Find potential buyers for your startup. Understand their interests and get the best outcome for yourself and your investors.
We help founders run a disciplined, strategic process to surface the best-fit acquirers—financial and strategic—and position the story so you maximize value while protecting team and product continuity.
Why thoughtful buyer discovery matters
- Exits are won or lost in positioning; 50–70% of deals underperform when misalignment on product, roadmap, or integration appears late. Targeted outreach prevents last-minute surprises.
- Most AI and software companies are cash-flow negative; the “right buyer” is the one whose roadmap, data, or distribution your product unlocks. That requires technical and commercial fluency, not a generic list.
- In AI and vertical tech, capability claims can look similar from the outside; practitioners can separate true fit from overlap and ensure you do not end up in a feature bake-off.
- Process and readiness drive leverage: clean materials, clear narrative, and a crisp diligence path keep competitive tension high and timelines predictable.
- Protecting people matters. Early clarity on integration plans, role continuity, and roadmap intent keeps key talent engaged through close.
How we add value
We combine go-to-market insight with technical depth to map the field, shape your narrative, and run a process that respects your time and preserves optionality. We give you a short list of real buyers, not a spray-and-pray blast.
What we deliver
- Buyer landscape and thesis: Ranked targets with rationale—product adjacency, data synergy, AI/infra fit, distribution leverage, and cultural compatibility.
- Positioning and materials: An investor/strategic-ready story, data room plan, and technical appendix that anticipate the diligence path.
- Outreach and sequencing plan: Phased contact strategy to build competitive tension while managing confidentiality and timing.
- Readiness checklist: What to shore up before first calls—metrics, architecture highlights, reliability posture, cost-to-serve narrative, and key people plan.
- Deal guardrails: Guidance on structures that protect upside and team continuity (earnouts, retention, integration milestones).
How we run the process
1) Thesis and objectives (Day 0–2)
Align on founder goals (value, roles, timing), red lines, and the strategic angles most likely to resonate with buyers.
2) Buyer mapping (Day 2–7)
Build and score the universe across strategics, PE platforms, and product adjacencies; validate fit with quiet signals from our network.
3) Narrative and materials (Day 5–10)
Craft the story, metrics spine, and technical highlights; prepare the data room outline so diligence is smooth, not reactive.
4) Outreach sequencing (Day 10–14)
Plan waves of outreach to test positioning, manage confidentiality, and keep competitive tension without overexposing the market.
5) Qualification and diligence support (Day 14–30+)
Prep for technical and product diligence calls; manage Q&A, track signals, and adjust the field based on feedback and offers.
6) Negotiation support
Help structure offers, address integration concerns, and maintain optionality until you choose the right partner.
Who this is for
- Founders of AI, data, or vertical software companies considering a strategic exit or PE majority sale.
- Teams with differentiated tech or data assets who want buyers that will preserve and scale the product, not shelf it.
- Companies entering buyer conversations for the first time and wanting a guided, efficient process.
Engagement models
- Fast landscape (1–2 weeks): Tight target list, positioning themes, and readiness checklist.
- Full buyer process support (4–8+ weeks): Mapping, materials, sequencing, diligence coaching, and negotiation support.
- Augmented deal team: We embed alongside bankers or corp dev to bring practitioner depth to the technical and product story.
