Grow your business through acquisition: David Horne on funding and diversity

Executive overview

Most business owners pursue growth through sales, marketing, or new products. David Horne's approach is different: acquire businesses and multiply value through a structured four-part model.

His framework — fund, acquire, consolidate, exit — is the backbone of his book Add Then Multiply. Horne also opens with a conversation on diversity in fundraising, challenging the concentration of funding among white male founders.

The fastest path to outsized growth is acquiring businesses, not just selling harder.

What the conversation covers

• Horne has raised over £100m in funding through debt and equity
• Bought and sold 20+ businesses personally and on behalf of others
• Background as CFO before moving into entrepreneurial ventures
• Book documents a four-part model: fund, acquire, consolidate, exit
• Conversation covers where to find capital, culture fit, and cross-industry nuances

Diversity in fundraising

• Horne's TEDx talk focuses on the fight for fairer funding
• The vast majority of all funding flows to white male founders
• His mission: level the playing field for women and all minority groups