Hi, we’re Bianca and Spencer. Partners in life and business. Start-up entrepreneurs turned business acquirers. We created Prospera Ventures and built our amazing acquisitions team to buy and grow businesses instead of doing start-up number 5.
Over more than a decade navigating the fast-paced, dynamic startup landscape as either founders or founding team members, we built expert cross-functional teams, learned how to resourcefully overcome any obstacle, and effectively earned MBA’s from the School of Hard Knocks. Through the grind we gained invaluable firsthand experience in the challenges of sustainably scaling while also mindfully designing a successful exit along the way.
When we transitioned to buying businesses, we recognized that many of the small-to-mid-sized business owners we talked to face the same challenges and frustrations on their journey. So we decided to offer our expertise and services to businesses and business owners at every stage of the journey to guide them around the roadblocks we ran headfirst into.
Our mission is to empower business owners at every stage, from initial setup and strategic optimization to ambitious scaling initiatives, succession planning and finally, a successful exit. We understand there are many factors involved in a “successful” exit that allows owners to transition into retirement with peace of mind. Prospera Ventures is dedicated to helping you navigate this entire lifecycle, ensuring a rewarding and successful journey. Whether you're just getting started, looking to accelerate growth, or planning for a smooth succession, we're here to enhance your business value and create profitable outcomes for you, your employees, and your community.
When the time and conditions are right, we’ll buy your business. If we’re not the right buyer, we’ll help find the right buyer.
Here’s to your successful exit!
-BS (Bianca & Spencer)
Our Story
Team
Spencer Oberg
COO/Co-Founder
From life on the wrong side of the tracks as a young degenerate, Spencer defied society as a street ‘entrepreneur’ selling the wrong products and paid a steep price for his ignorant choices and arrogant behavior. After 8 years in the School of Hard Knocks - Spencer grew into a strong, ethical, visionary and inspirational leader who has built world-class teams that achieve incredible results in a positive, high-energy environment. His unique abstract problem solving skills serve him well in breaking down barriers for his teams to run faster and further unimpeded. Spencer’s diverse [legitimate] entrepreneurial and professional journey includes Automotive/Marine/Motorcycle Sales, Service & Repair, CPG/Food & Beverage, Media Production (as the founder of a production company), and education (as a math and water/wastewater systems professor), complementing his studies at the University of Washington in Law, Societies and Justice, Business and Entrepreneurship. He is committed to positive community and societal impact, demonstrated by his work with Unincarcerated Productions to support justice-impacted individuals.
Bianca Penuelas
COO/Co-Founder
Bianca is a driven and passionate leader who excels at building operational excellence within organizations. Her skills in operations, organizational leadership, and team-building enable her to create efficient and successful systems that streamline workflows, improve productivity, and foster collaboration. She has had the privilege to work in a wide variety of positions across multiple industries, which has significantly contributed to the development of her extensive knowledge and expertise (sports/gym environments, daycare management, retail, restaurants, philanthropy, and even tech). As an alumni of Seattle University with a degree in Business Management, Bianca is dedicated to empowering business owners, ensuring smooth transitions that preserve the owner's legacy, and setting the stage for continued growth and prosperity. She enjoys mentoring students and strives to serve her hispanic heritage proud.
David Vario, CPA
David has extensive experience as a serial entrepreneur and small business investor. The first business he built, a landscaping company, he sold while in college. His experience encompasses building, buying and growing business in the payroll bureau, public CPA firm industry, insurance industry, real estate, and M&A consultancy industries, among others. His wide experience informs his analysis and time-planning for the cash flow needed in conjunction with acquisitions transition, growth and operations, CFO tasking and overseeing business management. His mergers and acquisitions consulting for companies from 70K to 50 Million in value has given him the experience to identify and negotiate with an eye on the issues and timing that are important at each stage of an acquisition. His business buying priorities include a high regard for the employees, values, and legacy of the businesses he buys with his partners. He seeks to retain and incentivize existing key and long-term employees while implementing growth strategies and customer centric thinking while removing transactional friction at every stage of internal operations.
Joel McGuire, CM&AP, CM&AA, CAIM, JD
Joel has a background in leadership and management from service as an U.S. Army Ranger officer who served in two combat zones. He has a legal background from attending Northwestern University School of Law and practicing contract, transactional, and M&A law for over 20 years.
Joel is a certified expert in mergers & acquisitions, being a Certified Mergers & Acquisitions Professional (CM&AP), Certified Mergers and Acquisitions Advisor (CM&AA), and one of the first to earn the Certified Acquisition Integration Manager (CAIM) professional certification.
Joel is also a Certified Value Builder and graduate of advanced business growth training, from which he created a proprietary 12-Quarter Post-Closing Growth Plan that enables acquired businesses to achieve maximum innovation, growth, and enterprise value.