Matt Cohen is a Partner at Synesis Advisors, a San Francisco-based firm specializing in the sale of privately held businesses. Matt has successfully closed over 100 transactions across industries such as healthcare, manufacturing and distribution, and other services-based businesses. Known for his mastery of the sales process, meticulous attention to detail, and client-focused approach, Matt ensures his clients are correctly positioned to get their businesses sold. Matt is a Certified Business Broker (CBB) and a member of the California Association of Business Brokers (CABB) and the International Business Brokers Association (IBBA).

Selling a business is one of the most significant and emotional decisions a business owner will make. While most owners are confident operators, navigating a successful sale requires a very different mindset and a specific playbook. So what does it really take to move from wanting to sell to a closed deal?

According to Matt Cohen, a business broker with over two decades of experience, the process starts with viewing the business through the buyer’s lens. He highlights that many deals fall apart because sellers underestimate the importance of terms, deal structure, valuation, and risk mitigation from the buyer’s side. Simply having a profitable business isn’t enough to maximize its sale price; it needs to be transferable and justifiable in the eyes of a cautious buyer. Matt explains how everything from handshake contracts to overreliance on the owner to mispricings can derail a deal and why the real work begins before a business is listed for sale.

In this episode of the Pillar6 Podcast, host Roman Polnar sits down with Matt Cohen, Partner at Synesis Advisors, to discuss how business owners can prepare for a successful sale. They cover the biggest misconceptions about pricing and terms, how to structure your company for buyer confidence, and what to expect during due diligence. Matt also shares tips for assembling a trusted advisory team to guide the process.

• Roman M. Polnar on LinkedIn
• Pillar6 Advisors
• Matt Cohen on LinkedIn
• Synesis Advisors
• My Beloved Monster: Masha, the Half-wild Rescue Cat Who Rescued Me by Caleb Carr

Ilya Vinogradsky is the Co-founder, Chief Technology Officer, and Chief Information Officer of Astound Digital, a global digital consultancy that helps brands grow revenue by enhancing their online relationships with consumers. Founded in 2000, Astound Digital delivers personalized digital commerce experiences by combining technological expertise with creative talent. Ilya leads the company's technical teams, ensuring the quality, scalability, and cohesion necessary to provide flexible, innovative solutions that maximize customer value. With over three decades of experience, he has been instrumental in establishing Astound as a trusted partner for iconic and innovative brands worldwide.

Scaling a business from a small startup to a global enterprise is no easy feat, especially in the fast-paced world of e-commerce. How do entrepreneurs navigate market shifts, manage growing teams, and make the tough calls that lead to lasting success? And when the time comes, what does it take to prepare for a high-stakes private equity exit?

According to Ilya Vinogradsky, a seasoned entrepreneur who grew a company from a living-room operation to over 1,000 employees, the key lies in continuous learning and adaptability. He emphasizes the importance of embracing risk while building a strong foundation of trust with co-founders and employees. By codifying company values and leading by example, he cultivated a resilient culture that can weather crises and scale sustainably. This intentional approach allowed the company to survive economic downturns, grow internationally, and ultimately attract private equity investment.

In this episode of the Pillar6 Podcast, host Roman Polnar sits down with Ilya Vinogradsky, Co-founder, Chief Technology Officer, and Chief Information Officer of Astound Digital, to discuss how to scale e-commerce services companies from startup to private equity exit. They explore building a values-driven culture, navigating inflection points, and evolving leadership for growth. Ilya also shares lessons from surviving the Great Recession and preparing for an acquisition.

• Roman M. Polnar on LinkedIn
• Pillar6 Advisors
• Ilya Vinogradsky on LinkedIn
• Astound Digital
• Igor Gorin on LinkedIn
• The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change by Stephen R. Covey
• Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth
• Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin

Arash Shokouh is the Founder and Managing Principal of Ophtek LLC, a company specializing in cybersecurity, managed IT security and support for small- and medium-sized businesses. With over 18 years of experience in computer technology, his background includes roles at several startups and a tenure at IBM, where he contributed to developing some of the world's fastest computer processors and holds patents in computer architecture. Beyond his professional endeavors, Arash has served as a small business development commissioner for the City of San Jose and teaches computer engineering at his alma mater, San Jose State University.

Cyberattacks are no longer just a risk for large corporations — they’re an everyday threat to individuals and small businesses alike. With phishing emails, AI-powered scams, and persistent system intrusions growing more sophisticated, what can the average person do to protect our data and avoid becoming the next target?

Cybersecurity expert and IT professional Arash Shokouh outlines the essentials for fortifying digital systems, drawing from over two decades of experience. Arash emphasizes adopting a Zero Trust mindset, which means verifying every request — even those from familiar contacts — and avoiding convenience at the cost of security.

With riveting anecdotes, including his recruitment by the CIA, he demonstrates the increasingly sophisticated nature of cyber adversaries and why individuals should migrate to secure platforms like Gmail and install trusted tools such as Malwarebytes. For businesses, he advocates consolidating services under platforms like Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 and hiring professionals to strengthen account security, monitor systems, and ensure compliance with best practices.

In this episode of the Pillar6 Podcast, Roman Polnar interviews Arash Shokouh, Founder and Managing Principal of Ophtek, on IT security essentials for businesses and individuals. Arash shares insights into persistent cybersecurity threats, the critical shift toward Zero Trust, practical steps to secure communications, and how to vet managed service providers.

• Roman M. Polnar on LinkedIn
• Pillar6 Advisors
• Arash Shokouh: LinkedIn | Email | Phone no.: (650) 731-7154
• Ophtek: Website | Blog | LinkedIn
• Malwarebytes
• Check if Your Email Was Part of a Breach: Have I Been Pwned?
• 1Password
• The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg