
Paresh Deshmukh grew his first SaaS to 100K+ installs and around $12K MRR before selling it after listing on Acquire.com. He later applied those lessons to BoloForms, a B2B SaaS for digital signing that now has 5M+ users and is approaching $1M ARR.The second time around, Paresh approached product, hiring, SEO, marketing, and growth differently. BoloForms also evolved from internal approval workflows to digital signing after the team found stronger willingness to pay in that category. In this episode, Paresh shares what his first SaaS exit taught him, what changed while building BoloForms, and why acquisitions could shape the company’s next phase.You'll hear:How his first SaaS reached 100K+ installs and around $12K MRR before the exitHow product discipline, lean hiring, SEO, and marketing changed the second time aroundWhy BoloForms pivoted to digital signing and how it grew to 5M+ users and nearly $1M ARR3 Lessons from Paresh's SaaS Journey:Willingness to Pay Matters: A useful product is not enough if customers do not value it commercially.Keep the Product Focused: More features can create complexity without creating more growth.Treat Marketing Like Product: Distribution needs the same rigor as building.For SaaS founders, this episode shows how a first exit can sharpen the decisions behind the next company, from product and hiring to growth and acquisition strategy.Follow the Guest:LinkedInBoloForms
Oct 13
17 min

Ethan Roberts turned market research into PlanEase, a B2B SaaS for professional wedding planners that he later sold through Acquire.com.He found the opportunity in a clear market gap: powerful tools were expensive, while cheaper options lacked important features. Facebook Groups, cold email, and word of mouth helped turn the learning project into a real business.In this episode, Ethan shares why he decided to sell, how he separated buyer interest from real intent, and what he learned from preparing the business for acquisition.You'll hear:How market research exposed a gap in wedding planning softwareHow organic outreach and word of mouth turned a learning project into a real SaaS businessHow buyer intent, due diligence, and roadmap alignment shaped the acquisition3 Lessons from PlanEase:Start With Real Demand: Build around a problem customers already feel.Interest Is Not Intent: An LOI is a stronger buying signal.Prepare Early: Organized data makes due diligence easier.For founders, this episode shows how a learning project can become a sellable SaaS business when real demand shapes the product from the start.Follow the Guest:LinkedInPlanEase
Oct 6
9 min

Justin Butlion turned excess profits from his BI agency into a portfolio of 10 SaaS apps across five acquisitions, all completed through Acquire.com.He started by looking for simple, low-maintenance businesses with predictable cash flow. But each acquisition refined what he valued, from churn and customer quality to seller financing, payback periods, and the operational cost of owning multiple small apps.In this episode, Justin shares how his acquisition strategy evolved across five deals, what a $97K purchase taught him about seller financing, and why his next acquisition will likely look very different.You'll hear:How agency profits funded his move into SaaS acquisitionsWhat he looks for before making an offerWhy seller financing can change the real payback periodWhat owning 10 apps taught him about scaling a portfolioWhy he now wants to pursue larger deals with more growth potential3 Lessons from a Serial SaaS Buyer:Churn Changes the Deal: Customer quality can reshape years of projected cash flow.Model the Financing: A smaller upfront payment does not mean faster returns.Cheap Apps Still Add Complexity: Low multiples do not eliminate support and operational risk.For buyers and sellers, this episode offers a closer look at what happens after a deal closes: how buyers evaluate businesses, how deal structure affects returns, and what operating acquired companies can reveal about the qualities that matter in an acquisition.Follow the Guest:LinkedInX (Twitter)
Sep 29
35 min

Adnan Yonathan turned Delta Sports from a “ChatGPT for sports” concept into a prediction market product, found customers through Reddit, and later sold the business through Acquire.com.After pivoting the product within weeks, Adnan learned marketing from scratch and used real market activity to create Reddit content that brought in customers. Even with room to keep growing, he eventually chose to move on to something new.In this episode, Adnan shares how he rebuilt Delta Sports, found his first customers, and closed his first exit in just a few weeks.You'll hear:Why Adnan replaced the original sports chatbot with a prediction market productHow Reddit content brought customers to Delta Sports without a traditional marketing playbookWhat happened when buyer interest turned into an acquisition that closed in roughly two to three weeks3 Lessons from Delta Sports:Pivot the Product, Not Always the Market: Adnan stayed in sports while changing the product completely.Turn Product Activity Into Content: Real market movements gave him a repeatable Reddit strategy.Growth Alone Is Not a Reason to Stay: Delta could still grow, but Adnan wanted to build something else.For founders, this episode shows how a product pivot, organic customer acquisition, and changing priorities can shape a startup exit long before the business runs out of room to grow.Follow the Guest:LinkedInX (Twitter)Delta Sports
Sep 22
12 min

Will Giess turned an overlooked feature inside newer MacBooks into Knock, a paid app that became his first real source of online income before he sold it through Acquire.com.Will first validated the idea with 15 to 25 beta testers on Reddit, using their feedback to improve compatibility and refine the product. After launching on Product Hunt and gaining more traction through Instagram, he kept the business model simple: users could test the sensor, but unlocking the full app required a paid license.In this episode, Will shares how he turned a technical experiment into a paid product, why growing other projects changed his priorities, and what happened when buyer interest became a negotiated app acquisition.You'll hear:How Reddit beta testers helped Will validate compatibility before launchWhy he kept Knock paid from the start and raised the price as demand grewWhat happened during buyer negotiations, due diligence, technical handover, and escrow3 Lessons from Knock:Validate Early: Beta users helped Will improve compatibility and uncover new use cases.Sell for the Right Reasons: Revenue matters, but so do focus, upside, and where you want to spend your time.Document Before Handover: Clear technical documentation made the transition easier for the buyer.For founders, this episode shows how a focused product can grow from a small technical idea into a real business, and how the decision to sell can come down to where your time and attention have the most value.Follow the Guest:LinkedInLittlengine Labs
Sep 15
12 min

Jake Moshel built Apexsendco from cold Instagram DMs and print-on-demand into a profitable, niche e-commerce brand at 14 before selling it through Acquire.com at 16.Instead of chasing a massive audience, Jake focused entirely on mountain bikers, creating custom phone cases for specific bike models. With operations running on autopilot, he built a simple, sellable business that closed in just two weeks once the right buyer showed up.In this episode, Jake shares how he found product-market fit with zero ad budget, why he chose to exit to build in B2B SaaS, and what founders can learn from preparing a data room for a quick close.You'll hear:How niche validation via Instagram DMs created early cash flowWhy running an automated print-on-demand store made the exit simpleWhat happened during the two-week due diligence and escrow process3 Lessons from Apexsendco:Micro-Niches Lower Acquisition Costs: Speaking directly to a passionate subculture beats broad marketing when starting from scratch.Clean Data Rooms Speed Deals: Having metrics, assets, and business descriptions organized beforehand made closing effortless.Patience Leads to Better Buyers: Waiting for a buyer aligned with the niche meant an immediate offer and zero deal friction.For founders, this episode shows that a business doesn't need to be venture-scale to create real liquidity when lean systems and clear focus are in place.Follow the Guest:LinkedInX (Twitter)YouTubeNovix AI
Sep 8
9 min

Jordan Calderon built StratDev from free work, case studies, and self-taught marketing into a performance marketing agency before selling it through Acquire.com.Before StratDev had paying clients, Jordan had to earn trust. He offered work for free in exchange for testimonials and case studies, turning early proof into the foundation for an agency buyers could understand, evaluate, and scale.In this episode, Jordan shares how free work became a real business asset, why growth changed his role as a founder, and how preparation, buyer demand, 215 buyer conversations, 11 LOIs, and the right buyer helped get the acquisition across the finish line.You'll hear:How free work and case studies helped StratDev earn trustHow StratDev grew into a sellable performance marketing agencyWhy buyer demand, LOIs, and buyer conviction mattered after the offer3 Lessons from StratDev:Proof Creates Trust: Case studies helped StratDev win early clients and later gave buyers something real to evaluate.Growth Changes the Role: As the agency grew, Jordan had to decide whether he was still the right operator for the next stage.Demand Still Has to Close: Buyer interest, LOIs, and strong offers only mattered because the deal made it across the finish line.For founders, this episode shows how a founder-led agency can become a business buyers want when proof, preparation, and buyer trust come together before the sale.Follow the Guest:LinkedInNext Up VenturesStratDev
Jul 14
30 min

Riccardo Pisano built Growth-X from an internal LinkedIn automation script into a SaaS lead generation business with millions in revenue before selling it through Acquire.com.Before writing code, Riccardo and his cofounders waited for paying customers. Then they used Growth-X to acquire more customers, improve the product, and grow with B2B sales teams.In this episode, Riccardo shares how a simple growth tool became a real business, why selling required more than buyer interest, and how the right buyer helped turn years of work into a life-changing acquisition.You'll hear:How an internal LinkedIn script became Growth-XWhy paying customers came before writing codeHow Growth-X generated revenue with B2B sales teamsWhy documentation mattered during due diligenceHow buyer fit helped shape Growth-X's next chapter3 Lessons from Growth-X:Validate Before Building: Riccardo waited for paying customers before writing code.Revenue Needs Preparation: Buyers need clean financials, documentation, and clear answers.Buyer Fit Counts: The right buyer can help move a product into its next phase.For founders, this episode shows how a simple internal tool can grow into a meaningful business and lead to a life-changing exit when demand, preparation, and buyer fit converge.Follow the Guest:Riccardo PisanoX (Twitter)
Jul 7
12 min

Faiz Imran had already gone through six exits by 24. His latest, IntentPost, started with a crowded B2B outreach problem and became a startup sale through Acquire.com.Before building the full product, Faiz tested whether the market would pay. A landing page, a payment link, and one early customer turned the idea into real demand. Within weeks, IntentPost reached $120K ARR.In this episode, Faiz shares how he thinks about building companies, why distribution comes before product, and what founders should understand before selling a startup.You'll hear:How Faiz built six exits by 24Why IntentPost started with B2B outreachHow paid demand shaped the productWhy distribution came before buildingWhat founders should know before selling3 Lessons from IntentPost:Demand Comes First: Faiz tested whether buyers would pay before building the full product.Distribution Shapes the Build: IntentPost grew from a clear outbound thesis, not guesswork.Exit Outcomes Are Not Just Valuations: Bootstrap and venture-backed exits can lead to very different founder outcomes.For founders, this episode shows how early paid demand, focused distribution, and clear buyer signals can turn a startup idea into a completed acquisition.Follow the Guest:LinkedInX (Twitter)IntentPost
Jul 2
26 min

Epropel started as a side hustle and grew into a profitable SEO agency with recurring revenue, long-term clients, and a distributed team across North America and the Philippines.Along the way, cold outreach became the engine behind growth. Over time, that structure made the business easier to understand, easier to transfer, and more attractive to buyers. Eventually, Epropel drew serious buyer interest on Acquire.com, leading to around 50 NDAs and 3 offers.You’ll hear:How Epropel grew through cold outreachWhy cold email became the agency’s main growth leverHow recurring revenue changed buyer perceptionWhat made the exit decision make senseWhy buyer fit mattered more than price alone3 Lessons from EpropelCold outreach can create real momentum: Early growth came from testing channels, refining the message, and building proof over time.Recurring revenue changes the conversation: Monthly retainers made the agency more stable, more transferable, and easier for buyers to evaluate.A strong exit starts before the listing: Clean fundamentals, clear structure, and buyer alignment all shaped the outcome long before the acquisition closed.For founders building agencies, service businesses, or other companies with recurring revenue, this episode offers a practical look at growth, buyer interest, and the path to a well-timed exit.Follow the guest:LinkedInInstagramEpropel
Jun 23
21 min
Load more
