The Exit - Presented By Flippa

The Exit - Presented By Flippa: A 30-minute podcast featuring expert entrepreneurs who have been there and done it. The Exit talks to operators who have bought and sold a business. You’ll learn how they did it, why they did it, and get exposure to the world of exits, a world occupied by a small few, but accessible to many. To listen to the podcast or get daily listing updates, click on https://flippa.com/the-exit-podcast/

Exit Ready at Any Scale: Adam Kirsch's Advisory Wisdom

Want a quick estimate of how much your business is worth? With our free valuation calculator, answer a few questions about your business and you’ll get an immediate estimate of the value of your business. You might be surprised by how much you can get for it: https://flippa.com/exit -- In this episode of The Exit: Adam Kirsch, Director at West Monroe, shares insights from his journey as both an entrepreneur and M&A advisor. Starting with early ventures in high school and college, Adam has experienced exits from both sides of the table and now coaches companies through their exit processes. Adam emphasizes the importance of being "exit ready" from day one, highlighting key preparation steps like maintaining an organized data room, developing clear roadmaps, and building relationships within your ecosystem. He stresses that many of the same questions arise whether selling a company for thousands or billions. Adam warns against common mistakes like valuation disconnects and poor communication, noting that personality conflicts can derail otherwise solid deals. For more details and insights from his entrepreneurial journey, listen to the latest episode of The Exit. -- Adam Kirsch is an entrepreneur with 12+ years of professional experience spanning tech/digital strategy, venture capital, product strategy, marketing/business development, operations, private equity advisory/M&A, and management consulting. Adam is currently applying his skills at West Monroe to help private equity firms and strategic buyers intelligently invest in, operate, and exit businesses. Adam’s background is in entrepreneurship and venture capital, a skill set he leveraged to launch WM's Sell-Side Advisory (Quality of Technology™) group while guiding management teams through late-stage capital raises and exit processes. LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/adamjkirsch Check Out Flippa’s Data Insights Tool: https://flippa.com/data-insights -- The Exit—Presented By Flippa: A 30-minute podcast featuring expert entrepreneurs who have been there and done it. The Exit talks to operators who have bought and sold a business. You’ll learn how they did it, why they did it, and get exposure to the world of exits, a world occupied by a small few, but accessible to many. To listen to the podcast or get daily listing updates, click on flippa.com/the-exit-podcast/

12-16
30:40

The Three Ps of Exit: Rose Hamilton's CPG & Exit Wisdom

Want a quick estimate of how much your business is worth? With our free valuation calculator, answer a few questions about your business and you’ll get an immediate estimate of the value of your business. You might be surprised by how much you can get for it: https://flippa.com/exit -- In this episode of The Exit: Rose Hamilton, CEO and founder of Compass Rose Ventures, shares insights from her extensive experience helping CPG brands scale and prepare for exits. With a background at companies like Best Buy, The Vitamin Shop, and Pet360, Rose now specializes in working with founders and investors in the health, wellness, pet, beauty, and food industries. Rose emphasizes the importance of staying connected to customers while scaling, noting that founders often lose touch with their core market as they grow. She advises founders to begin with the end in mind when preparing for an exit, implementing proper systems and processes early, and building strong communities around brands. Rose highlights the value of the crucial "three Ps" that founders should have in place within their business - people, process, and systems - and warns against common pitfalls like trying to do everything alone or hiring too quickly. For more details and insights from her entrepreneurial journey, listen to the latest episode of The Exit. -- Rose Hamilton has 20+ years of experience working with and advising 50+ consumer companies of all sizes, including Petsmart, The Vitamin Shoppe, Nutrafol, and Mend. Rose has helped raise over $70M in funding and generated over $600M in additional revenue by applying her proven omnichannel and community-led methodology. She specializes in providing consumer executives with direct, thoughtful, and strategic outside perspective. Website: https://compassroseventures.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosehamilton/ Check Out Flippa’s Data Insights Tool: https://flippa.com/data-insights -- The Exit—Presented By Flippa: A 30-minute podcast featuring expert entrepreneurs who have been there and done it. The Exit talks to operators who have bought and sold a business. You’ll learn how they did it, why they did it, and get exposure to the world of exits, a world occupied by a small few, but accessible to many. To listen to the podcast or get daily listing updates, click on flippa.com/the-exit-podcast/

12-09
31:51

Seven Exits and Counting: Justin Goodbread Blitzscaling to Exits

Want a quick estimate of how much your business is worth? With our free valuation calculator, answer a few questions about your business and you’ll get an immediate estimate of the value of your business. You might be surprised by how much you can get for it: https://flippa.com/exit -- In this episode of The Exit: Justin Goodbread, CEO of Financially Simple, reflects on his journey through seven successful business exits, with his most recent venture scaling to an eight-figure exit in just 49 months. Justin discusses the alarming statistics around business exits, noting that of 11 million businesses expected to attempt selling in the next few years, only one million will successfully transact, and just 4% of those will be pleased with the outcome and exit amount. He emphasizes the importance of understanding business value and identifying value gaps across eight key areas: planning, leadership, sales, marketing, people, operations, finance, and legal. His approach focuses on preparing businesses for maximum value through strategic timing and defendable metrics. Justin also shares how he successfully negotiated valuations by demonstrating historical performance and accurate forecasting. Currently, Justin helps other business owners through speaking engagements, writing, and his Value Growth Academy. For more insights on building and selling businesses, listen to the full episode of The Exit. -- Justin Goodbread is a renowned entrepreneur, author, and business coach with over 30 years of experience in scaling and exiting successful businesses. Beginning his entrepreneurial journey at just 15, Justin learned early the transformative power of business ownership and financial independence. His impressive track record includes selling his last business for over $10 million within just 49 months, marking him as a top-tier expert in the business community. Justin's expertise is particularly valuable for seasoned business owners, especially those in service industries with annual revenues exceeding $500,000. He excels in helping these entrepreneurs break through growth barriers and prepare for lucrative exits. His strategic guidance focuses on enhancing business value and making companies appealing to potential buyers. Website: https://www.justingoodbread.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justingoodbread/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@justingoodbread Check Out Flippa’s Data Insights Tool: https://flippa.com/data-insights -- The Exit—Presented By Flippa: A 30-minute podcast featuring expert entrepreneurs who have been there and done it. The Exit talks to operators who have bought and sold a business. You’ll learn how they did it, why they did it, and get exposure to the world of exits, a world occupied by a small few, but accessible to many. To listen to the podcast or get daily listing updates, click on flippa.com/the-exit-podcast/

12-02
34:59

The Great Wealth Transfer: Scott Bushkie's M&A Insights

-- Want a quick estimate of how much your business is worth? With our free valuation calculator, answer a few questions about your business and you’ll get an immediate estimate of the value of your business. You might be surprised by how much you can get for it: https://flippa.com/exit -- In this episode of The Exit: Scott Bushkie, Managing Partner and founder of Cornerstone Business Services, shares insights from his 26-year career helping business owners navigate successful exits. Scott discusses the upcoming massive wealth transfer as Baby Boomers retire, with 50% expected to transfer their businesses by 2030. He emphasizes the importance of early exit planning, comparing entrepreneurship to a marathon where initial excitement fades into a plateau. Scott stresses the importance of working with specialized M&A professionals, sharing examples where proper advisory helped achieve 15-20% higher valuations. Currently, Scott helps educate business owners through his book "Finish Strong" and various outreach programs at Cornerstone. For more details and insights from his entrepreneurial journey, listen to the latest episode of The Exit. -- Scott Bushkie is the Managing Partner and Founder of Cornerstone Business Services. With more than 25 years of experience in the M&A industry, Scott is a recognized thought-leader, bringing investment bank level services to buy-side and sell-side transactions in the lower middle market. He has successfully executed hundreds of transactions domestically and internationally, working with private equity firms, family offices, and strategic buyers. Websites - https://www.cornerstone-business.com/ - https://scottbushkie.com/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottbushkie/ Check Out Flippa’s Data Insights Tool: https://flippa.com/data-insights -- The Exit—Presented By Flippa: A 30-minute podcast featuring expert entrepreneurs who have been there and done it. The Exit talks to operators who have bought and sold a business. You’ll learn how they did it, why they did it, and get exposure to the world of exits, a world occupied by a small few, but accessible to many. To listen to the podcast or get daily listing updates, click on flippa.com/the-exit-podcast/

11-25
32:08

The Art of Exit Preparation: Kirk Michie's Advisory Insights

Want a quick estimate of how much your business is worth? With our free valuation calculator, answer a few questions about your business and you’ll get an immediate estimate of the value of your business. You might be surprised by how much you can get for it: https://flippa.com/exit -- In this episode of The Exit: Kirk Michie, Managing Partner at Candor Advisors, shares insights from his 30-year career in capital markets and M&A advisory. He discusses his transition from financial advising to helping founders navigate successful exits. Kirk emphasizes the importance of understanding your "why" as a founder before pursuing an exit, noting that matching with the right buyer depends on understanding one’s core motivations and objectives with your exit. Regarding valuations and buyers an owner will face, Kirk speaks through how the multiples and types of buyers will change according to characteristics of your business and variables including EBITDA size, revenue sources, and risk factors. Kirk heavily stresses the need for proper preparation and protection, which includes professionalizing financials before sharing with potential buyers, avoiding sharing raw QuickBooks data, and being cautious about revealing too much information too soon. For more details and insights from his entrepreneurial journey, listen to the latest episode of The Exit. -- Kirk Michie is the Managing Partner of Candor Advisors, consultants to founder-led businesses contemplating capital events and value enhancement. For more than 30 years, Mr. Michie has worked with entrepreneurs, closely held business owners, and high net worth families to achieve their strategic planning, liquidity, and legacy objectives. Mr. Michie has raised and deployed more than $1 billion of capital, been involved with evaluating more than 2,000 direct investments, and participated as principal or advisor on dozens of buyout, refinancing, or sale transactions. Websites - https://candor-advisors.com/ - https://www.ebitdauniversity.com/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirkmichie/ Check Out Flippa’s Data Insights Tool: https://flippa.com/data-insights -- The Exit—Presented By Flippa: A 30-minute podcast featuring expert entrepreneurs who have been there and done it. The Exit talks to operators who have bought and sold a business. You’ll learn how they did it, why they did it, and get exposure to the world of exits, a world occupied by a small few, but accessible to many. To listen to the podcast or get daily listing updates, click on flippa.com/the-exit-podcast/

11-18
34:48

Mastering Restaurant Exits: Robin Gagnon's We Sell Restaurants Story

Want a quick estimate of how much your business is worth? With our free valuation calculator, answer a few questions about your business and you’ll get an immediate estimate of the value of your business. You might be surprised by how much you can get for it: https://flippa.com/exit -- In this episode of The Exit: Robin Gagnon, co-founder and CEO of We Sell Restaurants, takes us through her 21-year journey helping restaurant owners navigate exits. Her company has grown to become the largest restaurant brokerage firm in the nation, operating in 45 states with over 1,000 listings valued at approximately $450 million. Robin emphasizes the importance of proper financial documentation and presentation when preparing for a sale, explains how franchise restaurants typically trade at higher multiples than independent restaurants, and discusses the benefits of selling individual locations versus grouping them together. She advises owners to start the exit process early, obtaining independent third-party valuations, and maintaining good relationships with franchisors during transitions. For more details and insights from her entrepreneurial journey, listen to the latest episode of The Exit. -- Robin Gagnon is the Co-Founder and CEO of We Sell Restaurants, a brand that has carved an unparalleled niche in the industry as the nation's leading and only business broker franchise focused on restaurants. Under Robin’s leadership, We Sell Restaurants has grown to 45 states where it dominates the restaurant for sale marketplace and franchise resales, delivering on the founder’s vision to sell more restaurants than anyone else. Robin is a member of the IFA (International Franchise Association) Board of Directors Vice Chair of the Franchisor Forum and Past Chair of the Women’s Franchise Committee. Website - https://www.wesellrestaurants.com/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/robingagnonrestaurantbroker Check Out Flippa’s Data Insights Tool: https://flippa.com/data-insights -- The Exit—Presented By Flippa: A 30-minute podcast featuring expert entrepreneurs who have been there and done it. The Exit talks to operators who have bought and sold a business. You’ll learn how they did it, why they did it, and get exposure to the world of exits, a world occupied by a small few, but accessible to many. To listen to the podcast or get daily listing updates, click on flippa.com/the-exit-podcast/

11-11
30:23

Patents and Profitable Exits: Todd Sullivan's M&A Wisdom

Want a quick estimate of how much your business is worth? With our free valuation calculator, answer a few questions about your business and you’ll get an immediate estimate of the value of your business. You might be surprised by how much you can get for it: https://flippa.com/exit -- In this episode of The Exit: Todd Sullivan, CEO of ExitWise, shares insights from his journey through multiple successful exits, starting with a hockey equipment patent that he licensed and sold 22 months after creating it. After this, Todd progressed through several ventures, including companies acquired by CBS and Microsoft. Todd emphasizes the importance of balancing venture capital expectations with personal goals, advising entrepreneurs to prioritize their own financial security over investors' demands for outsized returns. Through ExitWise, Todd now helps other founders navigate M&A processes. His advice to entrepreneurs is to view exits as part of a longer journey rather than a single defining event, encouraging founders to take wins when available and build upon their successes. For more details and insights from his entrepreneurial journey, listen to the latest episode of The Exit. -- Todd Sullivan is a highly successful tech entrepreneur who has built and sold 4 companies. His companies have been acquired by strategics including Microsoft, CBS and Amer Sports and a private equity backed platform. Today, Mr. Sullivan is the CEO of Exitwise.com where his company helps founders and business owners who are thinking about selling their businesses, hire and manage the world’s best M&A experts to maximize the sale of each business. LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddfsullivan/ Exit Wise Website & Podcast - https://exitwise.com/ - https://www.youtube.com/@exitwise Check Out Flippa’s Data Insights Tool: https://flippa.com/data-insights -- The Exit—Presented By Flippa: A 30-minute podcast featuring expert entrepreneurs who have been there and done it. The Exit talks to operators who have bought and sold a business. You’ll learn how they did it, why they did it, and get exposure to the world of exits, a world occupied by a small few, but accessible to many. To listen to the podcast or get daily listing updates, click on flippa.com/the-exit-podcast/

11-04
30:36

Founder-Friendly Exits: Tim Schumacher's SaaS Acquisition Philosophy

Want a quick estimate of how much your business is worth? With our free valuation calculator, answer a few questions about your business and you’ll get an immediate estimate of the value of your business. You might be surprised by how much you can get for it: https://flippa.com/exit -- In this episode of The Exit: Tim Schumacher, co-founder of SaaS Group, shares insights from his experience acquiring and growing software businesses. He discusses his journey from founding Sedo.com to co-founding SaaS Group, emphasizing his belief in subscription-based business models and stable revenue streams. Tim and SaaS Group's philosophy prioritizes a founder-friendly approach to acquisitions, focusing on cultural fit, team preservation, and transparent deal processes. Tim believes that the timing of an exit should be based on personal readiness rather than market conditions, and deal structures should align with the founders' goals and circumstances. For more details and insights from his entrepreneurial journey, listen to the latest episode of The Exit. -- While Tim Co-Founded Saas.group in 2018, he also is General Partner at World Fund and is a recognized entrepreneur and climate investor. Alongside founding World Fund, Tim has previously co-founded the world’s largest domain marketplace Sedo.com in 2001 before founding Eyeo - the makers of Adblock Plus. He has also invested in companies such as Ecosia, gridX, Zolar, Pachama and CarbonCloud and was awarded ‘Best Male Investor’ at the German Startups Association Awards in 2020. LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/timschumacher/ Saas.Group - https://saas.group/ Check Out Flippa’s Data Insights Tool: https://flippa.com/data-insights -- The Exit—Presented By Flippa: A 30-minute podcast featuring expert entrepreneurs who have been there and done it. The Exit talks to operators who have bought and sold a business. You’ll learn how they did it, why they did it, and get exposure to the world of exits, a world occupied by a small few, but accessible to many. To listen to the podcast or get daily listing updates, click on flippa.com/the-exit-podcast/

10-28
28:37

Navigating M&A: Andrew Dickow's Insider Perspective

Want a quick estimate of how much your business is worth? With our free valuation calculator, answer a few questions about your business and you’ll get an immediate estimate of the value of your business. You might be surprised by how much you can get for it: https://flippa.com/exit -- In this episode of The Exit: Andrew Dickow, Managing Director at Greenwich Capital Group, shares insights from both the buy and sell sides of mergers and acquisitions. Andrew discusses valuation methodologies, focusing on the importance of clean financials and understanding market multiples. Specifically in the food and beverage industry, he introduces his "40/20 rule" as performance benchmarks to receive an attractive valuation: 40% gross margins and 20% EBITDA margins. He explains leveraged buyouts, highlighting their benefits to both parties involved in the deal while cautioning about the risks of over-leveraging. He also advises entrepreneurs to be wary of unsolicited offers from private equity firms and emphasizes the importance of hiring proper advisors to run a competitive process. Regarding timing, Andrew notes a recent boom in M&A activity due to anticipated lower interest rates and potential tax implications. For more details and insights, listen to the latest episode of The Exit. -- Andrew Dickow is a Managing Director at Greenwich Capital Group and Townsend Street Capital with over 18 years of experience in both mergers and acquisitions and business operations. Andrew leads the Food and Beverage/Consumer practice for GCG and TSC and has significant experience working with consumer-packaged goods, distribution, contract manufacturing, and ingredient companies. Andrew focuses on both the sell-side and buy-side and has advised numerous clients through recapitalizations, leveraged buyouts, business valuations, and financial analyses. Website: https://greenwichgp.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewdickow/ Check Out Flippa’s Data Insights Tool: https://flippa.com/data-insights -- The Exit—Presented By Flippa: A 30-minute podcast featuring expert entrepreneurs who have been there and done it. The Exit talks to operators who have bought and sold a business. You’ll learn how they did it, why they did it, and get exposure to the world of exits, a world occupied by a small few, but accessible to many. To listen to the podcast or get daily listing updates, click on flippa.com/the-exit-podcast/

10-21
27:44

From Bootstrapped to 4000 Employees: Connor Tomkies' Support Ninja Saga

Want a quick estimate of how much your business is worth? With our free valuation calculator, answer a few questions about your business and you’ll get an immediate estimate of the value of your business. You might be surprised by how much you can get for it: https://flippa.com/exit -- In this episode of The Exit: Connor Tomkies shares insights from his entrepreneurial journey, including the successful exit of Support Ninja, a company he bootstrapped and scaled to over $50 million in revenue and 4,000 employees. Connor discusses the challenges of growing a people-focused business vs. a software-focused business. In preparation for exits, Connor suggests entrepreneurs create a confidential information memorandum (SIM) before engaging bankers or brokers to find the best acquisition partner for their business. Connor also emphasizes the value of mentorship and peer support during and after the exit process. In light of this, Connor currently runs the Entrepreneur Cooperative, a community focused on supporting founders through the exit process and beyond. For more details and insights from his entrepreneurial journey, listen to the latest episode of The Exit. -- Connor Tomkies is all about helping entrepreneurs scale their businesses and enjoy life after a successful exit. Whether it's through Operator Equity, the Entrepreneur Cooperative, or hosting the Made It Podcast, he's there to support founders with growth and smooth exits. Now Connor invests through Operator Equity, where he invests in founder-led businesses and helps entrepreneurs navigate through successful exits with minimal hassle. Website: www.entrepreneurcooperative.com Connor’s Podcast: www.madeitpod.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/connortomkies/ Check Out Flippa’s Data Insights Tool: https://flippa.com/data-insights -- The Exit—Presented By Flippa: A 30-minute podcast featuring expert entrepreneurs who have been there and done it. The Exit talks to operators who have bought and sold a business. You’ll learn how they did it, why they did it, and get exposure to the world of exits, a world occupied by a small few, but accessible to many. To listen to the podcast or get daily listing updates, click on flippa.com/the-exit-podcast/

10-14
29:04

Disrupting Aviation Education: Jason Schappert's M0A Success Story

Want a quick estimate of how much your business is worth? With our free valuation calculator, answer a few questions about your business and you’ll get an immediate estimate of the value of your business. You might be surprised by how much you can get for it: https://flippa.com/exit -- In this episode of The Exit: Jason Schappert, founder of M0A, shares his journey from flight instructor to successful entrepreneur, specifically discussing how he bootstrapped M0A, an online aviation education platform, from zero to an eight-figure exit over 16 years. Jason highlights the challenges of disrupting traditional aviation education by moving ground school online, facing skepticism but ultimately proving successful. The exit process, initiated by a customer inquiry, took 10 months to complete. While that sounds like smooth sailing, Jason mentions how valuable the two previously failed acquisition attempts were in preparing the company for its eventual successful exit and the importance of subscription-based revenue and proprietary technology in achieving a favorable valuation. For more details and insights from his entrepreneurial journey, listen to the latest episode of The Exit. -- Jason Schappert is a serial entrepreneur and financial technology visionary dedicated to empowering individuals to achieve financial freedom. He is the co-founder of Moola, an AI-driven investment platform that simplifies complex financial concepts and provides personalized insights and recommendations to help users make informed investment decisions. Prior to Moola, Jason successfully built and exited a previous business, demonstrating his entrepreneurial prowess and ability to build successful ventures from the ground up. He is a passionate advocate for financial literacy and believes that everyone deserves access to the tools and knowledge necessary to achieve financial security. Jason is a strong leader, committed to continuous learning and personal development, and a devoted husband and father. His mission is to empower the next generation to take control of their financial futures and create a world where everyone has the opportunity to achieve financial freedom and live a life free from financial stress. Websites: https://moo.la/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moola_copilot/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonschappert/ Check Out Flippa’s Data Insights Tool: https://flippa.com/data-insights -- The Exit—Presented By Flippa: A 30-minute podcast featuring expert entrepreneurs who have been there and done it. The Exit talks to operators who have bought and sold a business. You’ll learn how they did it, why they did it, and get exposure to the world of exits, a world occupied by a small few, but accessible to many. To listen to the podcast or get daily listing updates, click on flippa.com/the-exit-podcast/

10-07
30:50

Preparing for the Multimillion-Dollar Exit: Wayne Zell’s 44 Years of Wisdom

Want a quick estimate of how much your business is worth? With our free valuation calculator, answer a few questions about your business and you’ll get an immediate estimate of the value of your business. You might be surprised by how much you can get for it: https://flippa.com/exit -- In this episode of The Exit: Wayne Zell, a renowned exit attorney, founder of Aspire to Exit, and CEO of Zell Law, shares insights from his 44-year career in estate planning, exit planning, and business law, which he has also written about in his book, “Your Multimillion-Dollar Exit”. Wayne emphasizes the importance of proper preparation for business exits, discussing key aspects such as valuation, personal financial planning, and management succession. Some common examples of proper documentation include accrual-based financial statements and proper employee documentation to facilitate smooth transactions. The conversation also touches on more complex considerations, such as the differences between strategic and private equity buyers and the complexities of stock purchases versus asset purchases. For more details and insights from his entrepreneurial journey, listen to the latest episode of The Exit. -- Wayne M. Zell, Esq. is an active speaker, award winning author, the CEO and Managing Member of Zell Law, and Founder of Aspire to Exit. He has been advising clients for over 30 years on business succession, business exits and estate planning. Wayne, a CExP (Certified Exit Planner) is an expert in complex estate planning, business planning, taxation and business exit strategies. Websites: https://www.zelllaw.com/ - https://www.blueprintforwealth.org/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wayne-zell-5aa1147/ Check Out Flippa’s Data Insights Tool: https://flippa.com/data-insights -- The Exit—Presented By Flippa: A 30-minute podcast featuring expert entrepreneurs who have been there and done it. The Exit talks to operators who have bought and sold a business. You’ll learn how they did it, why they did it, and get exposure to the world of exits, a world occupied by a small few, but accessible to many. To listen to the podcast or get daily listing updates, click on flippa.com/the-exit-podcast/

09-30
31:38

Forecasting Growth and Engineering Success with Simon Alex Bérubé

Want a quick estimate of how much your business is worth? With our free valuation calculator, answer a few questions about your business and you’ll get an immediate estimate of the value of your business. You might be surprised by how much you can get for it: https://flippa.com/exit -- In this episode of The Exit: Simon Alex Bérubé, a startup coach and investor, shares the story of his transition from software engineering to founding a sleep improvement mobile app company that grew to 40 employees before being acquired by Teladoc after an eight-month exit process. Simon emphasizes the importance of accurate and long-term forecasting, clean financials, organized documentation, and overall maintaining “a clean house” in preparing for an exit. Regarding when to exit a business, Simon suggests that the best time to sell is during rapid growth with predictable forecasts. Some lessons learned regarding growing a business include focusing on marketing alongside product development and trusting one's intuition. Currently, Simon is engaged in startup coaching, focusing on product, marketing, and data strategies, while exploring new ventures that align with his goal of positively impacting people's lives. For more details and insights from his entrepreneurial journey, listen to the latest episode of The Exit. -- Simon Alex Bérubé’s path began with founding Ipnos and creating Relax Melodies (later rebranded as BetterSleep), which he led as the CEO to a successful acquisition by Teladoc Health in 2021. He describes his post-acquisition experience at Teladoc, under BetterHelp's sponsorship, as an invaluable part of his journey. Starting from coding the first version of his app, Alex traversed the challenging landscape of entrepreneurship, evolving from a programmer to a successful startup leader. Alex is dedicated to helping founders and businesses achieve their goals. Website: https://www.simonalexberube.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saberube/ Check Out Flippa’s Data Insights Tool: https://flippa.com/data-insights -- The Exit—Presented By Flippa: A 30-minute podcast featuring expert entrepreneurs who have been there and done it. The Exit talks to operators who have bought and sold a business. You’ll learn how they did it, why they did it, and get exposure to the world of exits, a world occupied by a small few, but accessible to many. To listen to the podcast or get daily listing updates, click on flippa.com/the-exit-podcast/

09-23
31:13

Vincent Alessi's Advanced Materials Exit and Journey to OpenAI

Want a quick estimate of how much your business is worth? With our free valuation calculator, answer a few questions about your business and you’ll get an immediate estimate of the value of your business. You might be surprised by how much you can get for it: https://flippa.com/exit -- In this episode of The Exit: Vincent Alessi, a multiple-exit founder and current subject matter expert at OpenAI shares his journey from humble beginnings in Michigan to becoming a successful entrepreneur and AI expert in the fields of biology and chemistry. He discusses his first venture, Covaron Advanced Materials, which developed innovative materials with a strong sustainability profile. The intellectual property alone was worth $32M and the company was acquired by an industrial consortium after a nine-month process. In preparation for the exit, Vincent was intentional about creating a plan for how the business would continue to be successful without him as the founder. The exit allowed Vincent to transition into new areas, eventually leading him to his current work in AI, specifically in biosecurity and chemoinformatics at OpenAI. Vincent provides a cautious but optimistic view of AI's future, predicting significant advancements in scientific applications within 5-7 years. For more details and insights from his entrepreneurial journey, listen to the latest episode of The Exit. -- Vincent Alessi is a multi-time exited Founder who creates and sells innovative technology products by inventing solutions to valuable problems while running the GTM and commercialization to get them into customers hands. With 12+ granted patents, 2 company exits, multiple successful products, and >$1.9B of enterprise value created, Vincent is happy to offer his help to others through consulting and advisory services. Sign-Up Link for Bits In Bio - https://www.bitsinbio.org/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/vincentaalessi/ Check Out Flippa’s Data Insights Tool: https://flippa.com/data-insights -- The Exit—Presented By Flippa: A 30-minute podcast featuring expert entrepreneurs who have been there and done it. The Exit talks to operators who have bought and sold a business. You’ll learn how they did it, why they did it, and get exposure to the world of exits, a world occupied by a small few, but accessible to many. To listen to the podcast or get daily listing updates, click on flippa.com/the-exit-podcast/

09-16
41:55

Navigating the Acquisition Maze: Paul Shustak's Exit Insights

Want a quick estimate of how much your business is worth? With our free valuation calculator, answer a few questions about your business and you’ll get an immediate estimate of the value of your business. You might be surprised by how much you can get for it: https://flippa.com/exit -- In this episode of The Exit: Paul Shustak, currently co-founder of AsqMe, shares insights from his transition from Microsoft, Sony, and Adobe to founding four of his own startups, one of which was a SaaS platform that helped families provide care for parents with Alzheimer’s. Paul details the acquisition process, including initial negotiations, valuation considerations, and stress points that can arise at each phase of the acquisition process that can cause a deal to fall apart if not properly addressed. Paul highlights the importance of having an exit strategy from the outset and proposes a three-phase framework for exits: dating (identifying potential partners or acquirers), engagement (formal discussions leading to an LOI), and marriage (closing the deal). Paul's advice to his past self includes focusing on distribution, having a clear exit plan, and viewing the exit process as a standard part of startups. For more details and insights from his entrepreneurial journey, listen to the latest episode of The Exit. -- Paul is an entrepreneur with over 25 years’ experience in startups, product development and marketing. He is co-founder of AsqMe, a technology platform that enables content creators to aggregate and monetize audience questions. He is also founder at UnLock, a boutique consultancy that helps clients achieve product-market fit. Paul’s prior exits include Karen.care, a SaaS platform that helps families care for aging parents, and KOR Water, a consumer products brand that Outside Magazine called the “Apple of sustainable hydration.” Previously, Paul held senior product and marketing roles at Adobe, Sony and Microsoft. He holds a BA from Purchase College, an MBA from Indiana University's Kelley School of Business, and a Masters in Human-Computer Interface from New York University. Twitter: https://twitter.com/paulshustak Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulshustak/ Check Out Flippa’s Data Insights Tool: https://flippa.com/data-insights -- The Exit—Presented By Flippa: A 30-minute podcast featuring expert entrepreneurs who have been there and done it. The Exit talks to operators who have bought and sold a business. You’ll learn how they did it, why they did it, and get exposure to the world of exits, a world occupied by a small few, but accessible to many. To listen to the podcast or get daily listing updates, click on flippa.com/the-exit-podcast/

09-09
35:40

Disney Music Group to AMP Agency and Matt Fitz-Henry’s Tale of Two Exits

Want a quick estimate of how much your business is worth? With our free valuation calculator, answer a few questions about your business and you’ll get an immediate estimate of the value of your business. You might be surprised by how much you can get for it: https://flippa.com/exit -- In this episode of The Exit: Matt Fitz-Henry, Chief Innovation Officer at AMP Agency, discusses his journey from music to tech entrepreneurship, starting with his experience at Universal Music Group and Disney Music Group, and then moving on to multiple successful exits. Matt details his first venture, a digital agency that grew to 45+ employees in three years before being acquired in a swift 90-day process. He emphasizes the importance of formalizing business partnerships and contractual agreements during acquisitions. His second venture, Genome, a digital innovation, transformation, and product development company, also scaled to about 50 employees and was acquired by AMP Agency in 2022. Matt offers valuable insights on exit timing, stressing the importance of personal readiness, team continuity, and long-term business outlook. His advice to his past self includes focusing on what's important, not letting perfection hinder progress, and prioritizing long-term goals over urgent tasks. Currently, Matt continues to innovate at AMP Agency while running his consulting company, MCF Consulting. For more details and insights from his entrepreneurial journey, listen to the latest episode of The Exit. -- For over 20 years, Matt has been at the forefront of technology, digital media, entertainment, and brand. He is the Chief Innovation Officer at AMP Agency, a subsidiary of Advantage Sales and Marketing (NASDAQ: ADV), where he oversees AMP’s long-term technical vision, data and automation strategy, internal IP development, and plays an integral role in technology M&A and strategic product development. Starting his career with executive roles at Universal and Disney, Matt transitioned into entrepreneurship, successfully exiting multiple ventures. Throughout his career, beyond the companies he founded, Matt has had the opportunity to collaborate with a diverse array of companies, from early-stage ventures to Fortune 100 leaders such as Google, Pepsi, and Meta. Website: https://www.ampagency.com/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattfitzhenry/ Check Out Flippa’s Data Insights Tool: https://flippa.com/data-insights -- The Exit—Presented By Flippa: A 30-minute podcast featuring expert entrepreneurs who have been there and done it. The Exit talks to operators who have bought and sold a business. You’ll learn how they did it, why they did it, and get exposure to the world of exits, a world occupied by a small few, but accessible to many. To listen to the podcast or get daily listing updates, click on flippa.com/the-exit-podcast/

09-02
36:21

Blazing New Trails: April Pride's Cannabis Industry Success Story

Want a quick estimate of how much your business is worth? With our free valuation calculator, answer a few questions about your business and you’ll get an immediate estimate of the value of your business. You might be surprised by how much you can get for it: https://flippa.com/exit -- In this episode of The Exit: April Pride, a creative entrepreneur with multiple successful exits in the cannabis industry, shares her journey from interior design and branding to founding a cannabis accessories company, which she sold within three years for a 28X return. She discusses the challenges of raising capital as a woman in the cannabis industry and her decision to exit early despite criticism. April highlights the importance of timing in exits, emphasizing the need to sell before burnout and to trust one's intuition while considering market forecasts. She explains how her company's valuation was based on their email list's value in the Canadian market, where opt-in regulations made consumer data crucial. April is now working on SetSet, a platform providing education and integration tools for psychedelic experiences, aiming to make these resources more accessible and affordable. For more details and insights from her entrepreneurial journey, listen to the latest episode of The Exit. -- April Pride is a Seattle-based serial creative entrepreneur whose work has been featured in Forbes, Vice, and The Guardian. She’s developed brands and products for 20 years. In 2015, April turned her visionary focus to cannabis with the launch of Van der Pop, a cannabis lifestyle brand acquired by the world’s largest cannabis company three years after launch. As the CEO/Founder of SetSet, April created the world’s first clinician-approved consumer platform for safe, accessible psychedelic integration. Website: https://getsetset.com/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/aprilpride/ Check Out Flippa’s Data Insights Tool: https://flippa.com/data-insights -- The Exit—Presented By Flippa: A 30-minute podcast featuring expert entrepreneurs who have been there and done it. The Exit talks to operators who have bought and sold a business. You’ll learn how they did it, why they did it, and get exposure to the world of exits, a world occupied by a small few, but accessible to many. To listen to the podcast or get daily listing updates, click on flippa.com/the-exit-podcast/

08-26
34:25

Building Brick by Brick: Nate Winkler's 4x Founder Story

Want a quick estimate of how much your business is worth? With our free valuation calculator, answer a few questions about your business and you’ll get an immediate estimate of the value of your business. You might be surprised by how much you can get for it: https://flippa.com/exit -- This week on The Exit: Nate Winkler, 4x founder, shares insights from his entrepreneurial journey, starting with his early exposure to business through his landscaping business in 6th grade and his parent's real estate company. He discusses his first major venture, Juggernaut Training Systems, and the importance of finding the right business partner, highlighting how this relationship shaped his entrepreneurial path. He details the growth of his SaaS business, Elevar, from its challenging start to its successful exit, and how mentorship and education enabled him and his team to stay ahead, rather than constantly trying to catch up. Nate's advice to his younger self includes focusing on skill development alongside hard work, and building businesses incrementally rather than searching for "silver bullets." For more details and insights from his entrepreneurial journey, listen to the latest episode of The Exit. -- Nate Winkler is a four-time founder who has one exit in his career under his belt. Nate has been a part of 400+ client projects, has been an entrepreneur for 14 years with 3 bootstrapped SaaS products, and multiple national marketing industry awards. Nate is currently the founder of Nate Winkler Ventures where they focus on real estate investments & hospitality operations. Website: https://www.winklerorg.com/ Nate’s Podcast: https://bxbpod.com/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nate-winkler-bb36034a/ Check Out Flippa’s Data Insights Tool: https://flippa.com/data-insights -- The Exit—Presented By Flippa: A 30-minute podcast featuring expert entrepreneurs who have been there and done it. The Exit talks to operators who have bought and sold a business. You’ll learn how they did it, why they did it, and get exposure to the world of exits, a world occupied by a small few, but accessible to many. To listen to the podcast or get daily listing updates, click on flippa.com/the-exit-podcast/

08-19
33:57

Cyber Intelligence and Serial Exits: Roy Zur's Entrepreneurial Journey

Want a quick estimate of how much your business is worth? With our free valuation calculator, answer a few questions about your business and you’ll get an immediate estimate of the value of your business. You might be surprised by how much you can get for it: https://flippa.com/exit -- This week on The Exit: Roy Zur, former founder and current CEO of ThriveDX’s Enterprise Division, shares insights from his journey as a serial entrepreneur with multiple successful exits in the cybersecurity space. Roy discusses his background in Israel's Cyber Intelligence Unit and briefly working in law at the Israeli Supreme Court, and how these experiences influenced his entrepreneurial path. Despite his first venture being acquired after two years, it felt more like luck to him as it was a business built by focusing more on a solution than a customer problem. With his second business, Cybint, Roy’s growth and exit was more intentional, and he decided to sell at a time when market conditions for acquisitions were particularly favorable. Throughout it all, Roy stresses the importance of approaching problems with humility and continuous learning. For more details and insights from his entrepreneurial journey, listen to the latest episode of The Exit. -- Roy Zur is a serial entrepreneur and Founder and CEO of ThriveDX’s Enterprise Division, the global education company committed to transforming lives through digital skills training and solutions. In August of 2021, ThriveDX acquired Cybint Solutions where he also served as CEO since founding the company in 2014. In addition to steering the vision of ThriveDX’s Enterprise Division, Roy serves as adjunct professor of risk management in cybersecurity at IDC Herzliya in Israel. He is also Founder and Chairman of the non-profit Israeli Institute for Policy and Legislation, and a member of the Forbes Business Council. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/royzur/ Check Out Flippa’s Data Insights Tool: https://flippa.com/data-insights -- The Exit—Presented By Flippa: A 30-minute podcast featuring expert entrepreneurs who have been there and done it. The Exit talks to operators who have bought and sold a business. You’ll learn how they did it, why they did it, and get exposure to the world of exits, a world occupied by a small few, but accessible to many. To listen to the podcast or get daily listing updates, click on flippa.com/the-exit-podcast/

08-12
30:18

Creative Meets Paid Media: Steve Weiss's MuteSix Innovation

Want a quick estimate of how much your business is worth? With our free valuation calculator, answer a few questions about your business and you’ll get an immediate estimate of the value of your business. You might be surprised by how much you can get for it: https://flippa.com/exit -- This week on The Exit: Steve Weiss, founder of MuteSix, a creative digital marketing agency he sold to Dentsu, shares his tumultuous journey from troubled youth to successful entrepreneur. After being robbed at gunpoint, Steve decided to make a major pivot in his life and dedicated himself to business, programming, and digital marketing. MuteSix began when Steve, pursuing stand-up comedy in Los Angeles, started running Facebook ads to promote comedy shows. This turned into a full-fledged agency, growing from 20 to over 500 employees in just four years. The company's success stemmed from integrating creative and paid media services, a novel approach at the time. In 2019, Dentsu reached out via LinkedIn, leading to MuteSix's acquisition after an 8-9 month process. Steve discusses the challenges of maintaining business growth during due diligence and emphasizes the importance of proper accounting, HR practices, and legal counsel in preparing for an exit. Steve advises entrepreneurs to plan for life after selling their business. Money doesn’t provide purpose, so it’s important to find the thing that does. -- Steve Weiss started MuteSix in 2013, where he saw that the structure of building integrated media teams was broken and needed to evolve rapidly. MuteSix sat at the intersection of creative, media buying, and data with a goal of disrupting the status quo and being an all inclusive growth solution. Their goal was to give leading native “Direct to Consumer” eCommerce brands the unfair advantage in quickly taking market share from leading enterprise competitors. As CEO along with his incredible team of 450+ MuteSix’ers, they were able to grow the company 25%+ every single year. This led to an acquisition by iProspect in 2019. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevejweiss/ Check Out Flippa’s Data Insights Tool: https://flippa.com/data-insights -- The Exit—Presented By Flippa: A 30-minute podcast featuring expert entrepreneurs who have been there and done it. The Exit talks to operators who have bought and sold a business. You’ll learn how they did it, why they did it, and get exposure to the world of exits, a world occupied by a small few, but accessible to many. To listen to the podcast or get daily listing updates, click on flippa.com/the-exit-podcast/

08-05
30:14

Austin Peek

Good Stuff!

01-26 Reply

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