstaLeap — grocery tech, international expansion</p><p>11:00 — What Instacart actually bought (it's not just international coverage)</p><p>12:00 — Storefront Pro vs. InstaLeap: two different operating models for two different markets</p><p>13:00 — The 100 retailer relationships across 30 countries are the real asset</p><p>13:30 — Instacart's full M&amp;A cadence: 2021 through 2026</p><p>14:17 — Props to the corp dev team, PMI advisor, and GP Bullhound sell-side</p><p>15:47 — 🚨 The tease: a mystery strategic buyer is coming for independent agencies</p><p><br></p><p>🔔 Live every Friday — subscribe so you don't miss the big announcement</p><p>💬 Drop your guesses on the mystery buyer in the comments</p><p><br></p><p>Connect with Christian and Ayelet</p><p>Ayelet’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayelet-shipley-b16330149/</p><p>Christian's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hassold/</p><p>Web: https://www.inorganicpodcast.co</p>","author_name":"Christian Hassold & Ayelet Shipley"}