Most partner owners don’t have a roadmap for selling their firm—until they’re already in the thick of it. But being unprepared can literally cost you millions.

This session brings together 3 founders who each took a different path to an acquisition or major investment in the past two years. You'll get a realistic look at what it really takes to prepare your company for an exit.

We’ll cover three transaction models:
• Regional VAR consolidation — ExpressInfo
• Platform roll-up — Ciellos
• Private equity investment — TMC

Here's what we'll cover:

1. Deal Snapshots: who bought or invested, why the founder chose that path, and one twist no one warned her about.

2. Pre-Exit Prep: what made the company attractive (recurring revenue, IP, niche focus, leadership depth, clean financials) what the founders regret not fixing two years earlier.

3. Inside the Deal Process: due diligence surprises, negotiation hiccups, cultural mismatches, and “oh no” moments that nearly derailed the deal.

4. Life After the Sale: expectations vs. reality, what changed, how the integration actually felt, and the emotional curve of letting go.

5. Advice to Owners: three practical recommendations from each founder on what to do early, what mistakes to avoid, and what every seller must understand before signing anything.

This session is designed for owners and leaders considering an exit—or wanting to build a more valuable, buyer-ready business.