Why DealCon Is My Favorite Conference for Growth Through Acquisition

I just got back from DealCon 2026 in Miami, and I have to say — this is hands down one of my favorite conferences. I go to a lot of conferences, but DealCon is special. This is my third or fourth time attending, having been in Austin and Nashville before, and every time I come away blown away by the caliber of people in the room and the genuine spirit of sharing that permeates the entire event. This year there were over 100 CEOs and founders in attendance, all in various stages of buying and building through acquisition. It’s heading back to Austin this October 19–21, and if you’re serious about growing through M&A, you need to be there.

The Right Room with the Right People

What makes DealCon different from every other business conference is simple: everyone is there to share. There are no egos jockeying for position, no people hoarding their playbooks. You get real numbers, real lessons, and real deal breakdowns from people who have actually done it — not theory, not networking for the sake of networking. The people who know how to get deals done — how to navigate the legal and tax implications, how to understand multiples, how to not just close a deal but actually succeed after the close — they’re all sitting right next to you, ready to help.

I had the privilege of speaking on the AI Revenue Generation and Operations Expert Panel alongside Stephan Spencer, Sam Woods, and Bret Siers. It was an incredible conversation about how AI is transforming the way we scale revenue and operations — and how acquirers and operators can leverage these tools to create massive value in the companies they buy and build. The energy in the room was electric, and the questions from the audience showed just how engaged and sophisticated this community is.

Tom Shipley Is a Genius Servant Leader

I have to give a massive shout-out to Tom Shipley. I even made a post about him on Facebook because I just cannot say enough about this man. Tom is an incredible entrepreneur who has exited multiple companies — he has driven over $2B in revenue from his beauty brand and completed 16 acquisitions and exits. He served in the special forces for the IDF. He’s brilliant, knows everyone in the room, and here’s the thing that sets him apart: he makes sure that everyone is connected to the right people. He is always thoughtful about it. We don’t know how he does it — probably a great team, as he would humbly say — but Tom Shipley is a genius servant when it comes to putting the right people together, getting deals done, and enabling the life-changing outcomes that happen when founders exit or when buyers grow through acquisition.

I also want to give a special shout-out to Dionne Thomas — just an incredible entrepreneur who has exited multiple companies and is one of those people who lights up any room she walks into. And Matt Bodnar, who continues to bring incredible insight and energy to the M&A community. It was so cool to see Jeff Hughes and his team come in as well — the kind of operators and deal-makers who make this community so powerful.

Why M&A Is the Dominant Play Right Now

Here’s what I love about DealCon: it reinforces the truth that any problem you have as an entrepreneur can be solved through acquisition. Instead of just grinding away trying to grow your business organically, you might be able to buy another business that has the skill set, capability, capital, or customer base that you’re missing. You can acquire the thing you’re missing instead of trying to build it from scratch. I walked away from this event not only with a clearer idea of how I add a zero to my business, but with genuine relationships and a sharper picture of my next move.

And increasingly, M&A is the dominant play. Private equity is in the game in a massive way. Aging baby boomers are needing to sell their businesses without a clear exit plan — roughly 70% of mom-and-pop shops just close because they never prepared to sell and didn’t know their valuation. Being at a place like DealCon allows us to figure out what our buy box is very specifically, how to find those deals that aren’t even necessarily public, how to negotiate through even if you’ve never bought another company before, and how to have the right team of people to help you see it through quickly.

Beyond the Conference Room

But DealCon isn’t just about what happens on stage. Some of the best conversations happen at lunch at the harbor, on the chartered yacht, and in the hallways between sessions. The crew that comes to these events — they’re the real deal. They’re not just talking about doing deals. They’re actually doing them, every day.

See You in Austin This October 19–21

DealCon is heading back to Austin, Texas this October 19–21, 2026. If you want to buy and sell companies, if you want to be in the right room with people who know how to get these deals done and navigate to be successful — not just close a deal but actually not fail the deal — this is where you need to be. Understanding multiples, understanding the legal and tax implications, having the right team around you, and knowing that growth through acquisition is the fastest path to the business and life you want. I’ll be there. Come join us at dealconlive.com.

Photos by Tom Shipley and the DealCon team. Thank you to everyone who made DealCon 2026 in Miami unforgettable.