Kinected Advisors Research
Advisory Approach
Kinected Advisors was founded in 2014 with a mission to help business owners in the lower-middle market increase the value of their companies and exit on their terms. The firm operates with a thesis that business owners deserve expert guidance through the M&A process, emphasizing that professional advisors consistently deliver 25% valuation premiums over self-directed sales (per Portland State University research). Kevin Berson, the founder, brings 25+ years of M&A and Big Six consulting experience from firms like Technicolor and Arthur Andersen, combined with operational expertise from co-founding Creative District, a successful tech venture. Kinected's approach is deeply collaborative, emphasizing transparency, accountability, and responsiveness throughout the transaction lifecycle.
Sector Focus
Kinected maintains active practices across multiple industries with particular strength in service-oriented and manufacturing businesses. Within manufacturing, they demonstrate deep expertise in precision metal fabrication, aerospace and defense contractors, and other specialized manufacturing. The firm has successfully handled transactions in IT managed services, plumbing services, distribution, and business consulting. Their aerospace and defense expertise is evidenced by the AF Machine case study, where they navigated ITAR compliance and sold a precision metal fabrication firm with direct relationships to Raytheon, Boeing, Northrop, NASA, and SpaceX. Beyond manufacturing, they work extensively with professional services, healthcare, and technology companies, with team members bringing specific expertise from healthcare IT (Peter Harrington), technology implementation (Amy Johnson's 12 years at Arthur Andersen in IT strategies), and business services across multiple sectors.
Process & Fee Structure
Kinected runs an institutional-quality sell-side process emphasizing controlled auctions and buyer vetting. Their typical engagement includes three phases: (1) Pre-sale positioning including EXITBOOST™ (a proprietary exit planning process), opinions of value, and business consulting to maximize value pre-transaction; (2) Market preparation with detailed business presentation packages, financial statement review, quality of earnings support, and management presentation coaching; (3) Controlled auction with targeted buyer identification, NDA management, Letter of Intent negotiation, due diligence quarterbacking, and close management. Process timeline typically ranges 6-9 months from market entry to close. They employ modified Lehman structures based on enterprise value, with retainers credited against success fees. Fee structure details are customized by engagement, but the firm emphasizes reasonable commission structures with clear value alignment. They typically require a minimum of $1M EBITDA and prefer engagements with TEV of $5M-$100M, though they maintain flexibility based on company quality and growth trajectory.
Deal Track Record
Kinected has completed over 100+ transactions (self-reported), including multiple high-complexity deals across diverse industries. Recent transactions include: (1) Compass Consulting (IT Managed Services) - a Southern California IT services firm founded in 1986 providing cloud, security, and software development services, sold to CIO Solutions in July 2023 after a 6.5-month process. Kinected contacted 209 potential buyers, secured 43 NDAs, and delivered four offers. The sale achieved the sellers' objectives for client relationship continuity and employee retention. (2) AF Machine (Precision Metal Fabrication) - a 45-year-old aerospace and defense supplier with ITAR registration and direct relationships to major defense contractors. Within three weeks, Kinected secured 85 signed NDAs; within five weeks, 11 full-price offers were submitted. The deal closed in under five months with an SBA-financed acquisition by a former aerospace manufacturing executive. (3) Power Plumbing - a family plumbing business founded in 1987, sold to a private equity platform firm in under 6 months with a 20% valuation premium over internal expectations.
Buyer Network & Network Strength
Kinected maintains active relationships across private equity firms, strategic acquirers, and individual buyers with deep industry experience. Deal evidence shows successful placements with PE firms (platform and add-on acquisitions), strategic buyers seeking synergies (CIO Solutions in the IT services space), and individual buyers with operational expertise (the AF Machine buyer was a former aerospace manufacturing executive). The firm has demonstrated strength in identifying both obvious buyers (strategic competitors and industry PE platforms) and non-obvious tier-one buyers. Their process philosophy explicitly values introducing sellers to top-tier PE firms and strategic buyers rather than settling for local competitor sales, as documented in the Power Plumbing testimonial where sellers were presented with both PE and strategic options, ultimately achieving a premium valuation.
Competitive Positioning
Kinected differentiates from other lower-middle market M&A firms through: (1) Pre-sale value maximization (the EXITBOOST™ program helps clients increase business value by 23-146% before going to market); (2) Institutional process rigor (detailed presentation packages, quality of earnings, management coaching, structured buyer identification); (3) Diverse team with deep functional expertise (CFO/operational experience from Peter Harrington, public company finance leadership from Sarah Spector and Brenda Morris, corporate law from Joe Cane, HR transformation from Robert Sniderman); (4) Network breadth (relationships across PE platforms, strategic acquirers, and individual operators); (5) Track record with complex situations (ITAR aerospace, multi-site IT services, PE roll-ups). The firm's 86% close rate significantly exceeds the industry average of 30-40%, reflecting both selective client engagement and process discipline. Their 81% success rate on transactions demonstrates consistency.
Not a Fit If
Kinected typically declines: (1) Businesses below $1M EBITDA or $5M revenue where the time investment doesn't align with transaction complexity; (2) Situations requiring immediate sales (they specialize in thoughtful, deliberate processes); (3) Businesses in distress or with pending litigation; (4) Sellers seeking to run limited processes without proper buyer vetting (their value is in exhaustive buyer identification and auction management); (5) Companies with significant operational fragility or undocumented business practices.
Team
Kinected operates with 8+ full-time advisors augmented by specialist network including corporate attorneys, fractional CFOs, accountants, and HR consultants. Core team: Kevin Berson (Founder & President) - 25+ years M&A/consulting, UCLA BA, USC Marshall MBA, CEPA/CM&AP/M&AMI/CBI/CBB certifications; Jim Twerdahl (M&A Advisor) - 20+ years investment banking/consulting, former President of Marantz/JBL, Kellogg MBA; Peter Harrington (Finance Advisor) - M&A transactions, SaaS/digital marketing/entertainment/retail experience, Marshall MBA; Sarah Spector (Finance Advisor, CPA) - 25+ years across healthcare, internet, e-commerce, staffing, distribution, publishing, entertainment, Arizona BSBA, California CPA; Joe Cane (Corporate Attorney) - 25+ years business/financial transactions, Cornell BA, Loyola JD, Marshall MBA; Robert Sniderman (HR Advisor) - PhD in Organizational Development, SPHR/SHRM-SCP, executive coach, disability workplace expert; Amy Johnson (Advisor) - 12 years at Arthur Andersen in IT strategies/ERP implementations, Pepperdine BS, teaches at Pepperdine; Brenda Morris (Advisor) - CFO/COO in public and private companies, board member at Boot Barn (NYSE: BOOT), Duluth Trading (NASDAQ: DLTH), Xponential Fitness (NYSE: XPOF), Ideal Image, iHerb, SVP at Torrid (previous), CPA/CGMA.
Geographic Coverage
Primary focus on Southern California (Los Angeles metro area and surrounding regions), with demonstrated capability across California and national reach for qualified transactions. The Power Plumbing and Compass Consulting deals were both Southern California-based, while the AF Machine transaction involved buyer coordination across regions. Team connections and speaking engagements span professional organizations nationally (Entrepreneurs' Organization, Vistage, CalCPA, Exit Planning Institute, Aerospace & Defense Forum, ProVisors).
Recognition & Thought Leadership
Kevin Berson has been honored by UCLA as one of the top 100 Bruin-founded companies (Bruin Business 100, 2023). He was featured in the Los Angeles Business Journal as an Investment Banking Leader of Influence for 2021, 2022, and 2023. He is a frequent speaker at professional organizations and universities (UCLA Anderson, USC Marshall, Northwestern Kellogg, Loyola Marymount). The firm is recognized for introducing the EXITBOOST™ exit planning methodology to the market.
Thesis in Practice
Kinected's underlying belief is that business owners who exit their companies deserve the same professional, institutional-quality process that public companies and large private companies receive from major investment banks. By bringing expertise in valuation, process design, buyer vetting, and negotiation, combined with a diverse team covering law, accounting, HR, operations, and strategy, they help sellers achieve outcomes that far exceed what they could accomplish alone. The testimonials consistently reference "wow" moments where sellers achieved unexpected valuations, secured ideal buyers, and transitioned with minimal stress and maximum legacy preservation.