Invest in You

Latest Episodes:

Why 70% of Small Businesses Struggle to Get Capital May 01, 2026

Show notes

Most small business owners are actually just employees of their own companies, trading 100 hours a week for a paycheck while ignoring the balance sheet. In this episode, Oz Konar explains why the traditional banking system is rigged against small businesses and how the alternative lending industry has exploded to fill that gap since the 2008 recession.

Oz breaks down the "Financing Matchmaker" model, showing how brokers can earn high commissions by connecting businesses with private capital. We discuss the red flags of emergency funding, the importance of congruency in your business branding, and why "hope" is never a strategy for survival. Whether you are looking for capital to scale or looking to transition into a lucrative career in finance, this conversation provides the blueprint for understanding how money actually moves in the real world.

TAKEAWAYS

Be the Matchmaker: You don't have to own the bank to profit like one; becoming a loan broker allows you to act as a liaison between private equity and businesses in need.

Proactive Funding: You are most fundable when you don't need the money; apply for lines of credit during peak seasons to have a backup for emergencies.

Institutional Shift: Since 2008, banks have restricted small business funding, leading to a massive demand for private credit and peer-to-peer options.

Avoid the "Job Ownership" Trap: Many founders quit a 40-hour job only to work 100 hours in a role they can't walk away from; true entrepreneurship requires building systems that thrive without you.

Educate via Proof: In high-stakes finance, organic presence and proof of results are essential to overcome skepticism and high advertising costs.

QUOTES

"The definition of [alternative lending] is anything alternative to bank lending."

"Financial literacy is a problem... it’s like a pandemic level issue."

"You can only qualify for funding if you really do not need funding."

"People make more money... when they understand how money operates."

"Do not demonize money. Do not listen to the wrong people."

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 – The Costly Mistakes of Financial Trial and Error

05:30 – The 2008 Shift: Why Alternative Lending Exploded

12:15 – Trauma to Transformation: Oz’s Family Backstory

21:40 – Why Banks Reject 70% of Solid Small Businesses

30:10 – The "Matchmaker" Model: Connecting Money to Demand

38:55 – Red Flags: Identifying Predatory Lending Terms

45:20 – Scaling via YouTube: Trust and Organic Presence

55:10 – Closing: Investing in Your Financial Future

GUEST

Oz Konar

https://www.linkedin.com/in/oz-konar/

https://businesslendingblueprint.com/

About the Podcast

Invest in You is a global podcast where entrepreneur and investor Fredrik Sandvall shares practical ideas and conversations with founders, investors, and operators. Episodes focus on investing, entrepreneurship, and building long-term control and freedom.

Occasionally joined by his sons Ivan and Charlie, the show offers both experience-based insight and a next-generation perspective.

Listeners in 155+ countries tune in to think clearer, act smarter, and build with intent.

Community & Contact

Podcast community: https://bit.ly/4jxF94k

Fredrik Sandvall

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandvall/⁠

Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/FredrikinLondon/

Why Trust is Your Most Valuable Business Asset with David Homan Apr 29, 2026

Show notes

In a digital landscape dominated by AI and shallow social metrics, real human connection has become a rare and powerful currency. David Homan joins the show to explain why "group intros" don't exist and why every massive impact begins with reaching just one person individually. We dive into the five principles of building deep trust, starting with the audacity to be vulnerable and the curiosity to truly see others.

David shares raw stories of balancing professional success—like becoming a best-selling author—with personal loss, and how a high-trust network is the only thing that holds steady when life falls apart. We explore how to filter out "takers," why you should value "access" over "opportunity," and how simple acts of gratitude can bridge the gap between where you are and where you want to be. Whether you’re a founder feeling isolated or an executive looking to deepen your impact, this conversation is a masterclass in investing in the relationships that actually matter.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

The Vulnerability Filter: Being vulnerable and curious filters out "takers" and increases meaningful engagement from 30% to 90%.

No Such Thing as Scale: You don't affect a mass of people; you reach one person at a time, even if you do it a thousand times over.

Trust vs. Being Known: Being "known" is just visible recognition; being "trusted" means you are valued in rooms you haven't even entered yet.

Diverse Networks Win: Life gets smaller when you only meet people who look and talk like you; a strong network requires bridging into diverse worlds.

The "Honoring the Chain" Practice: Building a community starts with expressing gratitude to those who helped you get where you are without asking for anything in return.

QUOTES

"There's no such thing as a group intro... you reach one person."

"The only way that I judge somebody... is if I built enough trust to ask them to take an action."

"Curiosity and vulnerability are essential to work on, to embody, and to develop."

"Trust is therefore much, much more key."

"Build friendships, build things, show up in different ways. The more diverse your network, the better it is."

CHAPTERS

00:00 – Reaching One Person: The Individual Power of Scale

05:40 – Why Social Media Metrics Don't Equal Real Connection

11:15 – The 5 Principles of Orchestrating Connection

18:50 – Balancing Best-Sellers and Personal Loss

25:30 – The "Borscht Trajectory": How Small Acts Create Big Access

33:10 – Combating Founder Isolation with a Trusted Circle

40:45 – Gratitude as a Systematic Business Strategy

48:20 – Closing Thoughts: The Necessity of Humanity in an AI World

About the Podcast

Occasionally joined by his sons Ivan and Charlie, the show offers both experience-based insight and a next-generation perspective.

Listeners in 155+ countries tune in to think clearer, act smarter, and build with intent.

Community & Contact

Podcast community: https://bit.ly/4jxF94k

Fredrik Sandvall

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandvall/⁠

Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/FredrikinLondon/

The Dark Side of Driven: When Your Superpower Becomes Your Kryptonite Apr 26, 2026

Show notes

Ever feel like the same drive that built your business is the one currently tearing your personal life apart? This episode dives deep into the "entrepreneurial operating system," where the line between hyper-focus and obsession is razor-thin. We aren't just talking about substances; we’re exploring how high-pressure environments lead driven people to use work, exercise, or alcohol to "take the edge off" a relentless mind.

Amber Hollingsworth joins us to break down the mechanics of denial and the psychological defense mechanisms that kick in when our "lifelines" are under attack. We discuss the vital difference between helping and enabling—hint: if you feel resentful, you’ve probably crossed the line—and why standard addiction recovery often fails the business class. Whether you’re managing your own compulsions or trying to reach a loved one who refuses to see the problem, this conversation offers a roadmap for redirecting your natural intensity toward a life you actually enjoy waking up to.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

The Kryptonite Concept: Any quality that serves as your superpower (like hyper-focus or high energy) has a corresponding dark side that emerges when left unchecked.

Enabling vs. Helping: Helping makes you feel good and empowered; enabling leaves you feeling resentful and obligated.

Redirecting Obsession: Humans are wired to be obsessive; the goal isn't to kill the drive, but to redirect it into productive habits that leave you feeling good the next day.

Non-Confrontational Influence: You can’t make someone change, but you can make them want to change by reinforcing their core values rather than attacking their behavior.

Peer Group Impact: We physically and subconsciously absorb the emotions of those around us; choose a peer group that holds you to a higher standard of growth.

QUOTES

"No one ever did anything great without being obsessed about something."

"Whatever is your superpower is probably also your kryptonite."

"Never put someone in a position to defend the opposite side that you want them on. You can make denial worse that way."

"My job isn't to tell someone how to get better. My job is to help someone decide to get better."

"The first 50 videos are going to suck. So you might as well get them out of the way."

CHAPTERS

00:00 – The Entrepreneur’s Addiction: When Work Becomes the Drug

05:45 – ADHD as a Business Superpower (and Its Dark Side)

10:30 – The Layers of Denial and Psychological Defense

16:20 – The Resentment Test: Are You Helping or Enabling?

24:10 – "Businessmen Who Drink Too Much": Cultural Pressures in Finance

31:45 – How to Motivate a Loved One Without Starting a Fight

42:15 – Group Therapy for Business People: The Power of Masterminds

51:00 – 10X Thinking and "Who, Not How"

About the Podcast

Occasionally joined by his sons Ivan and Charlie, the show offers both experience-based insight and a next-generation perspective.

Listeners in 155+ countries tune in to think clearer, act smarter, and build with intent.

Community & Contact

Podcast community: https://bit.ly/4jxF94k

Fredrik Sandvall

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandvall/⁠

Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/FredrikinLondon/

Why 65% of Startups Fail: The Hidden Human Risk Apr 22, 2026

Show notes

Ever wondered why brilliant ideas with massive funding still go up in smoke? Most of the time, the "people problem" is hiding in plain sight, masked by a charismatic pitch or a prestigious degree. This conversation dives beneath the slide deck to explore why 65% of startups fail due to human friction and how we can actually measure the intangible traits that make a leader "investable."

We break down the six dimensions of leadership—from coachability and "resilience under fire" to the ability to hold complex, competing perspectives in a world moving at AI speed. Beyond the data, there’s a real look at the mental health and nervous system regulation required to survive the founder journey without burning out. Whether you’re a VC looking to hedge your risk or a founder trying to manage yourself before you manage a team, this is about investing in the human at the core of the business.

Key Takeaways

Coachability is King: True coachability isn't just taking feedback; it’s strategically and non-defensively absorbing information to improve the build.

The 65% Failure Rate: Most startups don't die because of bad products; they fail because of people problems that are often ignored at the seed stage.

Complexity is a Metric: High-level leadership requires "strategic complexity"—the ability to hold dozens of objective perspectives simultaneously.

Nervous System Awareness: A leader’s internal state (fight, flight, or freeze) directly dictates the "flow state" and psychological safety of the entire team.

Investment in Self: High-stakes decision-making requires physical and mental maintenance; you can't manage a difficult startup if you haven't learned to manage yourself.

Quotes

"Coachability is like one of the number one things they look for."

"Gut checks are based on pattern recognition... and it likely comes with some sort of bias."

"How are you going to manage a difficult startup if you don't know how to manage yourself?"

"I think we need to change the market belief that burnout and grit are the markers of successful startup leaders."

"The average lifespan... breaks down to about 4,000 weeks. What are you going to do with those weeks?"

Chapters

00:00 – The Reality of the "People Problem"

06:45 – Why Gut Feelings Lead Investors Astray

11:20 – The 6 Dimensions of Startup Leadership

18:30 – Team Flow and Nervous System Regulation

25:15 – The Myth of Grit vs. Founder Well-being

32:00 – Practical Tips for Self-Talk and Resilience

37:45 – Closing the Deal: Sales Advice for Founders

About the Podcast

Occasionally joined by his sons Ivan and Charlie, the show offers both experience-based insight and a next-generation perspective.

Listeners in 155+ countries tune in to think clearer, act smarter, and build with intent.

Community & Contact

Podcast community: https://bit.ly/4jxF94k

Fredrik Sandvall

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandvall/⁠

Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/FredrikinLondon/

AI vs. The Middle Class: Is Your Career Safe? Apr 21, 2026

Show notes

AI is coming for the middle class, and it isn't just about replacing entire jobs—it’s about squeezing out the "average" professional. If you produce standard copy, mid-level analysis, or routine spreadsheets, you’re now competing with tools that cost $20 a month and work faster than any human. This isn’t a doom-and-gloom session; it’s a necessary wake-up call on how to reposition your skills before the ladder gets kicked away. We explore why the "old deal" of job security is breaking and why manual trades like plumbing are becoming the new winners. From the "earning scars" of displacement to the rise of the billion-dollar one-person business, it's time to stop waiting and start adopting. Your value isn't in what you know anymore—it’s in the questions you ask.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Average is the Enemy: AI can perform average tasks better and cheaper; to survive, you must move beyond generic output.

The Entry-Level Ladder is Vanishing: Junior roles in tech, law, and finance are being automated, making it harder for new graduates to enter the workforce.

Bargaining Power is Shifting: If your output can be replicated by AI, your ability to negotiate salary or job security is severely weakened.

Manual Skills are Rising in Value: While white-collar work is squeezed, physical, skilled trades remain difficult for AI to replicate, creating new "winners".

Curation over Creation: Success now depends on "human-in-the-loop" oversight—using AI to multiply your output while maintaining human quality control.

QUOTES

"AI doesn't need to replace your whole job, but it could absolutely damage your career."

"Do you want to be replaced by $20 a month? Probably not."

"The market will reward the top and punish the generic."

"Knowledge in your head has now diminished in value."

"The biggest mistake right now is just to wait and see. You need to adopt and learn and assess."

CHAPTERS

00:00 – The Squeeze on the Middle Class

03:15 – Why AI Beats Average Performance

06:40 – The Threat to Entry-Level White-Collar Jobs

10:20 – Negotiating Power and "Earning Scars"

14:50 – Why Your Degree is Diminishing in Value

19:10 – Repositioning Yourself for the AI Future

https://www.linkedin.com/in/loganyonavjak/

https://www.founderready.io/

Resource mentioned book:

Four Thousand Weeks

https://amzn.to/4sEYioJ

About the Podcast

Occasionally joined by his sons Ivan and Charlie, the show offers both experience-based insight and a next-generation perspective.

Listeners in 155+ countries tune in to think clearer, act smarter, and build with intent.

Community & Contact

Podcast community: https://bit.ly/4jxF94k

Fredrik Sandvall

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandvall/⁠

Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/FredrikinLondon/

Why Data is the Peanut Butter to AI’s Jelly Apr 16, 2026

Show notes

Data on its own is just noise, but when you pair it with AI, it becomes the ultimate substance for decision-making. Andrew Lebbos joins the show to pull back the curtain on how Benzinga evolved from a 2009 media startup into a licensing powerhouse that fuels the world's biggest brokerages and AI models. We dive deep into why the new generation of investors is ditching traditional sites for short-form video and how prediction markets are changing the way we look at equities. Beyond the tech, Andrew shares the "intrapreneur" mindset and the sales discipline required to maintain a staggering 99% client retention rate. Whether you're a founder, a salesperson, or a retail investor, this conversation offers a masterclass in staying ahead of where the financial "puck" is going.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Data and AI are Codependent: There is no AI without data, and data is significantly more powerful when processed by AI.
Video is Essential: The new generation of investors consumes news primarily through social media and video, forcing brokerages to adapt.
Quality Over Summaries: While AI tools are useful, professional investors still require raw, high-quality data and human logic for high-stakes decision-making.
The Intrapreneur Advantage: You don't have to be a founder to be entrepreneurial; you can leverage an established brand's credibility to build massive revenue streams.
Sales is About Empathy: The most successful salespeople focus on listening to client needs and maintaining genuine, long-term relationships.

QUOTES

"Data and AI... they're peanut butter and jelly in our world."
"The output is only as strong as the input that they receive."
"As long as decisions are made by humans, humans are going to need to see the raw data and deduct and reason."
"Output equals input every single day."
"We just want to put food on the table and build a really cool business that we can be proud of."

0:00 – The Synergy of Data and AI
2:15 – The Benzinga Story and Licensing Models
5:30 – Why the Bloomberg Terminal is Here to Stay
8:45 – Understanding Churn and Retention
11:20 – The Future of FinTech: Video & Prediction Markets
15:40 – The "Intrapreneur" Mindset
18:15 – Sales Mantras and Performance
22:10 – Where the Puck is Going Next

GUEST INFO

Andrew Lebbos

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lebbosandrew/

https://www.benzinga.com/

Book mentioned:

Push-Push-Push Never Quit https://amzn.to/4dHUQVJ

About the Podcast

Occasionally joined by his sons Ivan and Charlie, the show offers both experience-based insight and a next-generation perspective.

Listeners in 155+ countries tune in to think clearer, act smarter, and build with intent.

Community & Contact

Podcast community: https://bit.ly/4jxF94k

Fredrik Sandvall

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandvall/⁠

Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/FredrikinLondon/

AI at the Top of the Funnel: Reinventing Private Equity Sourcing with Ali Dasterdi Apr 15, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, Fredrik sits down with Ali Dasterdi, co-founder and CEO of Raylu AI, to discuss the rapidly evolving intersection of artificial intelligence and private market investing. Ali shares his journey from being a technical investor to founding Raylu, an AI-native platform designed to solve the immense data and matching challenges faced by private equity and venture capital firms.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

AI is Revolutionizing Top-of-Funnel Sourcing: The traditional matching problem between capital and founders is incredibly inefficient.

Cheer, Don't Cry Over New Foundation Models: As massive AI foundation models continue to evolve, they will inevitably cannibalize mid-scale, specialized models. Founders should build tools that benefit from these advancements rather than competing directly against them.

Focus on Agentic Scale, Not Human Scale: Raylu focuses its engineering resources on problems that cannot be solved simply by adding human labor.

The Reality of Early-Stage Fundraising: Despite the pressure to raise capital immediately, slowing down is often the better move.

You Can (and Should) Upgrade Your Investors: Just as a company outgrows early employees, it can outgrow early investors.

BEST MOMENTS

"You can think about mass swarms of AI agents as having, you know, hundreds of thousands of interns whose only job it is to take your mandate, chew the data, come back to you with what's important."

"We want to be cheering every time a new GPT comes out, not crying. So think about what you have to build, how do we benefit from these instead of, you know, uh, be upset about what what's happening with the future there."

"When you join a startup, it's because you want to do something outsized to what the world will offer you."

"I wish that we had either raised no capital or raised much less capital until we figured out that moment of product market fit."

"People say... 'fire fast,' and it sounds brutal and it sounds wrong, and it's bad for you, it's bad for the employee. But you never feel it until you've experienced it once and you're like, 'Ah gosh, like I get it now.'"

To Connect with Ali Dasterdi

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ali-dastjerdi/

https://raylu.ai/

Books by Fredrik Sandvall

Options Strategy: Build to Keep. Ready to Sell Tomorrow.

For founders and CEOs who want businesses that compound in value, stay under control, and are always sale-ready.

⁠https://amzn.to/4pwVhoi⁠

The Abyss of Finance: Trust, Leverage and the Cycles of Collapse

For investors and leaders who want to understand why financial systems break before they do.

⁠https://amzn.to/3YsRKfI⁠

About the Podcast

Occasionally joined by his sons Ivan and Charlie, the show offers both experience-based insight and a next-generation perspective.

Listeners in 155+ countries tune in to think clearer, act smarter, and build with intent.

Community & Contact

Podcast community: https://bit.ly/4jxF94k

Fredrik Sandvall

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandvall/⁠

Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/FredrikinLondon/

The Power of Clarity: How to Use AI to Solve Real-World Problems Apr 10, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, Fredrik sits down with Rohit Kumar, the founder of the AI company Chapter, to discuss his transition from the corporate consulting world to entrepreneurship. Rohit shares his experiences moving from major brands like Accenture and Boston Consulting Group to building his own identity as a startup founder in San Francisco.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Build an independent identity: Transitioning from a large corporate brand to entrepreneurship requires building the confidence to introduce yourself and your value without relying on a recognizable company name.

AI shifts the focus to problem-solving: Instead of spending time manually searching for data, AI allows employees to instantly absorb answers and focus on how to strategically use that information.

Clarity of thought is crucial: Whether you are communicating with a Large Language Model (LLM) or human team members, having a clear understanding of your goals is essential to getting accurate and useful results.

Understand the funding trade-offs: Raising external capital can provide exponential growth opportunities, but it dilutes a founder's equity and control over the business.

Cultivate a trusted support system: Long-term success requires a strong foundation of authentic relationships, including friends, family, and mentors who support you unconditionally.

BEST MOMENTS

"If you are working in such well-known brands, it's very... It's harder to take the leap of faith and say, 'What is life going to look like on the other side?'"

"How do you find the information to do your job effectively, and how does it help you give answers to you in real-time so that you're not spending time searching and more time absorbing the answer and then figuring out how to use it?"

"If you are clear on what you are looking for, you will find a thought process and the actions that you need to take to get there."

"If you are an expert at what you do, you will always have control of what you do."

"Really make the most of this time. What we are seeing is an amazing shift in terms of how technology can help things in a good way."

Mentioned resources:

https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/t/ai

https://www.youtube.com/@howiaipodcast

To Connect With Rohit Kumar

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohitkumar007/

Books by Fredrik Sandvall

Options Strategy: Build to Keep. Ready to Sell Tomorrow.

For founders and CEOs who want businesses that compound in value, stay under control, and are always sale-ready.

⁠https://amzn.to/4pwVhoi⁠

The Abyss of Finance: Trust, Leverage and the Cycles of Collapse

For investors and leaders who want to understand why financial systems break before they do.

⁠https://amzn.to/3YsRKfI⁠

About the Podcast

Occasionally joined by his sons Ivan and Charlie, the show offers both experience-based insight and a next-generation perspective.

Listeners in 155+ countries tune in to think clearer, act smarter, and build with intent.

Community & Contact

Podcast community: https://bit.ly/4jxF94k

Fredrik Sandvall

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandvall/⁠

Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/FredrikinLondon/

Navigating the AI Boom and the Great Recession with Josh Gould Apr 08, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, Fredrik sits down with Joshua Gould, CEO of The Big Word, to discuss his journey from expanding a UK-based language services business to Wall Street right before the Great Recession, to successfully pivoting into government contracts. Josh shares his deep industry insights into how artificial intelligence is transforming translation and interpreting, and how investors and business owners should evaluate AI companies.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Setting up a business on Wall Street right before the 2008 Great Recession forced Josh to pivot away from the struggling private sector and focus on government contracts. That flexibility ultimately allowed the business to scale rapidly globally.

If a company just bolts AI onto an existing service without solving a fundamental, structural problem, it is not a sustainable model. True value is created when AI is the core engine solving the issue.

As large language models scale, their computing and energy costs grow exponentially. This could lead to a massive deflation or "bubble burst" for AI companies that lack the funding to keep up with hardware demands.

There is a distinct difference between being an entrepreneur who simply creates a high-paying job for themselves versus building a scalable infrastructure. To truly scale, you have to replace yourself with systems and eventually hand over daily operations.

You don't need to overhaul your entire business overnight to benefit from AI. Look for proven, localized AI tools that can safely increase efficiency in specific workflows without exposing your core client data to the open internet.

BEST MOMENTS

"I came to the US in 2006 and set up an office on 48 Wall. And if you are familiar with the Great Recession, probably the dumbest move ever."

"You can't be everything at scale. And there's a big difference between entrepreneurs who create themselves a job... You cannot scale that; you still only got 24 hours in a day."

"The only people who are truly building AI are the Anthropics and the Googles and the Microsofts. And you don't want to be them."

"The quicker you are to adopt, the quicker you're going to capture market share. And what you'll find is the macroeconomics of any big tech movement, especially AI, changes everything."

"AI interpreting isn't for using, it's just for selling. Everyone buys from us because we have it, but then no one wants to use it."

TO CONNECT WITH JOSH

https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuadgould/

Books by Fredrik Sandvall

Options Strategy: Build to Keep. Ready to Sell Tomorrow.

For founders and CEOs who want businesses that compound in value, stay under control, and are always sale-ready.

⁠https://amzn.to/4pwVhoi⁠

The Abyss of Finance: Trust, Leverage and the Cycles of Collapse

For investors and leaders who want to understand why financial systems break before they do.

⁠https://amzn.to/3YsRKfI⁠

About the Podcast

Occasionally joined by his sons Ivan and Charlie, the show offers both experience-based insight and a next-generation perspective.

Listeners in 155+ countries tune in to think clearer, act smarter, and build with intent.

Community & Contact

Podcast community: https://bit.ly/4jxF94k

Fredrik Sandvall

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandvall/⁠

Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/FredrikinLondon/

The Five Crime Scenes of M&A: Where Your Millions Go Missing Apr 06, 2026

Show notes

This episode features Holly, a CPA and CFO specialising in M&A, who discusses the critical financial pitfalls, or ‘crime scenes’, that business owners face during the selling process. Drawing from her experience in high-stakes exits and private equity, Holly explains why standard accounting often falls short of maximising company value and how strategic preparation can prevent millions from vanishing at the closing table.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Most CPAs focus on tax reduction rather than value maximisation; selling a business requires a specialised CFO lens to articulate a ‘financial story’ that appeals to buyers.

Holly identifies five areas where value is lost: the financial story, working capital, due diligence, earn-outs, and post-close integration.

Small businesses often use cash-basis accounting, but switching to accrual-basis can significantly lift EBITDA and valuation during a sale.

For a healthy business, the cost of goods sold should be under 30%, operating expenses under 20%, and net profit above 10%.

Value often leaks post-sale because buyers focus on price while ignoring the ‘human factor’ of the employees who actually run the systems.

BEST MOMENTS

"The balance sheet and the income statement, they never leave each other's side. It is a romance."

"The person who commits these frauds, in 100% of the cases I've seen, has been the most trusted person."

"You should always be ready to exit. Discipline always gets more money."

"Working capital is the gas in the engine. You’ve got to have it so you don't need another loan just to run the business the day after you close."

"You need to have somebody by your side. You can’t ever be properly prepared on your own."

ABOUT THE GUEST

Holli Moeini

https://www.linkedin.com/in/hollimoeini/

Finding the Missing Millions in M&A: How to Maximize Value and Minimize Regret in Every Transaction

https://amzn.to/4sj8Rh3

Books by Fredrik Sandvall

Options Strategy: Build to Keep. Ready to Sell Tomorrow.

For founders and CEOs who want businesses that compound in value, stay under control, and are always sale-ready.

⁠https://amzn.to/4pwVhoi⁠

The Abyss of Finance: Trust, Leverage and the Cycles of Collapse

For investors and leaders who want to understand why financial systems break before they do.

⁠https://amzn.to/3YsRKfI⁠

About the Podcast

Occasionally joined by his sons Ivan and Charlie, the show offers both experience-based insight and a next-generation perspective.

Listeners in 155+ countries tune in to think clearer, act smarter, and build with intent.

Community & Contact

Podcast community: https://bit.ly/4jxF94k

Fredrik Sandvall

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandvall/⁠

Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/FredrikinLondon/

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