If you could acquire any company in the existing marketplace, which would it be? Why?
The following answers are provided by the Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) is an invite-only organization comprised of the world’s most promising young entrepreneurs. In partnership with Citi, YEC recently launched StartupCollective, a free virtual mentorship program that helps millions of entrepreneurs start and grow businesses.
1. Washio
“I’m a big fan of Washio. The company operates primarily from an app, helping people arrange for having their laundry picked up and cleaned by local employees. I’ve known a lot of real customers that can vouch for their effectiveness, and their customer service is incredible. I would love to acquire them to branch out their services to more regions.”
– Rob Fulton, Exponential Black
2. Searchmetrics
“I have been working with Searchmetrics for the past six months and love their software. They have some of the best search technology in the industry, which has taken my business to the next level, as well as introduced me to some amazing people.”
–John Rampton, JohnRampton.com
3. Facebook
“Facebook is solving one of the most fundamental problems — human connection — and the team has been successful at adapting to how people connect electronically over the years. It has an awesome team, too. It just might be a little pricey.”
4. Google
“If money were no object, I’d acquire Google. It’s where we all go to find information, and they have a huge array of search, advertising, productivity and enterprise tools. They’re gaining market share in mobile as well. They’re market-dominant in so many key areas that it seems like a very safe, smart investment — if it were for sale and if you had the money!”
5. Yelp
“With our new product SpotSurvey, the localized Yelp customer base would give us a big boost in potential customers. We could tie the loop on customer feedback by giving customers not only a place to vent online, but a more interactive approach that puts them directly in touch with the management at the establishment and gives the business smart data and analytics.”
6. Apple
“Of course Apple is the most valuable company today, but what is most exciting is that the iPhone and iPad are two of the most successful and powerful products ever created. To be able to own the IP and brand behind these two products allows for great power to innovate in education, healthcare, e-commerce and entertainment.”
7. Twitter
“The ubiquitous microblogging platform is one of the most valuable companies around, especially in terms of marketing and PR. Users can easily see what other people and companies are up to, and the medium is one of the easiest ways to connect with real-life people, regardless of how far away or famous they are. Plus, it’s a great way to disseminate anything you want and possibly make it go viral!”
8. Abbott Laboratories
“Abbott Laboratories is poised for double-digit growth next year and beyond, according to Morgan Stanley. Plus, it has been trading rather low in comparison with its competitors, which would make it a good buy.”
– Andrew Schrage, Money Crashers Personal Finance
9. Dollar Shave Club
“As a user of Dollar Shave Club, I believe it’s not only a great concept, but also has the opportunity to branch out into several other product lines — curating and sending items that people: 1) currently overpay for, 2) need and 3) are not exciting shopping experiences. It is a massive opportunity.”
10. TrueCar
“Their IPO has surged 121 percent since they opened at $9 a share. Also, Goldman Sachs is adding a M&A premium to the online auto marketplace. The company is growing like crazy and offers a unique experience that makes buying a car much easier than before. It takes the hassle out of negotiating and is the future of the car buying industry.”
– Cody McLain, WireFuseMedia LLC
11. French Girls App
“French Girls App was born from a weekend hackathon in 2013. I was fortunate to be an early angel investor and I’ve watched the app go from a small community of artists to nearly 2,000,000 users in less than a year. I believe French Girls App can be the next Snapchat and quite honestly would love to acquire the company before that happens.”
Photo Credits
StartupCollective | alphaspirit