The Closing Call Sat, 11 Apr 2026 07:08:38 -0400 https://www.theclosingcall.com en-us © 2026 Kaizen Equity Partners, LLC yes a279e984-cd48-50e3-991b-ced8080e1a37 calvin+kaizen@engine.fm Kaizen Equity Partners episodic false Every deal has a defining moment – the closing call. Hosted by Shane Seelig and Zach Haarer of Kaizen Equity, this podcast takes you inside the stories of entrepreneurs who built and sold their companies. Hear firsthand what it takes to grow a business, navigate the sale process, and reach the finish line of an acquisition. Blending real-world deal insights with personal founder journeys, The Closing Call offers a rare look at the highs, lows, and lessons behind successful exits.

]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) Kaizen Equity Partners, Kaizen Equity, Shane Seelig, Zach Haarer, Mergers & Acquisitions, The Closing Call, Closing Call Podcast, M&A Podcast Kaizen Equity Partners calvin+kaizen@engine.fm https://storage.buzzsprout.com/ftxutoqj2vxwx42dxr1zw09cp210?.jpg The Closing Call Shane Seelig Zach Haarer Christian Williams How Instrumentl Raised $55M to Define Grant Management How Instrumentl Raised $55M to Define Grant Management Gauri Manglik, CEO and co-founder of Instrumentl, joins The Closing Call to unpack the journey from bootstrapped experimentation to raising a $55M growth round with Summit Partners. Gauri shares how deep customer obsession shaped product-market fit, why Instrumentl waited years before raising capital, and how AI is transforming the full grant-seeking lifecycle—from discovery to post-award management.


Follow Gauri Manglik

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/gaurimanglik/

Instrumentl – https://www.instrumentl.com/


Key Lessons & Insights

• Identifying product-market fit through persistent customer feedback

• Why Instrumentl pivoted from academia to nonprofits

• Turning an “overlooked” niche into a category-defining SaaS platform

• Bootstrapping discipline vs. raising growth equity

• When it makes sense to take on outside capital

• How to run a thoughtful, founder-led fundraising process

• What growth equity partners look for at scale

• Selecting the right investor beyond valuation

• Applying AI and LLMs across an end-to-end workflow

• Using automation to eliminate operational drag post-award

• Building operational rigor without losing customer focus

• Hiring, culture, and scaling with intention after a major round


Timestamps

[00:00] Episode Introduction

[01:43] Gauri’s background and entrepreneurial roots

[03:31] Discovering the opportunity in grants and nonprofits

[04:19] Early product experiments and false starts

[05:45] Customers revealing real pain and willingness to pay

[06:17] Defining the grant-seeking lifecycle platform

[07:22] Introducing AI and LLMs into Instrumentl

[09:15] Building differentiated AI products beyond text generation

[11:39] AI across discovery, apply, and post-award workflows

[13:40] Staying bootstrapped during hypergrowth

[14:56] What Instrumentl looked for in an investment partner

[16:45] Why raising capital also meant supporting the team

[17:58] Operating differently after partnering with Summit

[19:23] Deciding when it was finally time to raise

[20:51] Why Summit Partners stood out

[21:55] What the $55M round means for employees and hiring

[26:35] Advice for founders preparing for a future fundraise

]]> Gauri Manglik, CEO and co-founder of Instrumentl, joins The Closing Call to unpack the journey from bootstrapped experimentation to raising a $55M growth round with Summit Partners. Gauri shares how deep customer obsession shaped product-market fit, why Instrumentl waited years before raising capital, and how AI is transforming the full grant-seeking lifecycle—from discovery to post-award management.


Follow Gauri Manglik

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/gaurimanglik/

Instrumentl – https://www.instrumentl.com/


Key Lessons & Insights

• Identifying product-market fit through persistent customer feedback

• Why Instrumentl pivoted from academia to nonprofits

• Turning an “overlooked” niche into a category-defining SaaS platform

• Bootstrapping discipline vs. raising growth equity

• When it makes sense to take on outside capital

• How to run a thoughtful, founder-led fundraising process

• What growth equity partners look for at scale

• Selecting the right investor beyond valuation

• Applying AI and LLMs across an end-to-end workflow

• Using automation to eliminate operational drag post-award

• Building operational rigor without losing customer focus

• Hiring, culture, and scaling with intention after a major round


Timestamps

[00:00] Episode Introduction

[01:43] Gauri’s background and entrepreneurial roots

[03:31] Discovering the opportunity in grants and nonprofits

[04:19] Early product experiments and false starts

[05:45] Customers revealing real pain and willingness to pay

[06:17] Defining the grant-seeking lifecycle platform

[07:22] Introducing AI and LLMs into Instrumentl

[09:15] Building differentiated AI products beyond text generation

[11:39] AI across discovery, apply, and post-award workflows

[13:40] Staying bootstrapped during hypergrowth

[14:56] What Instrumentl looked for in an investment partner

[16:45] Why raising capital also meant supporting the team

[17:58] Operating differently after partnering with Summit

[19:23] Deciding when it was finally time to raise

[20:51] Why Summit Partners stood out

[21:55] What the $55M round means for employees and hiring

[26:35] Advice for founders preparing for a future fundraise

]]> Kaizen Equity Partners Buzzsprout-18475901 Thu, 08 Jan 2026 11:00:00 -0700 1708 Gauri, Gauri Manglik, Instrumentl, Instrumentl CEO, Instrumental Interview, Gauri Manglik Interview, Summit Partners 4 full false Gauri Manglik Shane Seelig Zach Haarer Christian Williams Behind HubSync’s More Than $100M Growth Round with Thoma Bravo to Automate Tax & Accounting Workflows Behind HubSync’s More Than $100M Growth Round with Thoma Bravo to Automate Tax & Accounting Workflows HubSync founder and CEO John McGowan joins The Closing Call to share how he transformed his Big Four experience into a leading SaaS platform that modernizes tax and audit workflows for accounting firms. McGowan discusses building HubSync from scratch, bootstrapping through consulting, raising $100M from Thoma Bravo, and the lessons learned while running one of the tightest growth processes in M&A.


Follow John McGowan & HubSync
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jqmcgowan/
HubSync – https://hubsync.com/


Key Lessons & Insights
• How a Big Four CIO bootstrapped HubSync into a market leader
• Why mid-tier CPA firms (Top 5–200) are adopting unified platforms
• The importance of hiring a banker and running a formal process
• How to evaluate institutional investors beyond valuation
• Lessons from managing a high-velocity Series B process with 23 term sheets
• Building investor relationships before a capital raise
• How Thoma Bravo scaled HubSync post-investment through acquisition and AI integration
• Why founders should prioritize partnership fit over check size
• Building a product-led culture that turns clients into advocates
• The future of AI, automation, and e-sign capabilities in tax tech


Timestamps
[00:00] Episode Introduction
[01:30] Introduction: John McGowan and the HubSync story
[04:40] Leaving Deloitte to bootstrap HubSync and validate the mid-market opportunity
[06:23] Breaking through with Top 25 firms and market-leading retention
[07:42] Preparing for growth and the decision to raise capital
[08:41] Dating investors and learning early valuation lessons
[12:19] Deciding to hire a banker and structuring the Series B process
[15:25] Managing 23 term sheets and multiple investor tranches
[17:37] Handling diligence across tech, finance, and operations
[20:04] Learning from investor feedback on scaling strategy
[21:14] Post-transaction roadmap: acquisitions, AI, and payments integration
[25:05] Building a partner-led client culture inside HubSync
[27:41] The weekend that closed the Thoma Bravo deal
[30:12] Advice to founders raising institutional capital

]]> HubSync founder and CEO John McGowan joins The Closing Call to share how he transformed his Big Four experience into a leading SaaS platform that modernizes tax and audit workflows for accounting firms. McGowan discusses building HubSync from scratch, bootstrapping through consulting, raising $100M from Thoma Bravo, and the lessons learned while running one of the tightest growth processes in M&A.


Follow John McGowan & HubSync
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jqmcgowan/
HubSync – https://hubsync.com/


Key Lessons & Insights
• How a Big Four CIO bootstrapped HubSync into a market leader
• Why mid-tier CPA firms (Top 5–200) are adopting unified platforms
• The importance of hiring a banker and running a formal process
• How to evaluate institutional investors beyond valuation
• Lessons from managing a high-velocity Series B process with 23 term sheets
• Building investor relationships before a capital raise
• How Thoma Bravo scaled HubSync post-investment through acquisition and AI integration
• Why founders should prioritize partnership fit over check size
• Building a product-led culture that turns clients into advocates
• The future of AI, automation, and e-sign capabilities in tax tech


Timestamps
[00:00] Episode Introduction
[01:30] Introduction: John McGowan and the HubSync story
[04:40] Leaving Deloitte to bootstrap HubSync and validate the mid-market opportunity
[06:23] Breaking through with Top 25 firms and market-leading retention
[07:42] Preparing for growth and the decision to raise capital
[08:41] Dating investors and learning early valuation lessons
[12:19] Deciding to hire a banker and structuring the Series B process
[15:25] Managing 23 term sheets and multiple investor tranches
[17:37] Handling diligence across tech, finance, and operations
[20:04] Learning from investor feedback on scaling strategy
[21:14] Post-transaction roadmap: acquisitions, AI, and payments integration
[25:05] Building a partner-led client culture inside HubSync
[27:41] The weekend that closed the Thoma Bravo deal
[30:12] Advice to founders raising institutional capital

]]> Kaizen Equity Partners Buzzsprout-18219630 Wed, 19 Nov 2025 12:00:00 -0700 1999 John McGowan, HubSync, Thoma Bravo, Series B Funding, Raising Capital, Kaizen Equity Partners, Kaizen Equity, Founder of HubSync, CEO of HubSync, Tax Software, Tax Automation Software 3 full false John McGowan Shane Seelig Zach Haarer Christian Williams From Lender to Market Leader in Private Lending Software From Lender to Market Leader in Private Lending Software Mortgage Automator co-founder Joseph Fooks joins The Closing Call to share how he and his partners bootstrapped a niche SaaS platform for private lenders into a market-leading outcome. He discusses the early pain points that inspired the product, the pivotal moment COVID created for growth, and how partnering with Kaizen Equity shaped the process, timing, and ultimate outcome of their sale.


Follow Joe Fooks

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-fooks-1406754a/

Mortgage Automator – https://www.mortgageautomator.com/


Key Lessons & Insights

• How firsthand industry pain points can spark SaaS innovation.

• The impact of web-based architecture during COVID on scaling.

• Identifying an ideal customer profile (AUM $20–150M) for growth.

• Why patience and market timing are critical before a sale.

• The value of transparent, strategic bankers in achieving significant SaaS multiples.

• How to filter potential buyers and create competitive tension.

• Why emotional detachment helps founders make better financial decisions.

• The role of founder–banker alignment and trust in successful exits.


Timestamps

[00:12] Origin of Mortgage Automator and early inefficiencies

[03:46] Solving lender pain points through automation

[06:05] COVID’s unexpected boost to sales and visibility

[07:45] Defining the ideal customer and scaling to enterprise

[09:09] Deciding to explore a sale and partner with Kaizen

[13:15] Market shifts, strategic patience, and pre-sale preparation

[16:16] Achieving a market-leading outcome by following Kaizen’s guidance

[17:31] Managing 25+ term sheets and vetting potential buyers

[20:47] Advice for founders selecting the right investment banker

[23:07] Reflections and gratitude post-closing

]]> Mortgage Automator co-founder Joseph Fooks joins The Closing Call to share how he and his partners bootstrapped a niche SaaS platform for private lenders into a market-leading outcome. He discusses the early pain points that inspired the product, the pivotal moment COVID created for growth, and how partnering with Kaizen Equity shaped the process, timing, and ultimate outcome of their sale.


Follow Joe Fooks

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-fooks-1406754a/

Mortgage Automator – https://www.mortgageautomator.com/


Key Lessons & Insights

• How firsthand industry pain points can spark SaaS innovation.

• The impact of web-based architecture during COVID on scaling.

• Identifying an ideal customer profile (AUM $20–150M) for growth.

• Why patience and market timing are critical before a sale.

• The value of transparent, strategic bankers in achieving significant SaaS multiples.

• How to filter potential buyers and create competitive tension.

• Why emotional detachment helps founders make better financial decisions.

• The role of founder–banker alignment and trust in successful exits.


Timestamps

[00:12] Origin of Mortgage Automator and early inefficiencies

[03:46] Solving lender pain points through automation

[06:05] COVID’s unexpected boost to sales and visibility

[07:45] Defining the ideal customer and scaling to enterprise

[09:09] Deciding to explore a sale and partner with Kaizen

[13:15] Market shifts, strategic patience, and pre-sale preparation

[16:16] Achieving a market-leading outcome by following Kaizen’s guidance

[17:31] Managing 25+ term sheets and vetting potential buyers

[20:47] Advice for founders selecting the right investment banker

[23:07] Reflections and gratitude post-closing

]]> Kaizen Equity Partners Buzzsprout-18023404 Thu, 16 Oct 2025 11:00:00 -0700 1431 Joe Fooks, Mortgage Automator, Joseph Fooks, Shane Seelig, The Closing Call, Podcast, SaaS, Software, M&A, SaaS M&A, Software M&A, Investment Banking, Kaizen Equity Podcast, Kaizen Equity, Kaizen Equity Partners, Founder Advice, Founder Interview, SaaS Fo 2 full false Joseph Fooks Shane Seelig Zach Haarer Christian Williams InSync’s Journey From $6M to $39M Before Its Merger with Warburg Pincus-backed Qualifacts InSync’s Journey From $6M to $39M Before Its Merger with Warburg Pincus-backed Qualifacts Alex Sandkuhl, former VP of Sales at InSync Healthcare Solutions, shares how he helped grow the company from $6M to $39M in revenue and $10M in EBITDA, leading to its acquisition by Qualifacts in 2021. He explains the sales engine that fueled InSync’s growth, the importance of reverse-engineering outcomes for valuation, and how customer subscription financing became a breakthrough strategy.

Follow Alex Sandkuhl
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexsandkuhl/
Keystone Growth Advisory – https://www.keystone-growth.com/

Key Lessons & Insights
• Building a scalable outbound sales model from scratch.
• The role of BDRs, lead qualifiers, and AEs in creating a sales engine.
• How TAM/SAM segmentation drove efficient market targeting.
• Instituting accountability through compensation and culture.
• Reverse-engineering valuation metrics before going to market.
• Leveraging financing strategies to fund growth without dilution.
• Positioning as both a platform sale and strategic acquisition target.
• Lessons from post-acquisition integration with Qualifacts.
• Customer subscription financing as a source of non-dilutive capital.

Timestamps
[00:00] Episode Trailer 
[01:25] Early days at InSync and building outbound sales
[03:22] First BDR hires and pipeline growth
[06:44] Scaling the sales engine through segmentation
[09:14] Lead qualifiers and demand generation inflection point
[12:20] Driving accountability with comp plans and culture
[16:27] Reverse-engineering valuation and reporting hygiene
[19:33] Managing 19 bidders and positioning the company
[20:32] Efficiency gains: reducing CAC and increasing margins
[24:17] Post-acquisition integration with Qualifacts
[27:36] Advice to founders on preparing early for a sale
[30:46] Keystone Growth Advisory and building sales engines for SaaS
[32:14] Customer subscription financing explained
[35:02] Reflections on the journey and the closing call

]]> Alex Sandkuhl, former VP of Sales at InSync Healthcare Solutions, shares how he helped grow the company from $6M to $39M in revenue and $10M in EBITDA, leading to its acquisition by Qualifacts in 2021. He explains the sales engine that fueled InSync’s growth, the importance of reverse-engineering outcomes for valuation, and how customer subscription financing became a breakthrough strategy.

Follow Alex Sandkuhl
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexsandkuhl/
Keystone Growth Advisory – https://www.keystone-growth.com/

Key Lessons & Insights
• Building a scalable outbound sales model from scratch.
• The role of BDRs, lead qualifiers, and AEs in creating a sales engine.
• How TAM/SAM segmentation drove efficient market targeting.
• Instituting accountability through compensation and culture.
• Reverse-engineering valuation metrics before going to market.
• Leveraging financing strategies to fund growth without dilution.
• Positioning as both a platform sale and strategic acquisition target.
• Lessons from post-acquisition integration with Qualifacts.
• Customer subscription financing as a source of non-dilutive capital.

Timestamps
[00:00] Episode Trailer 
[01:25] Early days at InSync and building outbound sales
[03:22] First BDR hires and pipeline growth
[06:44] Scaling the sales engine through segmentation
[09:14] Lead qualifiers and demand generation inflection point
[12:20] Driving accountability with comp plans and culture
[16:27] Reverse-engineering valuation and reporting hygiene
[19:33] Managing 19 bidders and positioning the company
[20:32] Efficiency gains: reducing CAC and increasing margins
[24:17] Post-acquisition integration with Qualifacts
[27:36] Advice to founders on preparing early for a sale
[30:46] Keystone Growth Advisory and building sales engines for SaaS
[32:14] Customer subscription financing explained
[35:02] Reflections on the journey and the closing call

]]> Kaizen Equity Partners Buzzsprout-17986821 Fri, 10 Oct 2025 06:00:00 -0700 2206 Alex Sandkuhl, The Closing Call, Kaizen Equity, InSync, InSync Health, InSync Healthcare, Shane Seelig, Warburg Pincus, SaaS, Software M&A, M&A, SaaS M&A, Investment Banking 1 full false Alex Sandkuhl Shane Seelig Zach Haarer Christian Williams