Built to Hold

#4 - When Founders Begin to Think Long-Term

Episode 4 of Built to Hold with Sylvain Perrier features Nadia Hamilton, founder of one of our most recent acquisitions, Magnusmode.  A conversation about what happens when founders begin thinking beyond the next milestone and start asking what their business should look like five, ten, or even twenty years from now.  Nadia shares the story behind Magnusmode, which began with hand-drawn step-by-step guides she created as a child to help her autistic brother, Troy, navigate daily tasks with more independence. That idea eventually became MagnusCards, a digital platform supporting people with accessibility needs in building life skills and confidence.  In this episode, Nadia and Sylvain discuss founder purpose, long-term thinking, social impact, acquisition, and why choosing the right long-term home for a business matters.  Nadia Hamilton’s LinkedIn: Nadia Hamilton | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadiahamilton/]  MagnusMode: https://www.magnusmode.com/ [https://www.magnusmode.com/]   Join our email list: Form [https://5o05y9.share-na3.hsforms.com/2GYv4Wk0CSNCLVu23J9yPJA] Subscribe for more conversations on long-term ownership, founder perspective, and building businesses made to last.    #BuiltToHold   #VertusGroup   #MagnusMode   #FounderPerspective   #LongTermThinking   #SocialImpact

Built to Hold - Meet the Host | Special Episode

In this special episode, the tables turn — Sylvain Perrier sits in the guest chair as producer Joe Albi takes over hosting duties. Together, they unpack the experiences that shaped Sylvain as a founder, operator, and now Group Leader at Vertus. From summers working in a pulp mill, to building Mercatus over 21 years, to joining the Constellation family — Sylvain shares the lessons that stick: the AB team problem, the risk ratio framework, why curiosity is a leadership superpower, and what it really takes to earn the CEO seat. Join our email list: https://5o05y9.share-na3.hsforms.com/2GYv4Wk0CSNCLVu23J9yPJA [https://5o05y9.share-na3.hsforms.com/2GYv4Wk0CSNCLVu23J9yPJA] Subscribe for more conversations on long-term ownership, founder perspective, and building businesses made to last. #BuiltToHold #VertusGroup #ConstellationSoftware #FounderPerspective #Leadership #Operators #MergersAndAcquisitions #LongTermThinking Adventures by A Himitsu Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0 Free Download / Stream: http://bit.ly/2Pj0MtT [http://bit.ly/2Pj0MtT] Music released by Argofox https://www.audiolibrary.com.co/a-him [https://www.audiolibrary.com.co/a-him].. Music promoted by Audio Library • Adventures – A Himitsu (No Copyright Music)

#3 - AI Without the Hype

In Episode 3 of Built to Hold, Sylvain Perrier sits down with Mark Fairhurst for a grounded discussion on what AI is changing for marketing teams, and what that means for owners of vertical market software businesses.  Mark Fairhurst is the founder of Undercurrents.AI [https://undercurrents.ai/], a strategic advisory practice that helps business and technology leaders see and act on the structural forces reshaping their markets. With over 20 years of B2B SaaS go-to-market experience across enterprise software, retail technology, insurtech, and compliance, Mark brings a transferable methodology honed by working across verticals where the competitive dynamics differ, but the strategic discipline doesn't. Most recently, as Chief Growth Marketing Officer at Mercatus, he led go-to-market for one of grocery retail's most established eCommerce platforms. Trained in AI business transformation and digital marketing strategy at Kellogg, and in AI-driven go-to-market through Pavilion, Mark now works with leaders who need more than an AI strategy deck — they need the operational clarity, context architecture, and commercial infrastructure to make AI a durable business advantage.  Mark’s LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/markfairhurst/]  Join our email list [https://5o05y9.share-na3.hsforms.com/2GYv4Wk0CSNCLVu23J9yPJA] Adventures by A Himitsu  Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported— CC BY 3.0  Free Download / Stream: http://bit.ly/2Pj0MtT [http://bit.ly/2Pj0MtT]  Music released by Argofox https://www.audiolibrary.com.co/a-him [https://www.audiolibrary.com.co/a-him]...  Music promoted by Audio Library • Adventures – A Himitsu (No Copyright Music)

#2 - The Quiet Moment Every Founder Reaches

In this episode of Built to Hold with Sylvain Perrier, Zach Plener of the Vertus Group joins the conversation to explore a moment many founders experience: when the business is strong, but the work starts to feel different. A thoughtful discussion on founder perspective, long-term ownership, and the quiet shift that often comes before any big decisions. Zach's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zach-plener-cpa-37360594/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/zach-plener-cpa-37360594/] Join our email list: https://5o05y9.share-na3.hsforms.com/2GYv4Wk0CSNCLVu23J9yPJA [https://5o05y9.share-na3.hsforms.com/2GYv4Wk0CSNCLVu23J9yPJA]

#1 - Introduction

Built to Hold is a podcast about building businesses meant to last, and what long-term stewardship entails. This show is not about valuation, multiples, negotiations, or deal tactics.  It is about continuity and identity. Throughout this series, Vertus Group leader and host Sylvain Perrier unpacks the decisions, tradeoffs, and habits that make a business last.