GovCon M&A Talk

GovCon M&A Talk with Meghan Gifford

Sharon Heaton⁠, the founder of sbLiftOff and a leading small business, growth strategies, and M&A SME, talks with Meghan Gifford about lessons from Octo.
Topics covered:● Integration tips gleaned after four Octo acquisitions● Never underestimate the impact of uncertainty – avoid mystery● How IBM integrated Octo into its federal business● Why owners experience “the crisis after the sale”
To connect with Meghan, visit her LinkedIn page ⁠here⁠.
To connect with Sharon Heaton, visit her LinkedIn page here.To follow and learn more about sbLiftOff, check them out here.

GovCon M&A Talk with Venu Ayala

Sharon Heaton⁠, the founder of sbLiftOff and a leading small business, growth strategies, and M&A SME, talks with Venu Ayala about his Zen transaction:
Topics covered:
● Bootstrapping with zero capital
● Recovering from contract losses
● Closing a deal before the SBA’s Jan 17, 2026 deadline
● Selling, becoming a wholly owned subsidiary and freedom 
 
To connect with Venu, visit her LinkedIn page ⁠here⁠.To learn more about ZEN STRATEGICS, visit their webpage ⁠here⁠.
To connect with Sharon Heaton, visit her LinkedIn page here.To follow and learn more about sbLiftOff, check them out here.

GovCon M&A Talk with Kate Troendle

Sharon Heaton⁠, the founder of sbLiftOff and a leading small business, growth strategies, and M&A SME, talks with Kate Troendle, Managing Director of KippsDeSanto & Co..
Topics covered:
● What’s next for aerospace, technology and defense
● Impacts of DOGE, tariffs and Administration procurement priorities on buyer certainty 
● Defense tech “comes roaring back”
● Not using AI? You’re “behind the 8 ball”
To connect with Kate, visit her LinkedIn page ⁠here⁠.To learn more about KippsDeSanto & Co., visit their webpage ⁠here⁠.
To connect with Sharon Heaton, visit her LinkedIn page here.To follow and learn more about sbLiftOff, check them out here.

GovCon M&A Talk with Sam Le

Sharon Heaton⁠, the founder of sbLiftOff and a leading small business, growth strategies, and M&A SME, talks with Sam Le, formerly of the SBA:
Topics covered:
● What’s next for the remaining 3,400 8(a)s
● FAR overhaul and impact of Rule of 2
● Using Mentor-Protégé joint ventures effectively
● Small Business Set-Asides Momentum and Strength
To connect with Sam, visit his LinkedIn page ⁠here⁠.To learn more about Sam Le Law, visit their webpage ⁠here⁠.
To connect with Sharon Heaton, visit her LinkedIn page here.To follow and learn more about sbLiftOff, check them out here.

GovCon M&A Talk with Dyson Richards

Sharon Heaton⁠, the founder of sbLiftOff and a leading small business, growth strategies, and M&A SME, talks with Dyson Richards of Foxstead, a private investment firm.
Topics covered:
● From the start of the computer era to the GovCon AI era
● Why founders in GovCon need strategic capital
● Patience among thoughtful private equity
● Growing by knowing defense needs
To connect with Dyson, visit his LinkedIn page ⁠here⁠.To learn more about Foxstead, visit their webpage ⁠here⁠.
To connect with Sharon Heaton, visit her LinkedIn page here.To follow and learn more about sbLiftOff, check them out here.

GovCon M&A Talk with Brianna Bowling

Sharon Heaton⁠, the founder of sbLiftOff and a leading small business, growth strategies, and M&A SME, talks with Brianna Bowling, author of Start Manage & Exit a Profitable Government Contracting Firm.
Topics covered:
● Local roots and business
● Learning the art of proposal writing
● Technology pain points and the government customer
● When it’s right to sell
Learn more about Brianna's book here. 
To connect with Brianna, visit her LinkedIn page ⁠here⁠.To learn more about Retreat and Learn, visit their webpage ⁠here⁠.
To connect with Sharon Heaton, visit her LinkedIn page here.To follow and learn more about sbLiftOff, check them out here.

GovCon M&A Talk with Matt Stavish

Sharon Heaton⁠, the founder of sbLiftOff and a leading small business, growth strategies, and M&A SME, talks with Matt Stavish of Republic Access Capital.
Topics covered:
● DOW appetite for product
● Working capital financing
● Private debt markets demystified
● Creating relationships, creating solutions
● Future of the small business M&A market
To connect with Matt, visit him LinkedIn page ⁠here⁠.To learn more about Republic Access Capital, visit their webpage ⁠here⁠.
To connect with Sharon Heaton, visit her LinkedIn page here.To follow and learn more about sbLiftOff, check them out here.

GovCon M&A Talk with Col. Scott Jensen

Sharon Heaton⁠, the founder of sbLiftOff and a leading small business, growth strategies, and M&A SME, talks with Scott Jensen, CEO of the National Veteran Small Business Coalition.
Topics covered:
● Customer intimacy vs customer concentration: SDVOSB strategies
● Adding commercial lines and building transferable value
● Prospects for VOSBs (veteran owned small businesses)
● What veterans with 8(a)s should be doing
● VETS26 in New Orleans June 1-4; meet government customers and new business partners
To connect with Scott, visit him LinkedIn page ⁠here⁠.To learn more about NVBSC, visit their webpage ⁠here⁠.
To connect with Sharon Heaton, visit her LinkedIn page here.To follow and learn more about sbLiftOff, check them out here.

GovCon M&A Talk with Heather Newlin

Sharon Heaton⁠, the founder of sbLiftOff and a leading small business, growth strategies, and M&A SME, talks with growth guru Heather Newlin.
Topics covered:
● Bridging the gap between strategy and execution
● Understanding longterm consequences of fixed term contracts
● Diversifying agencies AND diversifying contracts
● Not all growth is equal
To connect with Heater, visit her LinkedIn page ⁠here⁠.
To connect with Sharon Heaton, visit her LinkedIn page here.To follow and learn more about sbLiftOff, check them out here.
 

GovCon M&A Talk with Stephanie Alexander

Sharon Heaton⁠, the founder of sbLiftOff and a leading small business, growth strategies, and M&A SME, talks with Stephanie Alexander, former owner of BOOST.
Topics covered:
BD, OPS and G&A need to be tied together
Needing capital to grow
People and culture are King
Managing expectations during an M&A
To connect with Stephanie, visit her LinkedIn page ⁠here⁠.To learn more about BOOST, visit their webpage ⁠here⁠.
To connect with Sharon Heaton, visit her LinkedIn page here.To follow and learn more about sbLiftOff, check them out here.