In this episode, Alex Rawlings speaks with Robert Irving, CEO of Buffalo Growth Partners. Robert shares his journey from building and selling a fire & life safety business to scaling within private equity and launching his own independent sponsor firm.⏱️ Timestamps & Key Topics00:00 – Introduction Robert’s journey across founding, exiting, and re-entering private equity.00:30 – Building & Selling a Business Grew to ~80 technicians and exited at 29 Joined a PE-backed roll-up, completing 100+ acquisitions 01:21 – Biggest PE Mistake: People Misalignment of talent and roles Importance of matching personal goals with business needs 02:42 – Off-Market Sale Process Relationship-driven deal (~18 months) Shared vision and timing were key 03:40 – Why Sell? Rapid growth (3M → 12M revenue) Opportunity to scale within a larger platform 06:57 – Winning Deals Human connection over price Understanding seller motivations (legacy, growth, people) 09:18 – Scaling a Roll-Up Leadership staying close to frontline teams Challenges of tech and data integration 10:47 – Key Lessons Retaining founders drives value Equity rollovers create alignment 12:14 – Frontline Reality Change fatigue is real Strong leadership needed during integration 14:13 – Founder Retention Tailor roles to individuals “Right person, right seat” approach 16:36 – Buffalo Growth Partners Focus: service businesses (“guys in trucks”) Operator-led investment model 18:30 – Off-Market Strategy Dedicated outreach + industry credibility Aim to be the “first call” when owners sell 21:21 – Recommendations Brad Jacobs (M&A & scaling) Alpine Investors (people-first PE) Bill Gurley – Running Down a Dream🔑 Key Takeaways People alignment is the biggest driver of success Trust and credibility win off-market deals Retaining founders unlocks long-term value Execution and integration are critical Operator-led PE is gaining momentum Raw Selection partners with Private Equity firms and their portfolio companies to secure exceptional executive talent. We focus on de-risking executive recruitment through meticulous search and selection processes, ensuring top-tier performance and long-term success.🔗 Connect with Alex Rawlings on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexrawlings/ 🌐 Visit Raw Selection www.raw-selection.comLooking to grow your team? Check out our Hiring Guidesfor proven strategies, templates, and best practices to make smarter hires.
