Why Saying “No” Is the Key to Startup Success
Founders spend an inordinate amount of time assessing, worrying, and perhaps even obsessing over what they should do. Which developer to hire. Which capital partner to work with. Which product…
Finance
Download our M&A Readiness Checklist for Startups
A Practical Guide for Founders Preparing for an Exit — Years Before It Happens
BrightIron M&A Readiness Checklist
Most founders don’t think seriously about M&A until a transaction is already in motion—often when cash is tight, growth is slowing, or an unexpected buyer shows up at the door. By that point, the opportunity to shape the narrative, control the process, and maximize enterprise value has already narrowed.
This checklist distills insights shared during BrightIron’s M&A Series —featuring perspectives from investors, founders, operators, and legal experts—into a practical, founder-friendly guide. These are the foundational elements buyers expect to see and the areas that most often create friction, delay deals, or erode value.
If you’re thinking about an exit within the next 24 months—or even if M&A is simply one of several possible paths—this guide will help you prepare long before diligence begins.
What This Checklist Covers:
Companies We’ve Supported
Recent Blog Posts
The latest industry news, interviews, technologies, and resources.
95% of Startups Exit Through M&A — Here’s How to Be Ready
Most founders don’t wake up thinking about selling their company, but the reality is that M&A is the most common exit path for startups – about 95% of startups that…