Ready For Exit - How to build a startup that gets acquired

Drawing on seven years as a technical diligence assessor for private equity investments in software companies, along with his own experience steering a startup through an acquisition as the CTO, Iain knows how to build companies that are ready for the rigorous expectations of mid-stage M&A teams and the hard questions of technical due diligence. Based on hundreds of deals, conversations with acquirers, and interviews with companies – ranging from scrappy startups to multi-billion dollar conglomerates – Iain really has the inside scoop.

Whether as a workshop or ongoing consulting, he'll share the challenges tech startups face as they grow, the most effective solutions to common issues, and the practices teams should be adopting early if they want to be optimally positioned for acquisition. Topics include:

  • Businesses and business models that attract acquirers
  • The differences between VC and PE investors and how they approach risk
  • The red flags and top risks that sink deals
  • Myths and misconceptions that mislead founders
  • The planning and strategy practices investors expect to see
  • The metrics and data investors want you to have from day one
  • Future-proof software architecture, scalability, and avoiding technical debt
  • Risk management, disaster preparation, and business continuity
  • Building, managing, and retaining great teams
  • How to prepare for technical due diligence

Through countless privileged interviews, Iain has learned what works, what doesn't, and what investors want to see to sign the deal. It's no exaggeration that the material covered in Ready For Exit can make a difference of millions of dollars to a mid-stage valuation. Instead of discovering in five years what you should have been doing all along, have Iain set you on the path to success from day one.

Ready for Exit can be delivered as a presentation to multiple portfolio companies, a multi-day workshop to startup leaders, or as in-depth consulting and analysis with a single company.

If you're an investor or mid-stage company looking for diligence, Iain works through RingStone Tech.