Wie Kevin Tödtmann CEO von einem Weltmarktführer wurde | buypreneur Podcast

Why start a business when you can buy one? In this buypreneur episode, I talk to Kevin Tödtmann about a path to entrepreneurship that many know about, but few seriously consider: business succession. Kevin's story doesn't begin with founding a company, a startup, or an investor round. It begins with a high school internship at Solipac GmbH. Years later, the intern became the CEO and owner of a company that is now a global market leader in its niche. We discuss how Kevin took over the company, why financing worked despite the lack of significant equity, and why vendor financing can be a real lever in business succession. We also talk about the challenges after the acquisition, setting up a holding company, buy-and-build strategies, and why courage is often more important than perfect competence in entrepreneurship. Kevin's story doesn't begin with a startup, but rather with a high-level investment. 🎙️ In this buypreneur podcast, Kevin and I discuss: 🧠 Why courage is often more important than competence in entrepreneurship 🏢 From intern to CEO and business owner 💰 How a company acquisition is possible without significant equity capital 🤝 The role of vendor financing in succession planning 🏦 What banks really want to see in a company acquisition 📈 The development of a hidden champion into a global market leader in its niche ⚙️ What changes Kevin implemented after the acquisition 👥 Leadership, responsibility, and difficult personnel decisions 🏗️ Holding structures and buy & build strategies 🚀 Why acquiring a company can be the fastest path to entrepreneurship for many 🇩🇪 Why business succession in Germany deserves significantly more attention 🎯 Who is this episode for? ✔️ Buyers of companies ✔️ Search & Acquisition Entrepreneurs ✔️ Succession Planning Entrepreneurs ✔️ CEOs of medium-sized businesses ✔️ Employees with entrepreneurial ambitions ✔️ Anyone who wants to understand entrepreneurship beyond startups 🎧 buypreneur – the podcast about company acquisitions, succession planning & buy & build 👔 Connect with me on LinkedIn   / timmwienberg   🤝 Kevin on LinkedIn   / kevintoedtmann   📲 Follow buypreneur on Spotify and Apple https://linktr.ee/buypreneur 🌍 More info https://www.timmwienberg.com/ ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 – Courage vs. Competence in Entrepreneurship 01:13 – From Intern to CEO 05:55 – Solipack's Business Model 08:38 – Global Market Leader in an Extreme Niche 10:01 – The Question That Changed Everything 13:18 – Financing the Acquisition 17:13 – Why Vendor Loans Were So Important 21:39 – Personal Guarantee and Risk 25:05 – The Most Difficult Years After the Acquisition 26:39 – What Kevin Changed in the Company 30:21 – Holding Company, Investments, and New Business Areas 33:21 – Buy & Build and Future Acquisitions 40:26 – The Biggest Mistake as CEO 41:48 – How Kevin Would Start Over Today 45:28 – Why Succession Planning Needs More Attention 49:15 – Tips for Future Successors 51:08 – Quick Q&A 52:51 – The Most Important Lessons Learned #buypreneur #succession #companyacquisition #searchfund #eta #buyandbuild #SMEs #hiddenchampion #companyacquisition #acquisitionentrepreneurship #succession #entrepreneurship #businessacquisition #mna #holding