Duff & Phelps: Scaling an Entrepreneurial Venture (A)

Having teamed up to launch their own financial services business, Noah Gottdiener and Jacob Silverman soon discover a venerable brand and viable business in an established bank subsidiary. They then work for many months to acquire the business as a platform for launching their venture. Overnight, they add 100 employees in three U.S. offices. Just months later, late in 2004, they see the chance to buy another firm that is four times the size of their growing venture and that offers them the opportunity to expand into a new product category. The two entrepreneurs are considering the issues and opportunities this new acquisition may create for their small but rapidly-growing venture.