The Beginning of Buyout Diary
A personal journal about learning to buy, own, and grow small businesses in Europe.
Welcome to the very first broadcast of Buyout Diary! From now on, every Monday, I’ll be sharing my journey into acquisition entrepreneurship: the wins, the mistakes, the lessons learned and, hopefully, some insights that will make your own journey easier.
So, why am I doing this?
When I first discovered acquisition entrepreneurship, most of the information I found was focused on the United States. While this was fascinating, it was also frustrating. Europe is different: 27 countries, countless languages, cultures, and regulations. What works in Texas doesn’t necessarily work in Germany, the Netherlands or the UK.
I couldn’t find much information aimed at people like us: European-based entrepreneurs, investors, and operators who want to build businesses through acquisition. So I decided to start writing the kind of information I wished I could find.
A little about me: I have worked in banking and consulting, built a few ventures (some more successfully than others) and mentored start-ups. Last year, I came across ETA and knew it was the right move. Instead of starting from scratch again, why not acquire a solid company and grow from there? That thought changed everything for me.
So here I am, at the beginning of my journey: building Wakonda Ventures (my holding company) and documenting the process in public through Buyout Diary.
What you can expect:
A new letter every Monday packed with honest insights from my personal journey and first steps.
Ideas, strategies, and frameworks that I come across along the way.
Stories about what doesn’t work as well as what does.
Conversation, because I don’t want this to be a monologue. I’d love to hear your story, too!
To start with, I’ve shared a free article on LinkedIn that explains why I’m choosing to buy a small business instead of starting one. You can read it here: Why I’m Choosing to Buy a Small Business Instead of Starting One.
If you’re searching for a business, have acquired one, or are just curious about this world, hit reply and tell me your story. I read every message and will do my best to respond.
Here’s to the journey!
Warm regards,
Alexander