From Executive to Equity
How Dave McDonough Used BlackmoreConnects + SignalMate to Reinvent His Career
Overview
Dave McDonough scaled his company from $7M to $20M in revenue and $3M in EBITDA but remained stuck in a W2 role—with no equity, no exits, and limited upside.
- BlackmoreConnects — Executive mentorship and PE firm access
- SignalMate — Strategy-to-action platform with deal tracking and insights
This case study is your launchpad. Upload it into SignalMate to actively build your equity path. Track deals. Test your thesis. Prepare for investor conversations.
Dave's 5-Phase Career Shift
Phase
- 1. Defined Investment Thesis
- 2. Built Credibility
- 3. Networked with Precision
- 4. Built a Deal Funnel
- 5. Transitioned to PE-Led Roles
What Dave Did
- Targeted $10–30M underperformers
- Mastered PE strategy and terms
- Joined PE & seller calls
- Created thesis-aligned shortlist
- Led negotiations on active deals
SignalMate Tools
- Market Alerts
- Insights for call prep
- CRM Tracker
- Pipeline Builder
- Exit Playbooks
Using This Case Study in SignalMate
🔍
Thesis Check
Validate your thesis with real-time data in Market Pulse. Stress-test sector relevance.
💬
Conversation Prep
Reference Dave’s journey in investor calls. Pull real-time insights to back your story.
📊
Signal-Based Questions
- Am I missing hidden signals?
- What trends are shaping my sector?
- How do my targets stack up?
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Strategic Planning
- 3 firms to pitch
- 5 sellers to contact
- 1 thesis to evolve
Conclusion: Activate Your SignalMate
This isn’t a case study to read. It’s a blueprint to run.
- ✅ Turn insights into action
- ✅ Lead with data, not hope
- ✅ Earn your credibility in PE
- ✅ Track toward ownership