Articles by Daniel Debow
How to Sell Your Startup: The Complete Guide to Running an M&A Process as a FounderAs a 3-time founder, Daniel provides guidance for founders on navigating an acquisition process. He stresses the importance of cultivating relationships with executives at potential buyer companies well before beginning an acquisition process. These relationships can help position a founder's startup as a solution to a larger company's problems. When ready to initiate discussions, founders should leverage trusted contacts and be prepared to clearly articulate how their startup fits the buyer's needs. Proper preparation includes researching a potential valuation range and having sales materials optimized for each target company. Daniel outlines factors that can attract buyers and red flags to avoid, such as inflating metrics. He also emphasizes treating the process like a job interview and providing a timeline. Finally, he provides tips for founders and their teams to smoothly transition after a deal closes, including setting 90-day goals.