What if growing your business 10x wasn’t just possible…but actually EASIER than growing 10% at a time?

In today’s inspiring conversation, Paul sits down with David B. Horne, founder of Add Then Multiply, to talk about scaling through Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) and shifting to a growth mindset.

David shares his remarkable story of driving a business from £1 million to £28 million in just three years using the power of strategic M&A. Together, they explore why most founders think too small, uncover how AI is transforming the deal-making landscape, and walk through David’s practical FACE methodology — Fund, Acquire, Consolidate, Exit — a framework that helps ambitious leaders scale faster and smarter while setting up for an exit.

Key Takeaways

• 10x growth is often easier than 10% — real results show scaling £1m → £28m in 3 years through acquisitions.
• M&A isn’t just for corporates — founders miss opportunities by assuming it’s “off-limits.”
• Build your deal team early — specialist accountants & lawyers are critical to navigate the complexity.
• Consolidation is where success is won or lost — integrating culture, systems and people decides deal value.
• AI is reshaping deal flow & due diligence — smart founders can leverage it for competitive advantage.

About David B Horne

David B. Horne is the bestselling author of Add Then Multiply and Funded Female Founders. As the Founder of Add Then Multiply, he helps entrepreneurs scale through ambitious growth strategies involving funding, acquisitions, and exit planning. Over his career, he has:

• Raised more than £110 million in funding
• Completed over 30 acquisitions and exits
• Become a #1 Amazon bestselling author (twice)
• Delivered his TEDx Talk, “The Fight For Fairer Funding”, now seen by more than 3 million people
• Founded Funding Focus, a social enterprise fighting to close the gender and diversity gap in funding access

Resources & Links

• Connect with David B Horne on LinkedIn → David B Horne | LinkedIn
• Learn more about David B Horne → Add then Multiply
• Find out if you are funding-ready → The Funding Fitness Index
• Follow Paul Avins for scale-up insights on LinkedIn → Paul Avins | LinkedIn
• Transform your business at the Grown Up Business Retreat → The Grown Up Business Retreat 2025

Next Steps

Action Now: Write down the 3 actions from this episode you’ll apply in your business over the next 72 hours.

Think bigger: Ready to scale smarter and faster? Start now — get your free resources at Paul Avins

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📚 Special Bonus from David Horne:

Want to dive deeper into David’s financial framework for scaling? Get a FREE copy of his bestselling book Add Then Multiply (just cover shipping).