👋 Welcome to Acquire.com Academy!
Great to have you here 🥳
You're about to embark on an educational journey through the world of startup acquisitions.
My goal is to equip you with the knowledge needed to get your startup acquired quickly and easily, without all the headaches most founders suffer.
So... You're probably wondering what's on the itinerary, right?
Well, you're going to learn everything from startup valuations to due diligence, from negotiating an LOI to transferring assets, from attracting offers to deal structures.
In other words, everything you need to know to get your startup acquired.
⚒️ How Acquire.com Academy Works
If you're new here, check out the introductory video below that explains how Acquire.com helps startups get acquired.
Then, either skip straight to the lessons to fill any knowledge gaps or start from the beginning and work your way through the course.
Each lesson is short and easily digested over your morning coffee!
Oh, and if you have a question about something not covered in this course, drop me an email at andrew@acquire.com and I'll create a lesson for you.
🤓 About Your Teacher
I'm Andrew Gazdecki, serial entrepreneur, mentor, and founder of Acquire.com (and the Acquire.com Academy).
Back in 2017, I sold my first company, Bizness Apps, to a private equity firm. Since then I've been fortunate enough to have had two more startups acquired, so you could say I'm a veteran of the acquisition process.
I've experienced it all: the months of due diligence, reams of paperwork, and endless meetings with brokers and investment bankers. It’s an emotional rollercoaster without any guarantee of success. But it's also incredibly rewarding.
I decided to create a space where founders like you can learn the acquisition process and connect with potential buyers, cutting out the middlemen and red tape. The result is Acquire.com – the most founder-friendly startup marketplace in the world.
Acquire.com Academy is an extension of the marketplace where I share all the tips, tricks, and strategies for getting your startup acquired quickly, easily, and for the right price. Ready to absorb some knowledge that could change your life?
Then let's get started!
Getting your startup acquired is a full-time job.
If you want to get it acquired quickly and for the right price, your work starts now.
In this module, you'll learn:
How to correctly estimate your startup's valuation.
How Profit and Loss (P&L) statements justify your purchase price.
Why you should set an acquisition timeline (and how they attract better offers).
10 tips and strategies for increasing acquisition offers.
What details about your business will draw the attention of a buyer.
Let's get you closer to that life-changing acquisition :)
Your first acquisition offer is a proud moment.
It might not be the one you accept, nor the only one you receive, but it's proof of the hard work you put into building your startup and getting it acquired.
Now, it's time to think of how the acquisition will happen in a practical sense. In other words, what do you need to think about now before the deal closes?
In this module, you'll learn:
What you need to keep doing while your startup is acquired.
Who can help with the acquisition process (advisors, legal, and so on).
How to communicate an acquisition to your employees and customers.
What a data room is and why you need one (includes a customizable template).
How to transfer acquisition assets, including a handover plan.
You're one step closer to closing an acquisition deal on your terms. Don't stop now!
Negotiation starts the moment you receive a Letter of Intent, and lasts right up until you and the buyer sign the purchase agreement.
Until then, everything is on the table, and nothing is certain.
You and the buyer should both walk away happy from this acquisition.
In this module, you'll learn:
How to negotiate a Letter of Intent (LOI).
Common deal structures that help close offers.
Seller financing and why you should offer it.
Don't be afraid to be open and honest about your expectations as soon as a buyer shows interest. The right buyer will stick around if they're genuinely interested in acquiring your startup, and a frank discussion now could save weeks of wasted time.
Legal can be as dry as old twigs but it's also the foundation upon which happy acquisitions are made.
You'll need counsel to conquer its trickier terrain, but knowing a bit about legal now will help you prepare for and win negotiations.
In this module, you'll learn:
The different legal stages of acquisition.
How to assess LOIs and purchase agreements.
Financing, payment terms, and tax implications.
Impact of local and national laws on acquisitions.
Due diligence of IP, people, metrics, ops, and customers.
Love it or hate it, legal is critical to a successful acquisition. Whatever you do, don't rush legal and don't do it alone. Learn what needs to be done and get the proper help to minimize problems later.
Bonus: If you need help finding an acquisition advisor, Acquire.com has you covered. We've built an Advisor Directory/Network that can match you with a trusted M&A Advisor, attorney, accountant, or any acquisition professional you'd need. Just create a listing and submit a request to get matched within 72 hours within the seller dashboard. Learn more about it here.
When your startup has been acquired, what next?
This is the ideal time to apply everything you've learned into acquiring and scaling a new startup.
True entrepreneurship is serial entrepreneurship. You could cut years and potentially save thousands of dollars through a well-chosen acquisition than building another business from scratch.
In this module, you'll learn:
How to choose a SaaS acquisition.
The impact of churn, code, and customers.
How to use reviews, testimonials, and case studies to assess startups.
Don't forget to create your buyer account on Acquire.com, too! We list 1,000s of vetted startups and any one of which could be an ideal fit for your skills and experience.
Congratulations on completing the academy! I'm excited for your journey ahead and know that wherever it leads, you're just getting started!
Feel free to reach out directly if you have any questions or feedback. If there's a subject I missed, I'm sure we've written about it on the Acquire.com Blog, so be sure to go there for additional acquisition content.
Lastly, if you’re curious about what it’s like selling on Acquire.com, I’ve included the playlist of interviews I’ve had with founders who were successfully acquire’d on Acquire.com. Take a look to get a candid view into what you can expect.
For the love of startups!
Andrew Gazdecki