Seth Yakatan

Raising & Selling 📈 $1B+ Raised 💰 22 Companies Sold 🤝

Are you struggling to communicate your vision to the capital gatekeepers?

Are you exploring selling your business but don’t know anything about:
✘ Due diligence
✘ Term sheets
✘ Earnouts

Friend, you're lucky you found me...

I'm Seth Yakatan.

I have 30-odd years experience as a corporate finance professional.

My specialties are:
💰 Raising money
🤝 Selling companies

And I’m f**king good at it.

I’ve raised over $1B and sold 22 businesses.

My career has mostly been supporting small-cap and major corporations seeking capital to grow, or
to find strategic acquirers.

Most of these companies are in: 
— biotech
— cannabis
— pharmaceuticals
— DTC consumer goods

I’ve been on boards, taken companies public, gone up against multinational corporations, raised from VC and PE funds.

All of it. 
Many times over.
Whatever your problem is, I’ve seen it before.

But let me level with you:

What I REALLY love is helping people to get to the finish line.

Talking to entrepreneurs excites me.

But in my experience, entrepreneurs are mostly s**t at raising capital and selling companies.

** They just don’t understand investors **

And that’s where I come in.

Together, we workshop: 
✔ Your pitch
✔ Your deck
✔ Your strategy 

And help you raise the capital to GROW and SELL your business.

If you need this help—and almost every business does—send me a DM.

Like, now.

Don't lose another potential investor or acquirer with the wrong pitch.

Seth ✌️

Co-Founder

Merchant Bank / Advisory / Family Office

While politicians are arguing about hemp, Kratom is being sold as a “natural wellness supplement.”

But let’s STOP pretending.

This is NOT chamomile tea.

This is NOT “plant-based stress relief.”

This is an unregulated opioid analogue with street-corner quality control.

And it’s ending up in gas stations, smoke shops, and TikTok “self-care” feeds.


>> Whats Happening?

Kratom is being sold everywhere with little to no restrictions.

And, IMO, it is DANGEROUS.

It contains mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, compounds that we know:

→ Bind to mu-opioid receptors
→ Produce opioid-like euphoria and sedation

And it creates tolerance and withdrawal patterns basically indistinguishable from low-grade opioid dependence.

California’s Department of Public Health just issued a formal advisory (NR25-016) warning that:

Kratom products are ILLEGAL to manufacture and sell in the state.

Claims about pain, anxiety, or withdrawal treatment are unproven.

And that multiple fatal overdoses have already been linked to kratom in Los Angeles County

This is not “maybe dangerous.”…this is DOCUMENTED harm.


>> Why This Matters?

OxyContin addiction didn’t start because people wanted to get high.

It started because people were in pain, desperate & were told something was safe and “less addictive.”

We have seen this movie before and I know exactly how it plays out.

Kratom is unregulated, inconsistently dosed and frequently adulterated.

And marketed using the same language pattern that launched the opioid epidemic:

“Natural”, “Safer than pharmaceuticals”, “Helps with withdrawal”

The result is people self-dosing their way straight into dependency.

Not because they’re reckless.

But because the product is designed to look harmless.

And the supply chain knows exactly what it’s doing....


>> What Am I Watching?

The pattern is repeating: 

Normalization via wellness marketing (“It’s just a plant.”)

Distribution concentrated in deregulated retail (Vape shops, convenience stores, social media DMs.)

Dependence masked as “daily routine" (Users don’t realize they’re sick until they stop.)

Regulators reacting only after deaths accumulate.

If we wait for “more data,” we are doing nothing more than running the Purdue Pharma playbook in slow motion.

This is not a supplement it’s an unregulated opioid with branding.

Kratom should not be sold.
Kratom should not be normalized.
Kratom should not be framed as “self-care.”
Kratom should be STOPPED.

When you want to push the boundary, what do you do?

TRY HARDER.
 
So I am honored to announce my latest collaboration with Fat Nugs Magazine x Seth Yakatan: A New Live Industry Series

>>> WHAT ?
I'm teaming up with Fat Nugs Magazine to launch a brand-new live discussion series spotlighting cannabis products and brands. 
 
And to start we're tackling pre-rolls - a category whose growth cannot be denied.

>>> WHO ?
Andrew Wells
Cesar Angobaldo
Courtney Zalewski
Fernando Bent-Mullings
Mei-Ling Campbell
Timeka Drew
Catherine Sidman
Luna Stower, MAT, CG ✨

>>> WHEN ? 

The series kicks off with its first episode Thursday, November 20th at 11AM EST/ 8AM PST.

FNM Presents: Voices of the Plant w/ Seth Yakatan
Preroll Edition 
Business. Culture. Community.

 
Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/geV4jVmy 

& MARK YOU CALENDARS for Thursday, November 20th at 11AM EST/ 8AM PST.

You want your 15 minutes of fame?

Then find me and my man Lance C. Lambert ✓ in VEGAS....

My friends at Fat Nugs Magazine have made the questionable decision of giving me a camera and a microphone (LOOK OUT!!!)

Fat Nugs Magazine  x PufCreativ event, Light Up Las Vegas, is going to be 🔥 

Me + Lance, badass activations, the food, infused beverages, live art, live music from John Shute's band, Bubala, the Faces of Cannabis, and I GOT A MIC!!!

Fat Nugs Magazine
John Shute, MBA
PufCreativ

Well folks, I have to admit that I was WRONG… I know, SHOCKER 😱

About 3 months ago I put up a post on AYR Wellness.

I said RIP…

But suddenly, AYR has come back from the dead…

Last week AYR Wellness Inc. announced that it was going to initiate CCAA proceedings. 


>> What's Happening?

On November 17, core assets of AYR’s subsidiaries will be transitioned to a newly formed acquisition vehicle (NewCo) owned by certain AYR senior note holders.

Basically this means that the lenders are going to run the company to try to get a recovery.

This is the same thing we’ve seen with several other companies…


>> Why is it Relevant?

1. Note trend
2. See #1

Just another case of investors taking the keys and trying to operate…


>> What Am I Watching?

This is about the fourth version of this flavor, will see if it tastes any different.

This industry has now become an SOP for the ‘equitization of debt and operate’ strategy…

Grabbing popcorn….

Hit the Debt Wall Jokes in the comments please.

Getting pumped for earnings season ???

WELL I AM...

Talking about Q2 a while back with the squad from 

The Dales Report

How do you think that that Q3 is going to look ???

Hit me in the Comments....

and thank you Shadd Dales + Anthony Varrell

BIG SCANDAL in NY this past month…

Omnium Health just found out the hard way that renting your license isn’t the same as running a business.


>> What’s Happening?

NY state says Omnium was renting out warehouse space to unlicensed operators and then moving products through its own distribution channels.

The regulators are moving to yank Omnium Health’s permits and hit them with 7-figure fines, and recall $10M worth of product.


>> Why is This Important?

This is the first major enforcement under the state’s new crackdown.

It signals a shift from “we’re building the market” to “we’re cleaning it up.”

And now the fallout is real:

Multi-million dollar recall.
Permanent ban on participation.
Dozens of brands hurt.


>> What Am I Watching?

I have called out that New York’s cannabis roll out experiment has been chaos from DAY ONE.

Slow licensing, illegal stores on every block, and bureaucrats chasing their tails.

But this move finally shows they’re willing to go after the suits, not just the bodegas.

It’s a warning shot.

Maybe, just maybe New York will clean up its act?

You enjoy your freedom ?

Then thank a VETERAN...

I am honored that members of my family have proudly served to ensure that my butt can. go get a burger fries and a coke...

Lets give it up for a REAL AMERICAN HERO...

Evan Hunt

Evan is a:

— Decorated 20-year veteran and combat aviator
— Community and business leader
— Texas family man
and has NO AGENDA other than his SERVICE !

He's running for U.S. Congress in Texas as a Democrat. 

He's taking on MAGA extremism and wants to recapture the House in 2026.

You can donate to help his cause here: https://lnkd.in/gQana6Wu

Who keeps me bullish?

Wyld & Aaron Morris

In ANY other industry, THAT'S A ROLL-UP PLATFORM.

General Catalyst (CALL ME)

Thanks to the gents From the Weeds to the Clouds - Michael Krefman + Michael Peterson

Do you have a functioning company?

i.e. Are you generating CASH FLOW??

Then consider yourself SUCCESSFUL, because you are in the MINORITY
in c@nnabis.

So what advice do I give you....???

Well with 5 companies over $150M in revenue in receivership...

1. STAY IN IT
2. STAY IN IT
3. STAY IN IT!!!

And thanks to my friend Scott Greiper for moderating a great panel....

The 5 Stages of Grief: Cannabis Edition


Stage 1: Denial

For everyone: The initial shock and disbelief that loss has occurred, acting as a buffer against overwhelming emotions.

For us: The initial shock that prices are NOT going to stay high forever and act as a buffer against the mountain of debt raised.


Stage 2: Anger

For everyone: A natural reaction to loss, where one may feel frustration, resentment, or rage at the situation.

For us: Manifests in yelling at A/R collections, city counsel meetings, boardrooms, or in the comments on LinkedIn.


Stage 3: Bargaining

For everyone: Negotiate with fate or a higher power to undo the loss, often involving phrases like "If only..." or "What if...".

For us: “Well I can just SELL the license, not pay taxes, not pay suppliers, vendors, employees or investors and get my creditors to amend and extend, plus FEDERAL HAS TO come soon, right??”


Stage 4: Depression

For everyone: Feelings of sadness, despair, and hopelessness set in as the reality of the loss becomes clearer.

For us: This market SUCKS, this industry SUCKS, these people SUCK, this government SUCKS. 


Stage 5: Acceptance

For everyone: Reach a point where the loss is acknowledged and understood, and one begins to adapt to the new reality.

For us: Lower prices, market volatility, hope for “catalysts” and a maybe we never get a Federal “save”.

Plus, all this s**t I’m eating is making my stomach stronger!

Did this resonate with anyone??

Hit those comments.

Want to see me in a SUIT???

Well if you are Inside the Beltway today there is a CHANCE...

You'll find me in my clown suit, all dressed up for my crew at IgniteIt Cannabis.

See you today in the District for my photo opp.

Use my link and get in at a discount: https://lnkd.in/e45zHKrW

I Failed As An Odds Maker
And almost got run out of Vegas as a result !!!

What I Thought ??? 
I used to believe I could predict things. 
I thought outcomes were logical: 
Markets mature THEN prices stabilize 
Regulators see tax revenue AND regulation eases 
Consumers migrate to legal markets WHILE illicit fades 
Capital flows to efficiency LETTING good operators win 
None of that happened.

What I Learned ??? 
Regulation became politics: NOT economics 
Taxation became punishment: NOT policy 
Consumers followed availability: NOT governance 
And capital flowed to the loudest or biggest: NOT the best
So, I tried to be an odds maker and failed..

What Did I Learn ??? 
The cannabis and hemp space is not a market it's a game of unlocks: 
Access unlocks: Who can sell where 
Distribution unlocks: Who gets shelf space 
On-Premise unlocks: Who gets to shape consumer behavior 
Regulatory unlocks: Which side of the line you operate on

The people who win are not the ones with the best products
They're the ones with the best positioning when the unlock happens
I wasn’t wrong about the demand…I was wrong about the sequencing

So I failed as an odds maker, and changed my lens 

I stopped predicting when something will change 
I started positioning for what happens when it does 

I don’t need to guess the date Congress wakes up 
I just need to be on the board when they do
You don’t have to be an oddsmaker… 
You just have to be aligned when the unlock hits. 
And that’s a game I like my odds in.

Today I give THANKS...

That I am not a Turkey...although some of you might beg to differ....

Thats it...

Happy Holidays !!!

And make sure you tell someone you love them today....

Here’s the big thing I learned from the hemp ban:

First, NO ONE has been louder than me about the coming “inflection.”

Well…maybe I’m the dumbest guy on the internet…

Let’s break down why:


>> The Good

The Farm Bill allowed for the ubiquitous distribution of these molecules.

Loophole/Grey Area/ Unintended consequence, I don’t care what you think about that.

Putting the MOLECULES on Main Street and in the mail was NOT the intent.

But guess what, the consumer chose….the MOLECULES. 


>> The Bad

Cannabis is demonized, marginalized and constrained.

Produce, manufacture and sell in limited silos in specific areas in selected states.

Want to purchase? Go to the crappiest part of town where they put airports, chop shops and strip clubs.

Banking? Forget it. Normalization? Sure as soon as there is a dispensary on Rodeo Drive.


>> The Ugly

Once the Farm Bill allowed for the democratization of cannabis to occur, the consumer made a clear choice.

THEY CHOSE THE MOLECULES.

In the mail, in grocery stores, in liquor stores, in big box retail.

When you put the MOLECULES in the normal consumer purchase cycle they CHOSE IT.

and then what happened? Retail adopted. 

And that SCARED THE SH$T OUTTA: 
— ALCOHOL
— BEVERAGE
— CPG
— TOBACCO
— PHARMA

End of the day whether its Hemp or THC we are talking about the same MOLECULES.

The public WANTS it. So let’s keep making that case and stay united.

When something that NEEDS to exist but doesn't, what do you do?

YOU CREATE IT.
 
So I am honored to announce my latest collaboration with Fat Nugs Magazine

A new series of LinkedIn Live sessions to educate, spotlight and discuss critical issues around PRODUCTS.

Why? 

Because Instagram is NOT a safe space and LinkedIn seems to have critical mass for OUR INDUSTY.
 
I'm teaming up with Fat Nugs Magazine to launch a brand-new live discussion series spotlighting cannabis products and brands. 

Expect we will amplify voices from every corner, deeply knowledgeable professionals to everyday consumers.

Episodes will stream across multiple platforms, giving an unfiltered look at the products, stories, and people behind them.
 
And to start we're tackling pre-rolls - a category whose growth cannot be denied.

Expect 8 panelists to break down the good, the bad, and the ugly of pre-rolls,

Panelists will also get the chance to sample prerolls LIVE, bringing real-time reactions and insights to the conversation.

This isn’t just another panel, it’s the start of an honest, wide-open dialogue about the products that define our industry.

The series kicks off with its first episode Thursday, November 20th at 11AM EST/ 8AM PST.

FNM Presents: Voices of the Plant w/ Seth Yakatan
Preroll Edition 

Business. Culture. Community.
Welcome to Voices of the Plant - the new Fat Nugs Magazine LinkedIn Live series that brings real conversations from the heart of cannabis.
 
Sign up here: https://bit.ly/3LpTDXd

& MARK YOU CALENDARS for Thursday, November 20th at 11AM EST/ 8AM PST.

You doing anything today??
 
Fat Nugs Magazine x Seth Yakatan present: The Plant Panel

We're hosting a new LinkedIn live with some of the sharpest minds working in cannabis.

Andrew Wells
Cesar Angobaldo
Courtney Zalewski
Fernando Bent-Mullings
Mei-Ling Campbell
Timeka Drew
Catherine Sidman
Luna Stower, MAT, CG ✨

TODAY: November 20th at 11AM EST/ 8AM PST.

FNM Presents: The Plant Panel w/ Seth Yakatan

Episode one is the Preroll Edition 

Business. Culture. Community.

Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/geV4jVmy

Believe it or not, I continue to hear from people that c@nnabis is NOT efficacious.

“Cannabis doesn’t really work for pain, sleep, or anxiety.”

I hear this from people who have:
— Never read a single clinical data table
— Never treated a patient
— Still think weed = teenagers + Bob Marley poster

Meanwhile, the SCIENCE is right there.


>> What’s Happening?

Recent clinical evaluations show consistent, measurable benefits:

Pain: 
→ Patients report statistically significant reductions about 0.5cm on a 10cm scale across populations. 
→ No placebo, that’s real analgesic effect at scale.

Sleep: 
→ Cannabis improves subjective sleep quality. 
→ If you’ve ever actually not slept, you know that you feel in the morning matters more than what your polysomnography printout says.

Anxiety: 
→ At appropriate dose and context, cannabinoids produce reliable anxiolytic effects, especially CBD.
→ THC requires respect and calibration yes. But to pretend it “doesn’t work” is just LAZY.

These effects are real, repeatable, clinically observed, and patient-reported across thousands of data points.

This is evidence!!!


>> Why Does This Matter?

There is a massive cultural blind spot around what counts as “meaningful efficacy.”

We are conditioned to think only in miracle outcomes:

— Erase all pain
— Cure insomnia
— Eliminate all anxiety

That’s not how real medicine works.

Real medicine is incremental improvement that accumulates into quality of life.

And cannabis delivers exactly that.


>> What Am I Watching?

The brands, operators, clinicians, and researchers who will win the next decade are the ones who:

1. Respect the evidence
2. Respect individual response and dosing
3. Position cannabis as a meaningful tool in the therapeutic toolkit
4. Communicate in clinical, human terms

Because here’s the TRUTH:

Cannabis works. It’s medicine. PERIOD.

So when someone dismisses cannabis because it’s not a miracle cure…

They’re telling you they don’t understand patients, medicine, or reality.

(and if you don’t know who is with me in the picture DO YOUR HOMEWORK)

I’m in a New York State of Mind right now.

I’ve been spending some time in the Empire State recently.

I’ve put together a few observations and suggestions…

Take them with a grain of salt.


>> Lessons From The Future

New York is currently a $1.7B market and will certainly grow.

But price compression has not yet begun to occur…

Jarred 1/8ths are amongst the highest price per gram of any legal state.

Most pure retail operators are not businesses but borderline not-for-profits.


>> Where the Pitfalls Are

Regulators in New York have already showed their hand, so HOPEFULLY they won’t continue the clown games.

A/R issues are coming, bank on it.

More brands are coming, and so is more high quality flower.

Retailers are going to feel the pinch of high rent, overbuilt stores and lack of profitability.


>> Who Can Win?

1. Those willing to study and learn from the past to avoid the inevitable future

2. Brands and those who are both entrenched and currently profitable

3. Anyone with one of the 10 RO licenses

4. Those currently there and in the lead


>> Who Can Lose? 

1. Consumers and investors

2. Anyone who is currently unprofitable - because it AIN’T gonna get easier.

3. Anyone without one of the 10 RO licenses.

4. Those eyeing the market from other states thinking it’s a gold mine...

Agree? Disagree?

Hit those comments.

So Ohio just issued a BAN on THC drinks, gummies, other hemp products…

Is this just another domino to fall in the ever changing Hemp landscape?

I’ve seen this movie before, pretty sure I now how it is going to end…

Alcohol lobby keeps making it RAIN!!


>> What’s Happening?

Ohio Gov. DeWine just dropped a 90-day ban on intoxicating hemp products — drinks, gummies, the whole lot.

The justification? Predictably it was to “protect the children…”

The reality is this is just another political move after months of legislative inaction.


>> Why It Matters?

Let’s be clear: This isn’t about safety. It’s about control.

Hemp beverages have been sitting on shelves for years — in gas stations, grocery stores, and yes, maybe even in a few PTA moms’ purses. 

But now they’re suddenly dangerous candy? Please.

What’s really happening is that regulators are scrambling because hemp is moving faster than their tax codes and licensing frameworks.

Meanwhile, the consumer is left wondering why they can buy 1.5L of vodka at Target but not a 5mg seltzer.


>> What Am I Watching?

I’m watching who profits from the pause. Follow the money and, more importantly, the LOBBYING.

Does this becomes a blueprint: ban first, regulate later? (n=2 Ohio and California?)

How do brands now pivot? On-premise and licensed retail just became the only legal outlets for 90 days.

I hate watching growth and innovation get punished for outpacing bureaucracy.

And Ohio just told every hemp company: “Thanks for the R&D, we’ll take it from here.”

So your cannabis company “got international distribution?”

Well….let’s look a little more closely here shall we:


THE REASON PEOPLE ARE RUNNING OVERSEAS

Domestic cannabis margins are garbage right now.

Wholesale prices down 40–70% in key markets in 24 months.

Effective tax rates north of 60% because 280E is the IRS’s medieval torture device.

45%+ of “multi-state operators” are over-levered and drowning in debt like college kids with their student loans.

So everyone says the same thing:

“We’ll just go international. Less competition. More upside. Cleaner markets.”

Yes. But also NO.

International IS an opportunity… it’s just not the one you think it is.


THE ACTUAL RISKS (THESE ARE NOT THEORIES)

Currency risk
— Mexico, Colombia, Israel, Thailand have all experienced 5–35% currency swings in the last 18 months. Your “15% margin” becomes a rounding error.

Political volatility
— Governments change & cannabis policy gets rewritten in the hallway on the way to the vote.

No brand memory
— Your U.S. brand means nothing to a consumer who has never seen THC sold legally… ever.

Supply Chain Reality
— “We have a distributor” ≠ you have distribution. You have a person with a PDF and enthusiasm. Ask anyone who has done cross-border THC/GMP transport.
The paperwork alone can send a grown adult into silent prayer.


SO WHEN DOES INTERNATIONAL WORK?

When you stop trying to export identity and start importing infrastructure.

The winners will be the ones who:

1. Partner with local operators who already own distribution
2. Don’t show up loud but show up boring
3. Aren’t dependent on the U.S. capital mood swings
4. Understand on-premise unlocks will take years, not quarters
5. Oh and you know…have a grown-up strategy!


WHEN DOES IT FAIL?

When you think: “We found a supplier and a buyer… we’re global now.”

No, you’re not.

You just created a customs liability and a future LinkedIn apology tour.

I am bullish on international markets. 

There is real opportunity.

But don’t confuse “different” risk with “less” risk.

International is not your lifeboat.

It’s a rope bridge in a windstorm.

Still walkable.

Just don’t do cartwheels on it….

Darren Mass

Brand Built

Where Founders Become Brand & Business Champions

This isn’t just another community, it’s a full-time commitment to elevating entrepreneurs from contenders to champions.

Most communities run as a side hustle. Not us.
At Brand Built, scaling businesses and building brands is an everyday pursuit, from the first round to the final bell. We’re in the ring with our members, equipping them with the strategies, coaching, and resources needed to win in today’s fast-paced business arena.

A No-Nonsense Community for Serious Founders

Co-founded by two seasoned entrepreneurs, Brand Built was created for those who want more than surface-level advice.
✅ Expand your brand.
✅ Build a powerful network.
✅ Earn unbreakable trust with clients and customers.

Our members don’t just walk away with ideas, they gain a support system that has their back every step of the way.

What You Get with Brand Built:

💡 Elite coaching from experienced founders.
🤝 A high-level network of business owners and visionaries.
📈 Resources and strategies designed for real, scalable growth.

This Isn’t for Everyone.

No shortcuts. No weekend hacks. Just real work, bold risks, and next-level thinking.

If you’re ready to step into the ring with a community that’s all-in, welcome to Brand Built.

🔗 Join us today: https://joinbrandbuilt.com

PEF Community

What’s Next Starts Here

The Post-Exit Founders Community is a space for entrepreneurs who have successfully exited their businesses and are now focused on what’s next, whether it’s new ventures, investing, or redefining their purpose.

✅ Built on shared experiences – Connect with those who’ve walked the same path.
✅ High-level networking – Gain access to a trusted circle of elite founders.
✅ Real conversations – Navigate the opportunities and challenges that come after an exit.

More than just a network, this is a community of builders, investors, and visionaries committed to supporting each other’s next big moves.

Member

Business Therapy Group

Navigating the Emotional Side of Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship is tough, but you don’t have to face it alone.

Business Therapy Group was born from my passion to help small business owners overcome the intense, often overlooked emotional struggles that come with leadership. I’ve seen firsthand how challenges can strain relationships with partners, employees, and even yourself. My mission is to help you break through these roadblocks, move beyond setbacks, and regain a sense of purpose and control.

Addressing the Emotional Hurdles That Impact Success

💬 Tough conversations that bring awareness to underlying issues.
🎯 Accountability structures to keep you grounded and focused.
⚡ Fear, doubt, and frustration, tackled head-on.

Once the emotional roadblocks are cleared, we shift to practical, results-driven strategies to mitigate risks, streamline operations, and drive sustainable growth.

More Than Guidance, A Space for Transformation

✅ Empathy & understanding to help you navigate personal and business challenges.
✅ Actionable plans that propel you forward with clarity.
✅ Stronger accountability and goal-setting that align with your vision.

At Business Therapy Group, we focus not just on your business’s success, but on cultivating resilience and confidence in every leader.

If you’re ready to improve performance, address business risks, and create streamlined processes, we’re here to support you.

Founder - Business Therapy Group

YousicPlay

Empowering the Next Generation of Musicians with YousicPlay

As a Board Advisor for YousicPlay, I’m honored to support an innovative platform that’s redefining music education by connecting aspiring musicians with world-renowned artists.

Bridging the Gap Between Passion and Mastery

🎵 Direct access to techniques and strategies from top musicians.
🎸 World-class mentorship for aspiring artists at all levels.
📚 A revolutionary approach to learning and mastering music.

My Role: Shaping the Future of Music Education

✅ Guiding strategic decisions to drive sustainable growth.
✅ Advising on partnerships that expand our reach and impact.
✅ Enhancing the learning experience to make education inspiring and accessible.

At YousicPlay, we go beyond teaching technical skills, we cultivate a deep, lasting connection to the art of music. I’m proud to help shape a platform where every musician has the tools to grow, improve, and reach new heights.

💡 The mission is simple: Empower musicians everywhere to learn from the best and discover the artist within.

Board Member

Retail Advisory Board

Helping Local Businesses to Thrive

After exiting a successful company, I co-founded the Retail Advisory Board with one goal in mind: to give back to the small business community that supported my journey.

Our Mission: Strengthening Small Business Retailers

🚀 Free, volunteer-driven advice to help businesses grow and succeed.
💡 Expert guidance in retail sales, financial modeling, marketing, IT, and more.
📈 Actionable strategies to navigate market challenges and drive sustainable growth.

How We Make an Impact

✔️ One-on-one consultations to tackle unique business challenges.
✔️ Workshops and training sessions to refine operations and customer engagement.
✔️ A collaborative approach that fosters resilience and long-term success.

As co-founder and board member, I’m deeply committed to helping small businesses stay competitive and create a thriving local marketplace. Every success story reaffirms why we started this journey to uplift, empower, and drive real impact.

💙 Stronger retailers mean a stronger community, and we’re here to make that happen.

Board Member / Co-founder & Member Chair

I Took a Hike

Business, Leadership & Life Off the Beaten Path

Where the best conversations happen outside the boardroom.

“I Took a Hike” began as a way to blend my love for the outdoors with my fascination for the stories behind successful business leaders. Each episode, we step off the beaten path, literally and figuratively, heading into the wilderness to talk candidly about the stumbles, setbacks, and triumphs that have shaped my guests’ journeys.

Why the Trail?

🏔️ Raw, real conversations away from the daily hustle.
🌿 Candid insights you won’t hear in a traditional interview.
🛤️ Lessons in resilience, creativity, and leadership, told where the journey itself becomes part of the story.

There’s something about being on the trail that brings out a new side of people. As we trek through the wilderness, my guests open up in ways you won’t find in a boardroom, revealing the unexpected moments that shaped their success.

🎧 New episodes drop every Tuesday!
Listen on Spotify, Apple, and Google Podcasts or visit itookahike.com 🌄 to join us on this adventure.

See you on the trail!

Host & Part-time Wilderness Philosopher

Windstream Enterprise

Driving Growth & Innovation

As President of Windstream Enterprise, following the acquisition of MASS Communications, I led a dynamic transformation across several business units, driving substantial growth and innovation. My focus was on:

✅ Defining and executing Windstream’s vision for the Enterprise division.
✅ Strengthening distribution channels and launching new partnership programs.
✅ Developing and empowering top talent within the organization.

Unifying Teams & Scaling Success

🔹 Integrated teams & cultures from MASS Communications, Windstream, and other acquisitions.
🔹 Scaled our channel strategy to expand market reach and enhance collaboration.
🔹 Launched innovative programs that accelerated revenue and strengthened our market presence.

Surpassing Revenue Targets & Expanding Market Reach

📈 Secured major Resale partnerships, driving over 100% revenue growth in the segment.
🚀 Expanded Windstream Enterprise’s footprint in the Resale market, unlocking new opportunities.
🌐 Delivered client-centered network solutions that redefined our industry impact.

At Windstream Enterprise, our mission extends beyond connectivity, we empower businesses to thrive in the digital age. As a $6 billion telecommunications leader, we provide scalable, cloud-driven solutions that drive growth, efficiency, and resilience in a rapidly evolving world.

President

MASS Communications (Acquired by Windstream Enterprise)

Building a Vision from the Ground Up - A Decade of Growth & Innovation

In 2008, I co-founded a company with a bold goal: to reshape the telecommunications industry. Fueled by passion and an entrepreneurial spirit, I was involved in every aspect:

💡 Funding & strategic sales
📢 Marketing & business development
⚡ 24/7 client support & service innovation

Our commitment to custom-engineered solutions and unmatched client service transformed us from a startup into an industry leader, generating $30M+ in revenue within a decade.

Cultivating a Team of Champions

🏆 Built a workforce driven by shared vision & excellence
🏢 Created a culture recognized as a “100 Best Places to Work in NYC” (Crain’s NY, 3 years running)
🔹 Fostered a family-like atmosphere that fueled our rapid growth

Achievements & Industry Recognition

🚀 Inc. 5000 Fastest-Growing Companies – 5 consecutive years
📈 1,000+ loyal customers across diverse industries
🔑 98% staff retention rate through the company’s sale

A Strategic & Rewarding Exit

In 2018, we achieved a major milestone, successfully selling the company to Windstream Holdings Inc. This marked not just the culmination of our growth, but a validation of the enduring value we built.

A Legacy of Impact

Reflecting on this journey, I take immense pride in what we created, a thriving business, a top-tier team, and an industry-altering success story.

💡 My story is proof that vision, teamwork, and the relentless pursuit of excellence can transform industries.

Here’s to inspiring others to dream big, take bold risks, and build with heart.

Chief Executive Officer

PAETEC COMMUNICATIONS

A Career Built on Experience & Growth

Learning from the Ground Up

My journey began as an intern, where I quickly realized that hands-on experience and a willingness to learn were the keys to growth.
🔹 Started as a technician & engineer – mastering the technical foundations.
🔹 Faced real-world challenges – troubleshooting, problem-solving, and late nights refining my skills.
🔹 Gained insights beyond the classroom – understanding the core of the industry from the inside out.

Mastering Operations & Efficiency

Transitioning into operations roles taught me that success isn’t just about technology, it’s about precision and collaboration.
⚙️ Managed workflows & optimized efficiency across teams.
📊 Developed problem-solving strategies beyond technical fixes.
🤝 Built high-performance teams by fostering collaboration and setting high standards.

Stepping into Leadership

With each management role, my perspective expanded.
✅ Led diverse teams – empowering individuals to excel.
✅ Set a clear vision – driving results through shared goals.
✅ Honed executive leadership skills – mastering strategic planning & decision-making.

The Path to MASS Communications

Armed with deep expertise in both technology and leadership, I was ready to build something bigger. MASS Communications was born with a mission of:

🚀 Innovation – pushing boundaries in telecommunications.
🤝 Teamwork – creating a strong, people-first culture.
🎯 Client success – delivering exceptional, custom-engineered solutions.

Lessons That Shape Future Leaders

Every role, every challenge, every success was a stepping stone. My journey proves that growth comes from experience, adaptability, and a relentless drive to learn.

💡 No role is too small, every step forward is a lesson that shapes the leaders of tomorrow.

Early Career

Exited Founder, Now I Build Personal Brands That Make Founders Unf★ckingforgettable → Own Your Brand. → Grow Your Business. → Lead the Conversation. Get Your Brand Built.

I built my company from the ground up and successfully exited it.

The hard way. No shortcuts. No overnight wins. Just grit, clarity, and execution.

It took years, failures, pivots, and an unshakable belief in the vision.

Since that exit, one thing has become crystal clear:
Your personal brand is your most valuable business asset.

Not your logo.
Not your tagline.
You.

Your name, your story, your presence.

It’s what gets you in rooms, earns trust, and opens doors before a word is spoken.
And it’s especially true for founders.

We’re so often heads-down building the thing…
That we forget we are part of the product.

Today, I help other founders, particularly post-exit, growth-stage, or quietly crushing it, build personal brands that reflect who they really are. Brands that stand up, stand out, and do business at scale.

LinkedIn is the space where that brand lives.
It’s not just a platform; it’s where visibility, credibility, and opportunity converge.

I’m not here to make people “look good online.”

I’m here to help founders own their story, lead with clarity, and show up like they already belong at the top of the category.

Because when your personal brand hits, it doesn’t just change how people see you.
It changes what you attract.

★

Get Your Brand Built 🥊

🔗 Join the Brand Built Community @ https://joinbrandbuilt.com
🔗 Or meet with me to become seen @ https://darrenmass.com/connect-with-darren

Co-Founder of a business and social community centered around growing your brand, building your network, scaling your business, and establishing trust for your customers and clients.

Darren Mass 🥊

I’ve built before.
But this year, I built differently.

More clarity.
More leverage.
Less noise.

I didn’t need a holiday to feel grateful, but I’ll take the opportunity to say it out loud.

Because this year, I’m thankful for what actually made business feel better, not just bigger:

→ Our team
Sharp, reliable, and trusted.
They move with speed and care.
That’s earned, not expected.

→ Digital Magic CRM
Built it to solve the follow-up problem, now it powers every relationship behind the scenes.

→ Brand Built
Real founders.
Real conversations.
No fluff, just strategy, growth, and accountability.

→ This audience
Every message, share, or comment helped sharpen the brand and expand the impact.

→ Family and close friends
For giving me the space to go all-in, and knowing when to pull me out of the weeds.

There were years when Thanksgiving felt like catch-up day.

This year, it feels like confirmation.

That the way we’re building is actually working.

Not because I stepped back from the business, but because the business kept moving when I did.

If your business only works when you're working, it's not built.
It's borrowed time.

★

What changed for you this year that made the work feel right again?

Darren  Mass

Branding. Business. Biking. Boxing.✨Digital Magic gave me the time to enjoy my passions. Want yours back?

No alternative text description for this image

You can be the smartest person in your business, but if you’re surrounded by people playing smaller, you’ll start shrinking too.

→ Energy leaks.
→ Standards spread.
→ Comfort kills momentum.

That’s why Brand Built exists.

Not to hand out motivation, to create movement.

A place where average doesn’t survive.

Where friction is a feature, not a flaw.

Because growth doesn’t happen when you feel good.

It happens when the people around you make your comfort zone look embarrassing.

You can tell a lot about someone by the room they choose to sit in.

The right room stretches you.

The wrong one keeps you “busy” while your fire burns out.

You don’t need another course.

You need proximity, to the right voices, the right energy, the right standard.

That’s how you scale faster.
That’s how you get loud without losing focus.
That’s how you stop coasting and start compounding.

The wrong circle will talk about growth.

The right one will demand it.

★

When’s the last time the people around you made you uncomfortable, in a good way?

Steve Jobs didn’t build Apple by saying yes.

He built it by saying no, over and over again.

No to features that didn’t matter.
No to meetings that weren’t essential.
No to distractions pretending to be opportunities.

He wasn’t focused on doing more.
He was focused on building what actually mattered.

And as founders, we forget that.

We pile on new ideas.
Say yes out of obligation.

Fill our week with stuff that doesn’t serve the vision, then wonder why we’re exhausted and stuck.

I’ve been there.

But the moment everything started to shift?

When I stopped building from urgency.
And started building with clarity.

You don’t get time back by working harder.
You get it by choosing better.

Saying yes is easy.
Saying no is where the leverage lives.

★

What’s one thing you know you need to say no to this week?

Building a personal brand isn't complicated.
You just keep getting in your way.

You don’t need a 12-step strategy.
You don’t need a “content calendar.”

You need conviction, and the guts to show up with it every day.

→ People follow consistency.
→ They trust conviction.
→ They remember repetition that feels real.

That’s it.

That’s the game.

Stop trying to sound smarter.
Start trying to sound like you.

The reason your brand isn’t landing isn’t because people don’t get it, it’s because you keep diluting it every time you second-guess your voice.

I’ve seen founders with zero followers build massive trust, and founders with massive followings lose it all, because clarity always beats popularity.

Your brand doesn’t need to be perfect.

It needs to be predictable.

People should know exactly what they’ll get when they hear your name.

Consistency beats clever.

Every, single time.

★

What’s one message you’d be willing to repeat every day until it built your entire brand around it?

For years, pressure was the fuel.

Every day felt like a deadline.

Every problem felt like proof I was alive.

And then I sold.

The noise stopped.
The pressure disappeared.

And I realized I’d built my confidence around chaos.

→ I didn’t miss the business.
→ I missed the speed.
→ I missed having something that demanded everything from me.

At first, I thought I needed another company.

But what I really needed was a new kind of challenge, one that didn’t destroy my peace to prove my worth.

That’s what this next chapter became.

Not chasing scale.
Not chasing validation.

Just learning how to build without bleeding for it.

Because peace feels weird at first.

But once you learn to operate from clarity instead of chaos, you never want to go back.

I didn’t lose my edge.
I just sharpened it differently.

The goal isn’t to escape pressure.
It’s to stop needing it to feel alive.

★

If the chaos disappeared tomorrow, would you still know how to move, or would you freeze?

Your company isn’t your legacy.
Your name is.

You can sell the business.
You can pivot the offer.
You can reinvent the product.

But your name, that’s the one asset you’ll take into every room for the rest of your life.

→ Products expire.
→ Markets shift.
→ Trends die.

But a strong personal brand compounds through every season.

The founders who win long term understand this: the logo is leverage, but the name behind it is the equity.

Your personal brand is your insurance policy.

It keeps you relevant when the market changes.

It keeps you credible when the product evolves.

It keeps you magnetic when everyone else is scrambling for the next thing.

When I sold my company, that truth hit hard.

The business was gone.
The title was gone.

But my brand, the way I showed up, built, led, and connected, that’s what opened every new door.

You can exit the company.
But you can’t exit your reputation.

★

If your logo disappeared tomorrow, would your name still carry weight?

Nobody trusts a ghost brand.

You can’t build authority if you only show up when it’s convenient.

Visibility isn’t vanity, it’s how trust compounds.

→ People don’t follow ghosts.
→ They follow patterns.
→ They follow consistency.

Everyone loves to say, “I’m working behind the scenes.”

Cool.

But behind the scenes doesn’t build connection.

People can’t trust what they can’t see.

If you want to lead, you have to show up when it’s boring.

When it’s uncomfortable.

When no one’s clapping.

Because that’s what makes people believe you’re real.

Not the wins, the repetition.

You don’t earn trust with a single post.

You earn it by showing up enough times that people stop questioning if you’re serious.

That’s how real personal brands are built, not in one viral moment, but in a hundred quiet ones that nobody sees coming.

You can’t build credibility in the dark.

★

If someone checked your page right now, would they trust you — or still be trying to figure out who you are?

You don’t have a growth problem.
You’re just operating on chaos.

Stop blaming “the market.”
Stop saying it’s a “slow quarter.”

Your business isn’t broken, your systems are.

You’re losing time to tasks that shouldn’t even need you.

You’re chasing follow-ups instead of closing deals.

You’re doing 20 things a day that automation could’ve done before breakfast.

That’s not entrepreneurship.
That’s self-inflicted burnout.

→ Every thriving business has one thing in common: a system that thinks faster than the founder.
→ That’s where Digital Magic CRM comes in.

It’s not a tool.
It’s your second brain.

The follow-ups, the reminders, the chaos, gone.
It’s like running your business on autopilot without losing control.

You don’t scale by working harder.
You scale by building systems that never sleep.

You’re not overworked, you’re under-automated.

★

How much of your day is spent building, and how much is spent cleaning up the mess?

The biggest risk to your business isn’t competition.
It’s confusion.

It’s showing up every day reactive instead of intentional.
It’s hiring out of panic.

→ Spending just to feel like you’re doing something.
→ Posting without knowing why.
→ Saying yes because “maybe it’ll lead to something.”

You can scale noise.
A lot of people do.

But clarity?
That’s harder to find.

Especially when you’re the only one in the room calling the shots.

That’s why we built Brand Built

So founders like us could stop guessing and start building with direction.

A place to pressure test your thinking, not just talk about goals.
A place to ask:

“Is this actually working, or am I just addicted to the chaos?”

The answer changes everything.

You don’t need more motivation.
You need better input.

★

What’s the hardest decision you’ve been putting off because you haven’t had space to think?

Freedom isn’t found in free time.
It’s found in structure.

Every founder thinks they want more time off.

What they actually want is space to think.

To create.
To breathe.

That doesn’t happen when you’re buried in the weeds chasing tasks your system should’ve handled hours ago.

Automation doesn’t make business colder, it makes it cleaner.

It clears the noise so you can focus on what only you can do: lead, decide, build.

That’s the beauty of Digital Magic CRM

It’s not another tool cluttering your tech stack.
It’s a quiet operator, the thing that keeps your world moving while you’re living your life.

Structure creates freedom.
Discipline builds space.

The founders who figure that out early don’t burn out, they scale peacefully.

The goal isn’t to work less.
It’s to work lighter.

★

If your systems ran smoother, what part of your life would you finally make room for

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Seth Yakatan

Darren Mass 🥊

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The Battle

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Darren Mass 🥊

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