Whether you’re in it to build your tech company to sell or not, you still need to be exit ready as you may be presented with an opportunity to sell and may need to sell for reasons you never thought of. Sometimes exits can happen sooner than expected, and sometimes they need to be accelerated based on what is happening in the market. Learn how to assess the market dynamics and read the signals so that you can strategically respond or plan for your exit. When do exits happen and why? What are the tell-tale signs that may warrant an early exit? As a buyer or seller in the technology sector, you need to learn how to think strategically. Be exit ready.
Buying or selling a technology company is all about preparation – though the steps required are very different from buying or selling a bricks & mortar company. Managing the due diligence process, avoiding loss of intellectual property and trade secrets, managing commercial partnerships and customers relationships, all pose unique challenges to technology companies. You don’t want to reveal trade secrets to the competition, who may approach you under the guise of an acquisition, and you don’t want to put your business at risk should a sale not go through. In this panel discussion, you’ll hear from experts that have lived through an acquisition or sale. You’ll hear about the challenges they faced in managing their exits.
In 2012 Facebook bought Instagram, a company with 13 employees and 30 million users, for $1.0B and so it began. Analysts then described Instagram as a company without a business model. Since then it has been described as a brilliant move by Mark Zuckerberg. In 2014 Facebook bought WhatsApp for $19B, in 2016 Microsoft bought Linkedin $26.2B. Why do technology companies get acquired for strategic values that make other sectors look tepid, and how do you take advantage of this? And what can you do to drive exit value in your technology company? In this panel discussion hear from experts who have worked in, advised and sold technology companies discuss what drives exit value and how it is different from bricks and mortar companies. Learn about valuation techniques and also what steps you can take to increase your enterprise value.
A Tech Exit is an extremely labour intensive process. How do you manage this process and still keep your business running smoothly? The answer is forming an M&A team, both with inside resources and outside specialists, to lead and manage the process. Who are the key players you need to complete a successful acquisition or sale? What do they bring to the table and what are their costs and benefits? Which employees inside your company should be involved, and when? Learn about the roles advisors play and when to start engaging these experts.
No matter how much you prepare, you only really know what it will be like AFTER you have gone through the process of selling your company. Hear directly from technology entrepreneurs who have sold their technology companies. What did they wish they knew before they started? What did they learn in the process? What would they do over?
Meet Founders and Investors at a Happy Hour unlike any other. Enjoy premium food and drinks including an oyster bar, a sushi bar, a scotch bar, and more! Mingle with leading deal makers and entrepreneurs in a relaxed environment.
