Exit advisory for DTC and consumer brand founders. From someone who spent 3 years navigating the M&A process and had 200+ conversations with potential buyers before successfully closing.
Request a Decision CallMost founders have never sold a company. They don't know what buyers actually look for, how the process works, or what kills deals. I learned these lessons the hard way.
You've built this thing for years. You know every strength. Buyers come in looking for problems. They have teams whose job is to find risk in your business. If you don't know what they're going to find before they find it, you lose leverage.
Plan on 12–24 months from "let's explore" to closed deal. Most founders burn out, get distracted, or lose momentum. The ones who close are the ones who treat it like a full workstream alongside running the business.
Of those 200+ conversations I had, most went nowhere. Some seemed promising for months before falling apart. Understanding why deals die helps you avoid those traps or recognize early when something isn't going to close.
Consumer brand M&A is a relationship game played over years. The buyers who acquired Koio weren't strangers; they were people we'd built relationships with over time. Starting that process early gives you more options.
Strategic guidance and execution support at every stage, from "should I sell?" to signed purchase agreement.
Before you go to market, understand what buyers will see. We identify gaps, fix what can be fixed, and build a clear picture of your positioning. Start with our free Exit Readiness Scorecard to see where you stand.
Not all buyers are created equal. Strategic vs. financial, industry insiders vs. outsiders, serious vs. just looking. I help you identify who's actually likely to close.
Information memorandum, management presentation, data room. The materials that tell your story to buyers in a way that addresses their concerns upfront.
Running a sale process while running a business is hard. I help manage the timeline, buyer communications, and the rhythm of a deal process.
When you're negotiating the biggest deal of your life, it helps to have someone who's been through it before in your corner.
The diligence phase is where deals die. I help you prepare for questions, manage the data flow, and keep momentum through the finish line.
Some deals need broader reach. As a Partner at Thunder VC, I can bring in institutional M&A capabilities when appropriate.
You get founder-to-founder guidance with institutional reach when you need it. The relationship starts with me; Thunder resources come in when they add value to your specific situation.
Let's talk about where you are, what your options look like, and whether it makes sense to work together. No pressure, just an honest conversation.
Request a Decision CallNot sure if you're ready to sell? A Financial Health Assessment can help you figure out what buyers would find.