From Bootstrap Exit to $100M Roll-Up: The Rise of Edoardo Maggini

In this episode, Edoardo Maggini shares how he went from a 16-year-old Italian immigrant to building a $70M+ private equity roll-up in the coatings industry. He explains why he left the startup world behind, how his team is taking on giants like Sherwin-Williams, and what most entrepreneurs get wrong about building wealth. If you're thinking about buying businesses, building a portfolio, or competing with billion-dollar companies, this episode is a masterclass.For more content like this and an inside look into the world of the largest dealmakers in the world, subscribe to The Off Market Memo https://offmarketmemo.beehiiv.com/ Are you in Private Equity, VC, or a Family Office? Become a guest on the Deal Flow Show herehttps://guestlist.dealflowshow.ai/Timestamps:01:06 How Edoardo broke into ETA03:40 What StarStep Capital actually does05:27 Why they picked the coatings industry07:46 His immigration story + first business10:08 How he exited a startup in 3 years14:51 Advice he’d give his younger self15:55 Why “start from scratch” is overrated18:18 What most small business owners get wrong20:05 His step-by-step process for doing deals21:35 Why focusing on one industry matters22:26 How he thinks about building his team25:30 How his team splits roles without titles28:03 Why solo entrepreneurship doesn’t scale29:54 The hardest part after buying a company31:15 Why he loves keeping sellers' kids in place33:45 How they structure branding + integrations34:59 What long-term value creation looks like36:54 Their current size and 10-year goal38:47 How his Machiavelli mindset gives him an edge41:07 How he developed a big vision early43:21 “I don’t feel big… I feel like I’m just starting”44:42 Where he gets advice and mentorship47:24 The closest thing to a “bad deal” they’ve done48:45 Why proprietary deal flow is key50:26 Why bigger deals are actually easier53:22 What affects multiples in this space55:02 How they consistently win competitive bids57:57 Their long-term model vs. traditional PE59:26 Biggest lesson from 2025 (so far)