The Key Questions

Is It The Right Time?

This is one of the hardest questions founders face - and there's no universal answer. The right timing depends on your goals, your business trajectory, and market conditions.

What we do know: the best outcomes happen when you're selling from strength, not necessity. That strength might exist today, or it might require 6-12 months of strategic preparation.

Why Stay on Top of the Market

Even if you're not ready to sell, understanding your business's market value gives you clarity and optionality. Markets shift, buyer appetite changes, and windows close quickly. Founders who maintain a pulse on valuation are never caught off guard - and never forced to sell from weakness.

The question isn't just "Am I ready?" - it's "Do I understand what's possible?"

Do I need an advisor?

Technically, no - you can navigate the process yourself. However, M&A is a negotiation from start to finish, and having expertise in your corner unlocks tremendous value that would otherwise be left on the table.

There's also a practical challenge: running an M&A process feels like a full-time job. Juggling it alongside operations means something suffers - and if your business slips, it damages the deal itself.

Here's an insider perspective: As former investors, we always prioritised sellers without advisors. It meant better terms and less competition. Buyers know they'll get a better deal when you're going at it alone.

How We Can Help

We’ll Maximise Your Valuation

This is your life’s work

We have admiration for the blood, sweat & tears that successful founders have invested into their businesses. We believe selling the business deserves the same level of thought.

Speak their language

Investors have one focus: returns. If you can articulate future potential, they can justify higher valuations.

There’s room to optimise

As former investors, we’ve written the playbooks & designed the valuation models. We know the parameters to operate within & the levers to pull.

We’ll use that knowledge to maximise your valuation.

We’ll Find You The Right Investor

You don’t need to settle

Founders too often sell their businesses to one of the first investors they speak to. This is particularly ill-advised given we are in an era of unprecedented demand for founder-led software businesses. You have options.

Wide investor access

At E1 , we have unique & unrivalled access to software investors globally.

We’ll run a systematised & discreet competitive process to give you optionality & leverage. We’ll find you the right fit beyond just valuation.

Remember, a diligence process should be two-ways.

We’ll Negotiate Favourable Terms

Valuation is just one component

Founders selling their business are most likely doing M&A for the first time. Your valuation is just one component (granted, a key piece!).

Push for more

Transaction documents can be opaque, and it's hard to know what's negotiable. Sellers often leave money on the table by accepting unfavorable terms on working capital, post-close salaries, or employment conditions.

We've closed 80+ deals. We know what's negotiable, what isn't, and how to push effectively on your behalf.

M&A is a full-time role

Due Diligence can be tough. Founders are inundated with information requests, Q&A calls.

From start to finish, we will lead the process on your behalf, living & breathing the transaction to ensure you get the best outcome. This allows you to focus on running the business, and to save you from deal fatigue.

Be tactical

Beyond fielding diligence requests, there are tactical moves that can give the sell-side the edge.

Signalling, investor accountability, urgency - these are all powerful tools to increase your leverage.

We’ll Handle The Process

Before any formal engagement, we’ll provide you with our view of the valuation you can achieve. We use the same valuation models as investors, so we’ll only share valuations we consider truly attainable. If the numbers & our approach resonates, we can explore a potential partnership.

Let’s see if there is a fit

  • We’ll help you understand what your business is worth in today’s market, the key drivers impacting your valuation, and whether strategic moves could increase your exit value over the next 6-12 months.

  • We’ll share our assessment of the M&A landscape, including what buyers in your space are looking for, what they’re paying, and whether now is the right time to sell - or if waiting could significantly improve your outcome.

  • We need to ensure that there are no critical gaps that could impact your valuation and get clear on what it takes to position your business for a premium exit.

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