In this episode, Aaron sits down with Ariel Navarro, a seasoned entrepreneur and co-founder of OneCart, to delve into his extraordinary journey from building multiple startups, facing significant failures, to finally hitting gold with OneCart. Ariel’s story is one of resilience, innovation, and strategic thinking, making him a truly unique guest on the show.

Ariel opens up about the challenges of pioneering on-demand grocery delivery in South Africa—a market with its own unique set of obstacles—and how he leveraged both market trends and his deep understanding of consumer behavior to scale OneCart into a leading player in the industry. He also shares his experience of navigating the emotional rollercoaster of selling the business, providing listeners with insights into the strategic partnerships, financial modeling, and robust systems that positioned OneCart for a successful exit to Massmart. This episode offers a deep dive into the mindset and strategies that set Ariel apart as a visionary entrepreneur. KEY TAKEAWAYS: Strategic Growth: Leveraging market conditions and strategic partnerships to drive rapid expansion. Building Systems: The importance of documenting processes and implementing scalable systems from the start. Financial Modeling: How detailed financial models and clear projections make the business more attractive to acquirers. Team and Culture: How cultivating a strong, cohesive management team is vital for a successful exit. Exit Strategy: The impact of market dynamics and timing on the decision to sell the business. Post-Exit Reflections: Ariel's personal journey after the sale and his transition to new ventures. BEST MOMENTS: "COVID was an obvious catalyst for the business; it forced us to scale rapidly and adapt quickly." "Building a culture of trust and accountability within the team was key to our success." "We documented everything, ensuring that when the time came, we were ready for the due diligence process." "Having a detailed financial model helped us clearly project our growth trajectory, which was crucial during negotiations." "We realized early on that documenting our processes and keeping our systems updated would make the business more attractive to potential buyers." "Our focus on scalability from the start—choosing systems and processes that could grow with the business—helped us present a compelling case to acquirers." FIND US ON: Spotify: Link to show YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ExitStrategySecrets LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronfuchs100/