Founder. Acquirer. M&A Advisor. Speaker.
The decisions that shape a company's future demand perspective, judgment & the right people at the table.
Erika Baez-Grimes brings the perspective of a founder, the discipline of an acquirer & the transaction insight of a Certified M&A Professional. She works with business owners, CEOs & buyers at pivotal moments: pursuing an acquisition, strengthening enterprise value, preparing for an exit & determining what comes next.
Through the companies she has founded & the strategic partnerships she has built, Erika connects advisory expertise, capital resources, acquisition education & business growth capabilities. These relationships form an ecosystem designed to connect the decisions owners make today with the outcomes they are building toward.
Its value is in the coordination: bringing relevant expertise into the conversation, identifying how one decision affects another & aligning the people needed to move from strategy to execution.
On stage & in executive conversations, Erika challenges leaders to examine their businesses through an ownership lens: what creates value, what limits growth & what must change before a transition.
One relationship opens the conversation. The ecosystem expands what is possible.
$350M+
Her Associated Brands Have Delivered in Scale & Exit Activity
Featured On:
Learn how to source, evaluate, and close on the right business, with ETA education, buyer representation and deal access built for acquirers and search funds alike. Buy with clarity, not guesswork.
Get Buyer AccessFind out what your business is worth, build value before you sell, and get expert guidance through every stage of the exit. Whether you are planning to sell next year or in five years, the groundwork starts now.
Explore Exit ResourcesDownload free resources for your entire M&A process. The buyer checklist, due diligence checklist, exit readiness guide, and other free tools to move forward with confidence.
Enter the VaultWeekly live calls, real deal breakdowns, and direct connections with other serious buyers. Built for people actively working toward their first acquisition.
Join the CommunityWe collaborate with vetted CPAs, attorneys, lenders, wealth advisors, consultants, brokers and other professionals. Build your trusted deal team here, or if you are an advisor looking to join our referral network and connect with buyers and sellers, apply to become a trusted advisor.
Referral PartnersBring real deal experience and practical M&A insight to your stage, podcast, or team. Erika speaks and consults on acquisitions, exit planning, and building a business built to sell.
Book ErikaThe Linchpin
One connected ecosystem for buying, building & exiting a business.
Erika brings clarity to your next move and connects you with the expertise to move it forward.
Explore the EcosystemThe Process
No two buyers or business owners need the same combination of expertise. Every relationship begins with a conversation so Erika can understand the objective, identify the right resources and create a clear path forward.
Share your challenge, opportunity and timing. Our team begins by understanding where you are and what you are working toward.
We identify the expertise, resources, opportunities and relationships required to move forward.
Connect with the associated brands and trusted professionals best suited to the specific objective.
The appropriate resources are activated while Erika remains the central relationship connecting the moving pieces.
Our Portfolio Companies
For Entrepreneurs, Business Owners & CEOs
A members-only community for leaders navigating acquisitions, growth, and business exits. Membership gives you access to live office hours every week, where you can bring questions, discuss deals you’re vetting, and learn how to break down opportunities before committing time and capital.
Explore the numbers, identify risks, and gain perspective on deal structures, financing, business value, and exit preparation. Whether you’re evaluating an acquisition or making strategic decisions for the company you lead, The Deal Room provides an ongoing forum for practical guidance and meaningful conversations with fellow members.
Become a Member
By Application Only
Leadership comes with decisions you can’t discuss with just anyone. The CEO Circle brings C-suite executives and business owners together for candid conversations, strategic perspective, to create meaningful relationships with peers who understand the responsibility of building, acquiring, and exiting a business. The CEO Circle creates space to exchange experiences, navigate challenges, and explore what comes next. Through virtual discussions and curated gatherings, members connect with the people, perspectives, and resources to support their next stage of leadership and business ownership.
Our network includes CEOs actively acquiring and scaling businesses, owners who have successfully exited, and executives who have sold companies for more than $200 million. It extends to strategic partners, specialized advisors, executive coaching professionals, and members of established CEO peer communities.
Through curated introductions and select sessions, the Circle brings perspectives beyond Erika’s own, creating opportunities to learn from accomplished leaders and connect with a broader ecosystem of experience and strategic guidance.
01
Facilitated virtual conversations about leadership, people, and growth. Exchange experiences with fellow CEOs and business owners, explore shared challenges, and gain perspective from leaders navigating different stages of ownership.
02
Build deeper relationships through intimate gatherings with CEOs, business owners, and invited strategic partners. Drawing on Erika’s DMV relationships and broader network, these dinners welcome Latino and non-Latino leaders alike for conversations about leadership, growth, ownership, and legacy.
03
Bring your toughest leadership decisions to focused sessions with experienced executive coaches and facilitators. Challenge assumptions, evaluate strategic options, and leave with clear priorities for your next move.
For ongoing peer advisory, access introductions through Erika’s ecosystem to established CEO communities aligned with your goals and business stage. External program participation is arranged separately.
04
Step out of daily operations and into strategic conversations with fellow CEOs and invited contributors. Reassess priorities, share progress, and explore the decisions shaping your company’s next chapter.
From capital and acquisitions to business value, succession, and exit, each forum offers space to exchange perspectives, strengthen executive relationships, and clarify what deserves your attention next.
Build relationships with leaders who bring experience, perspective, and thoughtful questions to the challenges ahead.
Our Professional Alliances & Affiliations
On Stage & In the Press
Erika speaks nationally on buying, building, scaling and exiting businesses, as well as creating pathways to business ownership and generational wealth.
The Main Street Memo
Practical insights on buying, building, scaling and exiting businesses, delivered directly from Erika's ecosystem.
