15: M&A Zing (Ep. 15)– Debt Nightmares, SEIS Wins & The Barbell Economy with Sam Simpson

Modern polymath Sam Simpson has worn every hat: quantum-physicist-turned-tech-exec, £450m buy-and-build survivor, SEIS-powered start-up founder, angel investor and—most recently—CEO of Founder Catalyst while co-building Forge Technologies. In this candid conversation Sam unpacks:\n\n• The 3Cs framework that still guides every venture he touches.\n• How 2e2’s PE debt stack imploded overnight—and why he now treats leverage like kryptonite.\n• Turning £20k SEIS cheques into >30x exits (and what most founders miss).\n• Surviving COVID’s ‘black-swan’ wipe-out of his events business.\n• Angel vs buy-out returns, the AI imperative & the coming barbell economy.\n• Why optionality, profitability and focus will dominate the 2020s.\n\nPacked with war stories, practical funding tips and hard-won strategy, this is required listening for acquisition entrepreneurs, search-funders and hold-co builders across the UK & Europe.