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Interesting read, but for my part, I'm much more interested to learn _how_ to start the process. That is, tips on how to position your company to make it a cand

by sovande 14y ago

Interesting read, but for my part, I'm much more interested to learn _how_ to start the process. That is, tips on how to position your company to make it a candidate for acquisition. (Apart from a great product and name of course - got that). Ways to flag potential suitors? And ways to make it clear that you are looking for buyers? etc. Any pointers or text to look at would be much appreciated.

king_magic 14y ago
Ditto. I'd like to know if it is a process that really only starts once someone has noticed you, or if it is something an owner can push for. If so, what is the best way to do this? Right now, my strategy is to pursue integration and use it as an avenue to acquisition. Not sure if it's the most viable method, though.
- ScottBurson 14y ago
  It's as with any negotiation: whoever needs the deal the worst is in the weaker position. There is such a thing as shopping a company around looking for an acquirer, but you're unlikely to get as good a deal as if they come to you.
bigsassy 14y ago
Ok. Here you go. http://maplebutter.com/getting-your-startup-ready-for-an-acquisition/ http://maplebutter.com/getting-your-startup-ready-for-an-acq...
dirtyaura 14y ago
I've been through one acquisition. The acquirer came to us, without us really realizing their plans at the time of the first contact. Around the same time, we were also contacted by a few other parties. What I've heard from other people, this seems to be the norm at least in consumer internet space. It's rare acquisition in which the acquirer hasn't followed your company for some time. So you are likely to have a better success if you get into radars of potential acquirers by suggesting biz dev deals first instead of direct acquisition proposal.
dglassan 14y ago
I've gone through one acquisition within the last year. Ours came about through a combination of us releasing a new feature and getting some pr that caught corporate dev's attention (they read techcrunch too you know), and we also tried to bring our acquirer on as a client around the same time so we were talking with people outside of corporate development as well.
bretpiatt 14y ago
It really is simple and very difficult, build a great product, get traction, wow your users. After that, be patient and keep doing it. The early exits you hear about are the exception, not the rule. When you begin a startup be ready to spend the next (on average) 7 years.

by sovande 14y ago

king_magic 14y ago

Ditto. I'd like to know if it is a process that really only starts once someone has noticed you, or if it is something an owner can push for. If so, what is the best way to do this? Right now, my strategy is to pursue integration and use it as an avenue to acquisition. Not sure if it's the most viable method, though.

ScottBurson 14y ago
It's as with any negotiation: whoever needs the deal the worst is in the weaker position. There is such a thing as shopping a company around looking for an acquirer, but you're unlikely to get as good a deal as if they come to you.

bigsassy 14y ago

Ok. Here you go. http://maplebutter.com/getting-your-startup-ready-for-an-acquisition/ http://maplebutter.com/getting-your-startup-ready-for-an-acq...

dirtyaura 14y ago

I've been through one acquisition. The acquirer came to us, without us really realizing their plans at the time of the first contact. Around the same time, we were also contacted by a few other parties. What I've heard from other people, this seems to be the norm at least in consumer internet space. It's rare acquisition in which the acquirer hasn't followed your company for some time. So you are likely to have a better success if you get into radars of potential acquirers by suggesting biz dev deals first instead of direct acquisition proposal.

dglassan 14y ago

I've gone through one acquisition within the last year. Ours came about through a combination of us releasing a new feature and getting some pr that caught corporate dev's attention (they read techcrunch too you know), and we also tried to bring our acquirer on as a client around the same time so we were talking with people outside of corporate development as well.

bretpiatt 14y ago

It really is simple and very difficult, build a great product, get traction, wow your users. After that, be patient and keep doing it. The early exits you hear about are the exception, not the rule. When you begin a startup be ready to spend the next (on average) 7 years.