How To Grow Biodiesel Production HoldCo To $1 Billion in Revenue (ft. Eran Efrat from VerDiesel Group)

“Don’t stop trying…” Eran used to work as an airport security to pay the bills. Today, VerDiesel Group does $1 billion in revenue… Turns out that KFC and McDonald's used cooking oil can be VERY big business. Add biodiesel, biogas, feedstock… it gets HUGE. Everything we touched in the first 2-3 years failed. Everything. We tried to touch everything but we had no experience. Every time I did not have the money, I said I would find the money. I then went and found the money. We discuss: – 4 years of market research with no success – First serious breakthrough in 2012 – Forming a partnership with a BIG petrochemical company with no money or experience – Importance of relationships 00:00 - Intro 00:42 - Company size, revenue, markets they serve with their products/services 02:29 - Studying law at the University of Bologna, army, a bartender, moved from Israel to Italy in 2004 05:05 - How they found opportunities in early days - wind turbines, equipment for bicycles 08:17 - Partnership. Relying on each other's strengths and the job him and his partner did to cover bills in early days 14:07 - 100+ meetings with people with 30-40 years of industry experience is why I'm here today 22:09 - I know how to sell and solve problems with customers and suppliers 40:10 - Big money business means big and expensive mistakes 47:05 - The future of the VerDiesel Group 53:49 - Be willing to give equity if it keeps your business alive 56:06 - Much of my success is thanks to my wife My full conversation with Eran Efran, the co-founder and managing partner of VerDiesel Group — Stream now. Follow PrivatEquityGuy on Twitter: ⁠⁠https://x.com/PrivatEquityGuy Join HoldCo Builders weekly newsletter on finding deals, raising capital, and growing small profitable niche businesses: ⁠⁠⁠https://privatequityguy.beehiiv.com/⁠ Eran on Twitter: https://x.com/Eran_Efrat This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions.