This week on The Exit: Suleman “Suli” Ali was introduced to the world of business M&A when he was just eight years old helping his father find and buy their family’s first business. 

However, it wasn’t until years later into his early 20s and his first job at Microsoft that he determined that corporate life was not for him and he answered his calling to a life of entrepreneurship.

During this time, the Facebook app marketplace was in its early stages and he went all in on becoming a leader in the Facebook app space.

He and his team would go on to build and exit two mobile gaming businesses, Esgut (acquired by SGN) and then TinyCo (acquired by Jam City).

Two exits and decades of experience later in building both bootstrapped and VC-backed businesses, he emphasizes the importance of building businesses that will continue to perform through increased competition and marketing costs.

Through it all, he hopes business owners will do what he wishes he did for himself: to enjoy the journey as you’re building and growing the business, and not just at the exit.

For more details and insights from his entrepreneurial journey, listen to the latest episode of The Exit.


Suli Ali is a serial investor and entrepreneur who has started and sold 2 startups with Esgut being acquired by SGN, and TinyCo being acquired by Jam City. Suli has been an angel investor in over 100 startups and LP in 25+ venture capital funds. Through Ali Capital, along with his brother Moiz, Suli has a passion for investing with founders who see a future that few others can see. 


LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sulemanali 

Website: https://www.ali-capital.co/ 

X (Twitter) - https://twitter.com/sulemanali 


For a Free Flippa Business Valuation: https://flippa.com/exit 





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The Exit—Presented By Flippa: A 30-minute podcast featuring expert entrepreneurs who have been there and done it. The Exit talks to operators who have bought and sold a business. You’ll learn how they did it, why they did it, and get exposure to the world of exits, a world occupied by a small few, but accessible to many. To listen to the podcast or get daily listing updates, click on flippa.com/the-exit-podcast/

Gaming the System: Suli Ali's Journey from Microsoft to Mobile Game Empire

Want a quick estimate of how much your business is worth?

With our free valuation calculator, answer a few questions about your business and you’ll get an immediate estimate of the value of your business.

You might be surprised by how much you can get for it: https://flippa.com/exit 


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In this episode of The Exit: Aaron Spivak, founder of The Founders Club, shares his entrepreneurial journey from launching a juice shop in his mother's basement at 18 to building Hush, a premium weighted blanket company that achieved nine-figure success. 

Aaron discusses how Hush innovated in response to market challenges, developing the world's first cooling weighted blanket when faced with 70,000 competitors. 

Instead of racing to the bottom on price, they elevated their product to $349, achieving $50 million in annual sales with double-digit margins. 

The exit to a publicly traded sleep company came through intentional positioning and relationship building, though Aaron describes the year-long process at age 25 as incredibly lonely. 

This experience inspired him to create The Founders Club, a community supporting entrepreneurs through resources and connections he wished he had during his exit. 

His key advice to his past self: stay delusional and trust that it will work out. 

For more details and insights from his entrepreneurial journey, listen to the latest episode of The Exit.


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Aaron is a 29-year-old Canadian serial entrepreneur who co-founded Revitasize at 18 years old—an organic cold-pressed juice kitchen serving high-quality juices, smoothies, acai bowls, and a variety of vegan options. Prior to this, Aaron co-founded a sleep improvement company called Hush, selling a product now considered to be the world's most popular (and reviewed) weighted blanket—designed to help those with sleep issues, anxiety, insomnia, ADHD, and more. Within its first 24 months, Hush grew into an eight-figure brand. In 2021, Aaron sold Hush to Canadian sleep giant Sleep Country in a landmark acquisition, marking a significant milestone in Canadian e-commerce history. Aaron recently launched The Founders Club, a community for high-growth founders seeking virtual, in-person, and local connections with like-minded CEOs, founders, and executives in the CPG, e-commerce, and retail sectors.


Website: https://www.foundersclubofficial.com/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-spivak1/ 


Check Out Flippa’s Data Insights Tool: https://flippa.com/data-insights 


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The Exit—Presented By Flippa: A 30-minute podcast featuring expert entrepreneurs who have been there and done it. The Exit talks to operators who have bought and sold a business. You’ll learn how they did it, why they did it, and get exposure to the world of exits, a world occupied by a small few, but accessible to many. To listen to the podcast or get daily listing updates, click on flippa.com/the-exit-podcast/

From Basement to Nine Figures: Aaron Spivak's Hush Story

Want a quick estimate of how much your business is worth?

With our free valuation calculator, answer a few questions about your business and you’ll get an immediate estimate of the value of your business.

You might be surprised by how much you can get for it: https://flippa.com/exit 


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In this episode of The Exit: Ben Zogby, head of Flippa University, shares his journey from chemical engineer to successful entrepreneur, highlighting how he launched HighStrike, a trading education community that he sold on Flippa for $1.8M, after starting eight failed ventures. 

Ben discusses how he grew HighStrike through Instagram marketing, evolving from manual engagement to working with influencer networks, before selling through Flippa in 2022. 

After being told by a competitor in 2020 that his business wasn't sellable, Ben spent two years systematizing operations, ultimately attracting three competing offers that increased the sale price by $300,000. 

Now leading Flippa University, an educational platform for buyers and sellers of online businesses, Ben emphasizes the importance of early exit preparation and proper business tracking from day one. 

Drawing from his experience both selling and buying businesses on Flippa, he aims to help others achieve successful exits and acquisitions. 

His key advice to his past self: take every venture seriously from the start, rather than waiting for success to implement proper business practices. 

For more details and insights from his entrepreneurial journey, listen to the latest episode of The Exit.


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Ben Zogby started a trading platform subscription business as a solo, bootstrapped founder in 2018. After growing the business for 5 years and experiencing what it's like becoming an entrepreneur, Ben felt that it was time to take some chips off the table. Ben emphasizes that Flippa helped him find a buyer for his business, valued at $1,800,000. The sale was his introduction to digital asset M&A, which has become his career. In Flippa University, Ben will walk you through the whole process of buying and selling from his experience having done both at a high level.


Check Out Flippa University: https://university.flippa.com/ 

Ben on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-zogby-9178692a4/ 


Check Out Flippa’s Data Insights Tool: https://flippa.com/data-insights 


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The Exit—Presented By Flippa: A 30-minute podcast featuring expert entrepreneurs who have been there and done it. The Exit talks to operators who have bought and sold a business. You’ll learn how they did it, why they did it, and get exposure to the world of exits, a world occupied by a small few, but accessible to many. To listen to the podcast or get daily listing updates, click on flippa.com/the-exit-podcast/



From $1.8M Seller to Educator: Ben Zogby and Flippa University

Want a quick estimate of how much your business is worth?

With our free valuation calculator, answer a few questions about your business and you’ll get an immediate estimate of the value of your business.

You might be surprised by how much you can get for it: https://flippa.com/exit 


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In this episode of The Exit: Paul Pappageorge, founder and CEO of Ashland Capital Advisors, shares valuable insights from over two decades of helping business owners plan and execute successful exits. 

After selling his own company in 2004 and making numerous mistakes, Paul developed a passion for guiding entrepreneurs through this complex process. 

Paul explains the meticulous exit planning process his firm uses, starting with understanding value drivers and realistic valuations based on industry comparibles. 

He discusses the differences between financial and strategic buyers, noting that strategic acquisitions are rarer but potentially more lucrative when entrepreneurs can articulate their unique market position. 

Paul frames optimal exit timing as the intersection of three curves: the business lifecycle, personal wealth accumulation goals, and personal life stage. 

His key advice: regularly revisit exit planning to gain control and ultimately exit on your own terms. 

For more details and insights from his entrepreneurial journey, listen to the latest episode of The Exit.


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Paul Pappageorge is the Founder and CEO of Ashland Capital Advisors. Paul is a Certified Exit Planning Expert known for his thoughtful approach to business. His 30+ years in business started in public accounting and migrated to business ownership, successful exits, and now helping others to do the same. Paul has been designated as a home care industry expert by Business Brokerage Press, a leading publisher in the brokerage sector. 


Website: https://ashlandcapitaladvisors.com/ 

Paul on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ppappageorge/ 


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The Exit—Presented By Flippa: A 30-minute podcast featuring expert entrepreneurs who have been there and done it. The Exit talks to operators who have bought and sold a business. You’ll learn how they did it, why they did it, and get exposure to the world of exits, a world occupied by a small few, but accessible to many. To listen to the podcast or get daily listing updates, click on flippa.com/the-exit-podcast/


The Three Curves of Exit Timing: Paul Pappageorge's Strategic Framework

Want a quick estimate of how much your business is worth?

With our free valuation calculator, answer a few questions about your business and you’ll get an immediate estimate of the value of your business.

You might be surprised by how much you can get for it: https://flippa.com/exit 



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In this episode of The Exit: Edward Valaitis, founder and managing director of Edison Avenue, shares tactical insights from his extensive experience helping businesses worth $1-25 million navigate successful exits. 

Drawing from his background in commercial banking, CPA work, and strategy consulting, Edward emphasizes starting exit planning at least three years before selling. 

He details the critical components of valuation preparation, including cleaning financial statements, eliminating personal expenses from business books, addressing aging accounts receivable, and securing long-term customer contracts. 

Edward warns against accepting unsolicited offers, which he calls "the steak dinner" scenario in his book "Exit Like a Winner," where experienced buyers take advantage of unprepared sellers. 

He explains the important distinction between financial buyers (95% of the market) and strategic buyers, who might pay premium prices for businesses that complement their existing operations. 

Edward also discusses how industry trends and personal timing should influence exit decisions, recommending his "hourglass grid" exercise to help entrepreneurs realistically assess their remaining productive years. 

For more details and insights from his entrepreneurial journey, listen to the latest episode of The Exit.



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Edward Valaitis is currently the Founder & Managing Partner of Edison Avenue. Edison Avenue helps entrepreneurs with annual sales of $1 Million to $25 Million to achieve financial success by representing them in the sale of their business, business valuation, business acquisition searches, and fast growth consulting. Edward Valaitis earned the prestigious Certified Business Intermediary (CBI) designation in 2013.  He also earned his Certified Merger & Acquisition Professional (CM&AP) designation in 2017. He has more than 30 years of experience building, managing, and leading high-quality professional services firms with expertise in merger and acquisition transactions, turnarounds, acquisitions, risk consulting, strategy, due diligence, commercial lending, marketing, business development, and leadership.


Website: https://edisonavenue.com/ 

Edward on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valaitis/ 

Edward’s Book: https://a.co/d/8hvrbYE 


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The Exit—Presented By Flippa: A 30-minute podcast featuring expert entrepreneurs who have been there and done it. The Exit talks to operators who have bought and sold a business. You’ll learn how they did it, why they did it, and get exposure to the world of exits, a world occupied by a small few, but accessible to many. To listen to the podcast or get daily listing updates, click on flippa.com/the-exit-podcast/



$1-25M Exit Expertise: Edward Valaitis's Exit Winner Strategy

Want a quick estimate of how much your business is worth?

With our free valuation calculator, answer a few questions about your business and you’ll get an immediate estimate of the value of your business.

You might be surprised by how much you can get for it: https://flippa.com/exit 



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In this episode of The Exit: Heather Schuck shares her journey from neuropsychology to baby fashion mogul to co-founding Elevated Exit, where she helps founders build sellable businesses. Drawing from her own burnout-driven exit, she reveals hard truths about SOPs, real business assets, and the power of a compelling growth story. She discusses timing, AI integration, and why many founders regret PE earn-outs. Whether you're planning years ahead or already itching to move on, Heather’s straight-talking advice offers a smart, strategic lens on what it really takes to exit well—and why you should start preparing long before you think you're ready.



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Heather Schuck is a dynamic sales and marketing strategist with over 20 years of experience helping businesses optimize their internal sales and marketing systems to increase their valuation and position them for successful exits at higher multiples. She works closely with CEOs and founders to refine their go-to-market strategies and create a robust, data-driven sales pipeline to support near-term growth projections, positively impacting investor confidence. With over $300 million in attributed revenue, Heather has a keen ability for identifying new growth opportunities, deep insight into customer behaviors, and a proven track record of aligning marketing with sales to close high-ticket deals faster. Her ability to create actionable growth plans and implement efficient, lean operations to maximize revenue without overspending on customer acquisition or retention makes her an invaluable asset for companies looking to boost their valuation before an exit.

Heather on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatherlschuck/ 

Website: https://elevatedexitpartners.com/ 



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The Exit—Presented By Flippa: A 30-minute podcast featuring expert entrepreneurs who have been there and done it. The Exit talks to operators who have bought and sold a business. You’ll learn how they did it, why they did it, and get exposure to the world of exits, a world occupied by a small few, but accessible to many. To listen to the podcast or get daily listing updates, click on flippa.com/the-exit-podcast/


Hard Truths, Growth Stories, and Bulletproofing Your Business for Sale with Heather Schuck

Want a quick estimate of how much your business is worth?

With our free valuation calculator, answer a few questions about your business and you’ll get an immediate estimate of the value of your business.

You might be surprised by how much you can get for it: https://flippa.com/exit 



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In this episode of The Exit: At just 17, Jeet Banerjee knew the 9-to-5 life wasn’t for him. In this candid and inspiring episode, Jeet joins Steve McGarry to break down his journey from teenage odd jobs to becoming a serial entrepreneur with multiple successful exits. He shares how he turned a basic web design hobby into a digital marketing agency, then parlayed that into a college admissions platform that reached 500,000+ users and was ultimately acquired for its rich dataset.

Jeet dives deep into:
Why documentation and SOPs are essential—even if you’re not planning to sell (yet)
How reaching out proactively (instead of waiting) helped him close an acquisition
The untapped goldmine of customer data in eCommerce—and how he used it to scale a home décor DTC brand
Why direct mail still works in the digital age
His mindset on negotiation, knowing your walk-away number, and failing forward
Plus, he closes with the advice he’d give his younger self—and anyone starting out: “Failure is just an event. It only defines you if you let it.”



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Jeet Banerjee is a serial entrepreneur and digital marketing expert who has led multiple acquisitions in the tech and e-commerce spaces. Jeet is a TEDx speaker, has been featured in several major publications, and is an advisor/consultant to many well renowned companies. Jeet is extremely passionate about using his digital marketing expertise to help other brands and businesses find more of their target customers!


Jeet on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jebanerjee/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejeetbanerjee/ 



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The Exit—Presented By Flippa: A 30-minute podcast featuring expert entrepreneurs who have been there and done it. The Exit talks to operators who have bought and sold a business. You’ll learn how they did it, why they did it, and get exposure to the world of exits, a world occupied by a small few, but accessible to many. To listen to the podcast or get daily listing updates, click on flippa.com/the-exit-podcast/


From $0 to Multiple Exits: How Jeet Banerjee Turned Teenage Hustle into Million-Dollar Exits

Want a quick estimate of how much your business is worth?

With our free valuation calculator, answer a few questions about your business and you’ll get an immediate estimate of the value of your business.

You might be surprised by how much you can get for it: https://flippa.com/exit 


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In this episode of The Exit: Richard C. Wilson, founder of Family Office Club—the world’s largest community of family offices—joins us for a no-fluff, high-value conversation on raising capital, exiting strategically, and building relationships with ultra-wealthy investors.

Richard reveals how he went from cold-calling wealth advisors to becoming the go-to expert for $100M+ families. He dives deep into what family offices really look for in founder-led businesses, why your one-liner pitch matters more than your 40-page deck, and how creative deal structures (like gross revenue royalties and capped equity warrants) can make or break a transaction.

Whether you're scaling to sell or preparing to raise capital, you’ll learn:
Why trust trumps returns in family office investing
How to avoid the #1 mistake founders make when pitching
Why timing your exit is equal parts gut feel and market signals
The tools Richard built to help CEOs find the right investors and pitch smarter
And the one piece of advice he’d give his younger self after 18 years in the industry

If you’re an operator, founder, or investor looking to understand the real game behind exits and capital strategy, this episode is a masterclass in long-term thinking and investor psychology.


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Richard C. Wilson is a husband, adventure enthusiast, father of 3 girls, and a third generation Eagle Scout. Richard is also the CEO of the #1 ultra-wealthy investor club with 7,500+ investors called Family Office Club which hosts 16 in-person events per year. His investor club runs the most listened to podcast on family offices, the most watched YouTube channel with 1,000+ videos, and has spent $25M the last 18 years hosting 300+ live events and he has a total of 17 million social media group members and followers. Richard also runs and owns Billionaires.com where he is interviewing 100 billionaires publicly to create the #1 resource on their scaling strategies and mindset.


Richard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/singlefamilyoffice/ 

Website: https://familyoffices.com/ 


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The Exit—Presented By Flippa: A 30-minute podcast featuring expert entrepreneurs who have been there and done it. The Exit talks to operators who have bought and sold a business. You’ll learn how they did it, why they did it, and get exposure to the world of exits, a world occupied by a small few, but accessible to many. To listen to the podcast or get daily listing updates, click on flippa.com/the-exit-podcast/



Inside the Minds of Billionaires: Deal Structuring, Exiting Smart, and the Power of Long-Term Focus with Richard C. Wilson

Want a quick estimate of how much your business is worth?

With our free valuation calculator, answer a few questions about your business and you’ll get an immediate estimate of the value of your business.

You might be surprised by how much you can get for it: https://flippa.com/exit 



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In this episode of The Exit: Aggie Chydzinski and Cristy O’Connor, co-founders of Athena Advisory Collective and hosts of the Badass Women in Business podcast share share the real, tactical advice most founders never hear. Between them they have had multiple exits—including turning around failing fitness franchises and scaling operations in manufacturing and tech.

Whether you’re just starting out or already thinking about your second act, this episode will challenge how you think about value, preparedness, and exit timing—especially for women-led businesses.

What you'll learn:
Why building a business that runs without you is the path to premium valuation
The Five Ds that force exits—and how to be ready before one hits
Why human capital, culture, and clean financials matter more than you think
How underpricing services holds women founders back—and how to fix it
Why founders (especially women) need to show up with unapologetic confidence—and pitch like they mean it
How Cristy rebuilt toxic team cultures and why hiring aligned people from day one is crucial
The role of "woo" (like astrology-based assessments) in team alignment and enterprise value

Plus, they break down the gender gap in VC and offer a bold but refreshing take: stop siloing women. Fund the best businesses—no matter who’s leading them.

This is a candid, insightful, and empowering conversation for any founder—but especially those ready to own their value and prepare for a life-changing exit.



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Aggie Chydzinski and Cristy O'Connor are the co-founders of Athena Advisory Collective. At Athena, they partner with women-owned businesses and partnerships navigating the real complexities of growth. Athena works alongside these businesses to implement strategies that grow enterprise value and strengthen exit readiness. Whether it is optimizing sales, improving operations, or developing leadership, they help these owners build a business that is scalable, aligned, and ready for what is next. With a focus on clarity, accountability, and measurable impact, Athena Advisory Collective supports the vision of these women-owned businesses every step of the way.


Website: https://www.athenaac.com/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/athenaadvisorycollective 

Badass Women in Business Podcast: https://badasswomeninbusinesspodcast.com/ 


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The Exit—Presented By Flippa: A 30-minute podcast featuring expert entrepreneurs who have been there and done it. The Exit talks to operators who have bought and sold a business. You’ll learn how they did it, why they did it, and get exposure to the world of exits, a world occupied by a small few, but accessible to many. To listen to the podcast or get daily listing updates, click on flippa.com/the-exit-podcast/



Exit-Ready: How Women-Led Businesses Can Scale, Sell, and Own Their Worth with Aggie Chydzinski and Cristy O’Connor

Want a quick estimate of how much your business is worth?

With our free valuation calculator, answer a few questions about your business and you’ll get an immediate estimate of the value of your business.

You might be surprised by how much you can get for it: https://flippa.com/exit 



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In this episode of The Exit: Charlie Lass, founder of Humble Inc., shares the highs and lows of 20 years in entrepreneurship. From early film ventures to million-pound deals in emergency tech, Charlie reveals lessons from building startups, missteps with equity, and redefining what an “exit” truly means. Now focused on sustainable autonomy through Humble, a content platform for creators, he urges founders to prioritize well-being, honest partnerships, and building for longevity, not just valuation.



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Charlie Lass is a career entrepreneur with successful exits in the UK & US who mentors ambitious founders and consults for high-potential companies. Charlie is a mentor to 500+ ambitious and awesome founders and freelancers. He has coached, advised and supported individuals at all stages of funding and launch with a particular focus on the early stage strategy and tactics, fundraising, pricing, marketing, brand positioning and tone of voice. Charlie is the Founder of Humble Inc, a content platform for entrepreneurs, “wantrepreneurs”, and freelancers across the globe. Humble is dedicated to providing access to real experts who care, offering personalized guidance in a world overwhelmed by self-proclaimed gurus. Humble values passion, humility, and real experience over fame and follower counts. They believe that your mental health matters, and that they are there to support your journey with facts, not clickbait. 


Charlie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlielass/ 

Website: https://www.humble.inc/ 



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The Exit—Presented By Flippa: A 30-minute podcast featuring expert entrepreneurs who have been there and done it. The Exit talks to operators who have bought and sold a business. You’ll learn how they did it, why they did it, and get exposure to the world of exits, a world occupied by a small few, but accessible to many. To listen to the podcast or get daily listing updates, click on flippa.com/the-exit-podcast/

Rethinking the Exit: Charlie Lass on Startups, Burnout, and Building for Freedom

Want a quick estimate of how much your business is worth?

With our free valuation calculator, answer a few questions about your business and you’ll get an immediate estimate of the value of your business.

You might be surprised by how much you can get for it: https://flippa.com/exit 

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In this episode of The Exit: Nellie Akalp, founder and CEO of CorpNet, takes us on a no-fluff journey from launching her first business with just $100 to securing a 20x EBITDA exit to Intuit — all before turning 32.

Nellie shares:
How she and her husband bootstrapped MyCorporation from their apartment.
What made their business irresistible to Intuit (spoiler: no debt, no investors, ultra-clean books).
Why the post-acquisition “early retirement” didn’t last — and how that led to launching CorpNet in 2009 during the height of the recession.
The pivotal B2B pivot that transformed CorpNet’s growth, including the launch of their Partner Program.
How COVID turned into a major growth inflection point, scaling the team from 15 to 200
Why boundaries and mental wellness are non-negotiable for modern founders..

If you’re a business owner thinking about exit strategy, reinvention, or how to scale sustainably while protecting your peace — this episode is packed with golden insights from someone who’s lived it twice.

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Nellie Akalp is an entrepreneur, small business advocate, and mother of four little rockstars. As founder and CEO of CorpNet.com, she has helped more than half a million entrepreneurs start their businesses. Through CorpNet.com, Nellie has also partnered with business professionals such as attorneys, CPAs and more as their silent fulfillment partner helping them incorporate and form LLCs for their clients. Nellie has been named a Top 100 Small Business Influencer by Small Business Trends for the past four years and counting. In 2016 she was named Women Business Owner of the Year by NAWBO VC and her company, CorpNet.com, has been recognized on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing privately-held companies in America in 2015 and 2016. 
 

Website: https://www.corpnet.com/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/corpnet/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/corpnet.com/ 

Nellie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nellieakalp/ 

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The Exit—Presented By Flippa: A 30-minute podcast featuring expert entrepreneurs who have been there and done it. The Exit talks to operators who have bought and sold a business. You’ll learn how they did it, why they did it, and get exposure to the world of exits, a world occupied by a small few, but accessible to many. To listen to the podcast or get daily listing updates, click on flippa.com/the-exit-podcast/




From $100 to a $20 Million Exit to Intuit: Nellie Akalp on Building, Selling, and Starting Again

Want a quick estimate of how much your business is worth?

With our free valuation calculator, answer a few questions about your business and you’ll get an immediate estimate of the value of your business.

You might be surprised by how much you can get for it: https://flippa.com/exit 


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What happens when an eight-figure exit falls apart?

For Ben Brickweg, it sparked a decades-long mission to ensure no other founder has to experience the same heartbreak his family did.

In the latest episode of The Exit, Ben — founder of Exitworthy, attorney, and seasoned M&A advisor — pulls back the curtain on what really goes wrong in business exits… and how to fix it.

What You’ll Learn:
The family deal that blew up and why it changed Ben’s life forever
How Ben accidentally fell into M&A and worked on 200+ deals his first year
Why most founders are unprepared to exit — and how to change that
The three-part “Value Mountain” framework: Valuation, Sellability, and Transferability
The biggest legal mistakes business owners make when selling
Why private equity offers often shift post-LOI — and what to do about it
How lifestyle inflation and poor financial planning derail more exits than you'd think
What it really means to build an “exit-worthy” business

Ben doesn’t just talk theory. He’s been on every side of the table — founder, lawyer, broker, buyer — and he’s seen deals thrive, collapse, and quietly destroy the dreams of unprepared sellers.

His advice?
Don’t wait until you’re ready to sell. Build your business like you're going to exit — from day one.

This is a no-BS, deeply practical episode for anyone who owns a business and wants optionality — whether that means exiting now, or 10 years from now.


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Personal &/or Company Bio: 						
Ben Brickweg has worked with over 2,000 business owners, helping them grow, protect, and sell their companies the right way. He runs two companies, Sagewood Business Advisors and Lodgepole Law, both built to help business owners navigate complex deals and legal challenges. Sagewood Business Advisors is a boutique M&A firm that helps owners understand their value, structure strong deals, and exit on their terms. Lodgepole Law is a provider of fractional general counsel services for acquisition entrepreneurs who need a proactive legal strategy, not last-minute chaos and hourly meters. He is also the creator of Exit Worthy, a platform that includes the podcast, training materials, and resources to help business owners get serious about preparing for a real exit; and Business Legal Fortress, bridging the gap between legal template stores and full-service firms, giving business owners affordable, effective legal protection without the unpredictability of hourly fees.


Ben on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benbrickweg/ 

Website: https://gosagewood.com/ 

- https://exitworthy.com/ 

- https://lodgepolelaw.com/ 


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The Exit—Presented By Flippa: A 30-minute podcast featuring expert entrepreneurs who have been there and done it. The Exit talks to operators who have bought and sold a business. You’ll learn how they did it, why they did it, and get exposure to the world of exits, a world occupied by a small few, but accessible to many. To listen to the podcast or get daily listing updates, click on flippa.com/the-exit-podcast/


The Exit That Never Happened: Turning a Family Failure Into a Mission to Help Founders Exit Right with Ben Brickweg

Want a quick estimate of how much your business is worth?

With our free valuation calculator, answer a few questions about your business and you’ll get an immediate estimate of the value of your business.

You might be surprised by how much you can get for it: https://flippa.com/exit 



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In this episode of The Exit: Lisa Jones, founder and CEO of Shecom, shares her raw and powerful journey from frustrated corporate employee to seasoned entrepreneur with three exits—and a $50 million goal in sight. 

After being fired just shy of her probation period, Lisa launched her first business and never looked back. She reveals the hard lessons from early ventures, emphasizing the need for systemization, profitability, and eliminating key-person risk. Now building her “golden ticket” company, Shecom, Lisa leads with vulnerability, kindness, and mission-driven culture, rallying her all-female team around a shared vision. 

She stresses the power of community, first-party data, and recurring revenue in scaling a sustainable DTC brand. With painful missteps—like nearly going broke on a Bali holiday—behind her, Lisa urges founders, especially women, to get financially literate and think bigger, sooner. Her motto? “Fortune favors the brave.” And she’s boldly proving it.



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Lisa Jones is a passionate E-commerce expert and builder of 3 x multi-million dollar e-commerce brands. Lisa is most famous for co-founding Ecoriginals, the world's greenest nappy and wipes brand, which she sold to a private equity investor in 2020, Lisa is now busy building SHE-com, a global empire for women with e-commerce brands with a community of over 40,000 with a team of 45.


Lisa on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-jones-shecom/ 

Website: https://shecom.co/ 



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The Exit—Presented By Flippa: A 30-minute podcast featuring expert entrepreneurs who have been there and done it. The Exit talks to operators who have bought and sold a business. You’ll learn how they did it, why they did it, and get exposure to the world of exits, a world occupied by a small few, but accessible to many. To listen to the podcast or get daily listing updates, click on flippa.com/the-exit-podcast/

Fortune Favors the Brave: How Lisa Jones is Building a $50M Exit with Kindness, Grit & Systems

Want a quick estimate of how much your business is worth?

With our free valuation calculator, answer a few questions about your business, and you’ll get an immediate estimate of the value of your business.

You might be surprised by how much you can get for it: https://flippa.com/exit 


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In this episode of The Exit: What really happens when a founder decides it’s time to sell?
In this powerful and practical episode, Steve McGarry sits down with Anthony Citrolo, CPA, serial entrepreneur, and managing partner at the NYBB Group, to unpack what really goes into preparing a business for sale. But this isn’t your average M&A conversation.
Anthony takes us behind the curtain to reveal the emotional, psychological, and strategic decisions founders face as they approach a life-changing exit.

Here’s what you’ll learn:
- Why the real exit plan starts the day you launch the business
- The #1 mistake founders make when valuing their business
- How to prepare your business (and yourself) before a buyer ever knocks
- The danger of “key man” risk - and how to build a business that runs without you
- What buyers really want: cash flow, scalability, and low concentration
- Why 75% of sellers are unhappy post-exit - and how to avoid that fate
- How to spot and address hidden risks that could kill your valuation


“Most founders don’t realize they’re living vicariously through their business until it’s too late.” Anthony Citrolo
With 20+ years in the trenches helping family-owned and founder-led businesses exit, Anthony shares war stories (like Frank, the manufacturer with 98% of revenue tied to 7 customers), practical frameworks, and wisdom earned through decades of hands-on deals.
If you're a founder, even if you're years from selling, this episode will change how you think about growth, leadership, and legacy.
Listen now to learn how to not just sell your business—but exit on your terms.


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Anthony J. Citrolo is a Managing Partner and Founder of The NYBB Group, LLC, the Exit Strategy Lab and NYBB Commercial Real Estate. Anthony’s clients include privately held companies and family-owned businesses. These are typically companies with revenue of $5M to $100M. Anthony represents HVAC, industrial service, finance, manufacturing, distribution, transportation, healthcare and all service companies. He helps these owners develop a clear and cohesive exit strategy, works to know and improve valuation and actively represents them in a sale or acquisition in a Merger and Acquisition transaction as their advisor and intermediary. Anthony is a CPA and a CEPA (Certified Exit Planning Advisor) and develops comprehensive strategies for owners and families. He also has completed the CEPA course and is a Certified Exit Planning Advisor. In addition, Anthony is a Certified Merger & Acquisition Advisor AND Certified Exit Map Coach. 


Anthony on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonycitrolo/ 

Website: https://thenybbgroup.com/ 



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The Exit—Presented By Flippa: A 30-minute podcast featuring expert entrepreneurs who have been there and done it. The Exit talks to operators who have bought and sold a business. You’ll learn how they did it, why they did it, and get exposure to the world of exits, a world occupied by a small few, but accessible to many. To listen to the podcast or get daily listing updates, click on flippa.com/the-exit-podcast/

The Psychology of Selling a Business with Anthony Citrolo, NYBB Group

Want a quick estimate of how much your business is worth?

With our free valuation calculator, answer a few questions about your business, and you’ll get an immediate estimate of the value of your business.

You might be surprised by how much you can get for it: https://flippa.com/exit 



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In this episode of The Exit: entrepreneur Anne Mahlum shares her incredible journey from founding a nonprofit running club for homeless men to building Solidcore, one of the fastest-growing fitness studio chains in the U.S. 

After scaling to 100 studios and weathering the chaos of COVID, Anne exited the business on her own terms with a $100M payday—negotiating not only her valuation but her taxes and an additional $10M kicker. 

She reveals how she planned her exit from day one, built bench strength to replace herself, and why founders shouldn’t be afraid to ask for more. Anne also dives into the dangers of taking on preferred equity, the power of clear end goals, and the importance of sharing wealth with the team that helped build it. Her parting advice? Think big, stay bold, and trust yourself—because no one else will see your vision the way you do.



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Anne Mahlum is a founder, entrepreneur, CEO, philanthropist, motivational speaker and athlete whose mission is to help as many people as possible live their most optimized lives. Anne's entrepreneurial ventures have resulted in a personal net worth of over $100M and an impact on hundreds of thousands of lives. She is the Founder and former Executive Chairwoman of [solidcore], a fast-growing boutique fitness company with over 100 locations in the U.S. Anne sold her shares of [solidcore] in April 2023 for an undisclosed amount and shared millions with her employees who she valued for staying by her side. A lifelong visionary, Anne is also the founder of Back on My Feet, a national non-profit organization that uses running as a vehicle to help those experiencing homelessness change the way they see themselves and become empowered to change their lives.


Anne Mahlum on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anne-mahlum/ 

Website: https://www.annemahlum.com/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annemahlum 


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The Exit—Presented By Flippa: A 30-minute podcast featuring expert entrepreneurs who have been there and done it. The Exit talks to operators who have bought and sold a business. You’ll learn how they did it, why they did it, and get exposure to the world of exits, a world occupied by a small few, but accessible to many. To listen to the podcast or get daily listing updates, click on flippa.com/the-exit-podcast/



Scaling with Purpose: Anne Mahlum’s $100M Success Story

Want a quick estimate of how much your business is worth?

With our free valuation calculator, answer a few questions about your business, and you’ll get an immediate estimate of the value of your business.

You might be surprised by how much you can get for it: https://flippa.com/exit 



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In this episode of The Exit: Steve McGarry sits down with Christy Brown, CEO of Dr. Noze Best, to unpack her remarkable journey from engineer to multi-exit entrepreneur. Raised in a family of gritty builders and innovators, Christy shares how early exposure to a family-run real estate business inspired her transition from corporate consulting to launching her first eCommerce-focused agency in the early 2000s.

Key topics discussed:
The Power of Accelerators: Christy breaks down how accelerators build founder confidence, drive growth, and connect entrepreneurs with critical networks.
Empowering Women Entrepreneurs: She details her role in leading a women-focused accelerator that graduated 260+ founders, contributing over $2.5B in economic impact.
Exit Strategy Insights: Christy shares candid lessons from her exits—including a public company earn-out—and the emotional and cultural shifts that follow a sale.
Misconceptions about Exits & Venture Funding: From unrealistic timelines to overestimated payoffs, Christy demystifies what exits actually look like behind the headlines.
Personal Advice: From reverse-engineering your life around your business to negotiating with clarity, Christy offers practical guidance for both aspiring and seasoned founders.
Final takeaway: “Scaling is a strategy. Exiting is personal.” – a reminder that success is defined not just by valuation, but by the life you build alongside your business.



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Christy Brown is a proven leader with twenty years of leadership in entrepreneurship, customer development, and strategic innovation and solutions. Christy is a known resource for innovating traditional business models and scaling emerging businesses from inception to exit. She is a solution-oriented leader with expertise in technology, financial, and operational areas of growth stage businesses. Christy brings a heavy-duty management acumen with a focus on culture, diversity of thought, and design thinking. Her experience drives improvements and scale in organizations, fostering a culture of transformational change.


Christy Brown on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christy-brown-a54aa0/ 

Website: https://drnozebest.com/ 


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The Exit—Presented By Flippa: A 30-minute podcast featuring expert entrepreneurs who have been there and done it. The Exit talks to operators who have bought and sold a business. You’ll learn how they did it, why they did it, and get exposure to the world of exits, a world occupied by a small few, but accessible to many. To listen to the podcast or get daily listing updates, click on flippa.com/the-exit-podcast/



From Engineering to Exits – Christy Brown’s Journey Building & Selling Businesses

Want a quick estimate of how much your business is worth?

With our free valuation calculator, answer a few questions about your business, and you’ll get an immediate estimate of the value of your business.

You might be surprised by how much you can get for it: https://flippa.com/exit 



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In this episode of The Exit: Host Steve McGarry sits down with Jonathan Bennett, advisor at Clearly Then and former founder of a successful B Corp consulting firm, to unpack the emotional journey of exiting a business—something rarely discussed, but profoundly impactful.

Jonathan shares his own story of selling his company through a gradual management buyout, and how the decision started with a casual walk in Dublin and a question from his wife. The episode dives into the often-overlooked inner challenges that founders face—identity loss, grief, and the fear of letting go. “The easy part is the legal and financial stuff,” Jonathan says. “The hard part is emotional.”

You’’ll learn:

Why selling at your peak (not in burnout) is critical
How to choose the right successor without hanging on too long
Why empty promises during a handover can backfire
What life after an exit looks like—and how to fill the void with purpose
Smart negotiation tips, including how to uncover the real motivations of a buyer

Whether you're planning to exit soon or just building for the long game, Jonathan’s mix of practical wisdom and emotional intelligence will give you a fresh perspective on what it really means to walk away from something you built.

"Don't wait until you're depleted to sell—get off the stage while the crowd is still clapping." – Jonathan Bennett



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Jonathan Bennett is an advisor and executive coach for purpose-driven leaders who need help solving their organization’s toughest obstacles. With experience in urban, rural, remote, and First Nations communities, Jonathan’s expertise is in social purpose business strategy, governance, branding, change, and communications. His coaching draws on 25 years of creativity and leadership success as a CEO, board member, and founder, and he is known for his deep-listening and his breakthrough solutions that create insights and new strategies.


Jonathan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bennettjonathan/ 

Link to Private Podcast: https://clearlythen.com/listen 

Website: https://clearlythen.com/ 



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The Exit—Presented By Flippa: A 30-minute podcast featuring expert entrepreneurs who have been there and done it. The Exit talks to operators who have bought and sold a business. You’ll learn how they did it, why they did it, and get exposure to the world of exits, a world occupied by a small few, but accessible to many. To listen to the podcast or get daily listing updates, click on flippa.com/the-exit-podcast/



When to Let Go: The Emotional Side of Selling Your Business – Lessons from Jonathan Bennett

Want a quick estimate of how much your business is worth?

With our free valuation calculator, answer a few questions about your business, and you’ll get an immediate estimate of the value of your business.

You might be surprised by how much you can get for it: https://flippa.com/exit 


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In this episode of The Exit: Linda Hamilton, a Certified Exit Planning Advisor and longtime CPA, shares practical strategies for business owners preparing for a future exit, emphasizing the importance of readiness, clean financials, and documented systems.

Key Takeaways:
Exit Planning is About Optionality, Not Just Selling
Many business owners avoid thinking about exits too early, but Linda argues that preparing early builds resilience and optionality, not just a path to sell.

The Cost of Not Preparing
Citing a 30% valuation gap between male and female founders, Linda underscores how lack of preparation—especially around clean books, contracts, and succession—can significantly impact sale outcomes.

Readiness vs. Attractiveness
Linda encourages using assessments to evaluate both how attractive your business is to a buyer and how ready you are to exit. She shares a story of a founder nearly derailing a deal by not securing key employee agreements.

Key Indicators of Exit-Readiness - Critical elements include:
Clean, audited financials
Signed client/vendor contracts
Repeatable and documented systems
Cash flow visibility and control over AR/AP

Transferability & Systemology
As a certified systemologist, Linda highlights the importance of mapping your customer journey and operational systems to ensure the business can run without you—critical for buyer confidence and deal value.

Building a Support Team
Successful exits rely on coordinated advisors: CPAs, attorneys, brokers, and wealth advisors. A SIPA-certified exit planner often acts as the “quarterback” to align everyone's efforts with the owner’s goals.

Timing & Purpose
Timing an exit is personal. Many owners regret selling too soon because they lack a post-exit purpose. Linda encourages planning for life after the sale as part of the overall exit strategy.

Empowering Female Founders
Linda advocates for financial fluency and readiness assessments to help women negotiate from a position of strength. Confidence comes from awareness—knowing your numbers, your risks, and your value.

Final Advice: Linda wishes she had done her own business readiness assessments earlier in her career, highlighting how early preparation can influence smarter long-term decisions.


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Linda Hamilton is a CPA and CEPA, (Certified Exit Planning Advisor) who is passionate about helping women business owners achieve financial fluency to grow, profit & scale. Linda founded Grow Profit Scale™, a coaching and mastermind program designed to empower women entrepreneurs with financial fluency, profit amplification, and scalable business strategies. In addition to Grow Profit Scale, Linda is also the founder of Linda A. Hamilton CPA LLC, where Linda and her team provide accounting, tax, and strategic financial planning services. With over 35 years as a CPA, CGMA, CEPA, and SYSTEMologist®, she has helped countless business owners develop strong financial systems, improve profitability, and plan for successful exits.


Linda on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindahamiltoncpa/ 

Websites: https://www.growprofitscale.com/ 

- https://www.lahcpas.com/ 


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The Exit—Presented By Flippa: A 30-minute podcast featuring expert entrepreneurs who have been there and done it. The Exit talks to operators who have bought and sold a business. You’ll learn how they did it, why they did it, and get exposure to the world of exits, a world occupied by a small few, but accessible to many. To listen to the podcast or get daily listing updates, click on flippa.com/the-exit-podcast/

The 30% Mistake: Why Most Founders Leave Money on the Table with Linda Hamilton

Want a quick estimate of how much your business is worth?

With our free valuation calculator, answer a few questions about your business, and you’ll get an immediate estimate of the value of your business.

You might be surprised by how much you can get for it: https://flippa.com/exit 



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In this episode, Kerri Glover, M&A Advisor at Sagewood and the former founder of one of Colorado’s largest wedding planning firms. Kerri reveals how she went from bootstrapping a solo wedding planning side hustle to building a 20-person team, operating globally, and eventually selling her service-based business for a 7-figure exit.
She shares the behind-the-scenes of preparing for a successful sale, covering everything from SOPs and financial clean-up to branding decisions and letting go of founder dependence. Kerri also offers her perspective on the biggest mistakes sellers make, how real estate impacts deal timelines, and what buyers really want in today’s market.
Whether you’re building a service business or planning your next move, this conversation is packed with timeless advice on how to turn your business into a valuable, transferable asset.



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With over two decades of experience in the wedding industry, Kerri Glover's journey is a testament to passion, innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit. Her expertise, honed through planning over 1,500 weddings globally and contributing to the creation or redevelopment of 25 venues, is matched only by her insatiable thirst for knowledge. With an MBA from Regis University and a Juris Doctorate from Albany Law School, Kerri brings a unique blend of creative vision and business acumen to every project she undertakes. In 2016, Kerri sold her firm, the largest wedding planning company in Colorado, with Sagewood Advisors, where she is now an M&A Advisor helping others do the same. 

Kerri Glover on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerrilglover/ 

Websites: https://gosagewood.com/ 

- https://www.weddingvenuebroker.com/ 


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The Exit—Presented By Flippa: A 30-minute podcast featuring expert entrepreneurs who have been there and done it. The Exit talks to operators who have bought and sold a business. You’ll learn how they did it, why they did it, and get exposure to the world of exits, a world occupied by a small few, but accessible to many. To listen to the podcast or get daily listing updates, click on flippa.com/the-exit-podcast/

From Weddings to Winning Exits: How Kerri Glover Built & Sold a 7-Figure Service Brand

Want a quick estimate of how much your business is worth?

With our free valuation calculator, answer a few questions about your business, and you’ll get an immediate estimate of the value of your business.

You might be surprised by how much you can get for it: https://flippa.com/exit 


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In this episode of The Exit, serial entrepreneur and investor Bubba Page opens up about his journey from building a bootstrapped B2B sales company (Launch Leads) to launching Influence.VC, a venture fund focused on consumer tech and creator-led startups.
Bubba shares how his first successful exit funded his lifestyle and family, while his venture-backed failure taught him invaluable lessons about ego, resilience, and emotional health. He emphasizes the often-overlooked value of lifestyle businesses, those that generate strong cash flow without external funding, and challenges the myth that venture capital is the only path to success.
The conversation dives into the power of the creator economy, and how partnering with influencers can accelerate brand growth with lower customer acquisition costs. Bubba also reflects on selling his business just days before the 2020 COVID shutdown. 
Listen to the episode for real-world insights for founders questioning when to sell, whether to raise capital, or how to build a profitable business without burning out. 


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Bubba Page is a single dad to 8 incredible kids—four boys, four girls—a devout Christian, and a serial entrepreneur who’s built and sold multiple companies, including a three-time Inc5000 standout, LaunchLeads.com, which he sold in 2020. Now, he’s pioneering Influence.vc, a venture capital syndicate on AngelList, where his social media influencer expertise invests and turbocharges startups. He is also a sought-after advisor in fundraising, B2B sales, influencer marketing strategy, and angel investing, a frequent podcast guest, and soon-to-be author of Fatherhood & Entrepreneurship, blending business and Christian principles for family life. Named one of 2024’s 'Coolest Entrepreneurs' by UVBizQ Magazine, he has also written for Inc Magazine.


Bubba Page on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bubbapage/ 

Websites: https://influence.vc/ 

- https://thebusinessbootcamp.com/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bubbapage/ 


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The Exit—Presented By Flippa: A 30-minute podcast featuring expert entrepreneurs who have been there and done it. The Exit talks to operators who have bought and sold a business. You’ll learn how they did it, why they did it, and get exposure to the world of exits, a world occupied by a small few, but accessible to many. To listen to the podcast or get daily listing updates, click on flippa.com/the-exit-podcast/

Profit, Purpose & the Creator Economy: Lessons from Bubba Page’s Startup Journey

Want a quick estimate of how much your business is worth?

With our free valuation calculator, answer a few questions about your business, and you’ll get an immediate estimate of the value of your business.

You might be surprised by how much you can get for it: https://flippa.com/exit 



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In this episode of The Exit, entrepreneur Rob Basso shares how he built Advantage Payroll Services into a $25M business and exited on his own terms. His journey started humbly, wrapping resumes in deli sandwiches, and ended with a strategic sale to a public company.
Rob planned his exit from day one, focusing on clean financials, employee retention, and leveraging his personal brand to win trust. He urges founders to be visible, not just their company, and to run a business that’s always “sale-ready.”
When it came time to sell, he passed on higher PE offers with earn-outs in favor of a lower upfront deal because he was emotionally done and ready to move on. The decision? One of the best he’s ever made.
Post-sale, Rob struggled with identity loss but rebounded by helping others build personal brands and make better business decisions. His final lesson? Be authentic. Trying to be someone you’re not, whether with staff or clients, can backfire.
Rob’s story is a reminder that successful exits aren’t just financial: they’re personal. And planning ahead, staying true to yourself, and choosing the right buyer can make all the difference.


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Rob Basso is a recognized business coach, entrepreneur & speaker. He is a published author, professional speaker and sought-after media personality. He has operated and sold many businesses in the past two decades including Associated Human Capital Management and Advantage Payroll Services. The most recent two companies were sold to public companies at industry high valuations. Known as The Everyday Entrepreneur, the media frequently calls upon Rob for his insights, opinions and expertise. In 2022 he was a judge for the American Business Awards (division of the Stevie Awards), panelist for the Middle Market Alliance, mentor for the Next Gen Summit and numerous other speaking engagements.

Rob Basso on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robbasso/ 

Website: https://www.robbasso.com/ 


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The Exit—Presented By Flippa: A 30-minute podcast featuring expert entrepreneurs who have been there and done it. The Exit talks to operators who have bought and sold a business. You’ll learn how they did it, why they did it, and get exposure to the world of exits, a world occupied by a small few, but accessible to many. To listen to the podcast or get daily listing updates, click on flippa.com/the-exit-podcast/


The Power of Brand and Timing: Rob Basso’s Multi-Million Dollar Exit Playbook

Want a quick estimate of how much your business is worth?

With our free valuation calculator, answer a few questions about your business, and you’ll get an immediate estimate of the value of your business.

You might be surprised by how much you can get for it: https://flippa.com/exit 


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In this episode of The Exit, Alan Franks, founder of the Business Planning Institute, reveals how business owners can maximize value and achieve financial independence before selling. He stresses that most owners don’t know their company’s worth, let alone track it, and warns against relying solely on business income, which can trap you in a “lifestyle business.”
Franks advises selling in the maturity stage, before growth stalls and expenses rise. His approach to boosting value is “good business planning with a deadline”: create documented systems, KPIs, and a management team that allows the business to thrive without you.
He emphasizes transferability by developing an internal successor, which protects value in emergencies and attracts buyers. From a tax perspective, he highlights strategies like opportunity zones, deferred sales trusts, and 1031 exchanges to reduce capital gains and income taxes, particularly for owners with real estate assets.
Franks’ final takeaway: treat success as a team sport. Build and maintain an A-level roster of advisors, align them with your goals, and continually reassess to keep your business and exit plan on track.


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Alan Franks, CFP®, CLU®, CFBS®, is the founder of the Business Planning Institute and author of Empowered Money, dedicated to helping individuals and business owners create financial plans that fuel their fullest lives. Alan has built a career in financial planning, where he combines investments, risk management, and strategic business planning to serve clients nationwide, including business owners, tech professionals, professional service providers, and striving retirees. Based in Atlanta, Alan is known for his comprehensive, team-oriented approach that aligns personal and business finances, builds enterprise value, and creates sustainable wealth. Passionate about impact, he works to ensure clients not only grow their assets but also achieve the freedom, presence, and purpose they value most.


Website: https://thebusinessplanninginstitute.com/ 


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The Exit—Presented By Flippa: A 30-minute podcast featuring expert entrepreneurs who have been there and done it. The Exit talks to operators who have bought and sold a business. You’ll learn how they did it, why they did it, and get exposure to the world of exits, a world occupied by a small few, but accessible to many. To listen to the podcast or get daily listing updates, click on flippa.com/the-exit-podcast/



Exit Like a Pro: Alan Franks on Building Value, Timing Your Sale, and Securing Your Future

Want a quick estimate of how much your business is worth?

With our free valuation calculator, answer a few questions about your business, and you’ll get an immediate estimate of the value of your business.

You might be surprised by how much you can get for it: https://flippa.com/exit 


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In this episode of The Exit, entrepreneur Ben Zvaifler shares his journey from launching PupBox, a subscription box for puppy owners, to selling it to Petco and later starting his new venture, Cloud Water Filters. Inspired by his own struggles as a new dog owner, Ben built PupBox during the subscription box boom, even pitching successfully on Shark Tank—securing a deal with Robert Herjavec and a surge of publicity. 

Eventually, Petco acquired the company, where Ben spent four years navigating corporate life, scaling during COVID, and hitting earn-out targets.

Reflecting on the acquisition, Ben highlights lessons in negotiation, timing, and the importance of clean financials. He also shares candid advice for entrepreneurs: secure multiple offers, prepare thoroughly for earn-outs, and understand the corporate dynamics you’re stepping into. After Petco later sold PupBox to FabFitFun, Ben moved on to disrupt another space—water filtration. His new startup, Cloud Water Filters, offers a connected reverse osmosis system that not only purifies but also tracks water quality and usage.

Ben’s story underscores the resilience needed in entrepreneurship: survive the lows, learn from each exit, and use that experience to build bigger and bolder ventures. 


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Ben Zvaifler is the Co-Founder and CEO of Cloud Water Filters, a consumer hardware company delivering clean, alkaline drinking water through smart, sensor-enabled filtration systems. With a background in building direct-to-consumer brands, Ben is passionate about using technology and design to elevate everyday experiences. Previously, Ben co-founded PupBox, a subscription service for new puppy owners. PupBox was featured on Shark Tank, highlighted as one of the most disruptive DTC brands by the International Advertising Bureau, and acquired by Petco Animal Supplies in 2017. 

Website: https://www.cloudwaterfilters.com/ 

Ben on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/benzvaifler/ 


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The Exit—Presented By Flippa: A 30-minute podcast featuring expert entrepreneurs who have been there and done it. The Exit talks to operators who have bought and sold a business. You’ll learn how they did it, why they did it, and get exposure to the world of exits, a world occupied by a small few, but accessible to many. To listen to the podcast or get daily listing updates, click on flippa.com/the-exit-podcast/



Shark Tank to Petco: How Ben Zvaifler Turned PupBox Into an Exit

Want a quick estimate of how much your business is worth?

With our free valuation calculator, answer a few questions about your business, and you’ll get an immediate estimate of the value of your business.

You might be surprised by how much you can get for it: https://flippa.com/exit 


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In this episode of The Exit, Wendy Diamond, serial entrepreneur, investor, and founder of Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Organization (WEDO), shares her extraordinary journey of weaving profit with purpose.
Wendy’s entrepreneurial spark began early, trading designer surplus in Turkey and Russia before moving to New York. There, volunteering for the homeless shifted her focus toward impact, leading to celebrity-backed cookbooks that raised millions. Her love for animals sparked Animal Fair Media, where she pioneered “Yappy Hour” events and primetime pet programming, spotlighting adoption at a time when millions of animals were being euthanized annually.
A volunteer trip to Honduras in 2013 was another turning point. Witnessing the success of microloans for women entrepreneurs inspired her to found Women’s Entrepreneurship Day, now celebrated in 100 countries. The initiative brings together governments, investors, and business leaders to empower women globally.
As an investor, Wendy champions integrity-driven founders. She backed Basepaws (the “23andMe for pets”), which exited to Zoetis, while also experiencing failures that underscored her belief that “it’s always about the people.”
Her advice: build strong teams, embrace collaboration, and enjoy the journey. Today, through joinwedo.org, Wendy is helping a million women and girls gain AI and entrepreneurship skills—continuing her mission to create change from the ground up.


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Wendy Diamond is an internationally renowned social entrepreneur, impact investor, humanitarian, bestselling author, and media personality dedicated to using innovation and disruptive technologies for positive global impact. She is the Founder and CEO of the Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Organization (WEDO)/#ChooseWOMEN, a movement with chapters in 144 countries and 112 universities focused on empowering women and alleviating poverty. As CEO of LDP Ventures, she invests in impactful companies and funds while serving on boards that advance sustainability, women’s leadership, and animal welfare. A keynote speaker at the UN, Harvard, and the World Economic Forum, her work has been featured by Oprah, NBC, Bloomberg, The New York Times, and Forbes. Through her ventures and ten books, Wendy continues to champion innovation, entrepreneurship, and the underdog worldwide.

Websites: https://www.joinwedo.org/ 

- www.wendydiamond.com 

Wendy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendydiamond/ 


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The Exit—Presented By Flippa: A 30-minute podcast featuring expert entrepreneurs who have been there and done it. The Exit talks to operators who have bought and sold a business. You’ll learn how they did it, why they did it, and get exposure to the world of exits, a world occupied by a small few, but accessible to many



Exits with Integrity: Wendy Diamond on Building Businesses That Last

Want a quick estimate of how much your business is worth?

With our free valuation calculator, answer a few questions about your business, and you’ll get an immediate estimate of the value of your business.

You might be surprised by how much you can get for it: https://flippa.com/exit 


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In this episode of The Exit, Ingrid Vanderveldt, serial entrepreneur, investor, and founder of EBW Worldwide, shares how mentorship and a bold vision shaped her journey from the dotcom boom to building a platform to empower one billion women. Inspired by Michael Dell’s rise, Ingrid built one of the first personalization algorithms for the web, exited multiple ventures, and became Dell’s first Entrepreneur-in-Residence, where she helped create a $250M fund and drove nearly $1B in new business.
Ingrid opens up about the confidence gap holding many women back from accessing capital, recounting how she launched a $100M fund for women and initially received no applicants — a turning point that fueled her mission to close systemic gaps.
Her advice for founders preparing for an exit: define your ideal outcome early, build a “ride-or-die” support team (lawyers, accountants, mentors), and keep your paperwork tight to avoid last-minute deal risks.
Today, Ingrid is focused on EBW-1, a patented tech platform using AI to deliver personalized education, access to capital, and community for entrepreneurs worldwide — helping them scale, negotiate, and exit with confidence.


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Ingrid Vanderveldt is a self-made tech entrepreneur, investor, and media personality who serves as Founder and CEO of Vanderveldt Global Investments, EBW (Empowering a Billion Women), EBW Cares Distributors, and Ingrid Vanderveldt LLC. A former Dell Entrepreneur-in-Residence who built a $250M business segment and launched the Dell Innovators Credit Fund, she now focuses on advancing women globally through access to mobile tools, mentoring, and capital. Recognized as Fast Company’s #1 “Superconnector” and honored with the Forbes & Northwestern Mutual Entrepreneur in Excellence Award, Ingrid is a sought-after speaker and strategist for startups and global brands, bridging corporations, women, and entrepreneurs to drive ROI and impact. She has hosted CNBC’s American Made, been featured in top media outlets worldwide, and holds a Master’s in Architecture from SCAD and an MBA in Entrepreneurship from UT Austin.


Websites: https://ebw.one/ 

- https://ingridvanderveldt.com/ 


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The Exit—Presented By Flippa: A 30-minute podcast featuring expert entrepreneurs who have been there and done it. The Exit talks to operators who have bought and sold a business. You’ll learn how they did it, why they did it, and get exposure to the world of exits, a world occupied by a small few, but accessible to many. To listen to the podcast or get daily listing updates, click on flippa.com/the-exit-podcast/


Think Big, Exit Smart: Ingrid Vanderveldt’s Playbook for Entrepreneurs

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With our free valuation calculator, answer a few questions about your business, and you’ll get an immediate estimate of the value of your business.

You might be surprised by how much you can get for it: https://flippa.com/exit 


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In this episode of The Exit, serial entrepreneur and investor Divya Gugnani, founder and CEO of 5 Senses, unpacks her journey from Goldman Sachs to co-founding five companies and selling three, including Send the Trend to QVC. With a background in finance and private equity, Divya attributes her entrepreneurial staying power to strong cash management and a focus on fundamentals.
She shares lessons from building early ventures, from auto parts to culinary media, and how creating hyper-personalized shopping experiences led to her fastest success, selling Send the Trend just 11 months after raising funding. Time at QVC gave her valuable insights into product storytelling, ultimately inspiring her to launch beauty brand Wander Beauty, which became her third successful exit.
Divya’s exit advice is clear: get your house in order early (books, legal, taxes), know what you want from a deal, and hire strong operators so you can focus on the sale process. She emphasizes selling on the upswing when growth and profitability are aligned, creating competition among buyers, and avoiding short-term revenue plays that dilute brand value.
Today, Divya shares her entrepreneurial lessons and AI insights via TikTok, continuing to inspire founders globally.


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Divya Gugnani is a serial entrepreneur, investor, and author with over 20 years of experience building and backing businesses. She is the Founding Partner of Concept to Co., investing in 80+ companies, and the Founder & CEO of 5 SENS, a fine fragrance brand. Previously, she co-founded Wander Beauty, later acquired by Nameless CPG, and Send the Trend, acquired by QVC. Divya began her career in finance at Goldman Sachs, Investcorp, and FirstMark Capital before becoming an “accidental entrepreneur.” Featured widely in top media outlets, she is also the author of Sexy Women Eat, and regularly mentors founders and lectures at leading universities. She holds a B.S. from Cornell, an MBA from Harvard, and trained at the French Culinary Institute.


Website - https://5sens.co/  

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@dgugnani 


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The Exit—Presented By Flippa: A 30-minute podcast featuring expert entrepreneurs who have been there and done it. The Exit talks to operators who have bought and sold a business. You’ll learn how they did it, why they did it, and get exposure to the world of exits, a world occupied by a small few, but accessible to many. To listen to the podcast or get daily listing updates, click on flippa.com/the-exit-podcast/


Timing, Focus, and Bold Moves: How Divya Gugnani Builds and Sells Businesses

Want a quick estimate of how much your business is worth?

With our free valuation calculator, answer a few questions about your business, and you’ll get an immediate estimate of the value of your business.

You might be surprised by how much you can get for it: https://flippa.com/exit 


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In this episode of The Exit, Flippa CEO Blake Hutchison shares how digital M&A is evolving, and why Flippa is thriving despite global deal volumes falling. Blake reveals how Flippa achieved 36% growth while the wider market shrank, explains why ecommerce is roaring back, and dives into the launch of Lauren AI, Flippa’s groundbreaking AI-powered deal sourcing and outreach tool.
From helping buyers define hyper-precise mandates to unlocking off-market opportunities, Lauren AI is designed to bridge the gap between entrepreneurs and investors in smarter, more secure ways. Blake also unpacks key trends shaping the industry: the rise of AI-native businesses as one of the most sought-after asset types, the global nature of dealmaking with 83% of Flippa’s transactions now cross-border, and why today’s online businesses are stronger than ever thanks to better tools and technology.
Whether you’re a founder considering an exit or a buyer searching for the next big opportunity, this episode offers a front-row seat to the future of digital acquisitions.


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Blake Hutchison is the Chief Executive Officer of Flippa, the online marketplace that enables buying and selling of websites, apps, stores, and digital businesses. Since taking the helm in late 2018 as a turnaround CEO, Blake has driven Flippa’s growth and led a global team focused on empowering entrepreneurs and small business owners to exit on their terms and own their future.

Flippa -  https://flippa.com/ 

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The Exit—Presented By Flippa: A 30-minute podcast featuring expert entrepreneurs who have been there and done it. The Exit talks to operators who have bought and sold a business. You’ll learn how they did it, why they did it, and get exposure to the world of exits, a world occupied by a small few, but accessible to many. To listen to the podcast or get daily listing updates, click on flippa.com/the-exit-podcast/

Blake Hutchison on AI, Cross-Border Deals & the Future of Digital M&A

Want a quick estimate of how much your business is worth?

With our free valuation calculator, answer a few questions about your business, and you’ll get an immediate estimate of the value of your business.

You might be surprised by how much you can get for it: https://flippa.com/exit 


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In this episode of The Exit, Rufus Griscom, co-founder of Nerve, Babble, and Next Big Idea Club, shares his journey from book editor to serial entrepreneur with three startups and a blockbuster exit to Disney.
Rufus launched Nerve.com in the late ’90s, followed by spin-offs that were culturally significant but financially challenging. Those hard lessons shaped his disciplined approach to Babble, the parenting platform he built with his wife in 2007. Babble tapped into the emerging mom-blogging movement, growing to 10M monthly uniques and a $10M revenue run rate, becoming the leading parenting site of its time.
Determined to secure a strong outcome, Rufus identified five likely acquirers early and built trust over years, consistently hitting milestones and proving growth. That strategy paid off when Disney acquired Babble for a reported $40M, after Rufus successfully negotiated a 25% bump over their initial offer and minimized reliance on earnouts.
He emphasizes selling on momentum, building relationships with the right stakeholders, and being radically honest about challenges. Today, Rufus runs the Next Big Idea Club with Malcolm Gladwell, Adam Grant, Susan Cain, and Daniel Pink, delivering the most important new ideas to a fast-changing world.


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Rufus Griscom is a serial entrepreneur and media innovator who has founded and scaled multiple influential companies at the intersection of culture and technology. He launched Nerve.com in 1997, pioneering frank conversations about relationships and culture, before selling it in 2007. He went on to co-found Babble, a groundbreaking parenting platform acquired by Disney in 2011, where he continued as VP of Media. Today, he is the founder and CEO of The Next Big Idea Club, a learning platform and book club featuring thought leaders like Malcolm Gladwell, Susan Cain, Adam Grant, and Daniel Pink, dedicated to spreading transformative ideas. Widely recognized for his TED Talks and writing, Griscom brings decades of experience building communities, driving acquisitions, and shaping how big ideas reach the world.


Website - https://nextbigideaclub.com/  


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The Exit—Presented By Flippa: A 30-minute podcast featuring expert entrepreneurs who have been there and done it. The Exit talks to operators who have bought and sold a business. You’ll learn how they did it, why they did it, and get exposure to the world of exits, a world occupied by a small few, but accessible to many. To listen to the podcast or get daily listing updates, click on flippa.com/the-exit-podcast/


Parenting, Pivots, and a $40M Disney Deal: Rufus Griscom’s Exit Story

Want a quick estimate of how much your business is worth?

With our free valuation calculator, answer a few questions about your business, and you’ll get an immediate estimate of the value of your business.

You might be surprised by how much you can get for it: https://flippa.com/exit 


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In this episode of The Exit, Mark Rampolla, founder of ZICO Coconut Water and co-founder of GroundForce Capital, unpacks one of the most fascinating comeback stories in consumer brand history.

Mark shares how he went from being a Peace Corps volunteer in Central America to launching ZICO, scaling it into a household name, and ultimately selling to Coca-Cola. He breaks down what it was like to negotiate with one of the world’s biggest corporations, why timing and category positioning were everything, and how he structured a deal that protected both his vision and the company’s future.

Then came the twist. When Coca-Cola offloaded over 200 brands during COVID, Mark bought ZICO back, reigniting the very company he had built from scratch. Now, with GroundForce Capital, he’s helping the next generation of founders build sustainable, purpose-driven businesses ready for exit.

This is a must-listen episode for entrepreneurs looking to understand what makes a brand acquisition-worthy, how to negotiate from a position of strength, and how to know when it’s time to sell (or buy back).



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Mark Rampolla is a visionary entrepreneur, investor, and author dedicated to empowering mission-driven leaders and building businesses with purpose. As co-founder and co-managing partner of GroundForce Capital, he helps bold founders scale companies that create lasting impact. He previously founded ZICO Coconut Water, pioneering the multibillion-dollar coconut water category and selling the brand to Coca-Cola before famously buying it back. Over his career, Mark has invested in more than 100 companies, served on over 20 boards, raised over $1 billion in capital, and generated over $5 billion in enterprise value. A former Peace Corps volunteer and corporate executive, he is the author of High-Hanging Fruit as well as the soon to be released An Entrepreneur’s Guide to Freedom, and continues to inspire entrepreneurs to break free from constraints and lead with true freedom.


Websites - https://www.groundforcecapital.com/ 

- https://www.markrampolla.co/ 

Pre-order his book - https://a.co/d/3c5nOSD 



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The Exit—Presented By Flippa: A 30-minute podcast featuring expert entrepreneurs who have been there and done it. The Exit talks to operators who have bought and sold a business. You’ll learn how they did it, why they did it, and get exposure to the world of exits, a world occupied by a small few, but accessible to many. To listen to the podcast or get daily listing updates, click on flippa.com/the-exit-podcast/


From Startup to Coca-Cola and Back Again: The Full-Circle Journey of ZICO Founder Mark Rampolla

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Want a quick estimate of how much your business is worth?

With our free valuation calculator, answer a few questions about your business, and you’ll get an immediate estimate of the value of your business.

You might be surprised by how much you can get for it: https://flippa.com/exit 


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In this episode of The Exit, serial entrepreneur Peter Korbel shares how a decade of reinvention, from running a colorful D.C. food truck to founding a Manhattan coworking space, ultimately led him to build and sell StoreMe, an on-demand luggage storage startup acquired by London-based Stasher.
Peter reveals how StoreMe began with a simple frustration: nowhere to drop off his gym bag or Airbnb guests’ luggage. Armed with hustle and $500K in seed funding, he personally signed up 100 stores on foot, grew to over 600 partner locations across the U.S., and turned a profit within a year. But when COVID-19 hit, travel stopped overnight. Rather than quit, Peter rebuilt, and positioned StoreMe for acquisition by a competitor he’d nurtured a relationship with for years.
His exit story blends sharp business instincts with deep personal reflection, including the loss of his father and the importance of staying organized, transparent, and resilient. Today, Peter channels those lessons into 135 Madison, his consulting firm helping founders raise capital, and his new Substack, Startup Anatomy. His advice: “It’s all a hustle. Every lesson compounds if you just keep going.”


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Peter Korbel is a seasoned business consultant and tech founder with over 15 years of startup experience, known for turning bold ideas into thriving ventures. With one successful exit to his name, he’s launched and led companies including Washington D.C.’s first food-truck operation, one of the world’s earliest on-demand luggage storage platforms, and Blender Workspace, a high-end co-working hub for entrepreneurs in New York City. A Columbia University graduate with an MBA from The George Washington University, Peter now advises founders and investors across Manhattan and the Bay Area, blending sharp strategy, creative execution, and an unmatched entrepreneurial network.


Website - https://www.135madison.com/ 


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The Exit—Presented By Flippa: A 30-minute podcast featuring expert entrepreneurs who have been there and done it. The Exit talks to operators who have bought and sold a business. You’ll learn how they did it, why they did it, and get exposure to the world of exits, a world occupied by a small few, but accessible to many. To listen to the podcast or get daily listing updates, click on flippa.com/the-exit-podcast/

The Hustler’s Playbook: Peter Korbel’s Journey from Food Trucks to a Tech Acquisition

De-Risk, Delegate, and Deliver a Great Exit: How Certified Exit Planner Julie Keyes Helps Founders Sell Smart



Business Valuation Text Ad:
Want a quick estimate of how much your business is worth?

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You might be surprised by how much you can get for it: https://flippa.com/exit 


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In this episode of The Exit, Steve welcomes Julie Keyes, a serial entrepreneur turned Certified Exit Planner and faculty member at the Exit Planning Institute (EPI). Julie shares how her own difficult exit nearly two decades ago inspired her to guide business owners toward smoother, more profitable transitions.

Julie breaks down exit preparedness into two core pillars: owner readiness and business readiness. She stresses that true readiness starts long before a sale: owners must update legal, tax, and estate plans, and ensure their personal finances and mindset are aligned with life after the exit. On the business side, she focuses on transferability, decentralizing the owner’s role, building strong teams, and creating a company that can thrive without its founder.

Julie also discusses timing the sale, navigating the “five Ds” (death, divorce, disagreement, disability, and distress), and structuring negotiations with the help of skilled M&A advisors. Her message is clear: “Don’t wait for an offer to learn what your business is worth.” This episode is a practical masterclass on planning early, reducing risk, and protecting your life’s work.


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Julie Keyes is the founder and owner of KeyeStrategies, an advisory firm helping entrepreneurs build enterprise value and prepare for successful business transitions. A lifelong entrepreneur turned Certified Exit Planning and Value Growth Adviser, Julie brings firsthand experience from starting, growing, and selling multiple companies. Recognized twice as EPI’s “Thought Leader of the Year,” she’s a national speaker, faculty member for the CEPA Program, and author of Poised for Exit: A Woman Entrepreneur’s Guide to Business Transition.


LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliekeyes/ 

Website - https://keyestrategies.com/ 

Podcast - https://keyestrategies.com/podcast/ 



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The Exit—Presented By Flippa: A 30-minute podcast featuring expert entrepreneurs who have been there and done it. The Exit talks to operators who have bought and sold a business. You’ll learn how they did it, why they did it, and get exposure to the world of exits, a world occupied by a small few, but accessible to many. To listen to the podcast or get daily listing updates, click on flippa.com/the-exit-podcast/


De-Risk, Delegate, and Deliver a Great Exit: How Certified Exit Planner Julie Keyes Helps Founders Sell Smart

Want a quick estimate of how much your business is worth?

With our free valuation calculator, answer a few questions about your business, and you’ll get an immediate estimate of the value of your business.

You might be surprised by how much you can get for it: https://flippa.com/exit 


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Danny Davis, CEO of Hyperfi, shares hard-won lessons from multiple exits including taking a cannabis tech company public and missing an eight-figure investment in Loom.

Key Topics:
• How a hospital bed insight led to patenting the world's first cannabis cartridge filling system
• Why board control is make-or-break for successful exits (and what happened when he lost it)
• The revenue vs. investment dilemma: when to kill your cash cow for the bigger bet
• Being Loom's first customer, offered to be first investor, and saying no—an eight-figure miss
• Why he only invests in founder-led companies now (even controversial ones like Travis's Uber)
• Building Hyperfi: applying Ben Horowitz's People → Product → Profit formula
• The "N+1 strategy" for risk management every entrepreneur needs
• Why timing is everything: two years makes the difference between too early and too late

Biggest Takeaway: "For every person I talk to that has hindsight, they always had an inkling. The mistakes happen when you sell yourself short or get out too early."

Danny went from 13 years in corporate IT to multiple successful exits by spotting pattern-breaking opportunities in taboo markets. Now he's building Hyperfi, an AI-powered IT procurement platform solving a $1.5 trillion problem.


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Danny Davis is a multi-exit founder, technologist, and hands-on operator known for building companies that push industries forward. From taking Convectium public at a $100M+ valuation to leading W3Box.io’s blockchain and AI-powered membership systems for global brands, his ventures bridge the physical and digital worlds. Holding eight patents across connected packaging and authentication, Danny’s work sits at the intersection of design, code, and commerce. Now founder of HyperFi, an AI-native enterprise IT platform, he leads with precision, purpose, and his guiding motto: “Break to Fix.”

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dannydavis12/ 

Website - https://hyperfi.ai/ 


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The Exit—Presented By Flippa: A 30-minute podcast featuring expert entrepreneurs who have been there and done it. The Exit talks to operators who have bought and sold a business. You’ll learn how they did it, why they did it, and get exposure to the world of exits, a world occupied by a small few, but accessible to many. To listen to the podcast or get daily listing updates, click on flippa.com/the-exit-podcast/



The Eight-Figure Miss: Hard-Won Lessons From Multiple Exits with Danny Davis

Want a quick estimate of how much your business is worth?

With our free valuation calculator, answer a few questions about your business, and you’ll get an immediate estimate of the value of your business.

You might be surprised by how much you can get for it: https://flippa.com/exit 



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In this episode of The Exit, host Steve sits down with Callum Laing, partner at Unity Group, author, and serial entrepreneur who has helped take more than 100 companies public. With decades of experience across Asia, Europe, and beyond, Callum shares his contrarian approach to growth, exits, and how founders can use the capital markets as a scaling tool, not just a finish line.
From his first recruitment business during the dot-com boom to running a global group that helps small businesses access public market advantages. Callum has seen it all, from booms, busts to breakthroughs. He explains why most entrepreneurs under-optimize for profit when gearing up to sell, how boards can fast-track business maturity, and why timing the market is less about prediction and more about preparation.
Callum’s insights extend beyond valuation multiples. He talks candidly about common M&A mistakes, the power of strategic positioning, and why founders should sell “as soon as they can” to regain their most valuable resources: time and capital. This episode is a masterclass in scaling smart, negotiating with leverage, and learning faster through failure.



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Callum Laing is a seasoned entrepreneur, investor, and M&A specialist with over two decades of experience building and scaling companies across multiple industries. As a Partner at Unity Group and Founder of the Global Investment Leaders Directive (GILD) and the Veblen Director Programme, he helps business owners unlock liquidity, accelerate growth, and gain access to global capital markets. A passionate advocate for ethical capitalism and entrepreneur-led innovation, Callum has worked extensively with private equity firms, family offices, and public markets to bridge the gap between fast-growing private enterprises and institutional investors.


LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/callumlaing/ 

Website - https://callumlaing.com/ 


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The Exit—Presented By Flippa: A 30-minute podcast featuring expert entrepreneurs who have been there and done it. The Exit talks to operators who have bought and sold a business. You’ll learn how they did it, why they did it, and get exposure to the world of exits, a world occupied by a small few, but accessible to many. To listen to the podcast or get daily listing updates, click on flippa.com/the-exit-podcast/


From Startups to the Stock Exchange: How Callum Laing Took 100 Companies Public and Redefined the Exit Gam

Want a quick estimate of how much your business is worth?

With our free valuation calculator, answer a few questions about your business, and you’ll get an immediate estimate of the value of your business.

You might be surprised by how much you can get for it: https://flippa.com/exit 


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Most founders obsess over the deal - valuations, terms, negotiations. But few ever ask the most important question: What comes next for you?
In this episode of The Exit, Steve chats with Carolyn Nolan, CEO and Private Wealth Advisor at TNG Private Wealth, about what really happens after you sell. From emotional comedowns to tax traps, Carolyn reveals why the money is actually the easy part—and how to build a life that’s just as successful as your exit.
🎯 Key Takeaways:
Why entrepreneurs struggle to “switch off” after selling
The one question that reframes your entire next chapter
The two extremes that destroy post-exit happiness
Avoiding the tax blindside that catches almost everyone
“Workhorse vs. racehorse” investing explained
Why your discretionary expenses probably aren’t
Passing wealth down—without raising entitled kids
The surprising loneliness that follows exits


⚠️ Common Post-Exit Mistakes:
Ignoring tax implications
Overspending on real estate
Gifting too early
Freezing up and spending nothing out of guilt
Waiting until after the exit to plan your life


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Carolyn Nolan’s superpower is igniting positive energy and meaningful action by brainstorming what could be, unapologetically speaking her truth, and creating tools for the taking in her ‘CNo toolbox’. She helps people stay strategically prepared, simplify life’s juggling act, and embrace change with confidence, inspiration, and a sense of adventure. 


LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolynlaunienolan/ 

Website - https://www.ameripriseadvisors.com/team/tng-private-wealth/ 


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The Exit—Presented By Flippa: A 30-minute podcast featuring expert entrepreneurs who have been there and done it. The Exit talks to operators who have bought and sold a business. You’ll learn how they did it, why they did it, and get exposure to the world of exits, a world occupied by a small few, but accessible to many. To listen to the podcast or get daily listing updates, click on flippa.com/the-exit-podcast/

You Just Sold Your Business. Now What the Hell Do You Do? Common Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make with Carolyn Nolan

Want a quick estimate of how much your business is worth?

With our free valuation calculator, answer a few questions about your business, and you’ll get an immediate estimate of the value of your business.

You might be surprised by how much you can get for it: https://flippa.com/exit 


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In this episode of The Exit Podcast, host Steve sits down with Lee Smith, an acquisition entrepreneur at Verdani Capital with 12 years of M&A experience. Lee shares hard-won lessons from acquiring 20+ businesses and reveals what buyers really look for when evaluating companies for acquisition.

KEY TOPICS COVERED:

The #1 Red Flag Buyers See (And How to Fix It)
Lee reveals why owner-dependency kills deals and how to build transferability into your business 2-3 years before exit

Inside the Valuation Process
Real multiples for blue-collar businesses (2-4x true profit, not EBITDA) and why adjusted earnings can backfire

Deal Structure That Works
How Lee structures acquisitions to align incentives: buying 60-80% stakes with future upside potential that often doubles the founder's payday

The Biggest Deal Mistakes
From buying distressed companies to discovering hidden equity agreements 30 minutes before closing—lessons learned the hard way

The £1 Business Acquisition Strategy
How Lee has purchased 20 businesses for just one pound, including a remarkable turnaround that saved a founder from £500K in debt

When Concentration Risk Isn't a Deal-Breaker
Strategic approaches to handling clients that represent 60-70% of revenue, including key customer clauses in SPAs

Building Trust in M&A Deals
Why "two ears, one mouth" matters more than spreadsheets when structuring successful acquisitions

The EOS Framework for Integration
Using simple systems to manage acquired businesses without disrupting teams or culture



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Lee Smith is a values-driven entrepreneur and dealmaker with more than 25 years of experience and a respected track record in UK M&A. After completing his first acquisitions in 2014, he went on to buy and turn around nine underperforming companies before founding Verdani Capital, where he continues to acquire and scale larger UK businesses. To date, Lee has completed 26 acquisitions across sectors such as Manufacturing, Professional Services, Construction, HVAC, and IT Services, supported by training from leading M&A mentors in the UK and US. His current portfolio generates over £2M in annual profit with a clear path toward £10M, strengthened by three strategic exits in 2024. Grounded in spirituality and conscious leadership, Lee combines substance, strategy, and long-term thinking in every partnership.

Website - https://www.leeasmith.co.uk/ 


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The Exit—Presented By Flippa: A 30-minute podcast featuring expert entrepreneurs who have been there and done it. The Exit talks to operators who have bought and sold a business. You’ll learn how they did it, why they did it, and get exposure to the world of exits, a world occupied by a small few, but accessible to many. To listen to the podcast or get daily listing updates, click on flippa.com/the-exit-podcast/

How I Bought 20 Companies for £1 (And Why Your Business Might Be Unsellable) - Exit and Acquisition Lessons with Lee Smith

Want a quick estimate of how much your business is worth?

With our free valuation calculator, answer a few questions about your business, and you’ll get an immediate estimate of the value of your business.

You might be surprised by how much you can get for it: https://flippa.com/exit 


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If you're an entrepreneur wondering when to raise capital, how to scale through acquisition, or what really drives valuation multiples, this conversation delivers tactical advice you can actually use.

In this episode of The Exit Podcast, James Rose, Founder and CEO of Inflective Group, unpacks the strategic decisions that determine whether a business exits successfully or stalls out. James shares hard-won lessons from his journey building and selling businesses across Eastern Europe, spending over a decade in the startup world, and now helping agency founders navigate their own exits.


What You'll Learn
On Common Founder Mistakes:
Why raising money too early can make your business less acquirable
The hidden execution risks that come with rapid scaling
How hiring the wrong people costs you 18 months and momentum
Why one A-player delivers what five B-players struggle to achieve

On Exit Timing and Preparation:
Why the best businesses get bought, not sold
The truth about "exit prep" and when it becomes a distraction
How to know if you're actually ready to scale or should stay focused
What life-changing money really means at different stages

On Scaling and Valuation:
Why small operational improvements won't significantly change your multiple
The three paths to scale: raising capital, acquiring competitors, or joining a larger group
How to think about EBITDA multiples and what actually moves the needle
Why scale is the ultimate multiplier, not process optimization

On M&A and Deal Structure:
How to create competitive tension in negotiations (and why you need it)
The "longest list" negotiation strategy that actually works
Why most founders focus on the wrong deal terms
Red flags to watch for in private equity deals and earnout structures
How minority investments can empower founders instead of limiting them

On Growing Through Acquisition:
The financial commitment calculation: when will you actually see ROI?
Managing the distraction of M&A while protecting your core business
Why leverage matters more than scale in acquisitions
How to ensure people stay and remain motivated post-acquisition


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James Rose is Founder & Director of Rose Equity Partners and also leads as Founder & Group CEO of Inflectiv Group, bringing over two decades of entrepreneurial leadership in launching, scaling and advising high-growth media, marketing and technology ventures. He has driven commercial strategies and go-to-market execution for private-equity-backed companies while taking revenues from early stage through to £7M+ outcomes. With a deep passion for partnering with ambitious entrepreneurs and creating sustainable value, James combines operational expertise, investor insight and strategic vision to help founder-led businesses navigate growth inflection points and deliver meaningful impact.


Website - https://www.inflectivgroup.com/ 

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesroseequitypartners/ 


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The Exit—Presented By Flippa: A 30-minute podcast featuring expert entrepreneurs who have been there and done it. The Exit talks to operators who have bought and sold a business. You’ll learn how they did it, why they did it, and get exposure to the world of exits, a world occupied by a small few, but accessible to many. To listen to the podcast or get daily listing updates, click on flippa.com/the-exit-podcast/


Smart Scaling, M&A Strategy, and Why Most Founders Raise Money Too Early with James Rose

Want a quick estimate of how much your business is worth?

With our free valuation calculator, answer a few questions about your business, and you’ll get an immediate estimate of the value of your business.

You might be surprised by how much you can get for it: https://flippa.com/exit 


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Most business owners believe selling their company is a single event—a signature on a dotted line. But according to Chris Spratling, Founder of Chalk Hill Blue, treating your exit like an event is the fastest way to leave millions on the table.

In this episode, we unpack why the "illusion of readiness" kills deal value and why over half of all founders regret their exit within 12 months. Chris shares his experience from the private equity and consulting worlds to explain exactly what modern buyers are looking for. We move beyond basic EBITDA multiples to discuss the psychology of the seller, how to survive forensic due diligence, and the shift from "growth at all costs" to "predictability."

If you are building a business with the intention of selling—whether next year or in a decade—this conversation is your blueprint for maximum value and zero regret.

In this episode, you will learn:
The "Illusion of Readiness": Why having a profitable business does not mean you have a sellable business.
The 8-10 Drivers of Value: What acquirers actually look for (hint: it’s not just your bottom line).
Deal Structure Strategy: How to align earn-outs, non-competes, and tax efficiency with your personal life goals.
The Negotiation Edge: How one seller secured a 40% premium over the initial offer simply by being better prepared than the buyer.
Market Shifts: Why post-COVID buyers are paying for predictability over hockey-stick growth.
The Regret Trap: Why 50% of owners hate their deal a year later and how to ensure you aren't one of them.


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Timestamps:

(01:49) Why selling is a journey, not an event
(03:36) The difference between Perceived Value and Market Value
(05:56) Seller Readiness vs. Business Readiness
(09:21) How to negotiate deal structures and multiple bids
(17:55) How buyer psychology has changed in the last 5 years
(22:54) The #1 piece of advice: "Prepare like your life depends on it"


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Chris Spratling is the founder of Chalkhill Blue Limited, a leading business coaching and consulting practice that helps UK business owners scale effectively and prepare for profitable exits. With more than 30 years of experience owning, buying, and selling multiple seven-figure businesses, he brings deep, practical insight to every client engagement. He is also the author of The Exit Roadmap: The Insider’s Guide to Selling Your Business Profitably, where he distills his proven approach to exit planning and leadership transformation, including how to understand whether a business is truly sale-ready.


Website - https://chalkhillblue.org/ 

Check out his book - https://a.co/d/cKVGTFs 

Take the Exit Readiness Survey - https://chalkhillblue.org/exitreadiness-survey 


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The Exit—Presented By Flippa: A 30-minute podcast featuring expert entrepreneurs who have been there and done it. The Exit talks to operators who have bought and sold a business. You’ll learn how they did it, why they did it, and get exposure to the world of exits, a world occupied by a small few, but accessible to many. To listen to the podcast or get daily listing updates, click on flippa.com/the-exit-podcast/

Why 50% of Founders Regret Selling (and How to Add 40% to Your Deal Value) with Chris Spratling

Want a quick estimate of how much your business is worth?

With our free valuation calculator, answer a few questions about your business, and you’ll get an immediate estimate of the value of your business.

You might be surprised by how much you can get for it: https://flippa.com/exit 


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What happens when your business explodes with growth at the exact moment your personal life falls apart?
In this episode, we sit down with Chelsea Jones, co-founder of Sunny Road, to unpack a journey that defines entrepreneurial resilience. From losing her life savings on a failed MLM venture to building a successful agency during the chaos of COVID, Chelsea’s story is a masterclass in pivoting.
We dive deep into the messy reality of agency life, discussing the "dark side" of partnerships, how to navigate a buyout while battling a cancer diagnosis, and the complexities of merging two seven-figure companies. Chelsea also opens up about the "Napkin Pitch" concept and why women entrepreneurs need to stop waiting for perfection and start selling their vision.
If you are an agency owner, an e-commerce founder, or an entrepreneur navigating a transition, this episode offers the blueprint for survival and scale.

In this episode, we cover:
The "Fail Fast" Mentality: Lessons learned from a $5,000 loss and early MLM failure.

The COVID Scale-Up: Going from 5 to 32 employees overnight and the operational debt that followed.
The Buyout & The Battle: How Chelsea bought out her burning-out partner while simultaneously undergoing cancer treatment.

Merging & AI: Navigating a merger between friends and how AI has slashed design fees from six figures to low fives.

The "Napkin Pitch": Why you need to run into the room with your idea before it's fully fleshed out.

Exit Strategy: How to prepare your books and your mindset for a sale long before you're ready to leave.


Key Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro 

(01:55) The $5,000 mistake: Learning from early failure 

(05:14) Scaling during COVID: Managing rapid growth and team burnout 

(07:27) The Crucible: Buying out a partner while fighting cancer 

(10:50) Merging companies and the impact of AI on agency pricing 

(13:21) How to prepare your financials for a merger or exit 

(18:15) When is the right time to sell? 

(20:02) The "Napkin Pitch": Overcoming perfectionism in business 

(23:38) What Sunny Road does for E-Commerce brands


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Chelsea Jones is a visionary e-commerce leader, Shopify Platinum Partner, and co-founder of Sunny Road. She first built her reputation at Chelsea & Rachel Co., the first women-founded agency to achieve Shopify Premier status, where she created high-performing online stores and became a trusted partner for brands looking to scale. In 2023, she joined forces with Drew Himel of Fireside Digital to launch Sunny Road, a digital agency that blends creative excellence with data-driven growth. Today, Chelsea leads with the same passion and client-first approach that have defined her career, helping brands build e-commerce experiences that shine.


Website - https://sunnyroad.co/ 

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelsea-jones101/ 


--
The Exit—Presented By Flippa: A 30-minute podcast featuring expert entrepreneurs who have been there and done it. The Exit talks to operators who have bought and sold a business. You’ll learn how they did it, why they did it, and get exposure to the world of exits, a world occupied by a small few, but accessible to many. To listen to the podcast or get daily listing updates, click on flippa.com/the-exit-podcast/


Battling Cancer, Buying Out a Co-Founder, and The "Napkin Pitch" Strategy with Chelsea Jones

Want a quick estimate of how much your business is worth?

With our free valuation calculator, answer a few questions about your business, and you’ll get an immediate estimate of the value of your business.

You might be surprised by how much you can get for it: https://flippa.com/exit 

--
A quick note on audio: We experienced some technical gremlins with the microphones during this recording. While the sound quality isn't perfect, the quality of the information is 10/10.  

Is your business sitting on digital gold, or did you buy a liability?  In this episode, we sit down with Jeffrey Gabriel, the founder of Saw.com and the man who broke the Guinness World Record for the largest domain sale in history, brokering the sale of a domain for $13 million. Jeff takes us behind the scenes of the high-stakes world of "online real estate." Whether you are a bootstrapper looking for a creative way to secure a premium .com, or an investor looking to understand the wild valuation swings between .net, .ai, and .io, this episode is a masterclass in digital assets. We dive deep into how to value a name, how to negotiate deal structures that require $0 down, and why the "Chinese Chip" market and AI trends are reshaping the internet.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
The $13M Deal: The true story behind the complex bankruptcy sale.
Valuation Framework: The specific metrics Jeff uses to determine if a domain is worth $5,000 or $500,000 (Length, CPC, and Universality).
Creative Financing: How to acquire a six-figure domain name using "Earnest Money" and lease-to-own structures, perfect for cash-strapped startups.
The TLD Debate: Why .net is the "New Balance" of domains, and when you should actually buy a .ai or .io.
Market Trends: From the "Chinese Chip" market to the Crypto crash and the current AI boom.

Timestamps:
(02:36) From selling loans to selling the internet: Jeff’s entry into the domain space.
(11:49) Breaking the World Record: The logistics of selling [suspicious link removed] for $13 Million.
(15:32) Business Strategy: Should you buy the .com, .net, or .ai?
(20:50) The Friend.com case study: Spending $2M on a domain for viral marketing.
(23:51) The Valuation Formula: How to calculate the worth of a URL.
(30:29) Deal Structuring: How to use options and milestones to buy domains without full capital upfront.
(37:34) The history of domain trends: From Ringtones to Chinese "Chips" to AI.

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Jeffrey M. Gabriel, founder and CEO of Saw.com, is a domain industry veteran with over 15 years of experience and over $550 million in completed transactions. Known for high-profile deals like the Guinness World Record-breaking sale of Sex.com for $13 million, the top .ORG sale of Poker.org for $1 million, and the recent sales of Diamond.com, AI.com, Media.com, Data.ai and countless others. Jeffrey and his team have a reputation for delivering exceptional value to clients. Previously, he held key roles at Uniregistry, Igloo.com, and Sedo. An active industry expert, Jeffrey has contributed to Forbes and is a member of the Internet Commerce Association, frequently sharing insights on domain acquisition, sales, and strategy.

Website - https://saw.com/ 

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreymgabriel/ 

--
The Exit—Presented By Flippa: A 30-minute podcast featuring expert entrepreneurs who have been there and done it. The Exit talks to operators who have bought and sold a business. You’ll learn how they did it, why they did it, and get exposure to the world of exits, a world occupied by a small few, but accessible to many. To listen to the podcast or get daily listing updates, click on flippa.com/the-exit-podcast/

Inside the World’s Record $13M Domain Sale with Jeffrey Gabriel

The Exit - Presented By Flippa: A 30-minute podcast featuring expert entrepreneurs who have been there and done it. The Exit talks to operators who have bought and sold a business. You’ll learn how they did it, why they did it, and get exposure to the world of exits, a world occupied by a small few, but accessible to many. To listen to the podcast or get daily listing updates, click on https://flippa.com/the-exit-podcast/

The Exit - Presented By Flippa

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