Operating Partners / Advisors

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October 26, 2021

by a searcher from Columbia University - Columbia Business School in New York, NY, USA

Does anyone have good tips/advice for connecting with operating partners and/or advisors to help with running a business post-acquisition? I would think GLG / Alphasights and other expert networks are good sources for those types of contacts, though very pricey...

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Reply by a searcher
from University of Illinois at Urbana in Dallas, TX, USA
^redacted‌ -- Check out the SCORE "Find a Mentor" program --> https://www.score.org/find-mentor. You can filter Mentors by location/industry/etc.

I have used this *free* service to diligence/learn different business models from SaaS to Construction. Mentors have been incredibly insightful and patient. On the Advisory piece you mentioned, I will most likely ask one Mentor to participate as an Advisor for a deal currently under LOI, because he has been helping form the post-close operating plan and has offered to introduce me to customers from his personal network (B2B Services business).

Feel free to reach out if you have any questions. Good luck!
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Reply by a searcher
from University of Manchester in Dublín, Irlanda
Mike another thing that I did was to set up a professional profile on linkedin and connected with as many CEO's and industry experts as would accept me. Then a short message asking if they would look at my business presentation and comment. A couple of them replied asking how they could help and we got into a dialogue. If you bring some energy and attitude, you are providing value to them, so don't feel that you are just taking from them. If you have a business plan and a good attitude many experienced professionals would be happy to mentor you as it's (supposedly) hard to find a worthy mentee.
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