My First Million
The best business ideas come from noticing what's working and doing it better, faster, or for a different audience.
Gather comprehensive intelligence on potential acquirers to position your company optimally
Startup founders preparing to sell their company
2-4 weeks before initial buyer meetingsWhat Success Looks Like
Having detailed insights into buyer priorities, pain points, decision makers, and internal dynamics before your first pitch meeting
Steps to Execute
Identify and contact executives from companies previously acquired by your target
Ask specific questions about deal process, timelines, and decision-making
Map internal stakeholders and identify the executive champion
Research current strategic priorities and stuck initiatives
Understand company culture and communication preferences
Checklist
Inputs Needed
- List of target acquirer companies
- Access to founder networks for introductions
- Time for informal coffee meetings and calls
Outputs
- Detailed buyer intelligence profiles
- Customized positioning strategy for each buyer
- Identified warm introduction paths
Example
“Before pitching to Microsoft, a startup founder contacts 3 founders of previously acquired companies, learns that the Azure team is struggling with a specific compliance initiative, and positions their security tech as the perfect solution.”
Related Knowledge
Four Buyer Categories Framework
A systematic way to categorize potential acquirers into four distinct types based on their acquisition motivations and strategic needs.
DENNIS System for M&A
A systematic 6-step approach to selling your company, adapted from the comedy show Always Sunny in Philadelphia's 'DENNIS System' for dating.
Startup Sale Readiness Assessment
A four-question framework to assess whether you should sell your startup by comparing your current beliefs against your founding assumptions.
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Create comprehensive materials that remove all friction from the buying decision
Buyers can easily understand your value proposition, team, technology, and strategic fit without additional meetings or
Manage multiple potential buyers simultaneously to create leverage and maximize valuation
Multiple term sheets arriving within the same week, allowing you to negotiate better terms by creating competitive tensi