Episode Details

I sit down with Jamal Muse, a former math teacher and former Blackrock analytics professional who reinvented himself as a serial founder. He’s built and sold two brands (one for 7 figures) and is now sellling his third.

If you're building with an exit in mind — or want to learn how top operators structure their businesses to sell — this episode is a must-listen.

📧 Interested in buying Jamal’s current business? Reach out at: mikk at privatequityguy dot com
🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe for more interviews with operators, acquirers, and builders.

We cover:
00:00:00 - Intro - Meet Jamal Muse, 3-time founder with one 7-figure exit
00:01:07 - Why 50% of your earnings come at the exit, not during operations
00:03:31 - How Jamal learned to treat his business as an asset, not a baby
00:06:50 - The mindset shift behind picking the right buyer (and rejecting offers)
00:09:00 - Should you sell your business? Jamal’s take on emotional attachment
00:11:01 - Reinventing yourself: From teacher to entrepreneur to what’s next
00:19:00 - Why going public with his story was scarier than skydiving
00:22:30 - Jamal’s 3-year roadmap to build, grow, and exit a brand
00:27:00 - Common mistakes that kill exits: bad books, weak niche, messy ops
00:30:00 - Revenue vs. profit - what actually matters when selling
00:33:00 - What real buyers look for in a business (and red flags to avoid)
00:36:40 - You can dictate price or terms - but not both

----------------------------------------------

Subscribe on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/6lr5bE3SNZF2uEE7Nb0DHh

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/holdco-builders/id1695713724

Follow Mikk/PrivatEquityGuy on Twitter: https://x.com/PrivatEquityGuy⁠⁠⁠

This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions.