“Buying a Business the Right Way — Lessons from the Front Lines” Guest: Jed Morris — Acquisition Entrepreneur, Operator, and Advisor Connect with Jed on LinkedIn

In this episode of The Silicon Valley Podcast, we sit down with Jed Morris, a seasoned acquisition entrepreneur with firsthand experience navigating the highs and lows of buying and operating businesses. Jed shares candid lessons from his own journey — including what went wrong, what he’d do differently, and the hard-won wisdom you won’t find in most search fund playbooks or weekend bootcamps.

Whether you’re from a tech background looking to buy your first brick-and-mortar company or an aspiring searcher wanting to avoid costly missteps, Jed brings invaluable insights you won’t want to miss.

💡 In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How Jed transitioned into the world of business acquisitions — and what surprised him most
• The full story behind a failed acquisition and the lessons that came from it
• Common myths tech professionals believe when entering the small business world
• Why weekend courses and YouTube content often miss the most critical realities of buying a business
• How to realistically assess risk when using leverage to buy a company
• The disadvantages search funds face compared to PE firms — and how to overcome them
• Frameworks and tools Jed recommends for first-time acquirers
• How to spot trouble early in a distressed business — and what buyers should watch out for
• A cautionary tale you’ll want to hear before signing any LOI
• The role of operational fit, management, and culture post-acquisition
• Overlooked sectors and exciting opportunities in today’s acquisition landscape

📬 Connect with Jed Morris: To learn more, collaborate, or seek guidance in the acquisition space, reach out to Jed via LinkedIn.

🎧 Hosted by: Shawn Flynn — Managing Director at SVH Capital and Host of The Silicon Valley Podcast Learn more at www.SVHCapital.com

📌 Disclaimer: The content provided in this podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or investment advice. The views expressed are those of the speaker and do not necessarily reflect the views of SVH Capital, Finalis Securities LLC, or any affiliates.

In this episode, we sit down with Arto Bendiken, a self-taught polymath, technologist, and entrepreneur whose journey spans building custom software in Finland at 13, contributing to defense communications for the U.S. Navy, scaling blockchain infrastructure at Aurora Labs, and now launching Haltia.AI in Dubai.

We dive deep into the evolution of Web3, the intersection of AI and crypto, real-world blockchain applications, tokenomics, smart contract risks, and how the global landscape—from Silicon Valley to Dubai—is shifting.

This episode is a masterclass for anyone curious about the future of decentralization, personal AI, and global entrepreneurship.

• Arto’s early start in programming and hacking culture in Finland
• Founding and scaling tech ventures across Europe, the U.S., and the UAE
• The transition from developer to crypto pioneer: Bitcoin, Ethereum, and NEAR Protocol
• Lessons from leading Aurora Labs and building hyperscale Web3 infrastructure
• The biggest misunderstandings around Web3 and crypto adoption
• What tokenomics really means—and how to evaluate them properly
• Smart contract vulnerabilities that are still underappreciated
• Balancing scalability, security, and decentralization in modern blockchain architecture
• What AI and crypto convergence could actually look like
• Why Arto chose to build in Dubai—and what Silicon Valley can learn from it
• What he's building now with Haltia.AI and the ASIMOV Protocol

• What initially drew you to Web3, and how has your perspective changed since?
• How do you answer critics who say crypto is a solution in search of a problem?
• What’s a real-world use case in crypto that doesn’t get enough attention?
• How should founders or investors assess tokenomics today?
• What’s the most underestimated risk in crypto right now?
• You wrote an open letter to Marc Andreessen—what inspired that and what did you say?

Arto Bendiken is a serial entrepreneur and CTO with 30+ years of experience across software, AI, and crypto. He has built tech solutions for major banks, defense agencies, and public companies, and has helped scale Web3 infrastructure to millions of users globally. He is currently the Founder of Haltia.AI, where he is building trustworthy personal AI systems and launching the ASIMOV Protocol, a global knowledge market.

Connect with Arto on LinkedIn

• Book: The Sovereign Individual
• NEAR Protocol & Aurora Labs
• Room 77 (the original BTC café)
• Haltia.AI & ASIMOV Protocol
• Open letter to Marc Andreessen

Disclaimer:"The views expressed on this podcast are for informational purposes only and not financial or legal advice. Consult with a professional for your specific situation. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of Finalis Inc. or Finalis Securities LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC.”

Guest: Anita Koimur, Co-founder & COO of LiveFlow LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anitakoimur/

Episode Summary: Join us as we sit down with Anita Koimur, a seasoned entrepreneur and the brilliant mind behind LiveFlow. Anita shares her compelling journey from a successful career in Business Development to co-founding a groundbreaking company. We delve into her experiences, including her time at the prestigious Y Combinator, and explore the critical decisions founders face, such as relocating to be closer to their market. This episode offers invaluable insights into identifying and acquiring early customers, the dynamic evolution of a product, and the transformative power of AI in both blue-collar/service industries and the future of financial automation. Anita also sheds light on the challenges CFOs face with disparate financial documents, the complexities of M&A in the finance world, and where she sees LiveFlow positioned within the broader landscape of AI tools. Tune in for a deep dive into business growth, strategic product development, and the exciting future of financial automation.

Key Discussion Points:

• Anita's Career Journey: Her background and the pivotal moments leading up to entrepreneurship.
• Transition to Founder: The inspiration behind starting a company and the skills carried over from her Business Development days.
• Y Combinator Experience: Key takeaways and the impact of going through the accelerator program.
• Geographic Imperative for Founders: The importance of location (e.g., UK to NYC) in relation to market proximity.
• Early Customer Acquisition: Strategies for getting first customers and building initial trust and credibility.
• Customer Profile Evolution: How LiveFlow identified and refined its ideal customer over time.
• Product Evolution: Pivotal moments and feedback that shaped LiveFlow's development since launch.
• AI in Blue-Collar & Service Industries: Anita's vision for AI's implementation in these sectors.
• CFO Challenges: Addressing the problems CFOs face with multiple financial documents from various companies.
• AI's Impact on Business Growth: How AI has shifted Anita's perspective on strategy and its role in future financial automation.
• M&A and Finance: The biggest issues in the finance world during M&A and how tools like LiveFlow can help.
• Future of Financial Automation: What excites Anita most and where she sees the industry heading in the next 5-10 years.
• LiveFlow's Future Trajectory: Whether LiveFlow is a standalone entity, part of a larger suite, or a potential consolidator.
• Connecting with Anita & LiveFlow: Best ways for listeners to learn more and explore the platform.

Website https://www.liveflow.com/ Promo Code: SVP

The views expressed on this podcast are for informational purposes only and not financial or legal advice. Consult with a professional for your specific situation. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of Finalis Inc. or Finalis Securities LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC.”