Event category: Breakout

You’ve got a buyer at the table, everything feels great… until it doesn’t. From messy cap tables to sketchy data practices, certain issues can tank a tech M&A deal faster than you can say “due diligence.” In this no-BS session, M&A pros break down the 10 biggest deal killers in tech exits-what they are, why they happen, and how to set yourself up now for success down the road and avoid the cringe.

What You Will Learn:

• The top 10 mistakes that kill M&A deals
• Why these issues arise and how to prevent them
• How to prepare now for due diligence success
• How to make your company more “buyable”

The pitch is done. The term sheet’s signed. The announcement’s drafted. Now what? What no one tells you is that getting to “yes” is just the start. This candid session pulls back the curtain on what happens after the handshake- the legal landmines, the buyer demands, the deal fatigue, and the moments founders wish they’d seen coming. Hear practical advice from those who’ve been in the room- founders, legal experts, and deal advisors- so you can keep your exit on track all the way to the finish line.

What You Will Learn:

• The realities of post-term-sheet negotiations
• Legal and emotional hurdles in deal closing
• How to manage buyer requests and red flags
• Founder-tested strategies to get to the finish line

This session offers seasoned entrepreneurs a deep dive into the mechanics of partial exits. Through our panel of experts, learn how to unlock liquidity, retain a stake in your company’s future, optimize tax strategies and create deal or tax structures to ensure long-term success for your business and legacy.

In this behind-the-scenes session we’ll explore the highs and lows, pinch points and power plays, and loves and loathes of the M&A process as experienced by lawyers, accountants and bankers. A lively Q&A will allow attendees to ask their burning questions and gain first hand knowledge on how to optimize their own M&A journey making it more enjoyable for everyone.

For seasoned dealmakers, the initial rush of an M&A transaction is nothing new—but neither are the inevitable roadblocks that arise along the way. Delays in due diligence, shifting financial expectations, deal fatigue, internal politics, and competing priorities can all threaten to derail even the most promising transactions. In this session, experienced buyers, sellers, bankers, and advisors share candid war stories and hard-earned insights from navigating complex, high-stakes deals. Learn how to manage stakeholder dynamics, maintain momentum during drawn-out negotiations, and stay focused on closing without compromising the ultimate value of the deal. This isn’t about theory—it’s about what it really takes to cross the finish line in today’s M&A landscape.

Preparing for an acquisition is a high-stakes process, and the 24 months leading up to the deal are critical. This session provides a roadmap, detailing the key milestones and roles of lawyers, advisors, bankers, and accountants in ensuring compliance, positioning for valuation, and streamlining due diligence activities. Whether you’re preparing for your first acquisition or fine-tuning your exit strategy, this session will provide actionable insights and a physical timeline to help you navigate every step with confidence.