03: From Clarity to Close: Strategizing Your Ideal Business Exit with Suren Kapse
Suren Kapse, Executive Coach and M&A Advisor
On this episode of From Angel to Exit, host Bruce Eckfeldt interviews Suren Kapse—an executive coach and M&A advisor with decades of global experience helping founders navigate the exit process. Suren’s multifaceted background spans roles in technology, strategy consulting, and post-merger integration across India, Europe, and the U.S. He now specializes in helping founder-led companies (ranging from $2M to $50M) build clarity, prepare for sale, and find the right buyers.
Suren starts by breaking down the four core reasons buyers acquire companies: for people (talent), scale, clients, or assets. Each of these drivers demands different exit strategies and preparation. He emphasizes the importance of founders first getting crystal clear on their “why”—whether it’s maximizing valuation, ensuring employee continuity, or pursuing new life goals—and then reverse engineering their strategy accordingly.
Throughout the conversation, Suren offers case studies to illustrate his methodology. One highlights how a 300-person Microsoft integrator realigned to meet Accenture’s acquisition criteria and secured a successful exit in just six months. Another showcases how segmentation allowed a robotics startup to cash out of a stagnant market while still innovating in new verticals.
Suren also discusses how buyers can identify and vet potential acquisitions, especially in the $10M range where deal flow is less visible. He highlights tools like GrowthPal and outlines how to assess cultural fit even with limited access. Cultural misalignment, he warns, is a major cause of post-deal failure.
The conversation wraps with advice for founders eyeing international buyers—where markets like Japan may offer higher valuations—and how to time your exit by aligning personal goals with market cycles. Suren’s actionable insights and structured approach make this episode a powerful guide for any CEO planning a strategic business exit.
Key Takeaways
Exit planning starts with personal clarity—know your “why” before choosing an exit route.
Buyers typically acquire for people, scale, clients, or strategic assets. Know your leverage.
Successful exits take 18–36 months of prep: align metrics, clean financials, and position properly.
Study past deals to model your business around what buyers are actively acquiring.
Cultural alignment is critical—mismatched values derail integrations post-deal.
Founders should consider international buyers who may value U.S. assets more aggressively.
Use AI-powered search tools to find under-the-radar acquisition targets as a buyer.
Market timing matters—monitor industry cycles and valuation trends before you sell.
Contact Information:
suren@aptculture.com
