))
How I Built and Sold a $16M Company to Invest In Search Funds | Christopher Hillier Interview
Manage episode 478656464 series 3661139
Content provided by PrivatEquityGuy. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by PrivatEquityGuy or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://ppacc.player.fm/legal.
Christopher Hillier is a seasoned entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience in the employee benefits industry.
He began his journey as the Co-Founder and President of Benefit Health Advisor, a full-service employee benefits brokerage based in Englewood, Colorado.
In our conversation, we delve into Chris’s entrepreneurial journey, from starting a brokerage firm from scratch and scaling it to $16M in top-line revenue, to acquiring an insurance underwriting company on the verge of collapse and turning it around for a strategic exit.
We also explore his insights on the ETA (Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition) space, where he is now a recognized expert, and his perspective on time management—an area he’s written a book about.
Chris shares lessons learned from navigating acquisitions, growing businesses, and managing teams, as well as his thoughts on the future of employee benefits and wellness in a rapidly evolving marketplace.
Please enjoy this conversation with Christopher Hillier, serial entrepreneur, investor and educator in the ETA space.
----------------------------------------------
Timestamps:
00:00:00 - Intro
00:00:45 - Christopher's story before founding, building and buying the company
00:04:35 - How does the company make money?
00:10:53 - Landing the first major clients
00:16:55 - First acquisition, buying distressed assets
00:20:49 - The reason for selling the company to a strategic buyer
00:24:11 - It's all harder than you'd ever imagine
00:30:08 - A perfect timing to sell a business: cash, stock, earn-out
00:34:10 - The importance of a right fit between buyer and seller
00:38:40 - Investing in search funds (love for ETA - entrepreneurship-through-acquisition)
00:43:09 - Buying an already established business is a kind of miracle
00:48:19 - The search process to find the right opportunity takes a long time and its lonely
00:56:21 - Chasing money
-----------------------------------------------
Follow Mikk/PrivatEquityGuy on Twitter: https://x.com/PrivatEquityGuy
Christopher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-hillier-88621113/
This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions.
84 episodes
Share
