05/28/2026
AXIAL: Revisiting Private Credit and AI with Matt Plooster
listen now
Podcasts
Whether we’re leading the conversation with our own series, the CEOMinute, or sharing insights as featured guests on top industry podcasts, you’ll find compelling discussions, expert takes, and actionable advice. Tune in to hear from our team and other thought leaders as we dive into the trends shaping the future and the strategies driving success today.
02/25/2026
THIS IS M&A: Founder's Dilemma: Growth Capital, Recap, or Full Exit with Matt Plooster
listen now
01/07/2026
LEADERSHIP LEVERS: From Wall Street to Garage Startup: Matt Plooster’s Culture-First Blueprint for Investment Banking
listen now
10/29/2025
SKILLFUL AT WORK with Curt Beck, Ph.D.: Featuring Matt Plooster
listen now
05/01/2025
THE DEAL SCOUT: Private Credit: The Game-Changer in Capital Funding for Middle Market Companies featuring Matt Plooster
listen now
04/17/2025
CEO MINUTE: Building Trust & Deals—The Power of Relationships and Showing Up
listen now
10/22/2024
CEO MINUTE: Private Capital Unlocked – Exploring the Spectrum of Private Credit
listen now
05/01/2024
CEO MINUTE: The M&A Market – Scarcity Premium, The Time is Now
listen now
04/04/2024
AXIAL: Private Credit Arrives in the Lower Middle Market
listen now
01/18/2023
HEADING WEST: Matt Plooster, Founder/CEO of Bridgepoint – Rejecting Harvard, working with your spouse, and the future of investment banking
listen now
01/10/2023
VOICE OF INFLUENCE – Opportunities and Challenges for CEOs in 2023
listen now
04/02/2021
What Business Owners Need to Know About Selling Their Company
listen now
02/02/2021
Why Financial Advisors Should Partner with Investment Banks
listen now
12/23/2020
The DEAL FLOW Show - Over $40B in Transactions & Counting
listen now
12/09/2020
The Last Deal – Making a Difference During Business Exits
listen now
03/16/2020
A Kid From Malcom Played With The Wolves w/ Matt Plooster
listen now
A Kid From Malcom Played With The Wolves w/ Matt Plooster
In today’s episode, Landon sits down with Matt Plooster who has found quite a bit of success in his career. Mixing both faith and undying hard work, Matt has gone from working on Wall Street to now running his very successful company Bridgepoint Investment Banking. Matt is the definition of what hard work means and there is a lot to take away from this episode. Tune into the episode of the kid who played with the Wolves.
The Last Deal – Making a Difference During Business Exits
Matt Plooster is the CEO and Co-Founder of Bridgepoint Investment Banking – a boutique firm that focuses on Middle Market Business Owners, helping them sell their businesses as effectively and profitably as possible. Many business owners will spend 20, 30, 40 years or more building something – but they’re only going to sell it once. This is a high-risk proposition, and companies like Matt’s are there to smooth the way.
The DEAL FLOW Show - Over $40B in Transactions & Counting
Matt Plooster is co-founder, President and CEO of Bridgepoint Investment Banking, a market-leading boutique investment bank that serves clients over their corporate lifecycles by providing capital raising and M&A advisory solutions. He has over 16 years of investment banking experience, including 6 years of experience in private equity fund management. Matt is an alumnus of the Columbia Business School in New York and possesses FINRA Series 7, 63, and 79 licenses. Cumulatively, he has completed more than $41 billion worth of transaction origination and execution (with $17 billion in M&A and $23 billion in capital raising).
In this interview, Matt shares golden nuggets from his many years of experience in Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A), investment banking, and private equity. He talks about what he learned from his first mentor and how it affects how he runs his business today. He explains why doing exit interviews after completing a deal is so important. He tells why doing more deals is not always better. He talks about The DAD factor and its importance. He tells how a business can achieve liquidity without selling. He elaborates on the 5 business sectors his firm focuses on and what they avoid. He talks about his deal makers and deal breakers. This is a great interview and a must-see!
Why Financial Advisors Should Partner with Investment Banks
Bridgepoint is proud to share that Managing Director Mike Anderson has been featured in Episode 52 of the Value-Ability podcast, a podcast for financial advisors, business owners, and anyone interested in financial planning, business, leadership, and personal development.
In this episode, Mike Anderson shares how and why financial advisors should work together with investment banks like Bridgepoint to create optimal outcomes for their clients.
Listen to the episode below to find insights including:
What is investment banking?
How can investment banks and financial advisors work together?
What outcomes do investment banks provide to companies?
Which roles do investment banks and financial advisors play in the process of selling a company?
Why should financial advisors bring in a trusted investment bank and how should they introduce them to their client’s situation?
Which characteristics make a company a good candidate to engage an investment bank?
What options are available to business owners and financial advisors when selling a business?
Stay tuned for Part 2 of this podcast, where Mike offers valuable insights to company owners who may be interested in a capital raise or M&A transaction.
What Business Owners Need to Know About Selling Their Company
Bridgepoint is proud to share that Managing Director Mike Anderson has been featured in Episode 53 of the Value-Ability podcast, a podcast for business owners, financial advisors, and anyone interested in business, leadership, financial planning, and personal development.
In this episode, Mike Anderson shares key considerations for business owners who may be considering the sale of their company. Find out about resources available to business owners considering a sale, which factors can help make a company viable for an acquisition, and where you can turn for unconflicted advice about navigating the challenges of selling a family-owned business.
Listen to the episode below to find insights including:
What can business owners do to best position themselves for a capital raise or acquisition? What should business owners know and understand when considering these types of transactions?
Which characteristics make a company better suited for an acquisition or capital raise?
What is the importance of having options when raising capital or selling a company? What options are available for funding sources and potential buyers?
How does Bridgepoint Investment Banking help business owners determine the right path? What is the importance of “Dad Advice” when exploring a transaction like this?
What is investment banking? What roles do investment banks play in assisting business owners?
How does Bridgepoint Investment Banking help business owners navigate the unique challenges of growing or selling a family-owned business?
Bridgepoint Investment Banking is passionate about helping family-owned and founder-owned companies succeed. We are here to help you explore your options for growth capital, acquisitions, or selling your company. Contact Bridgepoint today to learn how we can help you achieve your goals.
Follow Bridgepoint Investment Banking on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook to find more insights and educational resources for company owners.
VOICE OF INFLUENCE – Opportunities and Challenges for CEOs in 2023
In this series we're interviewing CEOs of successful companies who strive to do good in the world. What makes their companies successful? What challenges and opportunities lie ahead for them in 2023? What advice do they have for expedited growth and building the organizational infrastructure that can sustain it?
Matt Plooster is the CEO of Bridgepoint, an investment banking firm. Listen to how their company is "bringing Wall Street solutions to Main Street and bringing Main Street values to Wall Street" on this episode of the Voice of Influence podcast.
HEADING WEST: Matt Plooster, Founder/CEO of Bridgepoint – Rejecting Harvard, working with your spouse, and the future of investment banking
"Real success means embracing the crazy." What does that mean? Most of all, it means living with intentionality and choosing to show up in your personal life as much as you show up in your professional life.
This conversation between CEO Matt Plooser and the hosts of Heading West—will give you an inside look at the life of a CEO.
AXIAL: Private Credit Arrives in the Lower Middle Market
Today’s guest is Matt Plooster, founder and CEO of Bridgepoint, a boutique investment bank based in Omaha, Nebraska. We start the conversation with a background on private credit and its origins. From there we proceed to cover its growth, its arrival in the lower middle market, and how business owners can think about its features, risks, utility and applicability. We close out the conversation by getting into specific lower middle market transactions where private credit has been central to the outcome.
CEO MINUTE: The M&A Market – Scarcity Premium, The Time is Now
Today’s guest is Bryan Wallace. Bryan is a Managing Director and Head of Industrials at Bridgepoint Investment Banking. Based in Denver, Bryan brings with him 20+ years of experience in M&A advisory and capital raising.
On today’s podcast, Matt and Bryan discuss the current state of the M&A market. Wallace mentions that there is increased activity and demand from buyers in the market, particularly in the industrial services sector. He also discusses the importance of financing support and staple financing in getting deals done at good valuations. Wallace notes that certain sectors, such as SaaS and technology, have seen increased demand and valuation pressure, while others, like the consumer market, have been slower to recover. He advises business owners to focus on growth and margin scalability to position their businesses for success in the market. Wallace also mentions that now may be a good time for certain types of companies to consider selling, and encourages those interested to reach out to Bridgepoint for further discussion.
Listen to the full podcast to learn more and reach out to us at bridgepointib.com/contact-us to speak with one of our expert advisors today.
CEO MINUTE: Private Capital Unlocked – Exploring the Spectrum of Private Credit
Today's guest is Subhash Marineni. Subhash is a Managing Director at Bridgepoint Investment Banking. Based in Omaha, Subhash brings with him 13+ years of experience in M&A advisory and capital raising.
On today’s podcast, Matt and Subhash dive into the rising wave of Private Credit and why it’s making headlines with new fund launches every week. They break down the different capital options available to family and founder-led businesses—like bank loans, mezzanine financing, private credit, structured capital, and private equity—while uncovering what sets each apart. To top it off, they share a real-world case study, revealing how Private Credit can fuel business growth and transform opportunities.
Listen to the full podcast to learn more and reach out to us at bridgepointib.com/contact-us to speak with one of our expert advisors today.
CEO MINUTE: Building Trust & Deals—The Power of Relationships and Showing Up
In this episode of the CEO Minute, Matt and Gary explore the heart of business development—how trust, relationships, and reputation fuel growth. With 30+ years of experience, Gary reveals why trust and in-person meetings are essential for success, even in a digital world. They’ll also discuss how AI boosts efficiency without losing the personal touch and why key players are critical for driving referrals.
Listen to the full podcast to learn more and reach out to us at bridgepointib.com/contact-us to speak with one of our expert advisors today.
THE DEAL SCOUT: Private Credit: The Game-Changer in Capital Funding for Middle Market Companies featuring Matt Plooster
Understanding Private Credit Have you ever wondered what lies beyond traditional bank loans and equity financing for companies? Well, our special guest, Matt, shed light on this lesser-known realm. Private credit is the game-changer for middle-market and main street American companies, offering a lifeline when banks say no. It's a fascinating world where non-bank capital solutions come to the rescue, providing more efficient financing without the heavy dilution of equity.
SKILLFUL AT WORK with Curt Beck, Ph.D.: Featuring Matt Plooster
The Skillful at Work podcast explores how to live wisely and faithfully in the workplace, offering encouragement and practical insights for integrating faith and professional life. Guest: Matt Plooster — Founder and CEO of Bridgepoint Investment Banking, a boutique investment banking firm with locations in Omaha, Lincoln, Chicago, Denver, and New York, shares:
His personal and professional journey leading Bridgepoint, a firm known for M&A advisory and capital-raising services
He talks about the importance of having a well-developed moral compass in business and leadership — tying together faith, character, and decision-making in the workplace
The conversation highlights how values and ethical principles shape leadership in professional environments
LEADERSHIP LEVERS: From Wall Street to Garage Startup: Matt Plooster’s Culture-First Blueprint for Investment Banking
What happens when a former Wall Street banker trades skyscrapers for a garage — and builds a mission-driven investment bank from scratch? In this episode of Leadership Levers, Matt Plooster, Founder & CEO of Bridgepoint Investment Banking, shares the remarkable journey that took him from billion-dollar transactions at Deutsche Bank to launching a boutique firm with a simple belief: people and culture aren’t just part of the business — they ARE the business. LISTEN NOW.
THIS IS M&A: Founder's Dilemma: Growth Capital, Recap, or Full Exit with Matt Plooster
Every founder eventually faces it: Raise capital, recapitalize, or sell? Matt Plooster, CEO & Co-Founder of Bridgepoint Investment Banking, joins This Is M&A to break down how founders should think about control, liquidity and timing.
With over $41B in completed transactions and experience at Morgan Stanley and Deutsche Bank, Matt shares how to:
Raise growth capital without losing control
Structure recapitalizations the right way
Know when it is truly time to sell
Run the private equity playbook without private equity
AXIAL: Revisiting Private Credit and AI with Matt Plooster
Bridgepoint CEO Matt Plooster returns to the Axial podcast for a ground-level update on private credit in the lower middle market.
Despite bearish headlines, Matt makes the case that LMM credit conditions are more borrower-friendly than the macro narrative suggests, and explains why non-dilutive capital is increasingly being used to solve shareholder liquidity issues, fund growth, and support acquisition strategies.
The conversation also tackles how AI has shifted software underwriting back to cash flow and EBITDA fundamentals, and closes with a candid discussion on AI's real-world impact on investment banking workflows, hiring, and diligence.