Welcome to Growthink’s 1st Quarter 2025 Newsletter. Below we share:
- Growthink CEO Jay Turo on 2025 as a Turnaround Business Year
- Chief Client Officer Anna Vitale on Self, Strategy and The Identity Challenge
- Growthink Head of London Office Antonio Barzagli on M&A Trends and Capital Opportunities for 2025
- Entrepreneurial Advisory Lead Bert Carder on the best ways to adopt AI for your business needs and goals.
Building on the above themes, for the business owners among us we would like to invite you to a special, invitation-only webinar: “Why if You CAN Sell Your Business in 2025, You SHOULD.”
Register today at this link!
To all of our success!
2025 – A Turnaround Business Year
2025 holds great promise to be a solid business turnaround year.
For far too many, the last few years have been characterized by what can best be described as “wet blanket” – type business conditions and mood.
For sure, many companies did make admirable operational progress, and some of them achieved exits at solid premiums, were sold at a solid premium, but an overall “macro” malaise and anxiety just dragged everything down.
The hope for 2025 – catalyzed by a far more pro-business, pro-deal-making, pro-innovation federal administration – is both a replacement of the malaise with hope, and with some geopolitical good fortune, the anxiety with some good old-fashioned American optimism and bullishness.
We are already getting in a significant uptick in business and consumer confidence, in the strong performance of the public equity markets, and in the robust job numbers the U.S. economy continues to deliver.
Of course, none of this sunshine guarantees anything for any of us.
But for those of us in positions of authority and influence in organizations of importance, it is clearly time to go out and make some hay.
Below, my esteemed colleagues share market-tested ideas and recommendations to do just that.
To them, I will channel Socrates’ most famous quote: to be wildly business successful in 2025 and beyond, above all else “Know Thyself.”
This starts with getting crystal clear on our deepest, most resonating values—whether they be family, contribution, legacy, or just basic happiness.
Here’s a quick test to identify your five most important values. It only takes 15 minutes to complete, but might be the best investment in yourself and your business all year.
Alongside values comes all of our individual feelings and comfort levels with risk. This is not about machismo, to lead a business being a wild risk-taker is neither required nor even advisable.
Rather, it’s about understanding how we all personally process risk: financial risk, reputational risk, even physical risk.
With risk clarity, equally promising business initiatives and courses of action be fairly and correctly evaluated.
Because riskier decisions are not inherently better or worse ones, they are simply that…riskier ones, and some of us have the constitution, life stage, and financial outlook to take more of them, and others do not.
Here’s a test to see where you fall on the risk-taking spectrum. Another phenomenal investment of personal and business time!
Finally accept that you are going to die. We all are. And yes you read that right.
Over the holidays, I read a great book called Four Thousand Weeks, so titled as that’s roughly the amount of time the average person has alive on this Earth. Some of us get a little less, some a little more, but in the cosmic measure of things, we are all here for just a blink of an eye.
This point of the book is not a morbid one but rather is a kick in the pants!
If you’ve been dreaming about harvesting the fruits of your labor and selling your business, there may never be a better opportunity to do so than in 2025
And your values and risk mindset might just point to right now being the best time to do it.
So, go get it done. Why not?
Here’s to a great 2025!
Chief Client Officer Anna Vitale on Self, Strategy and The Identity Challenge
In our goal to deliver lifetime wealth optimization across our management consulting, investment banking and wealth advisory practices, we’ve observed a critical pattern: the delicate dance between self and strategy.
Running a business isn’t just about spreadsheets and strategy – it’s deeply personal. And when those aren’t aligned, we see leaders wrestling with decisions that pit personal comfort against business realities, such as:
- Holding onto underperforming business initiatives that hold special personal meaning
- Constraining growth to maintain greater control
- Delaying selling to a compelling buyer because “who am I” once I am not this company?
We help leaders navigate this common dynamic by first delineating personal and business objectives and getting them out into the open.
We then research, analyze, evaluate, and ideate until we find recommendations that create harmony between enterprise value and individual fulfillment.
Sometimes, the recommendation is…go all in on growth, sell the company, or even decide not to found the company at all.
Whatever the recommendation, our commitment is to the next chapter: of the business and of the people who create it.
Growthink Head of London Office Antonio Barzagli on M&A Trends and Capital Opportunities for 2025
Key trends are shaping M&A (Mergers and Acquisitions) in 2025, driven by stabilizing economic conditions and capital accessibility.
- Improved Market Environment
Stabilizing interest rates and increased capital availability are set to boost M&A activity in 2025. Private equity firms with significant dry powder and expanded private credit options will drive competition, supporting valuations and accelerating deal-making. A stronger economic outlook is likely to bring more sellers back to the table. - Leading Industries and Verticals to Watch
Based on data from our M&A Observatory, the past year’s most active industries in the US were Commercial Services, Enterprise Software, and Media & Information Services. Manufacturing, SaaS, and TMT also stood out as the most frequently targeted verticals, reflecting sustained demand across these sectors as we approach 2025. - Resurgence in Add-On Acquisitions
Smaller bolt-ons remain a priority for financial sponsors, particularly in healthcare, logistics, and tech.
For example, Stryker’s acquisition of Care.ai enhanced its healthcare IT capabilities. - Focus on Founder-Led Businesses
Founder-run companies appeal to buyers seeking operational improvements. Family offices are increasingly active here, with many targeting this segment for growth potential. - Strategic Niche Acquisitions
Acquirers pursue capabilities like AI and ESG-focused solutions. One example is Thomson Reuters’ acquisition of Safe Sign Technologies, which highlights the push for specialized tech in legal workflows. - Operational Partnerships in M&A
Partnerships with operators or domain experts unlock value in underperforming assets. Rivian and Volkswagen’s collaboration on EV architecture illustrates this strategy’s effectiveness.
Entrepreneurial Advisory Practice Lead Bert Carder on What is the Right AI Strategy for your Business
I speak with C-Suite executives every day who ask me, “What should I be doing with AI in 2025 to stay ahead of our competition?”
Well, there is no single right answer. The key is taking a strategic approach that aligns with your business needs and goals, not somebody else’s.
I tell them is consider three things:
- Identify core challenges where AI can provide tangible solutions. Whether it’s improving marketing efficiency, enhancing customer experiences, or increasing operational profitability, your AI approach should directly support your business strategy.
- You don’t need a complete technological overhaul. Begin with targeted pilot projects that demonstrate clear value. This approach allows you to learn, adapt, and gradually expand your AI capabilities.
- Think of AI initially not as a replacement for human expertise, but as a tool to augment it. How might AI provide insights, functions or support that complements your team?
For a complimentary consultation with a Growthink AI “Sherpa” and Guide, click here.
If you have questions or need support, Growthink has a team of business experts who can work alongside you to develop strategies and solutions to address these types of challenges and help you put together a strategy and execution plan. Learn more here.
Contact us to schedule a complimentary discovery call.
