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BattlBox: Sold for $19M, Bought Back for $6M
TL;DR: BattlBox Group sold outdoor/survival gear through subscription boxes. Built community by hiring Brandon Currin (VP Content) who had existing YouTube following. Reached 500K email subscribers, Netflix show Southern Survival. Sold to EMERGE for $18.95M in 2021 ($23M revenue, $3.3M EBITDA). Less than 2 years later, bought back for $6M (1/3 price) when EMERGE needed to reduce debt. Key lesson: maintain audited financials from the start.
Key Insights
- Hired content creator with existing YouTube following as VP of Content - built 500K email list
- Netflix show Southern Survival drove significant growth
- Sold for $19M at 5.7x EBITDA, bought back for $6M when acquirer needed cash
- Maintain audited financials from start - due diligence burden was significant
Actionable Takeaways
- Hire content creators with existing audiences rather than building from scratch
- Pitch media companies for shows/features that can drive massive awareness
- Watch for buyback opportunities when acquirers face financial pressure
- Keep audited financials ready from early stage to smooth M&A process
Principles Validated (2)
Read full article on theygotacquired.comAdded Feb 3, 2026