Buyers Panel – May 2023 GXS Conference – Ksenia Desautels, Todd Crick, and Jay Hoffman
Release Date: 06/08/2023
Inside the Investor’s Mind – Investor’s Corner with Daniel Ibri, Mindset Ventures
TechExits Podcast
Daniel Ibri | Mindset Ventures | Co-Founder & Managing Partner We’re kicking off the very first Investor’s Corner episode of the TechExits Podcast with Daniel Ibri, Co-Founder & Managing Partner at Mindset Ventures. Daniel shares his view on the surge in venture-backed tech exits, how today’s M&A market compares to past cycles, and the role VCs play in guiding founders through the exit process. He also talks about where most exits are happening—M&A, IPOs, or secondaries—and which sectors excite him most right now. This debut Investor’s...
info_outline
Juggling Stakeholders, Landing the Deal – Seller’s Corner with Scot Cocanour
TechExits Podcast
Scot Cocanour | Promium | Founder & CEO What’s it like to sell a business after nearly a quarter-century of innovation, leadership, and growth? In this episode, we speak with Scot Cocanour, founder and CEO of Promium, a specialized software company serving environmental labs. Scot reflects on the decision to sell after 24 years, navigating the M&A process while balancing the needs of his employees, customers, and shareholders. He discusses the smooth, eight-month journey that exceeded expectations, the importance of timing, and the emotional and strategic...
info_outline
HealthTech – GXS Investors Panel
TechExits Podcast
In this special edition of Tech Exits, we will attempt to answer the questions: What do tech investors prioritize when evaluating opportunities? What is the impact of AI on investment strategies? When should entrepreneurs seek investment versus considering an M&A exit? This discussion took place during the WFS Flagship Conference, Growth & Exit Strategies: HealthTech on April 3rd, 2025. The panel lineup includes: David Gardner, Founding Partner, Cofounders Capital Daniel O’Mahony, Partner, Seroba Life Sciences ...
info_outline
Lessons from the Trenches – Seller’s Corner with James Fair
TechExits Podcast
What does it really take to sell a specialized, high-performing company—and survive the emotional rollercoaster along the way? In this episode, we sit down with James Fair, co-founder of Vetasi, to discuss his firsthand experience navigating the M&A process. With no urgent motivation to sell, James still saw the value in preparing for the future and ultimately chose to pursue an acquisition. He reflects on what made Vetasi attractive to buyers, the challenge of maintaining company operations while managing the demands of due diligence, and the critical role of...
info_outline
Selling with Structure – Seller’s Corner with Steve Wargalla
TechExits Podcast
Steve Wargalla | QStrat | Managing Director What’s the difference between going it alone and having a team of experts behind your M&A process? Join us as we speak with Steve Wargalla, who engaged the WFS platinum sponsor, the Corum Group, to sell his company, QStrat—a provider of quoting and sourcing software for manufacturers and distributors. In this episode, Steve reflects on his journey from a first, unstructured exit to a second, highly organized sale with Corum. He shares the lessons learned, the value of working with experienced dealmakers, and why he...
info_outline
Lessons from Both Sides – Points of View with Mary Joyce
TechExits Podcast
In this episode of Points of View, we sit down with Mary Joyce, a serial entrepreneur turned M&A advisor at Corum Group, whose career spans decades of innovation across industries including automotive, medical, aerospace, and AI. Mary shares how selling her own company without an advisor became a defining moment—one that fueled her transition into tech M&A. With 14 U.S. patents to her name and a deep background in SaaS and embedded systems, she brings a unique perspective to the dealmaking process. Tune in as we explore what Mary learned from exiting as a founder,...
info_outline
Women in Tech – Navigating M&A as a Female CEO
TechExits Podcast
In this special edition of Tech Exits, we will attempt to answer the questions: What motivates entrepreneurs to sell their companies, and how do they navigate the M&A process? What challenges do women founders face in securing funding and achieving successful exits? How can entrepreneurs balance running a business while preparing for an acquisition? The panel features women tech entrepreneurs who have successfully exited their companies, sharing their experiences on due diligence, buyer negotiations, and life after the deal. They also discuss...
info_outline
European Tech – GXS Investors Panel
TechExits Podcast
In this special edition of Tech Exits, we will attempt to answer the questions: What do tech investors prioritize when evaluating opportunities? What is the impact of AI on investment strategies? When should entrepreneurs seek investment versus considering an M&A exit? This discussion took place during the WFS Flagship Conference, Growth & Exit Strategies: European Tech on October 30th 2024. The panel lineup includes: Rocio Pillado, Partner, Adara Ventures Merve Zabci, General Partner, Logo Ventures Ashim...
info_outline
Strategic Growth Through Acquisition - Buyer’s Corner with Jean Royer
TechExits Podcast
What does it take to successfully acquire and integrate companies in a competitive market? Join us as we speak with Jean Royer from Levio, a digital-native business and IT consulting firm with a focus on digital transformation across sectors like banking, technology, government, and telecom. In this episode, Jean shares insights into Levio's acquisition strategy, including how they evaluate potential targets, manage integration challenges, and build trust with sellers. He discusses the importance of cultural alignment, transparency, and preparation in creating successful...
info_outline
Scaling for Success - Seller’s Corner with Dan Goerdt
TechExits Podcast
How do you balance business operations with the complexities of an M&A process? Join us as we speak to Dan Goerdt, who engaged the WFS platinum sponsor, the Corum Group, to sell his company, Flexagon. Flexagon is the creator of FlexDeploy, a comprehensive DevOps platform designed to accelerate software delivery, improve quality, and manage costs and risks. In this episode, Dan shares his journey of scaling Flexagon from a bootstrapped startup to a company ready for acquisition. He discusses the challenges of managing an M&A process while maintaining business performance, his focus on...
info_outlineThe goal of our discussion is to provide practical insight and advice on how CEOs and Founders can execute a better Tech M&A transaction from the perspective of a potential acquirer, who may in-fact be partnering with them in the future.
Hear from Ksenia Desautels (Akami), Todd Crick (Astra Capital Management) and Jay Hoffman (Volaris Group). The moderator is Serge Jonnaert, Senior Vice President, Corum Group.
This was recorded during our May 2023 GXS conference. For more content, check out WFS.com.