Maria Gotsch

The Silver Tsunami is upon us, and it's reshaping the mergers and acquisitions landscape like never before. With an estimated $10 trillion in assets set to change hands over the next decade, driven by baby boomers retiring, the opportunity for savvy investors and entrepreneurs is immense. Currently, around 30,000 businesses sell annually, but with more than 8 million baby boomer-owned businesses expected to transition, the volume of transactions could increase tenfold. This is a monumental shift that smart buyers are already preparing for. You don't need to be a Wall Street titan to benefit from this trend; many of these businesses will transition to local entrepreneurs and small business owners. Are you ready to seize a piece of this $10 trillion wealth transfer? Position yourself strategically to take advantage of this unprecedented wave of opportunities. Engage with fellow professionals and explore how you can be part of this transformation. Not sure how? Let's talk about it! #SilverTsunami #MergersAndAcquisitions #BusinessOpportunities

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Practice your #voting skills and help us highlight #regenerativefinance at SXSW!

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If you believe that #Diversity and #Inclusion matter, specifically in times like this, join us on October 30th. We will discuss the challenges and success stories of promoting Diversity in 2024. With me you will find industry leaders who were able to pull it off (!) 💥💥💥 Dorit Dor, Hasan Abasi, Vered Raviv Schwarz, Gal Shaul Guesty, Augury, HAAT Delivery, Check Point Software Power in Diversity Glilot Capital Partners Poalim Tech, Meitar | Law Offices, ESOP - Phoenix, Microsoft, Calcalist כלכליסט #nomatterwhat

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In honor of Halloween, what happens when the CEO dies... We’ve been doing some work and research on succession planning and it was in the course of those efforts that our managing editor Sarah George-Waterfield came across the below table summarizing a number of unexpected CEO deaths. Among other data points, you’ve got the company, the CEO, the date, the cause of death, and how the company’s stock price reacted. And looking at this got me to thinking: Which one of these guys was the best CEO? Certainly it wasn’t Gerald Pencer. It’s a cold shot to die from cancer and have your company’s stock rise 8%. I looked into Pencer’s tenure at Cott (now Primo Water) and it was a period of debt-fueled aggressive growth strategies that pumped up the top line, but destroyed a lot of shareholder value. With his passing, the market clearly hoped for a sea change in strategy. But on the other end of the spectrum, it probably wasn’t Mark Hughes either. With Herbalife dropping 12% when he suddenly died from a drug and alcohol overdose at the age of 44, the market was recognizing the influence of his vision and marketing zeal on the company he founded. But it also indicates that he got succession planning all wrong or not at all, which is among the most important things a CEO can do for an organization. And Herbalife ended up being taken private within two years because it was still bereft of leadership. So the ideal reaction is probably that the stock dropped, but not too much. Which means that you’ll be missed, but also that the organization you left behind was prepared for your absence. By that measure, the winner (maybe not the right word?) here was Jai Nagarkatti of Sigma-Aldrich. Nagarkatti spent his entire career working for that company, rising through the ranks. Upon his death the board implemented its succession plan and elevated the CFO to CEO with the market viewing it as a non-event. Of course, it sounds depressing that the world might (or should) view your death as a non-event, but I think it’s a sign that when you died at least your ducks were all in a row. Because while we’re not all going to be heads of publicly traded companies, we’re all heads of something, and I think an interesting way of thinking about what we do everyday and how we spend our time is asking if we were to die unexpectedly, what would happen to the stock in that thing. If its price would go up, that’s bad. If its price would go down a lot, that’s bad too. But if it would go down, but just by a little bit, maybe that means your ducks are in a row.

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A prospective $3.1 billion U.S. IPO in a market with very few listed early childhood education firms. This rare public listing highlights the growing global trend of scaling early childhood education companies, as private equity and large operators seek consolidation for operational efficiencies. With increased focus on education investments, this IPO could pave the way for more large-scale moves in the sector. #Education #EarlyYears #Earlychildhoodeducation #Childcare #Nurseries #Preschools #Edtech #K12Education #PrivateEquity #VentureCapital #ImpactInvesting https://lnkd.in/dTu3DyPS

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The tide is turning. Companies that understand RISK is the only certainty are prioritizing #reshoring to diversify their manufacturing value chains. https://lnkd.in/eEyC--ED

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We sat down with Priya Parrish (CIO at Impact Engine and Chair of Lumos's Impact Advisory Council) to learn about the evolution of the impact investing ecosystem, the value of outside accountability for fund managers regarding their impact strategies, and what excites Priya about the future of the sector. You can find more information about the transformative companies we have backed in the latest edition of our Impact Report linked in the comments. Listen to the conversation here: https://lnkd.in/e5-tmrU5

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Too many small and mid-sized businesses struggle with capital constraints out of fear and misunderstanding. Sourcing the capital required to remove those constraints is key to unlocking the value creation potential of these companies. https://lnkd.in/gRYTKEmN #smallbusiness #businesstransformation

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Join us tomorrow for a panel discussion on the complex relationship many FirstGens have to money and how that affects founders, investors, operators and others. See you tomorrow! https://lu.ma/9rixyzgs

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The Governance Guardrails of Successful Family Offices One of the most critical, yet overlooked, factors that make or break family offices is having a robust governance framework from the start. As this short video explains, effective governance allows you to: 1. Proactively prevent issues before they become relationship-fracturing problems. 2. Clearly communicate the family's values, mission, and long-term vision. 3. Keep members informed on strategic direction, progress, and decisions. 4. Establish structured channels for family members to voice ideas and concerns. 5. Bring the family together to make key decisions in an organized manner. Too many family offices start with just informal ad-hoc governance. But as they grow, that quickly becomes unsustainable chaos. The solution? Implementing foundational elements like: • A Family Constitution - Codifying principles, policies and procedures. The north star. • A Family Council - The core decision-making body representing key branches. • A Family Assembly - A forum for the extended family to receive updates and provide input. • Advisory Boards - Panels of trusted advisors and subject matter experts. • Other Committees - Focused on key areas like investments, philanthropy, etc. With a solid governance blueprint, you ensure alignment. Without it, you're flying blind towards the next emergency! Of course, governance takes work. But like anything priceless, the upfront investment will prevent exponentially more costly consequences down the road. What has your experience been with family office governance - whether having it or lacking it? We'd love to hear your perspectives. Let's discuss in the comments! #familyoffices #familybusiness #familywealth

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Interesting insights here... This research sheds light on the pivotal role that founder personalities play in shaping the trajectory of ventures. It underscores the importance of introspection and self-awareness for entrepreneurs as they navigate the complex landscape of building a business. For investors, these insights offer valuable guidance in assessing potential investments and understanding the human element behind the pitches. #Startups #Entrepreneurship #Investing

Massachusetts is a powerhouse when it comes to innovation ecosystems. With strengths in key sectors like education, healthcare, biotechnology, artificial intelligence, clean energy, and fintech, the state is at the forefront of transformative advancements. Emerging collaboration, creativity, and growth trends continue to define its ecosystem, supported by a rich history, an innovative environment, and abundant investment opportunities. It’s no surprise that Massachusetts remains a global leader in driving innovation. #InnovationEcosystem #Massachusetts #TechInnovation #Collaboration #CleanEnergy #Fintech #Biotechnology #ArtificialIntelligence #EconomicGrowth #FutureOfTech

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The venture capital landscape is undergoing a significant shift as we enter what many are calling the "VC Reset Era." With changing market dynamics and evolving investor expectations, this is a pivotal moment for startups and investors alike. In this new environment, venture capitalists are rethinking their strategies and focusing on sustainable growth rather than chasing rapid, high-risk returns. This reset is driving a more cautious yet strategic approach, emphasizing solid fundamentals and long-term potential. For startups, this means adapting to a more measured investment climate, where demonstrating clear value and resilience is crucial. For investors, it’s an opportunity to refine their criteria and support ventures that align with a more sustainable vision of success. As we navigate these changes, staying informed and agile will be key. How are you adapting to the evolving venture capital landscape? #VC #VentureCapital #InvestmentStrategy #StartupGrowth #MarketTrends #Innovation

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🌍 Bold talk from the boardroom. Now, time for the capital flow. 🌍 Congratulations to the CEOs who just signed the World Economic Forum’s Alliance of CEO Climate Leaders letter to #COP29, calling for urgent action on #climatechange. You’re not just talking the talk; you’re helping lay out what’s needed to secure a sustainable future. 📝👏 But words on paper only take us so far. Real impact? That takes dollars—lots of them—flowing into #climatetech, #renewable #infrastructure, and #sustainable #innovation. I know some of you are investing, but if you’re reading this and holding the purse strings, now is the time to truly "unleash the capital" and invest in solutions that can deliver real #gigaton-scale impact. Climate tech is ready. The innovators are waiting. Let’s make these commitments count. 💥 #COP29 #ClimateAction #ClimateTech #SustainableInvestment #ClimateLeaders #gigacorn #gigacornhunter #decarbonization

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Innovation ecosystems thrive at the intersection of collaboration, strategy, and growth. Government policies, academic institutions, and partnerships lay the groundwork, but their true potential is unlocked through research, innovation strategies, and market expansion. When we align these elements effectively, we don't just create jobs or drive technological advancements—we build resilient economies. Understanding these connections is essential for anyone aiming to contribute to or benefit from the innovation landscape. How do you think we can better leverage these ecosystems to create long-term impact?

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Strategic and corporate venture funds are increasingly playing a bigger in role earlier stage startups, particularly for #deeptech companies needing design partners to build and test their beta products. Looking forward to discussing some lessons learned for earlier stage companies seeking strategic investment with my fellow panelists Michael (Mick) Gilbert, Kenzie Weston Mucci, Katerina Fialkovskaya, Adarsh Sowcar, Jianyu (Jerrold) Wang, MBA, Maria G. Manrique and moderator Stephen Brook. Thanks to Peter Walker and the team for organizing the annual New England Venture Summit. Definitely recommend the youngStartup Ventures conferences. #vc #cvc #startups #investment

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Best Investors & "The Art of Execution" Book & Study by Lee Freeman-Shor: https://buff.ly/3wRjMXU A study of 1,866 investments made by 45 of the world’s top investors over 7 years - with key Insights translated for PE Execution over ideas: - In PE, the success of an investment is heavily reliant on execution, not just the quality of the initial investment thesis - it is key to focus on operational improvements and capital-efficient commercial growth to drive value Adaptability: Be prepared to adapt strategies based on the performance of portfolio companies and market conditions - flexibility can lead to better outcomes when initial assumptions do not always hold true Operational & GTM Excellence: - In PE, operational & GTM improvements and strong management practices can significantly enhance the value of portfolio companies Active Management: Take an active (& collaborative) role as a partner to your portfolio companies and support your management teams in implementing best practices, providing strategic direction (e.g. GTM), all key to driving value Leveraging Expertise Effectively: - Utilize the expertise and experience not just of the investment team but also the PE operating partners to support portfolio Long-Term Focus: Maintain a long-term perspective on value creation - while short-term monthly or quarterly performance is important, the ultimate goal is to build sustainable, long-term value (which takes patience) in portfolio companies Performance Monitoring (using the right metrics): Monitor the performance of portfolio companies against the right benchmarks (for example, some of the elusive GTM benchmarks) - this allows for the right adjustments to strategies Risk Management: - Manage risks proactively by identifying potential issues early and developing mitigation strategies. This includes both financial risks and operational & GTM risks within portfolio companies Money Management: - Effective allocation of capital and management of portfolio companies are crucial Exit Strategies: - Plan and execute exit strategies meticulously to maximize returns. This includes preparing portfolio companies for sale or public offering and timing exits to optimize value realization --------- #pe #privateequity #business

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