Joash Boyton
M&A Advisor | Founder of Acquiry | Digital Business Transactions | AI in Deal-Making
Melbourne, Australia
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Joash Boyton is the Founder and Managing Director of Acquiry, a specialist M&A advisory firm focused on the acquisition and sale of digital businesses globally.Acquiry executes both buy-side and sell-side mandates ranging from USD $1M to $500M across technology, SaaS, fintech, payments, gaming, content, domain assets, and emerging digital verticals. The firm works closely with strategic acquirers, listed entities, private investors, and founders on structured acquisition pipelines, multi-target sourcing, valuation modelling, deal structuring, negotiation, and transaction execution.Joash has advised on transactions across Australia, the United States, Europe, and Southeast Asia, operating across multiple time zones on high-stakes mandates where speed, precision, and commercial intelligence are critical. His work spans the full transaction lifecycle, from initial target identification and strategic fit assessment through to due diligence, capital structure, and close.In 2026, Joash published a working paper examining the measurable impact of AI tools on M&A transaction outcomes, analysing 150 transactions across three deal categories. The research found statistically significant improvements in time-to-close and reductions in post-close price adjustment disputes in transactions where AI-assisted sourcing and diligence tools were applied.He speaks at conferences and events on digital M&A, the evolving landscape of digital asset transactions, AI applications in deal-making, and the strategic considerations for founders approaching a sale. His talks are grounded in live transaction experience and structured for audiences ranging from founders and operators to institutional investors and corporate development teams.Based in Melbourne, Australia. Contact via joashboyton.com or acquiry.com.
Area of Expertise
Topics
The Digital M&A Playbook: How to Buy and Sell Online Businesses in 2026 and Beyond
The market for digital business transactions has matured significantly over the past decade. What was once a niche activity, buying and selling websites, SaaS products, and online media businesses, is now a mainstream asset class attracting institutional capital, strategic acquirers, and sophisticated private buyers.
In this session, Joash Boyton draws on his experience advising on digital business transactions from USD $1M to $500M to walk through the current state of the market: where deals are happening, what buyers are paying, and what separates the transactions that close cleanly from the ones that fall apart.
The session covers the key valuation drivers for digital businesses, how deal structures differ across asset types, the most common mistakes founders make when approaching a sale, and what buyers look for when evaluating acquisition targets. Joash also addresses the emerging role of AI in deal sourcing and diligence, and what it means for both sides of a transaction.
Attendees leave with a practical framework for thinking about digital business value, a clear picture of the current transaction landscape, and specific actions they can take whether they are building toward an exit or actively looking to acquire.
AI in M&A: What the Data Actually Shows About Deal Outcomes
There is a lot of noise about artificial intelligence transforming every industry. In M&A, the reality is more specific and more interesting than the general claims suggest.
In 2026, Joash Boyton published a working paper analysing 150 transactions across three deal categories to measure the actual impact of AI tools on M&A outcomes. The findings were statistically significant: AI-assisted sourcing and screening reduced time-to-close, AI-supported diligence was associated with lower rates of post-close price adjustment, and the quality of target shortlists improved measurably when systematic screening tools were applied.
This session presents the research findings in accessible terms and draws out the practical implications for deal professionals, corporate development teams, and founders. Joash addresses what AI is genuinely good at in the deal process, where human judgment remains irreplaceable, and how the firms that are using these tools effectively are structuring their workflows.
The session is grounded in transaction data and live practice, not theoretical frameworks. It is designed for audiences who want to understand what is actually changing in M&A, not what vendors are claiming will change.
Attendees leave with a clear picture of the current state of AI in deal-making, specific use cases with measurable outcomes, and a framework for thinking about where to apply these tools in their own organisations.
Buying vs Building: The Case for Acquisition as a Growth Strategy
Most founders default to building. They start from zero, raise capital, hire a team, and spend years getting to product-market fit. Acquisition offers a different path: faster market entry, existing revenue, proven customers, and a team already in place.
In this session, Joash Boyton makes the case for acquisition as a deliberate growth strategy, not just an exit mechanism. He covers how to identify acquisition targets, how to evaluate them accurately, how to structure deals that work for both sides, and how to build the operational capability to acquire repeatedly.
The session draws on real transactions across SaaS, fintech, domain assets, and digital media to illustrate the principles in practice. Joash addresses the common objections, the real risks, and the compounding logic that makes serial acquisition one of the most effective value-creation strategies available to operators with access to capital.
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