Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Robert Ribciuc, Managing Partner of EBITDA Catalyst, located in Minneapolis, MN, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
EBITDA Catalyst provides revenue management, pricing strategy & execution advisory for high-growth brands in the Consumer and Software/ SaaS industries, focusing on middle-market, mission-driven clients. EBITDA Catalyst also partners with Portfolio Operations teams from top-flight private equity firms on value-creation projects driven by pricing improvements and revenue management. We focus on the end-to-end CLV, from conversion and pricing to retention and fighting churn. Integrating strategy, analytics, and execution, we deliver exceptional client ROI and valuation lift by driving gross margin dollars and EBITDA.
Clients include:
- Consumer brands: e.g., Kodiak Cakes
- PE firms: e.g., L Catterton, Providence
- Software/SaaS/Fintech: e.g., Vector Solutions, Rangam, etc
- Non-profits (pro bono).
Tell us about yourself
I've had the experience to see firsthand the power of pricing and of the work I do to transform not just the performance of a business but also the rewards that stem from that into the lives of team members. In many businesses, outstanding people already do outstanding work that creates terrific value... some in high-powered executive roles, some in hourly wage roles that may be unsung but are often where so much of the value is created ... helping companies monetize properly that work, and seeing those people who may not otherwise get properly rewarded, succeed with promotions and ability to get their kids into the schools they want, it's very personal to me... at the end of the day, we help monetize and create value for all stakeholders, but that early experience of turning around a company and how at every rung real families and human beings benefit when we succeed, really stuck with me.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Creating a life where I love what I do, and I get to do it by and large on my own terms, with proper emphasis on staying balanced, healthy, and an all-in dad and husband.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Staying focused on the right things (or some days knowing exactly what those are!) and building a network of trusted advisors who can help you see yourself from outside your own bubble and occasionally learn that you've still got a lot to learn.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Make sure you have a plan for when it's not going to be as easy or as linear as you hoped.
- Turn to other people for advice, and be willing to ask for help.
- Prepare for the many conflicts of interest a "reputation economy" presents, and to pass on business that puts you in clear conflict w/ your values.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.ebitdacatalyst.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EBITDACatalyst
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ebitdacatalyst/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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