AS A FOUNDER
QUEST SOFTWARE
MULTIPLE EXITS
TYPICAL ENGAGEMENT
I’VE BEEN EXACTLY WHERE YOU ARE.
TWO BETRAYALS, TWO NEAR-BANKRUPTCIES, AND A CLEAN EXIT LATER.
Maybe you’re buried in operational chaos. Or maybe the company’s running well, but your family’s financial future is riding on one illiquid asset. Either way, the path forward starts with an honest outside perspective.
I built Binary Tree over 26 years, survived two near-bankruptcies and two CEO betrayals, and walked away clean to Quest Software, a $4b competitor. No earn-out, no indentured servitude. Now I compress those expensive lessons into strategic guidance that gets founders to the finish line.
THE PATH TO EXIT
WARNING SIGNS ANALYSIS
We start with a 90-minute working session to clarify your exit goals and assess where you actually stand. That may mean getting out of operational chaos or protecting the value you’ve already built. No homework, no pitch, just strategy. You’ll leave knowing what’s possible and the Warning Signs to watch for on the path ahead.
HOW WE WORK TOGETHER
TESTIMONIALS
THE VIEW FROM THE SUMMIT:
IS THIS RIGHT FOR YOU?
This is for:
- Founders of $5M–$50M companies
- 10+ years in, ready for what’s next
- You control your own cap table. No VC or PE making decisions for you.
- Ready to turn business value into family security
- Net worth concentrated in the business. That may feel like a trap or a ticking clock
- Willing to have hard conversations about sacred cows
This is not for:
- Early-stage startups (<$5M revenue)
- VC or PE-backed founders without decision-making autonomy
- Anyone looking for theory instead of lived experience
- Founders not ready to make hard calls
QUESTIONS FOUNDERS ASK BEFORE GETTING STARTED
What if I’m not sure I actually want to exit?
That’s more common than you’d think. Most founders I work with aren’t sure either, they just know something needs to change. The Clarity Session isn’t about committing to an exit. It’s about seeing your options clearly so you can make a decision from a position of knowledge, not exhaustion. Some founders leave that session and decide to keep building. That’s a perfectly good outcome. Now they’re building with intention instead of grinding on autopilot.
How is this different from a business broker or M&A advisor?
Brokers and investment bankers show up when you’re ready to transact. I show up 12 to 36 months before that, when you’re still stuck in operations, your leadership team has gaps, and your valuation has Red Flags you can’t see from inside. My job is to get your company to the point where a broker can actually sell it for what it’s worth.
Do I need to be ready to sell right now?
No. Most founders I work with are 2 to 5 years from a potential exit when we start. The earlier you start preparing, the more options you have and the better your valuation looks. The worst time to start planning your exit is when you’re desperate to get out. The Warning Signs Analysis gives you a clear timeline, whether that’s 3 years or 10.
What happens after the Clarity Session?
If the session reveals that you’re a fit for deeper work, the natural next step is the Built to Finish Diagnostic which is a comprehensive assessment that includes 360° stakeholder interviews, a Red Flag Report on your valuation killers, your Magic Number calculation, and a 12-36 month exit roadmap. The Diagnostic is required before any retainer engagement. If you’re not a fit, I’ll tell you directly and point you toward the right resource. I don’t do indefinite “coffee chat” retainers, every engagement has a roadmap and an endpoint.
My spouse has questions about this. Is that normal?
Completely. When the vast majority of your family’s net worth is locked in one asset, your spouse has every right to want clarity on the plan. I actually encourage it. In my experience, the best exits happen when both partners understand what’s at stake and what the path looks like. I’m happy to include your spouse in a Clarity Session or walk them through the roadmap after a Diagnostic. This isn’t just a business decision, it’s a family one.