Shows
Big Hitters PodcastMastering Exit Readiness: Brian Dukes on Business Valuation, Strategy, and Financial GrowthIn this episode of the Big Hitters podcast, Andrew Hathaway speaks with Brian Dukes about the importance of exit strategies for business owners. They discuss the concept of exit readiness, the significance of financial organization, and the various types of buyers in the market. Brian shares insights on how to prepare a business for sale, including the need for a solid financial foundation and operational efficiency. He also highlights the unique services offered by Exitwise, including business valuation and consulting, aimed at helping entrepreneurs navigate the complexities of exiting their businesses. Support our Sponsors:
2026-06-0329 min
Exitwise ProductionsExited Founder Podcast | Dan Bauer: 20 Years, 100 Consultants, and a Sale to the Client Who Came Back to Buy It AllDan Bauer spent 20 years building The MBA Exchange into a global firm with 100 consultants across 11 countries, then walked away from the traditional M&A process when the buyers across the table couldn't be trusted with his legacy. The deal he ultimately made wasn't with a strategic acquirer or a PE firm. It was a management buyout with a former client who had become a trusted colleague, someone Dan had known for years before the first dollar ever changed hands.In this episode, Dan shares the full story with Exitwise Managing Partner Todd Sullivan and host Stephanie Horwitz...
2026-05-2735 min
Exitwise ProductionsExited Founder Podcast | Tommaso Trionfi: How He Sold 5 Companies Across SaaS, EdTech, and eCommerceTommaso Trionfi has sold five companies across SaaS, EdTech, and ecommerce, including Wimba to Blackboard and Merchantry to Tradeshift in an all-stock deal that landed him a stake in what's now a $3.2 billion company. He's done it from every angle: founder-CEO, hired-gun CEO, and operator running divestitures inside a private equity firm.In this episode, Tommaso sits down with Exitwise Managing Partner Todd Sullivan to walk through the nine years he spent building Wimba into the #1 virtual classroom for higher ed: 800+ institutions, $20M+ ARR, and the post-2008 moment he realized Blackboard was about to buy his closest...
2026-05-2028 min
Exitwise ProductionsExited Founder Podcast | Dan Cornell: What 25 Years and Multiple Exits Taught Him About Selling a Cybersecurity CompanyIn 1999, Dan Cornell sold his first company in an all-stock deal and watched the shares ride from 8 15/16 to nearly $94 — and then, contractually barred from selling or hedging, watched the same stock crash all the way back down. He ultimately sold his shares in chunks at 32 cents, 18 cents, and 9 cents. Twenty-two years later, he sold his second company.Dan walks Exitwise Managing Partner Todd Sullivan through the full arc: co-founding Atension out of Trinity University and selling it to Rare Medium at the peak of the internet bubble, then starting Denim Group in San Antonio in 2001 with Sheridan Ch...
2026-05-1334 min
Exitwise ProductionsExited Founder Podcast | Vik Tantry: How He Bootstrapped FormSwift to $95M and Sold to DropboxSathvik "Vik" Tantry and his co-founder built FormSwift from a freelance frustration into a 10-million-document platform without raising a single venture dollar. Ten years in, they ran a process, went out to 400 potential buyers, and closed a $95 million all-cash deal with Dropbox in December 2022.In this episode, Vik walks Exitwise Managing Partner Todd Sullivan and Brian Dukes through the full journey: spotting the SMB document gap that DocuSign and Adobe ignored, using a phantom equity program to retain key employees without issuing stock, and the deliberate decision to hire VistaPoint Advisors, bankers who understood the nuances of...
2026-05-0631 minBig Hitters PodcastThe 26 Steps of Rockstep: Andy Weiner on Small Market Real Estate, AI, and Off-Price RetailIn this episode of the Big Hitters podcast, Andrew Hathaway speaks with Andy Weiner, the founder of Rockstep, a shopping center investment firm. Andy shares his extensive background in retail and real estate, detailing the unique culture and operational philosophy of Rockstep, which emphasizes a set of 26 'rock steps' that guide the company's practices. The conversation delves into investment strategies, market dynamics, and the challenges faced in the shopping center sector, particularly in the context of rising interest rates and the impact of e-commerce. Andy also discusses the resilience of the off-price retail sector and how Rockstep leverages AI...
2026-04-2334 minBig Hitters PodcastVitality Through Transformation: John Jubilee on Cellular Health, Hydration, and Resilient FaithIn this episode of the Big Hitters podcast, Andrew Hathaway speaks with John Jubilee, founder of Energized Health. John shares his inspiring journey from a challenging childhood to becoming a successful entrepreneur in the health and wellness industry. He discusses the principles behind his cellular health protocol, emphasizing the importance of hydration and cellular transformation for achieving optimal health. John also highlights the natural methods he used to regain his strength and vitality, and how his business has grown through word of mouth and genuine results. In this conversation, John Jubilee discusses his innovative health protocol that claims to...
2026-04-2341 min
Exitwise ProductionsExited Founder Podcast | Colin Hodge: How He Sold His Viral Dating App, Bought It Back in a Fire Sale, and 10X'd ItColin Hodge built a dating app so viral it hit one million users in three and a half months — then got sued, kicked off the App Store, acquired by a company in Asia, and sold off in a fire sale when his acquirer panicked mid-IPO. So Colin bought it back. Then he 10X'd it.In this episode, Colin shares the full story with Exitwise Managing Partner Todd Sullivan: from fixing computers at 15 in Pennsylvania, to Microsoft, to launching Bang with Friends at the dawn of the smartphone era. He breaks down the costly mistake of going into M...
2026-04-2228 minBig Hitters PodcastVideo Podcasting and Client Experience: Jon Sherman on Content, AI, and Business GrowthIn this episode of the Big Hitters podcast, Andrew Hathaway speaks with Jon Sherman, founder of Video City Productions. They discuss the evolution of video production, the rise of video podcasting, and how businesses can leverage these tools for growth. Jon shares insights on client acquisition, the impact of AI on video production, and the importance of creating an elevated experience for clients. They also explore practical steps for blue-collar businesses to utilize video effectively and discuss potential collaboration opportunities. In this conversation, Jon Sherman and Andrew Hathaway discuss the intricacies of running a podcast studio, targeting the right...
2026-04-1629 minBig Hitters PodcastConcrete Work and Transformation: Steve Mast on Work Ethic, AI Efficiency, and FaithIn this episode of the Builders Bible podcast, Andrew Hathaway speaks with Steve Mast, a serial entrepreneur and builder, who shares his journey from a young age working on a farm to becoming a successful business owner in the concrete industry. Steve discusses the importance of work ethic instilled by his father, his struggles with identity and addiction, and how he transformed his life through fitness and faith. He emphasizes the significance of accountability and clear expectations in business, the impact of community initiatives like King's Forge, and his ongoing journey of personal growth and understanding of faith. In...
2026-04-1329 minBig Hitters PodcastScaling Food & Family: Michael Oghigian on Natural Foods, AI, and Personal ResponsibilityIn this episode of the Big Hitters podcast, Andrew Hathaway speaks with Michael Oghigian, co-founder of Avatar Natural Foods. Michael shares his journey from real estate to the natural foods industry, discussing the challenges and successes he has faced along the way. He highlights the innovative products his company is developing, including pizza cupcakes and Better Bowls, and reflects on the importance of personal responsibility and family values. The conversation also touches on the impact of AI on business operations and the significance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Support our Sponsors: 🤝 Thank you...
2026-04-1332 minBig Hitters PodcastTransformative Leadership and Trust: Shannon Carver on Coaching, AI, and FaithIn this episode of the Big Hitters podcast, Andrew Hathaway speaks with Shannon Carver, a business coach and founder of Lean Leaders Plus. They discuss Shannon's journey into coaching, the importance of leadership development, and the transformative impact of trust, credibility, and respect in leadership. Shannon shares success stories from his clients, emphasizing the cultural and personal transformations that occur through effective leadership. The conversation also touches on the challenges of business growth, the role of AI in enhancing productivity, and the significance of personal faith in professional life. Finally, they explore the benefits of executive assistance and automation...
2026-04-1321 minBig Hitters PodcastBeyond the Will: Michael Rutkowski on Wealth Management, AI, and Personal GrowthIn this episode of the Big Hitters podcast, Andrew Hathaway speaks with Michael Rutkowski, an estate planning attorney and wealth management expert. Michael shares his journey into law, the importance of estate planning, and how he has expanded his services to include wealth management. The conversation delves into marketing strategies, the impact of COVID-19 on his business model, and the integration of AI in legal practices. Michael also discusses his personal passions, including wake surfing, and the transformative influence of the Rise Up Kings community on his life and business. Support our Sponsors: 🤝 Tha...
2026-04-1330 minBig Hitters PodcastMaximizing Tax Savings: Eric Pierre on Mitigation, Deferral, and Proactive PlanningIn this episode of the Big Hitters podcast, Andrew Hathaway speaks with Eric Pierre discuss effective tax strategies for business owners, focusing on tax mitigation and deferral methods. They explore the differences between tax preparers and strategists, emphasizing the importance of proactive planning. The conversation also covers recent changes in tax codes, opportunities for savings, and the significance of having a reliable tax strategist. Eric shares insights from his professional experiences and personal anecdotes, highlighting the value of networking and community engagement. Support our Sponsors: 🤝 Thank you to Katy Forster of Data Driven Deci...
2026-04-1322 minBig Hitters PodcastUnlocking Financial Clarity: Katy Forester on AI, Custom Bookkeeping, and Business GrowthIn this episode of the Big Hitters podcast, Andrew Hathaway speaks with Katy Forester, owner of Data Driven Decisions, about her journey into bookkeeping, the impact of AI on the industry, and the value of outsourced bookkeeping services. Katy shares insights on how her business has adapted to the changing landscape, the importance of financial clarity for small businesses, and practical advice for identifying quality bookkeeping practices. The conversation also touches on transformative coaching insights from Dan Martell and the evolving role of technology in bookkeeping. Support our Sponsors: 🤝 Thank you to Katy Fors...
2026-04-1316 min
Exitwise ProductionsExited Founder Podcast | Andrew Kirpalani: From Bar Napkin to Acquisition — Exiting WorkHoundAndrew Kirpalani co-founded WorkHound in 2015 after being pitched the idea over a beer in exchange for putting his name on an accelerator application. What he agreed to that night became a platform serving 75,000 frontline workers, and a successful acquisition by WorkStep a decade later.In this episode, Andrew shares the full story with Exitwise's Todd Sullivan and Stephanie Horwitz Reuveni: how a 95% annual driver turnover rate in trucking sparked the idea, how anonymous SMS-based feedback gave a voice to workers who'd never sit at a desk, and what happens to a "painkiller" product when the market turns...
2026-04-0835 min
Exitwise ProductionsExited Founder Podcast | Rachel Murphy: Selling to a Competitor and Building a Founder Exit PlaybookRachel Murphy has been an entrepreneur since she was 12 years old, when she hired her mates to wash cars and kept a cut for herself. That early instinct for building things led her to launch an e-learning systems training academy in her 20s. Then she did it again, building a consulting firm that led large-scale digital transformation for the UK's National Health Service, including standing up the country's Covid-19 digital testing infrastructure.In this episode, Rachel talks about what it was like to sell her second business to a competitor she'd been building a relationship with for...
2026-03-2531 min
Exitwise ProductionsExited Founder Podcast | Shannon Wilburn: Selling the Franchise Empire She Built From Her Living RoomShannon Wilburn started Just Between Friends in her living room, a marketplace for families to buy and sell gently used children's clothes, toys, and baby gear. Over 20 years, she grew it into a nationwide franchise spanning 33 states and doing $60 million in system-wide sales. When her largest franchisee came to her and said "if you ever think about selling, I might want to buy this," Shannon had a decision to make.In this episode, Shannon talks about choosing buyer fit over the highest price and what it meant to protect the legacy of a franchise she'd built for...
2026-03-1128 min
Exitwise ProductionsExited Founder Podcast | Sean McKenna: How He Sold His HR Tech Startup to Dayforce in 16 MonthsSean McKenna launched DataFuZion HCM in the middle of a pandemic with a new baby at home, and just nine months later, Ceridian (now Dayforce) called with an offer to buy. Sean turned it down. Then the offer doubled. Then it tripled.In this episode, Sean shares the full story with Exitwise Managing Partner Todd Sullivan: why he tried (and failed) to buy his former employer first, how he built an MVP that changed the HR tech integration space, and the moment he realized his seven-client startup had something a public company desperately wanted; not revenue, but...
2026-02-2527 min
Exitwise ProductionsIntroducing The Exited Founder PodcastWelcome to The Exited Founder Podcast, a production of Exitwise!This show is built on one simple idea: founders helping founders. Every episode features a successful Exited Founder who has been through the highs, the lows, and the life-changing moment of selling their business, and is now paying it forward by sharing everything they learned along the way.You'll hear first-hand exit stories from founders across dozens of industries, what they wish they did differently during the M&A process, their takes on current trends, and how they're using their experience to help the next...
2026-02-2301 min
Radically Candid: Learn about Streaming TV advertising.How to navigate the M&A Journey with Brian Dukes, Managing Partner @ Exitwise🎧 Episode Highlights [radically candid] hosts Brian Dukes (Exitwise) to demystify M&A for founders. Learn to destigmatize exits, prepare from day one with financial hygiene and a strong team, and turn M&A into a strategic win. Brian shares how proactive planning and Exitwise empower this journey.⏱️ Quick Takeaways (2-min read)The Stigma: Demystifying M&A—it's strategy, not failure.The Timing: Why exit planning should start from day one.The Prep: Early document & financial hygiene is non-negotiable.The Mindset: Business managemen...
2025-06-2329 min
The Exit - Presented By FlippaPatents and Profitable Exits: Todd Sullivan's M&A WisdomWant 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.
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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 an...
2024-11-0430 min
Exitwise ProductionsShegun OtulanaSummaryIn this conversation, Todd Sullivan speaks with Shegun Otulana about the intricacies of selling a business, particularly in the health tech sector. Shagan shares his journey of building and selling Therapy Brands for $1.25 billion, discussing the factors that led to his decision to sell, the importance of preparing for an exit, and the role of clarity in value creation and company culture. He emphasizes the need for founders to understand buyer expectations and the risks involved in transferring ownership. The conversation also touches on the significance of having the right team and external partners during the...
2024-10-2948 min
Build and ExitTodd Sullivan - Broken Deal: Losing staff and suppliers after a failed business saleWhat would you do to make your business a success?
Would it include jumping from a broken-down train to hitch hike to a product pitch?
Well, that’s what my guest in this episode did for an idea that didn’t even work out. Todd Sullivan grew up in an entrepreneurial household and has lived this way ever since. He is the CEO and Managing Partner of Exitwise, a company that helps businesses sell.
Todd shares some of the incredible ups and downs he has faced including a faile...
2024-08-0530 minBuild and ExitTodd Sullivan - Broken Deal: Losing staff and suppliers after a failed business saleWhat would you do to make your business a success?
Would it include jumping from a broken-down train to hitch hike to a product pitch?
Well, that’s what my guest in this episode did for an idea that didn’t even work out. Todd Sullivan grew up in an entrepreneurial household and has lived this way ever since. He is the CEO and Managing Partner of Exitwise, a company that helps businesses sell.
Todd shares some of the incredible ups and downs he has faced including a faile...
2024-08-0530 min
Modern Investing PodcastTodd Sullivan on Mastering Business Exits, M&A Strategy & Creating Post-Sale Wealth | Modern Investing PodcastMessage the HostIn this episode, we sit down with Todd Sullivan, serial entrepreneur and CEO of ExitWise, to explore the art and science of successful business exits. With four successful exits under his belt, Todd shares what most founders overlook—and what makes the difference between a mediocre and a life-changing M&A deal.Todd reveals:Why professional representation is non-negotiable in maximizing valuationHow to prepare your financials and story to stand up to intense buyer scrutinyWhy knowing your “number” (your ideal...
2024-06-1338 min
Exitwise ProductionsThe Wise Exit | Remote Workforces When Selling Your Business | Nathan HirschSummary:Nathan Hirsch, a serial entrepreneur, shares his journey of building and selling his company, FreeUp, which utilized remote workforces. He discusses the importance of having clean books and financials, as well as the value of virtual assistants and outsourced labor. Nathan emphasizes the need to hire the right level of talent, whether they are followers, doers, or experts. He also highlights the significance of building trust and relationships with your team and the importance of finding the right buyer who will treat your employees well. Overall, Nathan provides valuable insights into the M&A...
2024-03-2038 min
Exitwise ProductionsThe Wise Exit | Your Why in M&A | Meighan NewhouseSummary:In this episode, Todd Sullivan interviews Meighan Newhouse, the co-founder and former CEO of Inspirant Group, a management consulting firm that was acquired by 10 Pearls. Meighan shares her journey as an entrepreneur and the decision-making process behind selling her business. She emphasizes the importance of understanding the why and the end goal of the sale, as well as finding a buyer that aligns with the company's culture and values. Meighan also discusses the challenges and considerations during the due diligence process and the post-acquisition experience.Takeaways:Before embarking on the journey of...
2024-03-0640 min
ROIAL C-Suite Truths011-Todd SullivanTodd has built and sold 4 companies. Today, as CEO of Exitwise, he is helping fellow business owners get smart about M&A and create the exits they deserve.
Meet Todd:
Website: www.Exitwise.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddfsullivan/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@exitwise
Get more information about the Ripple Of Impact Alliance: https://www.roial.org
2024-02-2818 min
What's Good?Brian Dukes | Founder's Journey: Exit PreparationBrian didn't begin his career as an entrepreneur, starting his professional journey in Big 5 Consulting before getting an MBA at the University of Michigan, but instead of taking a traditional MBA job, he joined his first startup - a Ford Motor Company Joint Venture. Three years later he cofounded a technology and digital marketing agency, built that business into an automotive industry leader, and began to cut his teeth in M&A, through those experiences, in 2022 Brian embraced the opportunity to join a friend to build Exitwise... an M&A Advisory platform that provides exit education and transaction support...
2024-02-271h 23
Exitwise ProductionsThe Wise Exit | Growth Drivers That Deliver M&A Success | George SandmannGeorge Sandmann shares his thoughts on: Creating business engines that deliver predictable profits, cash flow, and sustainable growthDriving predictable, transferable value and a more lucrative M&A transactionGUEST BIO:George Sandmann is an entrepreneur turned growth advisor. An attorney by training, George is an entrepreneur with almost 30 years experience starting and growing companies. After a lifetime of startup success and challenges, George founded his current company, Growth Drive, to deliver tools and technological support to advisory business delivering client wins and M&A success.George's professional vision is for Growth-Drivers to increase St...
2023-12-1940 min
Exitwise ProductionsThe Wise Exit | Top 3 Attributes Of Any Sellable Business | Mike FingerMike Finger highlights the three elements all small business owners should focus on when building a company for a future M&A exit:Are your business results desirable? Will an acquirer see value and opportunity in what you have built?Can a buyer duplicate your results? Can the buyer run the business without you?Can you document your results? Is there a playbook written that can be followed once you are gone?GUEST BIO:Mike Finger is a serial entrepreneur and business advisor who's built and sold four companies.His first exit was not for...
2023-12-1229 min
Exitwise ProductionsThe Wise Exit | Selling a Business From Prison | Chris WiseEPISODE 64: THIS WEEK'S GUEST - CHRIS WISEIn this episode, Chris talks about:Asking for help when building your company for the futureCoaching founders on how to remove themselves from their businesses to create transferable valueHow taking care of yourself as a founder or business owner can significantly increase productivity and prevent burnoutGUEST BIO:Chris Wise is a seasoned business advisor with over 30 years of experience and the founder of Wise Profits. With a notable track record that includes 14 successful exits, 34 M&A transactions, and 2 IPOs, Chris and his team at...
2023-12-0532 min
Exitwise ProductionsThe Wise Exit | Building (And Selling) eCommerce Brands | Robb GreenEPISODE 63: THIS WEEK'S GUEST - ROBB GREENIn this episode, Robb talks about:His evaluation criteria for starting eCommerce brandsHow he decides when it's time to sell a businessHow he brings his teenage kids into these companies and exposes them to the highs and lows of the life of an entrepreneurGUEST BIO:Robb Green is the owner and visionary behind the formulation and execution of strategies aimed at mastering the art of e-commerce brand establishment. Solving Alpha has founded 9 total brands with a focus on e-commerce. Robb has a...
2023-11-2834 min
Exitwise ProductionsThe Wise Exit | Buying SPORT Magazine| Wayne ParrishEPISODE 62: THIS WEEK'S GUEST - WAYNE PARRISHIn this episode, Wayne talks about:His early beginnings as a student journalist at the University of British ColumbiaBecoming the CEO of Canada Basketball and his relationship with Jerry ColangeloA history lesson of SPORT Magazine, Sports Illustrated, Sports Insider, and ESPN The MagazineHow he purchased the most significant collection of images related to 20th century sport anywhere in the worldFinding the next owner for The Sport CollectionGUEST BIO:Wayne Parrish is an award-winning reporter, editor and digital media leader with a passion for sports and...
2023-11-2131 min
Exitwise ProductionsThe Wise Exit | Build A Proper Succession Plan For Exit | Christine NicholsonEPISODE 61: THIS WEEK'S GUEST - CHRISTINE NICHOLSONIn this episode, Christine talks about:The three things that every founder needs to focus on when building their businessThe difference between exit planning and succession planningWhat a perfect succession plan look likeGUEST BIO:Christine Nicholson is a serial entrepreneur with multiple exits under her belt, who has now turned her attention to helping fellow business owners with succession planning before the sale of their businesses.Christine sold her first business just 12 months after launching. She then helped a client sell a distressed business...
2023-11-1440 min
Exitwise ProductionsThe Wise Exit | To Sell Or Not To Sell | Edin BasicEPISODE 60: THIS WEEK'S GUEST - EDIN BASICIn this episode, Exitwise Co-Founder & CEO Todd Sullivan speaks to Edin about:The importance of understanding market trends to know when to invest and when to sell Understanding your exit strategy to make the right decisions while you're building your business, and;How to be ready when your ideal buyer comes knockingGUEST BIO:Edin Basic began his journey as a refugee from war torn Bosnia, leaving school before completing his final exams to escape to London with no money in his pocket (and not able to y...
2023-11-0748 min
Exitwise ProductionsThe Wise Exit | How Much Is My Business Worth? | Sarah GreifenbergerEPISODE 59: THIS WEEK'S GUEST - SARAH GREIFENBERGERIn this episode, Sarah talks about:The various reasons that a business owner considers a business valuationThe difference between fair market value, and valuing a business for saleBecoming an Exitwise Ambassador and referring Fathead.com for sale in October, 2023GUEST BIO:Sarah has been a Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA) for over 10 years and is also a Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA).Prior to becoming a CVA, Sarah was Director of Financial Planning at United Technologies Corporation. She performed many valuations in that role to support...
2023-11-0136 min
Exitwise ProductionsThe Wise Exit | How VC Can Influence Your Decision To Sell | Jean Anne BoothEPISODE 58: THIS WEEK'S GUEST - JEAN ANNE BOOTHIn this episode, Jean Anne talks about:Having multiple strategic investors on your cap tableBeing prepared for your buyer to change the terms of your exit days before signingKnowing what you should say no to when raising capital or selling your companyGUEST BIO:Jean Anne Booth is a serial entrepreneur with a number of successful exits, including selling Luminary Micro to Texas Instruments in 2009 and Intrinsity to Apple in the early 2000's. Her background spans from P&L business unit management to marketing; product definition; systems, s...
2023-10-2435 min
Exitwise ProductionsThe Wise Exit | Lessons From My $26M Exit | Raleigh WilliamsEPISODE 57: THIS WEEK'S GUEST - RALEIGH WILLIAMSIn this episode, Raleigh talks about:Why business owners should trust their intuition when deciding when to sell their companiesHow to renegotiate business contracts to make them transferable in an acquisition When you're at the goal line, how you should focus on your why you are selling and not quibbling over every last dollar.GUEST BIO:Raleigh Williams is a former M&A attorney turned entrepreneur who quit his job as a lawyer to start an escape room business. Raleigh quickly expanded into multiple locations while adding trampoline par...
2023-10-1740 min
Exitwise ProductionsThe Wise Exit | Mentorship, Bootstrapping & Product Market Fit | Andy PaiEPISODE 56: THIS WEEK'S GUEST - ANDY PAIIn this episode, Andy talks about: His entrepreneurial journey of leaving his job as an investment banker and moving to San Francisco with a dream of building a company with several college friendsManaging the expectations and attraction of multiple M&A "off-ramps" along the entrepreneurial journeyHow he identified the buyer intent that helped the Finbox team build a successful suite of products that led to an acquisition by Investing.com His belief that intense focus is the secret to building a great company and full transparency with advisors and acquirers up...
2023-10-0942 min
Exitwise ProductionsThe Wise Exit | The Series A Term Sheet -> Incredible Exit | Austin OgilvieEPISODE 55: THIS WEEK'S GUEST - AUSTIN OGILVIEIn this episode, Austin talks about: Turning a Series A Term Sheet into multiple growth and exit options for the businessThe value of seeking guidance from seasoned CEOs and professionals who have gone through the M&A process in order to structure the right agreements when it came time to sell his businessBeing critically organized with your startup's Employee Agreements, Client Contracts, and Company financialsGUEST BIO:Austin Ogilvie is a former machine learning product manager who decided to leave his day job to co-found and eventually s...
2023-10-0335 min
Exitwise ProductionsThe Wise Exit | Refugee to Global Entrepreneur | Lloyed LoboEPISODE 54: THIS WEEK'S GUEST - LLOYED LOBOIn this episode, Lloyed shares:His views on how outsourcing the financial role to professionals helps when it's time to sell the businessHow bootstrapping (vs. Venture Capital) allowed him to sell on his timetableWhy building community is a key differentiator and value driver in any business and even more when it's time to sellGUEST BIO:Lloyed Lobo is an incredible, self-made entrepreneur. As a Kuwaiti refugee and former engineer turned serial entrepreneur, Lloyed co-founded and built boast.ai, a company helping businesses access R&D tax c...
2023-09-261h 10
Exitwise ProductionsThe Wise Exit | Personal Relationships In M&A | Matt BlumbergE53: THIS WEEK'S GUEST - MATT BLUMBERGIn this episode, Matt talks about how:Creating better personal relationships with acquirers can de-risk M&A transactionsTo bounce back from a failed M&A transactionBuilding a company with a work/life balance in mind can lead to a great outcomeGUEST BIO:Matt Blumberg, a former management consultant, a venture capitalist and early employee who helped MovieFone move into the Internet age and get acquired by AOL.With his well-rounded training, Matt’s biggest professional success came by co-founding Return Path, a...
2023-09-1954 min
Exitwise ProductionsThe Wise Exit | How AI Is Changing M&A | Joe O'MahoneyE52: THIS WEEK'S GUEST - PROFESSOR JOE O'MAHONEYIn this episode, Joe talks about:How his personal M&A experience helps improve his consultancy for his clientsHow professional service firms are valued during an M&A transactionWhat great companies do to prepare for an exitHow AI is disrupting the M&A world and what founders and entrepreneurs can do to leverage itGUEST BIO:Professor Joe O'Mahoney, an industry specific business consultant who built and sold his own company in 2007.Since his exit, Joe has been using his personal...
2023-09-1238 min
Exitwise ProductionsThe Wise Exit | Building At Wharton And Selling To Lyft | Kenan SalehE51: THIS WEEK'S GUEST - KENAN SALEHIn this episode, Kenan talks about:His decision to sell Halo Cars to Lyft so early in his entrepreneurial journey How mentally and emotionally difficult due diligence is after signing an LOI during M&AHis advice for other founders thinking about the M&A process, and how his experience will influence his next ventureGUEST BIO:In October, 2018 as a student at Wharton (University of Pennsylvania), Kenan Saleh co-founded Halo Cars, a transportation ad network. After striking a business development deal with Lyft, one of th...
2023-09-0533 min
Exitwise ProductionsThe Wise Exit |Selling A Business In A Down Market | Oliver LowE50: THIS WEEK'S GUEST - OLIVER LOWIn this episode, Oliver talks to Exitwise CEO & Co-Founder Todd Sullivan about:Finding the right buyer for your startup (private equity, family office, strategic buyer, or holding company)The value of surrounding yourself with M&A expertise when selling your businessHow selling in the "4th inning" can often lead to better liquidity and professional options GUEST BIO:Oliver started his career at Microsoft in 2006. He spent time at MySpace from 2008 to 2010 and then launched a digital agency called Platform360, a B2B agency which wa...
2023-08-2958 min
Exitwise ProductionsThe Wise Exit | Winning The Early Stage Growth Game | Jonah MidanikE49: THIS WEEK'S GUEST - JONAH MIDANIKIn this episode, Jonah discusses:The value of putting an entrepreneurial win on the boardDeciding to step down from the CEO role to prepare his company for its next stage of growthAdvice for fellow founders thinking about fundraising and the M&A processGUEST BIO:Jonah has been fortunate to see the startup journey from many different perspectives. First, as a successful bootstrapped founder of Casino Media Group, an advertising agency focused on the online gaming sector (becoming the agency of record for PokerStars and Bet365).
2023-08-2341 min
Exitwise ProductionsThe Wise Exit | Agency Founder to Tiger 21 Chair | Elise MitchellE48: ELISE MITCHELL - 3 TIME FOUNDER & CEO and TIGER 21 CHAIRToday, my guest is Tiger 21 chair and three-time entrepreneur Elise Mitchell, who founded Mitchell Communications Group, which was named a top ten fastest growing PR firm globally.Elise was named PR Week's Public Relations Professional of the Year and a top 50 power player in PR. She's also the author of Leading Through the Turn. Under Elise's Leadership, her agency grew initially using an outsourced talent model while landing global brands, including Walmart, Procter and Gamble, Hilton Hotels and Tyson Foods. Her company wa...
2023-08-1651 min
Exitwise ProductionsThe Wise Exit | Building, Buying, and Selling All Around The World | Sven MilderE47: SVEN MILDER - FOUNDER, STARTUP ADVISOR, and M&A EXPERTToday, Todd Sullivan talks to Sven Milder, a serial entrepreneur who has built, purchased and sold multiple companies throughout Europe and Southeast Asia.Sven understands how to raise capital, how to leverage low cost workforces, and how to use technology to improve efficiencies and profitability in any business he's involved in. Sven shares how he thinks about fundraising for startups, why he's now buying profitable companies as platforms for growth, and using technology to support his M&A endeavors. Sven's Ex...
2023-08-0931 min
Exitwise ProductionsThe Wise Exit | Bootstrapped Persistence to Successful M&A | Melissa KwanE46: MELISSA KWAN - 3X BOOTSTRAPPER / CEO OF EWEBINARJoin Todd Sullivan in a conversation with Melissa Kwan, the co-founder and CEO of eWebinar, a top automated webinar platform. Prior to eWebinar, Melissa spent 13 years building three successful companies without venture capital backing. Her last company, Spacio, became the real estate industry's number one open house sign-in solution, helping agents automate lead capture and follow up. Melissa sold Spacio in 2019 to a strategic buyer. After years of struggling to build her company with virtually no resources, our fellow founders will easily relate to Melissa's story, es...
2023-08-0240 min
Exitwise ProductionsThe Wise Exit | Finding Purpose After An Exit | Ryan VaughnE45: Ryan Vaughn - Executive Coach/Founder of Inside Out Leadership Today Todd Sullivan is joined by Ryan Vaughn, the founder of VNN Sports, one of the largest marketing platforms in the U.S. for high school sports.Ryan caught the entrepreneurial bug at an early age when he started selling Pogs to his classmates in the fourth grade. Through the following years of self-discovery, as well as trial and error, Ryan raised capital and willed VNN to life. Ryan made the decision to personally exit his business in 2020 and now coaches, e...
2023-07-2651 min
Exitwise ProductionsThe Wise Exit | Startup To Exit In 36 Months | Ryan LandauE44: Ryan Landau - Founder/CEO of Purpose Jobs and Startup Community ChampionToday Todd Sullivan is joined by a great friend, multi-time founder, and Iron Man Athlete, Ryan Landau.Ryan, along with his brother Andrew, built Chalkfly, a company that helped transform how school and office supplies are purchased online. Launched in 2012, Chalkfly was among the fastest growing early stage e-commerce companies out there. It was quickly acquired by Global Office Solutions in under three years. Ryan's one of the most introspective and corporate culture conscious founders that I kn...
2023-07-1934 min
Exitwise ProductionsThe Wise Exit | 13 Exits & a Lifetime of M&A Experience | Craig DickensE43: Craig Dickens - Entrepreneur and CEO of JD Merit Investment BankToday, Todd Sullivan's guest is Craig Dickens, a serial entrepreneur with thirteen exits, who decided to start an investment bank to help demystify the M&A process and help fellow founders create the exits they deserve.Craig is one of the investment bankers on the Exitwise platform, and we decided to have on to share his particular expertise for guiding first time sellers to not leave money on the table when selling their companies. In today's discussion, we chat about wh...
2023-07-1247 min
Exitwise ProductionsThe Wise Exit | From College Startup (and Exit) to Social Media Titan | Nick Huber42: Today, join Todd Sullivan in his conversation with Nick Huber, a serial entrepreneur who has leveraged his substantial social media audiences to drive incredible value for his businesses and for the entrepreneurs who he advises and invests in with.With a partner, Nick built his first storage service business right out of college, but decided to sell the business to focus on building a self-storage and real estate empire. Nick and Todd talk about how he used his first company to learn how to make money, how to delegate work, and how to uncover...
2023-07-0531 min
Exitwise ProductionsThe Wise Exit | Practice Makes Perfect In Soccer and M&A | Mac LackeyE41: Join Todd Sullivan and Mac Lackey, a serial entrepreneur who's built and sold six businesses with multiple eight figure exits to NBC Sports and News Corp, just to name a few.Mac has been featured on CNN, The Wall Street Journal, Fast Company, USAToday and The New York Times, and now spends his time working with business owners through his extraordinary program called ExitDNA, which helps grow businesses from tens of millions to hundreds of millions of dollars so they can be sold for maximum value. Mac and I not only talk about his insights to b...
2023-06-2838 min
Exitwise ProductionsThe Wise Exit | Venture Capital Pitfalls | Greg HeadE40: Join Todd Sullivan and Greg Head, a software and SaaS expert with multiple exits under his belt, as they discuss his background building exceptional businesses, the experiences that shaped his view of Venture Capital as a growth vehicle, and his path to becoming a champion for practical founders everywhere.Greg not only explains how venture capital often imposes unrealistic growth requirements, but he also emphasizes how founders who retain their equity experience larger personal financial wins when it comes time to sell their businesses. Greg is a 30-year software industry veteran who was part o...
2023-06-2143 min
Exitwise ProductionsThe Wise Exit | Pivoting A 3rd Generation Business Into A Private Equity "Platform" | Derek GaskinsE39: Today our guest is Derek Gaskins, a good friend and founder of Retail Bloom (now Blue Wheel Media), a full service e-commerce and digital marketing company, which Derek created inside the walls of his family's third generation business, Aleva Stores. Derek grew this business quickly and then separated it from his family's business to sell it to a private equity firm in a very creative and lucrative transaction.Derek is an e-commerce and digital marketing visionary and in today's discussion shares his advice on how to value a business inside a parent company, w...
2023-06-1429 min
Exitwise ProductionsThe Wise Exit |The Courage To Walk Away From An M&A Deal | Kim KaupeE38: Join Todd Sullivan and Kim Kaupe, Founder of Bright Ideas Only and weekly host of the Coffee With Kim podcast, as they discuss her journey to entrepreneurship and the adventures of creating a number of ultra-successful businesses and media agencies.Kim also dives into the experience of trying to sell one of her business in 2022, and the decision to pull out of the deal because it was not aligning with her values.Kim thinks of herself as an “accidental entrepreneur” who uses her business education to garner success in the experiential marketing space. She’s work...
2023-06-0746 min
Exitwise ProductionsThe Wise Exit | Private Equity Playbook and Creating Generational Wealth | Adam CoffeyE37: On today's episode of Cashing Out, Todd Sullivan speaks with Adam Coffey, a CEO, Board Member, Best-Selling Author (x2), and Acclaimed International Speaker. Adam is a respected mentor to MBA candidates and a sought-after speaker at UCLA. He brings diverse expertise from commercial and industrial service businesses, alongside being a licensed general contractor, pilot, former GE executive, and US Army veteran.Adam admits his career as a Private Equity backed operator has been a thrilling and highly lucrative journey. But today, he's more interested in sharing his knowledge with business owners on how to ma...
2023-05-3151 min
Exitwise ProductionsThe Wise Exit | An Exit To A Public Company Overshadowed By Family Tragedy | Tyler HallE36: Join Todd Sullivan as he speaks with Tyler Hall, a serial entrepreneur and founder of Drivably, a resource inventory platform for car dealers. Tyler sold his business to a highly strategic public company, ACV, which was the leading digital automotive marketplace for car dealers. This exit was a home run for Tyler and his team, but his stories and advice about getting this deal done are priceless. In our conversation, Tyler and Todd not only talk about how he learned about building and selling companies from some of the top Silicon Valley entrepreneurs of our time, bu...
2023-05-2452 min
Exitwise ProductionsThe Wise Exit | What Is Quality of Earnings In Mergers & Acquisitions | Larry SimonE35: On today's special episode of The Cashing Out Podcast I'm speaking with Larry Simon, a Certified Public Accountant and partner at Doeren Mayhew, a top accounting firm in North America.Now, instead of our typical format of interviewing a founder who has built and sold a business, we thought we would interview an M&A expert to educate our founders around the decision of whether to do a Sell Side Quality of Earnings report or Quality of Earnings completed by sellers before they begin a sale process is one of the most effective ways a business...
2023-05-1728 min
Exitwise ProductionsThe Wise Exit | How A Successful M&A Transaction Turned Into A Nightmare | Peter BrayE34: On today's episode of Cashing Out, we speak to the founder and CEO of Bray & Co - Peter Bray. Peter has held executive roles with some of the largest ad agencies in the world, including Saatchi and Saatchi, where he was CEO of The Brand Shop and WPP, where he was the firm's global head of digital.But early in his career, Peter was a highly successful agency entrepreneur who sold his first ad agency to a public holding company in Australia in 2010. Now, Peter bet the farm on this exit and tied 100% of his financial o...
2023-05-1054 min
Exitwise ProductionsThe Wise Exit | Stay-At-Home Mom -> Home Health Care Billionaire | April AnthonyE33: On today's episode of the Cashing Out podcast we are very fortunate to be chatting with April Anthony, currently the founder of the VitalCaring Group, which is her fourth home health care company. April is a home health care and technology entrepreneur with three exits under her belt. She started her career as an accountant, but at the age of 25, with the initial goal of being a stay-at-home mom, April talked herself and her husband into buying one of her clients, which was a failing home health care company. The next 25 years is a remarkable story of perseverance a...
2023-05-031h 04
Exitwise ProductionsThe Wise Exit | M&A Lessons From A 3x Entrepreneur | A.J. LawrenceE32: Join Todd Sullivan as he interviews A.J. Lawrence, a self-proclaimed journeyman entrepreneur with multiple exits under his belt. A.J. sold his first web development business to an ad agency a few years out of college. He then moved into I.T. hardware and sold his Wi-Fi router business to his main hardware supplier. AJ capped it off in 2021 by building and selling a multi-million dollar digital ad agency which made the Inc. 500 twice. Today, A.J. is a student of the entrepreneurial mindset. Given his success, he is intent on better understanding what makes foun...
2023-04-2653 min
Exitwise ProductionsThe Wise Exit | Opportunistic M&A & Business With Family | James "Bud" PetcoffE31: On today’s episode of the Cashing Out podcast, co-hosts Todd Sullivan and Brian Dukes speak to James “Bud” Petcoff, a prolific entrepreneur and CEO.Bud has more than 35 years of insurance industry experience, including founding North Pointe Insurance Co. in 1986, taking it public in 2005, and facilitating its sale to QBE Holdings Inc. in 2008.Today, Bud is the chairman and CEO of Conifer Holdings Inc, and is responsible for establishing the overall direction and materializing the strategy of the company. We talk about leaning on experts when taking on new...
2023-04-1941 min
Exitwise ProductionsThe Wise Exit | From Cell Phone Insurance To Empire Builder | Rob EmeryE30: Today, my guest is Rob Emery, a serial telecom and pet industry entrepreneur with two exits under his belt.Early in his career, Rob started selling cell phones through his own retail outlets. After merging his retail locations with a franchise partner, Rob sold off his retail locations and founded ProtectCELL to focus on selling cell phone protection and replacement service plans through operational excellence and great business relationships. ProtectCELL became one of INC magazine's 500 fastest growing companies in the country.Rob was looking for a financial partner to grow the business further, but...
2023-04-1245 min
Exitwise ProductionsThe Wise Exit | Pro Tennis Player Carries On Legacy of Family Entrepreneurship | Paul SullivanE29: Today, I want to do something a little different and share a story about an 82 year old serial entrepreneur who is also a professional tennis player.I've known this person my whole life and he helped shape my entire entrepreneurial career with his unwavering encouragement and lifelong words of wisdom when he told me, "No one is ever going to give it to you. You have to fight for every point, every game and every match, every single day." And when he gave examples of great entrepreneurs and athletes that he remembers most...
2023-04-051h 07
Exitwise ProductionsThe Wise Exit | How A Hulk Hogan Lawsuit Launched A Career in M&A | Greg LopezE28: On today's episode of the Cashing Out podcast we speak to Greg Lopez, a very experienced operator and entrepreneur with a deep financial and accounting background.Greg’s superpower is clearly his financial expertise - so, you'll hear his warnings for CEOs who need to better manage businesses around cash flow instead of the P&L. We discuss how buyers and sellers clash over net working capital adjustments, which is one of the most contested issues in M&A (Mergers & Acquisitions) transactions. You'll learn how Greg believes that M&A is the ultimate sa...
2023-03-2950 min
Exitwise ProductionsThe Wise Exit | Selling Garden Fresh Salsa to Campbell's Soup, and Trying To Buy It Back | John LatellaE27: On today's episode of the Cashing Out podcast we have a good friend and entrepreneur, John Latella. John is the former owner and CEO of the family-owned iconic food brand Garden Fresh Gourmet, which John and his partners sold to The Campbell Soup Company in 2015 for $231 million.John and Todd talk about how he acquired Basha Hummus and El Matador Tortilla Co. to help grow his business to more than $100 Million in sales. We touch on how the Garden Fresh team managed through multiple inbound offers and M&A interest to eventually land on what they t...
2023-03-2239 minExitwise ProductionsThe Wise Exit | Selling To Apple | Joe MeyerE26: On today's episode of The Wise Exit, we have a very experienced operator and entrepreneur Joe Meyer. Joe has built several large business units within larger companies like Upper Deck, PWC and eBay.And he's founded and sold multiple companies to corporate behemoths like AOL and Apple. Joe attributes much of his success to his unwavering perseverance, which was driven home when his college baseball career was painfully cut short. Joe and I also talk about the Herculean efforts needed to get any new business off the ground and then properly positioned to sell when these...
2023-03-1544 min
Exitwise ProductionsThe Wise Exit | My 9-Figure Exit to Autotrader | Matt WatsonE25: On today's episode, we have tech expert, entrepreneur and founder of three successful tech companies, Matt Watson. As a technical and product-focused founder, Matt has a unique talent for balancing technology and business goals and knows what it takes to sell his business when the time is right. Matt built the largest automotive focused CRM platform in North America called VinSolutions, and he sold it to Autotrader for $150 million in 2011.After selling his second technology company, Stackify, Matt is now focused on building out his current software development firm Full Scale, l...
2023-03-0842 min
Exitwise ProductionsThe Wise Exit | College Athlete Turned Entrepreneur | Brent WallE24: On Episode 24 of The Wise Exit, we have a great guest, fellow college athlete and former owner of All Star Driver Education, Brent Wall. In 2007, Brent bought All-Star Driver Education from his father because they had very different views on how to grow the business. And Brent was tired of working for the family business without having true ownership. Once Brent took the reins, he grew this small family business into a 13 state operation with accompanying software, a platform which he ultimately sold in 2019 to a Private Equity firm.In our conversation, Brent sh...
2023-03-0142 min
Exitwise ProductionsThe Wise Exit | Selling MaxPreps Sports Media Juggernaut To CBS | Andy BealE23: Today we have a special guest, good friend, and founder of MaxPreps, Andy Beal. In 2002, Andy launched MaxPreps which became one of America's top sports media properties, and it was the pre-eminent online source for high school schedules, scores, statistics, and video highlights. In 2007, Andy made the decision to sell MaxPreps to CBS Interactive for $43M. Andy stayed on with MaxPreps serving as its President for the next 13 years until he left CBS in 2020.In today's conversation Andy and I talk about the debate over selling MaxPreps instead of raising more capital, and how having a gre...
2023-02-2245 min
Exitwise ProductionsThe Wise Exit | Unexpected Lessons From Selling To Capital One | Sandeep SoodE22: Today I have a special guest, serial entrepreneur, and CEO Sandeep Sood. Sandeep started his career as a designer and application developer for a variety of companies, before launching his first business, Monsoon, a high-end software development agency to the Fortune 500. After a 13 year journey, in 2015, Sandeep sold his business to Capital One. For the next 3 years Sandeep immersed himself into how large scale financial products were really built within large corporations, and then used that experience to create an even better software development agency to service large financial institutions, called Kunai.Today, Sandeep tal...
2023-02-1539 min
Exitwise ProductionsThe Wise Exit | M&A Lessons Of An Accidental Entrepreneur | Shannon WilburnE21: Today, I have a fantastic guest, Shannon Wilburn, who was co-founder, CEO and today is a board member of the franchise sensation, Just Between Friends.Shannon started her career as a fifth grade elementary school teacher, but as a pastor's wife in need of more income, she pivoted into the life of entrepreneurship. In 1997, Shannon and her co-founder opened their first children's and maternity consignment event in Tulsa, Oklahoma. They successfully grew their single location business, and in 2003, they decided to begin selling franchises of their concept all across the country.
2023-02-0853 min
DealGen Partners PodcastDealGen Show Episode 4https://exitwise.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/exitwise/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddfsullivan/
Todd Sullivan is the founder and CEO or Exitwise. Todd graduated from Yale University where he was a 2-time MVP of Yale’s ice hockey team. After a year as a minor league hockey player in the San Jose Sharks and Toronto Maple Leafs organizations, Todd returned to school for his MBA at the University of Michigan where he graduated as Entrepreneur of the Year.
Todd went on to build and sell four companies over the ne...
2023-02-0244 min
Exitwise ProductionsThe Wise Exit | DealRoom and M&A Science | Kison PatelE20: Today, my guest is a very experienced and well-known M&A professional and entrepreneur, Kison Patel. Kison entered the M&A world as a sell side M&A advisor representing commercial banks and hotel chains. Over the years, with hundreds of transactions under his belt, Kison realized that many business acquirers lacked efficient technology to manage their transaction ins and to ultimately make them successful. To address this problem in 2011, Kison founded Deal Room, an M&A lifecycle management platform for buyers to improve transaction processes and post M&A integrations.Then in 2016, he fo...
2023-02-0133 min
Founder BreakthroughsHow Founders can maximize their future Exit - with Todd Sullivan of ExitWiseTodd Sullivan is co-founder and CEO of ExitWise. After building and exiting a series of his own companies, Todd now helps founders plan and maximize their own exits when the time is right.During our talk, we covered:- How solving your own burning need can be the best launchpad for a startup- How decisions you make now can set you up for a strategic acquisition later down the road- The dangers of depending too much on someone else’s ecosystem – and how to mitigate them- The importance of ti...
2023-01-2749 min
Exitwise ProductionsThe Wise Exit | How To Win The Startup Endgame | Touraj ParangE19: Today I have a special guest, Touraj Parang, who has not only founded and sold three venture backed startups, but he's also led eight transformational acquisitions as a corporate development buyer at GoDaddy. Touraj has been a Silicon Valley M&A attorney, a venture investor, an entrepreneurial mentor, and today is the president of Serve Robotics, which provides delivery to people in public spaces using zero emissions autonomous robots.In our conversation Touraj and I discuss why selling a business is so difficult and how planning and preparation can greatly improve your chances of real transactional s...
2023-01-2544 min
Exitwise ProductionsThe Wise Exit | Built It, Sold It, and Built It Back Up Again... | Greg PackerE18: Today I have a fantastic guest from my men's league hockey team and serial entrepreneur, Greg Packer. Greg was born in Detroit. He graduated from the University of Michigan, and went on to build two large Professional Employer Organizations (or PEOs). Greg built his first PEO, Amstaff right out of college and eventually sold the business to ADP, which rebranded as ADP Total Source. At ADP Greg built the business to over $700 million in annual payroll which created one of the most profitable business lines for ADP. After a professional break to help coach his kids' ho...
2023-01-1842 min
Exitwise ProductionsThe Wise Exit | M&A Experience At Every Position On The Field | Brian ScanlonE17: Today I have a special guest, M&A expert, and serial entrepreneur, Brian Scanlon. Brian started his career by founding a marketing agency, Social Mediators, a full service digital marketing agency, which he sold in 2014. Brian's exit was not life changing, but he was able to put an entrepreneurial win on the board and much like myself he then decided to focus his attention on helping his fellow founders sell their businesses by entering the world of sell side M&A advisory after helping several business owners orchestrate their exit. In 2017, Brian saw his next entrepreneurial...
2023-01-1140 min
Exitwise ProductionsThe Wise Exit | In M&A, Time Is Not Your Friend | Jeff DursoE16: Today I have a special guest, fellow podcaster and serial entrepreneur with multiple exits under his belt, Jeff Durso. Jeff is a Massachusetts native who after attending MIT, sold his first business at the height of the internet bubble in 2000. We'll hear how a strategic partner can turn into an acquirer without any notice and how a well-timed silence during the subsequent negotiation with that buyer was worth an extra $1 million to Jeff. On his second exit, Jeff describes the incredible hurdles he and his team overcame to get multiple investors in. With signatures in place t...
2022-12-2138 min
Exitwise ProductionsThe Wise Exit | The "Second Bite of the Apple" in M&A | Chris MesoE15: Today I have a special guest, friend, and forward-thinking entrepreneur, Chris Meso. In 1989 while still in his twenties, Chris founded Mobile Air, which after more than 30 years of growth has become the largest private, portable HVAC specialty services business in North America. What's special about Chris's story is that not only did he know the right time to sell the business, but Chris also helped the private equity firm who acquired his business envision a strategy to roll up his competitors.Chris believed so much in this roll up strategy that he negotiated significant equity in t...
2022-12-1431 min
Exitwise ProductionsThe Wise Exit | Selling Two Digital Marketing Platforms to Cars.com | Joe ChuraE14: Today we have a special guest and good friend of Exitwise, Joe Chura.Joe has had an incredible entrepreneurial journey starting on the Ford Motor Company assembly line to founding two automotive digital marketing platforms, which he sold to cars.com in 2018 for a walk off home run outcome. Joe is an exceptional leader, marketer and lifelong learner who has taken on many different challenges well beyond the businesses he's most widely known for.He's recently run a marathon, hosts an incredible podcast called, Not Almost There, and he recently launched a new non-alcoholic...
2022-12-071h 16
Exitwise ProductionsThe Wise Exit | Part II Tech Crunch 50, Dan Gilbert's Business Card, and 20+ Years of Exit Stories | Exitwise CEO Todd SullivanE13: This episode is Part II of a two-episode series. If you haven't listened to Part I, we invite you to listen to it first before enjoying this episode.Today, based on multiple requests from our listeners, my friend, fellow entrepreneur, and co-founder of Exitwise, Brian Dukes is going to interview me, Todd Sullivan, to help our listeners learn a little bit more about my background and how we came to start Exitwise. We'll take you through the four companies I've started and sold while sharing a few memorable stories about my co-founders, investors, customers, and acquirers t...
2022-11-3041 min
Exitwise ProductionsThe Wise Exit | Part I - Hockey, the University of Michigan, and the Creation of his First Companies | Exitwise CEO Todd SullivanE12: Today, based on multiple requests from our listeners, my friend, fellow entrepreneur, and co-founder of Exitwise, Brian Dukes is going to interview me, Todd Sullivan, to help our listeners learn a little bit more about my background and how we came to start Exitwise. We'll take you through the four companies I've started and sold while sharing a few memorable stories about my co-founders, investors, customers, and acquirers that have made my professional journey worth the risk, the sacrifices, and the emotional rollercoaster that is entrepreneurship.A few highlights: (9:36) ... How professional hockey l...
2022-11-2342 min
Exitwise ProductionsThe Wise Exit | MIT Blackjack Star Sells Multiple Companies to Virgin, Yahoo & Twitter | Jeff MaE11: Today I have a special guest friend and former personal mentor, Jeff Ma.Jeff is best known as a former member of the MIT Blackjack team who won millions in the mid 1990’s. Jeff's success was the basis of the main character of a New York Times bestselling book, “Bringing Down The House”, and the highly successful movie “21”. Because of his focus on data and analytics, Jeff's success at the blackjack table translated well into his prolific entrepreneurial career.Jeff and his teams built and sold Circle Lending to Virgin, Citizen Sports to Yahoo, and finall...
2022-11-1647 min
Exitwise ProductionsThe Wise Exit | Selling 1-800 Hansons | Brian EliasE10: Today, I have a special guest, friend - home improvement entrepreneur, Brian Elias. With just $5K in savings, Brian started and built 1-800 Hansons, a company selling replacement windows, siding and roofing in the Midwest. Brian built Hansons to more than $70M in sales and today Hansons is one of the top 10 home improvement companies in the US. In 2017 Brian sold the majority of his share in Hansons to a private equity firm, Huron Capital.Brian is a marketing genius who understands how to connect with people on a personal level and he is always willing t...
2022-11-0237 minExitwise ProductionsThe Wise Exit | M&A Advice from Time's Top 100 Most Influential | Jay AdelsonE9: Today I have a special guest, friend and prolific entrepreneur, Jay Adelson.Jay is a serial entrepreneur, having co-founded and built countless significant companies over the last 20+ years: Founded Equinix (EQIX) in 1998, eventually helping drive to a successful IPO Helped launch Digg, Inc. and providing initial business strategy, taking the role of CEO beginning in 2005Co-founded Revision3, holding roles of CEO and then as Chairman until their sale to Discovery CommunicationsCEO of SimpleGeo, and led the sale to Urban Airship in November, 2011Co-founded Opsmatic, serving as Chairman and led the sale to New Relic in Oc...
2022-10-2650 minExitwise ProductionsThe Wise Exit | Selling a Business to Microsoft | Steven CoxE8: Today I have a special guest and friend who's been through an IPO and sold his last company to Microsoft.Stephen Cox created his first success as an early employee at PurchasePro, a B2B eCommerce platform, which went public in 1999. Steven followed that up by building TakeLessons, an online music lessons platform to help other musicians and educators connect with students in person and online. Steven, his team and his investors did not find instant success with Take Lessons, but they never gave up.And 14 years later, having raised 19 million from 14 different investors...
2022-10-1944 minExitwise ProductionsThe Wise Exit | M&A Playbook of a Multimillion Dollar Independent Sponsor | Brandon HalcottE7: Brandon started in investment banking at Goldman Sachs and then jumped to private equity to learn the tricks of the trade. After graduating from Harvard Business School, Brandon not only started a company, but he also worked in strategy and in M&A roles in multiple industries. Ultimately, Brandon discovered his life changing opportunity as an independent sponsor by purchasing and rolling up dental practices in the Midwest.Five years later, after building up a significant business, Brandon and his partner were approached by a much larger organization to be acquired. For many independent...
2022-10-1238 minExitwise ProductionsThe Wise Exit | IPO or Strategic Exit - Selling ForeSee Results | Larry FreedE6: Larry is a recognized industry expert in the field of Customer Experience and the author of two books, Managing Forward and recently published Innovating Analytics. Larry founded ForeSee Results to provide multichannel customer satisfaction analytics and analysis to clients worldwide in a variety of industries including retail, government, healthcare, finance, education and more. Larry grew the company from inception to a successful exit at the end of 2013. In this episode, Larry tells the story of an extremely complicated dual sales process - preparing the company for IPO while also negotiating with a Private Equity f...
2022-10-0547 minExitwise ProductionsThe Wise Exit | Selling Without an iBanker | Shane BliemasterE5: Shane Bliemaster has the interesting perspective of working for three companies that were acquired, the last of which was his own. He went through his first M&A transaction as an employee of Peanut Labs, which was acquired by e-Rewards in 2010. Then he was part of the founding team of MoviePass, which was acquired in 2017. And finally, his last exit was as the founder of Marketing Supply Company, which he sold to Phenomenon in 2021.Now because of Shane's previous experience with M&A, he decided to sell this last business without hiring an investment ba...
2022-09-2843 minExitwise ProductionsThe Wise Exit | 5 Tech Exits > $200M | Josh LinknerE4: Josh has been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which sold for a combined value of over 200 million. He's an internationally recognized expert on innovation and the author of four books on the subject. Josh is an accomplished venture capitalist as founding partner of both Detroit Venture Partners and his latest firm, Mudita Venture Partners.In today's episode, Josh goes deep into his entrepreneurial journey at ePrize - a desperate search for investment, mid-stream offers, a recapitalization of the business, a well thought succession plan, and an incredible exit. Josh also highlights his experiences w...
2022-09-2130 minExitwise ProductionsThe Wise Exit | $100M Exit to Monster + IPO | Rick MariniE3: On today's episode we hear from Rick Marini. Rick is a serial entrepreneur with 25 years of operating and investing experience in the technology space. He founded and successfully sold 3 companies (Tickle, BranchOut and Talk.co). He is an active angel investor in 50 tech start-ups including 17 unicorns (including Snapchat, Reddit, Opendoor, and AngelList). In 2018, Rick was named a "Top 50 Angel Investor" by Forbes. Rick is also the Co-founder & Managing Partner of Catapult Capital - a private equity firm that focuses on transactions in the Internet, advertising, media, consumer and broader technology sectors. Full buyouts include Grindr and Ji...
2022-09-1442 minExitwise ProductionsThe Wise Exit | Sold to Strategic Partner | Itai Ben-GalE2: Today, Itai Ben-Gal joins the podcast to talk about how he took his passion for home audio and video to build, scale, and eventually sell iRule to a strategic investor. You'll learn how he raised capital through a variety of channels - angel funding, venture capital and strategic investors, navigated a complicated sale, and how he and his business partner managed a very complex earn-out. He even talks through how he used his iRule exit to "accidentally" start his next company, Nerdy Bunny.Itai has some of the best personal and professional advice we’ve ever hear...
2022-09-0739 min