The New Acquisition Playbook: How to Use M&A as a Growth Lever 

Acquisitions are no longer reserved for large corporations. Search funds, founder-led rollups, private-equity-backed platforms, and disciplined operators are increasingly using M&A to accelerate value creation, buying capability, customers, or market position rather than building it organically. But knowing when and how to transact takes more than ambition: it takes financial discipline, a clear view of what buyers actually reward, and the operational readiness to integrate. This session brings together an operator who has grown through acquisition, a finance leader who has evaluated deals from the inside, and advisors who structure them, to unpack how founders can use M&A as a deliberate growth strategy.