Sebastien J.’s Post

Ladies, Merrilee Kick is inspirational AF. Read this: 'In 2009, as a 46-year-old teacher of business in Plano, Kick was sitting by her pool grading papers when she had the idea for what became BuzzBallz: fun, high-proof cocktails served in easy-to-hold, colorful, plastic spherical containers. “I thought, I shouldn't have this glass container out here,” she recalls. “I should have a plastic, pool-safe type of cocktail.” The project excited Kick, who had been working towards her MBA at Texas Woman’s University and wanted to gain more financial independence as she and her husband considered divorcing. She had no savings and nothing to fall back on. ... In 14 years since she founded the brand, Kick has built BuzzBallz into an alcohol industry powerhouse. In addition to distribution across the United States, the brand is now sold in 29 countries with annual revenue that Forbes estimates is roughly $500 million. The 61-year-old Kick, in turn, has become one of the alcohol industry’s biggest success stories, with one of best exits ever for a woman. The former public school teacher from Plano, Texas, never sold a stake in the company, but did give 24.5% to each of her two sons, Alex and Andrew, now president and vice president of BuzzBallz. The Louisiana-based spirits conglomerate Sazerac, owned by billionaire William Goldring, acquired BuzzBallz in May in an all-cash deal that Forbes estimates is at least $500 million. Neither Kick nor Sazerac would comment on the size of the deal, but, without providing documentation, Kick says that the actual figure is much higher. Forbes conservatively estimates that, after taxes, Kick pocketed at least $400 million.' Forbes Chloe Sorvino https://lnkd.in/ex3VTEQJ #FundFemaleFounders

Before you create a start-up like the place you love, realize there are similar long established businesses hoping someone like you may find them to continue their legacy & build on what they've created long into the future with far less risk.

A lot has been written on the Sazerac Company acquisition of Buzzballz, LLC / Southern Champion. Important takeaway here for founders is that BuzzBall built a business that: -was based on sustainable business growth rather than building a business only for exit (i.e. raise cash, burn cash, repeat) -had a committed and engaged founder willing to put in the work -was not "on trend" when they launched but "ahead of the trend" -brought something truly unique relative to what was available https://lnkd.in/gw_xuRX6

Happy Summer all! 🌞Welcome the season with crafting activities, giveaways, beverage samples and more. Plus, get your first handcrafted beverage for free. Coupon is only redeemable on June 20. And for all my #Businessowners # CEO's #Founders #Entrepreneurs I've got more that just coffee to provide...how's 2% cash back on all spend globally or 2X miles on all spend globally...reach out to me directly for details!! #what'sinyourwallet #SparkCashPlus #VentureXBusiness 💰✈️

This is another competition we are passionate about! Forbes talks all about the world's best whiskeys of 2023, but we want to know what your favorites are... Let us know in the comments and check out how they rank in the article here: https://lnkd.in/emxzNTcr #innovation #technology #marketing #venturecapital #investing Hudson Lindenberger

Excited to share my newest listing! It's all about helping business owners move on to the next exciting chapter of their journey. Let's empower them to follow their passions and get the recognition they deserve for building awesome businesses. Can't wait for new owners to jump in, put their spin on things, and carry on the legacy of these amazing ventures! #BusinessTransition #ExitStrategy #LegacyBuilding

Butternut Box | B Corp LOSES £24m - BIG LOL 😅 Private Equity Bozos are losing millions of pounds in a pretty rudimentary, easy to understand sector, dog food. As you can gather, I'm very salty. These companies play unfair battles with other who have built businesses with sweat equity instead of 2&20 fees. And we aren't even manufacturers ourselves. Butternut Box has gross margins of around 38%, and net cash of -£17m. This is UNSUSTAINABLE. And Butternut Box ins't the only one, the others mentioned in the video are also losing millions of pounds, are cannibalising each other and experience great churn. How do they survive? Printing shares and diluting shareholders. The only ones making money are Google and Facebook with these companies. 🔷 ''Blitzscaling'' only works if the business has substantial operating leverage (like SAAS), not when the Capex ought to be constantly ramped up alongside turnover. In business, the return on capital HAS to exceed the cost of capital. Who will be the first to fall? Passion Capital L Catterton Five Seasons Ventures

𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝘀𝗸𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗸 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴. Whisky cask investing is an intriguing opportunity that combines a love for fine spirits with a strategic financial move. By owning a piece of the distillery process, you're not just buying whisky but investing in its ageing potential. 𝗕𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗼 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗷𝗼𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱. This isn't just for whisky enthusiasts. It's for diversifying their investments with something tangible and enjoyable. As your whisky matures, so does the possibility of a robust return on investment, making it a delightful addition to your portfolio. 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗶𝗽 𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀? Join the ranks of savvy investors who are toasting to their foresight. With whisky cask investing, you're not just waiting for financial gains; you're part of a heritage-rich process that culminates in pleasure and profit. #SipOnSuccess #InvestInWhisky #WhiskyCaskInvesting

🍻 In the highly competitive world of craft beer, what was the turning point for our newest Operational Partner Mark Roberts and his business BeerHawk? 💡 Mark explains that, actually, the real lightbulb moment came when leaning into what he and his co-founder were uniquely good at...meetings! 🏆 "We became the number one craft beer online retailer in the UK." 👇 Check out the interview to learn more! #VC #VentureCapital #Founders