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Global technology leader with over 20 years driving revenue growth and strategic…
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Damon Johnson shared thisStill working on your elevator pitch? Try Coach Plutarch…
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Damon Johnson shared thisI have been using Base44 to develop an app that replaces an Excel file I used to create a "point system" for tracking progress on activities like Sales, Sales Management or Job Search. I set up a daily target of points for activities like LinkedIn invites, emails, texts and in-person meetings.
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Damon Johnson shared thisDo you need a BOS? A business operating system? Take a the free, 5 minute quiz -> https://lnkd.in/gVGC8Xa5 Over the past year I've been heavily involved in M&A activity in the lower middle market, and one thing has become very clear to me: companies running on a formalized Operating System (EOS, Pinnacle, Scaling Up) consistently show stronger valuations, cleaner operations, and faster closes than those that aren't. When a business has the right people in the right seats, clear accountability, and a cadence that keeps the whole leadership team aligned, the company is more valuable.. Recently, I have started to implement an EOS-style system for a small business and I am looking to help 1 or 2 more founder-led and owner-operated businesses to gain more traction. If you're feeling the growing pains of scaling, or if you know someone who is, I'd love a quick conversation. Even a warm introduction to the right person would mean a lot. Thanks — DamonQuick Quiz: Do I Need a Business Operating System?Quick Quiz: Do I Need a Business Operating System?
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Damon Johnson shared thisI built The Point Tracker when I was job searching because I needed to know when I could stop for the day. Then I realized "keeping score" was really valuable in building a sales pipeline. Now I use to create deal flow for acquisitions. Try it out for free. And here is a video explaining the app. https://lnkd.in/gfb2pDkq
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Damon Johnson shared thisBefore my regular acquisition update, I want to share a simple but powerful tool we just built at Seminare Capital: The Point Tracker → https://lnkd.in/gkFSWH-y Whether you’re filling a sales pipeline or hunting for a job, success takes months—and by the time you know if you’re on track, it’s often too late. The Point Tracker fixes that. Think of it as a scoreboard for your daily activities. I started with a simple Excel sheet years ago: each “fundamental” activity earned points. Once I hit my daily target, I knew the results would eventually follow. It worked so well I turned it into an easy progressive web app you can use on any device (just click on your “share” icon and then scroll down to “Add to Home Screen” and it behaves like a native app). Four ready-made templates: • Sales Manager • Job Search • Get Healthy • Custom - (I customized one for filling up my acquisition deal flow pipeline at Seminare Capital) Try it out and let me know what you think—I’d genuinely love your feedback. --- Quick investing note: In my last update I shared my “4 R’s” of investing. After more time in the trenches, I’ve added a 5th: **Risk of Concentration** (customer, supplier, industry, and country). Here’s the updated list: 1. **Recurring Revenues** – Customers pay every month (or need the product/service regularly). 2. **Required** – Mission-critical, not “nice to have.” 3. **Recession Proof** – Enduringly profitable through economic cycles. 4. **Relevant in 10 Years** – Still needed a decade from now. 5. **Risk of Concentration** – Including supplier, industry, and country risks. --- Pipeline Snapshot 1. Supply Chain Platform + Energy Management Platform Two software + managed-services businesses in one. High customer concentration risk, but meaningfully reduced by multiple signing authorities across divisions. 2. Non-Emergency Medical Transport $20M+ revenue, $5M+ cash flow, strong growth runway. Single large healthcare MSA, but again mitigated by 15+ different signing authorities. 3. Construction & Event Services Early-stage review. Solid fundamentals, though we’re digging deeper into recession resilience. More updates as we progress. I have now looked looked at over 67 Confidential Information Memorandums. After this many “No’s”, I know we are getting closer to the “Yes”. Thanks for riding along—this journey is far more fun with your suggestions and feedback.
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Damon Johnson shared thisETA Update #4 — I’m Damon, former President of an in-room entertainment software and IT company (we sold solutions to Charter, Cox, and Foxtel that then went to their hotel and hospital clients). I stepped away earlier this year and am now searching full-time to acquire and operate one great business. The other day a friend mentioned he’d been getting my newsletters but wasn’t totally clear on what I’m hoping to achieve with them. So instead of diving into technology trends in ETA as planned, I figured I’d focus on addressing exactly what I am doing and what I am looking for. Two goals: Share what I’m learning about acquiring a small business — in case this path ever sounds interesting to you or someone you know. (Two people have already reached out to chat about it as a potential career shift.) Clearly explain the types of businesses I’m targeting so that, thanks to “selective attention,” you might spot one and think of me. I use the 4 R’s to evaluate opportunities: Recurring Revenues — customers pay every month (or need the product/service regularly). Required — the offering is mission-critical, not just “nice to have.” Recession Proof — the company has been enduringly profitable through economic cycles. Relevant in 10 Years — the service or product will still be needed a decade from now. While I will consider any business that achieves the 4 R's, I’m especially drawn to businesses in or adjacent to IT services and software services. Some concrete examples: hotel TV/entertainment platforms, guest Wi-Fi or PMS integrations, SaaS tools for multi-unit operators, specialized IT MSPs serving hospitality/healthcare, or maintenance/service contracts in those spaces. I’m targeting enduringly profitable companies generating roughly $1–$10M in EBITDA (or equivalent owner earnings) where the founder is ready to transition over the next few years. If you happen to know a founder whose business fits the 4 R’s — or who’s simply open to exploring exit options — I’d be grateful for an introduction. Happy to buy them coffee or hop on a quick, no-pressure call. Either way, thanks for reading and for any thoughts you might have. #ETA #EntreprenuershipThroughAcquisition #ThinkBigBuySmall
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Damon Johnson shared thisHere is my 3rd installment on Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA). Since there is a character limit on LI, you can see the unedited version on my site here: https://lnkd.in/gHQ3sMAj or on Substack here: https://lnkd.in/gfP6-yXA Unlike startups, which face an 80% failure rate, ETA focuses on acquiring established businesses with 10–20 years of proven profitability. These so-called “boring” companies often provide essential services their customers can’t do without which makes them more resilient to budget cuts or economic downturns. That same stability that makes them attractive to entrepreneurs also makes them compelling for investors. Why ETA Makes Sense for Investors: Proven Cash Flows: Established businesses with consistent earnings ensure stronger financial stability. Sticky Customers: Long-term relationships reduce revenue risk — most clients don’t want to switch vendors. Baby Boomer Exits: Over 2.3 million U.S. businesses are owned by Baby Boomers. As they retire, they create a steady pipeline of quality acquisition opportunities. Typical Investor Expectations: (These vary by investor and are often negotiable, but here are general guidelines.) IRR (Internal Rate of Return): 20–30% MOIC (Multiple on Invested Capital): 4–7x Exit Requirements: No fixed exit date; liquidity options available Ownership Limits: Due to SBA restrictions, no single investor can own more than 20% of the total project cost How the Acquisition Process Works: Once a searcher (entrepreneur) identifies a target company, the goal is to reach the Letter of Intent (LOI) stage — typically a 90–120 day window. During this time, the searcher conducts: Legal and financial due diligence Quality of earnings analysis Financing arrangements The typical deal structure is 70% debt and 30% equity. Debt may come from commercial or SBA loans, and sometimes the seller provides a “seller note” to remain invested in the company’s success. At this stage, equity investors who’ve shown prior interest gain access to confidential information and financial models to evaluate participation. While not legally bound until closing, investors generally commit early to help the searcher meet LOI deadlines. Progress Update I’m pleased to share that three investment partners/funds have expressed interest in reviewing deals I source. Based on current targets, we have more than enough capital committed, though I continue to meet with additional partners for larger or more specialized deals. This week, we made a bid on an IT Managed Service Provider (MSP) in Florida. Although our offer wasn’t accepted, the experience was invaluable — it helped us formalize investment partnerships, refine our financial model, and streamline future offer templates.
Damon Johnson commented on a post
3w
I love it Eric. Isn't it funny how we seek out activities we perceive as "hard"? I suppose the theory is that by doing so we test the plasticity of our brain by learning as we tackle the hard challenge and presumably we should feel a sense of accomplishment if we are successful? And, even if we fail or ultimately never achieve the objective, we value the grind? I rebuilt a 1955 NSU 250cc motorcycle and got it running after 60 years of dormancy....it is broken again, but at least I now know how and what to tackle. I also took up archery hunting. While I have had success with Whitetails, I am 0 for 7 years on Elk. I want to give up, but it just doesn't feel right, so I keep going, knowing the odds are I will get there. And finally, after 30 years of adding value for big companies, I decided I wanted to go out and acquire or start a company. For a multitude of reasons, that seemed "hard" to me for the same number of years. I had to go through the root cause analysis to find "the leak" and maybe it was realizing that working for someone else, while providing some short term value to me, was "leaking" my energy rather than investing it in something I own. Thanks for the analogy and best of luck in your next venture!
Damon Johnson replied to a comment
3w
Thank you Noel.
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Damon Johnson liked this🏆 Big win at IBC 2026 💪Damon Johnson liked this🏆 IBC 2026 wrapped — and we closed it out by picking up a Best of Show Award from TVBEurope. Our Zapflex AI ad-detection engine has been recognized for solving a problem anyone running a FAST or AVOD business knows well: international and multicultural live channels are hard to monetize because most arrive with no SCTE-35 markers, the signal server-side ad insertion normally needs to find ad breaks. Without it, you're either configuring detection channel by channel, or leaving that inventory unsold. Read the full story on how we're solving it 👉 https://lnkd.in/d4N54y23 📩 Looking for smarter, ad-supported monetization for your channels? Reach out to us at sales@setplex.com #IBC2026 #Zapflex #AdTech #OTT #AVOD #FAST
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Damon Johnson reacted on thisDamon Johnson reacted on thisEstar donde sucede la innovación también es parte de seguir evolucionando. 🚀 Este año, Solu dice presente en Dreamforce 2026, uno de los encuentros más importantes del ecosistema Salesforce. Un espacio para conectar con nuevas ideas, anticipar lo que viene y seguir construyendo soluciones que generen impacto. Nos vemos en San Francisco. ✈️ #Dreamforce2026 #Salesforce #Solu #Innovation #Technology
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Damon Johnson liked thisDamon Johnson liked thisMark Wahlberg has officially planted his flag on South Florida's Billionaires Row. The actor and producer purchased Palazzo di Lago, a $37 million Italian-inspired estate in Delray Beach's exclusive Stone Creek Ranch community, arriving fully furnished and just in time for the Palm Beach social season. The 17,797 sq ft lakefront residence puts Wahlberg and his wife Rhea Durham in close proximity to neighbors like Mets owner Steve Cohen, and comes loaded to match the address — seven bedrooms, twelve bathrooms, 30-foot ceilings, a 170,000-gallon saltwater lagoon pool, a full wellness wing, car gallery, home theater, hidden cigar lounge, two executive offices, a private tennis court, and a fully equipped guest house. Source: Celebrity Capitalism _______ #MarkWahlberg #DelrayBeach #floridamansion #celebrities #palmbeachcounty
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Damon Johnson liked thisRecognition in a highly competitive field is a motivating force ...Damon Johnson liked thisAxial's Q1 '26 Lower Middle Market Investment Banking League Tables are live! More than 400 sell-side firms went to market with transactions in Q1. The bankers' performance is evaluated based on client quality, buyside targeting and qualification, process execution, and overall deal performance. This quarter, the Top 25 surfaced some emerging firms gaining momentum amidst a backdrop of repeat known leaders. Congrats to these investment banks on a strong quarter of M&A dealmaking activity. Read more on Q1's top 25 here 👉 https://lnkd.in/gkz66cRq and below: The Advisory Investment Bank Mariner Hill View Partners Ecomswap Madison Street Capital Meritage Partners CRI M&A Advisors ACT Capital Advisors The Peakstone Group VERTESS Young America Capital MidCap Advisors, LLC IT ExchangeNet Founder M&A TREP Advisors Revenue Rocket Consulting Group Vision Point Capital Palmer, Ben Engvall True North M&A Caber Hill Advisors A Neumann & Associates, LLC SC&H Capital Embarc Advisors Structured Partners Now Capital Partners #InvestmentBanking #MergersAndAcquisitions #LowerMiddleMarket #DealMaking #SellSide #MAndA #InvestmentBanks #LeagueTables
Experience & Education
Volunteer Experience
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Board Member
Shepherd's Home
- Present 1 year 3 months
Social Services
We provide a loving and faith based home and live-in foster parents that keeps siblings together until they can be reunified with their parents.
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Small Business Consultant
Peace Corps
- 2 years 4 months
I participated on the board and management teams of three Conservation International investments:
1.) Spanish Language School
2.) Potpourri Factory
3.) Corozo Oil Project -
Volunteer
World of Children Award
- 1 year
Children
World of Children was created to recognize and elevate those selfless individuals who make a difference in the lives of children across the globe, regardless of politics, religion or geographical boundaries. World of Children honors these leaders and grants them funds to support the proven, sustainable, high-impact programs they have created for children.
Languages
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Spanish
Native or bilingual proficiency
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Portuguese
Limited working proficiency
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English
Native or bilingual proficiency
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