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John Washington

Partner at 37th & Moss

John Washington is a Partner at 37th & Moss, a firm focused on acquiring and operating small businesses, particularly those generating less than $50 million in annual revenue. He has a diverse background as an operator and entrepreneur, with significant experience in e-commerce, SaaS, business services, and tech-enabled services.

Professional Background

  • Current Role: Partner at 37th & Moss since May 2023. The firm aims to address succession challenges for lower middle-market businesses, providing a pathway for owners looking to transition their businesses while maintaining their legacy.123

  • Previous Experience: Before joining 37th & Moss, John served as the Chief Financial Officer at Swell Commerce, where he co-led a $20 million Series A funding round and managed the company’s growth to 75 employees. His career began in financial services as an equity research analyst and middle-market investment banker.14

  • Education: He holds a degree from Duke University's Fuqua School of Business, which has contributed to his expertise in business operations and strategy.1

Personal Background

Originally from New Orleans, John Washington now resides in North Carolina, where he has shifted his focus from the financial sector to operational roles within businesses. His journey reflects a commitment to solving problems through effective team management and strategic execution.15

John's multifaceted experience positions him as a valuable leader at 37th & Moss, where he seeks to foster sustainable growth in the businesses they acquire.

Highlights

Jul 28 · linkedin

This week I had a chance interaction with a sales coach. The timing for the encounter is serendipitous because my partner Nick Smith and I are embarking on a business development focused journey with newly launched 37th & Moss.

While chatting with the sales coach I tried to extract 30+ years of sales and coaching wisdom into one sound bite. The question - what separates the top sellers from the rest of the pack?

The response seems intuitive - the best salespeople are convinced that they can be great. Less intuitive is the idea that convincing ourselves we can be great is easier said than done, especially as sales people traverse a path flush with the word no.

The timing for this encounter was excellent because, like sales, success in entrepreneurialism requires a clear vision and persistence. As Nick and I embark on this new journey we reflected this week on why we’re pursuing entrepreneurialism through acquisition. We write about our conclusions in the blog post below.

Acquiring a business is hard, and we can use your help, but we also want to help you. If there is anything we can do to assist you on your journey to defining great, however that may look, please be in touch. And if you know of any lower middle market businesses that are contemplating a sale, please keep us in mind.

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Related Questions

What inspired John Washington to transition from financial services to entrepreneurship?
How did John's experience at Swell Commerce shape his approach at 37th & Moss?
What are some of the key challenges John has faced in his entrepreneurial journey?
How does 37th & Moss plan to address succession planning for small businesses?
What makes 37th & Moss different from other investment firms?
John Washington
John Washington, photo 1
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Experience

Partner at 37th & Moss since May 2023
CFO at Swell Commerce from September 2021 to April 2023

Education

MBA from Duke University - The Fuqua School of Business; Bachelor's Degree from Elon University - Martha and Spencer Love School of Business, Graduated Cum Laude

Location

Charlotte, North Carolina, United States