Key Points From the Interview
he vending machine business.
You see lots of little vending routes for sale on BizBuySell, and many of these are just one- or two-person operations, tiny businesses really.
Then there is the one that today's guest Ujwal Velagapudi acquired:
โ Thousands of machines.
โ Millions in annual revenue.
โ Over a million dollars in cash flow.
Ujwal's business is at a whole other level, so if you've ever been curious about this weird and wonderful little industry, you're going to love this episode.
At over 100 minutes, it's a long one.
I wanted to get Ujwal's entire journey, not just the recent acquisition of the vending business.
Why?
Because it's an inspiring one.
Ujwal starts by buying a little commercial building he found on Craigslist.
Fire damage on one side, in a rough section of Detroit, selling for 20 grand.
And did I mention? Listed for sale...on Craigslist.
But he buys it.
And he parlays that first little acquisition into a portfolio of real estate.
Then a bar.
Then a gym.
Then a consulting business, an ecommerce business, an online business, and FINALLY the vending empire.
Ujwal is an acquisition entrepreneur's acquisition entrepreneur โ a serial buyer.
What an interesting path.
And at 30 years old, he's really only getting started.
I hope you enjoy my conversation with Ujwal Velagapudi as much as I did. ๐๐๐
Sponsors
August Felker is a 2-time successful searcher โ first with a traditional search fund; the second time around, he did a self-funded search.
Today August runs Oberle Risk Strategies, an insurance firm with a dedicated practice group for searchers and acquisition entrepreneurs like you.
If you've got a business under LOI, Oberle will provide complimentary due diligence on that business's insurance and benefits program. A great, no-risk way to get to know August & team.
They love helping searchers; they've worked with hundreds. Oberle is a specialty insurance brokerage for searchers, by a former searcher.
Check out the Search Fund Team at Oberle.
