4 Founders. $700M+ In Exits. The Truth About Selling A Startup

"Companies are bought, not sold."

That single line from Yves Frinault reframed the entire conversation on our first-ever Exited Founder Acquisition Roundtable.

We sat down with four construction tech founders who collectively sold their companies for hundreds of millions:
✅ Yves Frinault (Fieldwire → Hilti)
✅ Dustin DeVan (BuildingConnected → Autodesk, $275M cash + $40M stock)
✅ Mo Akbari Hochberg (HoloBuilder → FARO, ~$36M)
✅ Zach Scheel (Rhumbix → Autodesk, fresh off the deal)

Tune in to find out:
✅ Why Hilti told Fieldwire "we'll never acquire you" four years before acquiring them
✅ The one negotiation tactic Dustin says every founder should use against corp dev teams
✅ Why an acquisition is a "one-way door" once you walk in, and how to know you're ready
✅ The QSBS detail that decides how much of the exit you actually keep

Full episode on Spotify and YouTube now.

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Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:46 Introduction to the Acquisition Round Table
03:25 Founders' Experiences and Lessons Learned
06:31 Understanding the Role Post-Acquisition
09:40 The Importance of Timing in Acquisitions
09:56 Sponsors
12:57 Fundamentals for Being an Attractive Acquisition Target
31:06 The Exit Journey: Building Value Before Acquisition
33:14 Business Fundamentals: Attracting Strategic Acquirers
36:04 Diligence and Documentation: Preparing for Acquisition
38:56 Revenue and Customer Love: Key Acquisition Drivers
41:13 Understanding ARR: Acquisition Thresholds and Market Dynamics
48:53 Negotiation Strategies: Preparing for the Table
54:46 Lessons from Exits: Growth as a Founder
01:00:45 Defining Success Beyond Numbers
01:02:42 Mindfulness in Leadership During Transitions
01:04:22 The Importance of a Strong Executive Team
01:05:20 The Shift in Perspective Post-Acquisition
01:06:11 Reflections on Founding and Structuring Companies
01:08:37 Creating Value Over Tax Strategy
01:11:21 The Reality of Startup Success Rates
01:11:54 Choosing the Right Company to Join
01:14:48 The Value of Collaboration and Shared Experiences

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Видео 4 Founders. $700M+ In Exits. The Truth About Selling A Startup канала Bricks & Bytes