Episódio 6 | DEALS com Gonçalo Almeida – talking with Maria Koch Ferreira
- Harbor Partners
- Jun 12
- 2 min read
Today I have the privilege of welcoming Maria Koch, Partner at VK Partners, known for her meticulous work in financial and tax due diligence in M&A transactions. With a practical mindset, sharp numerical insight, and solid experience in SME deals, Maria is a key player behind the scenes of many of the market’s most significant transactions.
In this episode, we dive into her journey to understand how she entered the world of deals and due diligence, and what drew her to a field that’s as technical as it is strategic. We talk about the main challenges when analyzing an SME, the recurring mistakes in these processes, and what sets a well-structured sale process apart.
We also discuss the latest trends in M&A—whether there's more urgency to close deals, what business owners still tend to overlook from a tax perspective, and the red flags that sometimes lead Maria to advise against moving forward with a deal.
Maria also shares remarkable stories: deals that seemed impossible to close, conversations that left a lasting impact, and moments where she applied lessons learned from a book or training directly to real situations.
In the end, we reflect on what inspires her, what drives her day to day, and the advice she would give to any business owner preparing to sell their SME in the next 12 to 18 months. A technical, straight-to-the-point episode packed with valuable insights for buyers, sellers, or anyone in between.
🎧 In this episode:
00:00 – Introduction and Maria’s background
05:02 – Maria’s story and strengths
10:00 – Main challenges in SME transactions
17:00 – Key points in a sale process
26:00 – Memorable deal stories
35:00 – Rapid-fire questions
📌 Useful links mentioned in the episode:
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Gonçalo Almeida
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Harbor Partners
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🔗 Website: www.harborpartners.pt
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🎥 This episode was recorded at ID Studios.
⚠️ All rights reserved to Harbor Partners.
Guests participated with full knowledge and explicit consent for the recording and distribution of this interview. Unauthorized reproduction, editing, or use of this content is strictly prohibited.
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