Most startups and emerging companies miss the opportunity for effective exit planning by not integrating exit planning into their business development activities. The most likely M&A partner is an existing partner, especially if you are making the partner successful. By understanding the relationship between business development and exit planning, you can utilize your partnership efforts to accomplish both objectives. Startups [...]
Every startup begins with aspirations of being “the next” Google or Facebook or Amazon. This unbridled optimism is what drives an entrepreneur. Each new technology market has new success stories, and drives future entrepreneurs to chase after their dreams. However, the reality is that not every startup can “win” their market. With each new technology market, billions of potential entrepreneurs [...]
With M&A, most companies are focused on deal execution, and not enough time is spent on value creation. In fact, most companies aren’t optimized for creating value with M&A, which requires rethinking the approach to M&A. M&A is a 4-quarter sport. M&A strategy and advisory is the 1st quarter. Deal execution is the 2nd quarter. Integration is the 3rd quarter. [...]
Are lawyers the real masters of strategy? Maybe not from a substantive standpoint, but the legal analytical process appears to taking hold in the strategy world. In law school, lawyers are drilled with IRAC (Issue-Rule-Analysis- Conclusion) as a means to organize their thoughts and provide a methodological approach to a client’s issue. When interacting with a client, lawyers are asked [...]
For the entrepreneur, life in an early stage startup is fairly straightforward: you build a product and acquire your first customers. Plenty of books and other materials have been written to guide help a company through the initial stages of sales and product development, including the Lean Startup movement. After the product has been built and the startup has initial [...]
Strategy can be a confusing topic. Countless books and articles are still being written explaining what strategy is and how to do it. New strategy models are constantly being developed and sold like snake oil as the cure for all corporate ills. Early in my career, I watched an executive off-site derailed over the confusion between a strategy and a [...]
Most startups and emerging companies miss the opportunity for an effective exit strategy by not integrating exit strategy into their business development activities. The most likely M&A partner is an existing business partner, especially if you are making the partner successful. By understanding the relationship between business development and exit strategy, you can utilize your partnership efforts to accomplish both [...]
As startups and emerging companies expand, they inevitably face the question of how to grow in international markets. Too often, companies haphazardly build their international businesses and are frustrated by the results. International strategy requires surveying the market and weighing a number of considerations. A good international strategy will address the following: Approach Starting Point: In what region should you [...]
Exit planning is essential to achieving maximum shareholder value and ensuring that all your hard work is rewarded. Without an effective plan, market forces or some unforeseen event could leave you scrambling to find an exit. If you sell under distress and without preparation, your valuation will be significantly less. Exit planning is like an insurance policy. You pay a [...]
Companies inevitably face the question: how to grow the business outside your existing market? Emerging companies as well as established companies face this question. When a company is started, the best strategy is to focus on a single product and a single market to marshal all your resources towards winning that market. After a few years, you realize that the [...]
