33: Inside a Founder’s Exit Journey: Structuring for Scale, Earning Trust, and Choosing the Right Buyer

Wesley Portegies, Chief Strategy Officer & Founder, MedComms Experts

Wesley Portegies didn’t grow up dreaming of entrepreneurship—yet after finding himself brimming with ideas and frustrated in corporate life, he co-founded a medical communications agency to solve a problem he experienced firsthand. Despite lacking a medical background, Wesley leaned into his creative strengths and built a business that challenged the norms of a conservative, science-dominated industry.

Over 12+ years, he scaled the agency to 90 employees, expanding from Switzerland to the U.S., and differentiated by innovation and strong client relationships. Along the way, he embraced strategic frameworks like TreeHack and developed robust internal systems—everything from contracts to GDPR documentation—to prepare for eventual sale. His mindset: always run your business as if you were planning to sell it.

Wesley shares candid insights from his first failed deal due to trust and misalignment issues, and how that experience made him more prepared for the eventual successful transaction. His final deal wasn’t just about capital—it was about bringing in a CEO who complemented his skills and partnering with a group that respected the founder’s legacy. Now as Chief Strategy Officer, Wesley focuses on growth and M&A, continuing the journey from founder to long-term builder.

This episode is packed with wisdom for founder-CEOs about preparing for exit, building strong internal systems, choosing the right partner, and why culture and alignment matter just as much as capital in a transaction.

Key Takeaways

• You don’t need an industry pedigree to innovate—Wesley brought creativity to a science-heavy sector.

• Founders should run their companies as if they're selling—even if they aren’t ready to exit.

• Flexibility in vision and strategy is critical when the market pushes you in new directions.

• Systems like TreeHack and quarterly goal-setting were essential to managing a 90-person team.

• Wesley's first failed deal taught him the importance of trust, transparency, and deal alignment.

• Your future self will thank you for handling employment contracts and compliance early.

• A great investor fit goes beyond money—shared values and complementary skills are vital.

• Founders can stay on post-exit if roles are clearly defined and strengths are respected.

Contact Information:

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/wesleyportegies/