Strategy•5 min read

Exit Strategies | M&A, IPO & Beyond

Exit options for startups. M&A, IPO, and secondary sales.

Exit Options

1. M&A (Acquisition)

  • Most common exit
  • Strategic buyers
  • Financial buyers

2. IPO

  • Rare for startups
  • High bar
  • Long timeline

3. Secondary Sale

  • Employee liquidity
  • Investor liquidity
  • Partial exit

Exit Process

  1. Prepare — Clean books, IP
  2. Target — Strategic + financial
  3. Pitch — Story and value
  4. Negotiate — Terms and price
  5. Close — Due diligence