Episode description

On this episode of the Traction podcast, host Lloyed Lobo of Boast.AI welcomes Mark Achler, Managing Director of MATH Venture Partners, and Mert Iseri, Entrepreneur in Residence at MATH Venture Partners.

A successful exit is a dream for many founders, but it often seems like a black box or a game of chance. So how do you bake an exit strategy into your business from day one, whether it’s an acquisition/selling your startup, a merger, an IPO, or something else?

In this session, Mark and Mert share how to position your startup for a successful acquisition based on learnings from interviewing more than 70 seasoned entrepreneurs with multiple exits to produce the book Exit Right.

Specifically, Mark and Mert dive into:

2:00 - How the Exit Right book came about

7:45 - Common learnings from across 70 exits

19:01 - The framework for a successful exit

23:51 - How to build relationships and approach potential acquirers early on

34:09 - Determining when it's the right time to sell

39:12 - How to determine valuation

48:50 - Things to look for in a term sheet

58:46 - The ideal timeframe for an acquisition to close

1:04:06 - The right and wrong time to engage a banker

1:10:37 - Tactics when scouting for other buyers and striking up a conversation

1:13:05 - Tips for maintaining your sanity

Learn more at https://tractionconf.io

Get the Exit Right book: https://www.amazon.com/Exit-Right-Startup-Maximize-Return/dp/1544525990

Connect with Mark Achler: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markachler/

Connect with Mert Iseri: https://www.linkedin.com/in/merthiseri

Learn more about MATH Venture Partners at https://www.mathventurepartners.com/

This episode is brought to you by:

Each year the U.S. and Canadian governments provide more than $20 billion in R&D tax credits and innovation incentives to fund businesses. But the application process is cumbersome, prone to costly audits, and receiving the money can take as long as 16 months. Boast automates this process, enabling companies to get more money faster without the paperwork and audit risk. We don’t get paid until you do! Find out if you qualify today at https://Boast.AI.

Launch Academy is one of the top global tech hubs for international entrepreneurs and a designated organization for Canada's Startup Visa. Since 2012, Launch has worked with more than 6,000 entrepreneurs from over 100 countries, of which 300 have grown their startups to seed and Series A stage and raised over $2 billion in funding. To learn more about Launch's programs or the Canadian Startup Visa, visit https://LaunchAcademy.ca 

Content Allies helps B2B companies build revenue-generating podcasts. We recommend them to any B2B company that is looking to launch or streamline its podcast production. Learn more at https://contentallies.com