The Path to Exit

Hosted by Vista Point Advisors

Business Entrepreneurship

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Latest episode

Oct 2026

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EN-US

About the show

Learn what software and technology founders needs to know as they grow their business towards an eventual M&A transaction. In this podcast, Mike Lyon from Vista Point Advisors chats with tech founders and the VPA team to address questions like: - What is the process for selling a software or internet business? - What drives the valuation of a SaaS business? - What are my different transactions options? - And more. Subscribe to listen to new episodes released monthly. About VPA Vista Point Advisors is a founder-focused investment bank that advises software & internet founders through M&A and capital raise transactions. We are a fully unconflicted investment bank who only works for founders on the sell-side, so you know that we’re always representing your interests. If you have any questions about the process of selling your business or raising capital, reach out to a member of our team. Or check out the For Founders section of our site by visiting https://vistapointadvisors.com/for-founders.

Listen to episodes

46 recent

November 10, 202626 min

46 | How a Quality of Earnings Analysis Can Help Protect Your Software Exit (with Maxwell Locke & Ritter)

If you are selling your software company, you are very likely to face a quality of earnings review, either your own or the buyer’s. In this episode, Mike Lyon sits down with Lathrop Smith and Dan Feeley, partners at Maxwell Locke & Ritter Transaction Advisory, to discuss what a quality of earnings analysis actually is, why a founder should consider doing one proactively, and the parts of a company’s financials that most often need cleaning up before a buyer digs in to help founders protect both valuation and leverage. Vista Point Advisors is a boutique sell-side investment bank providing unconflicted M&A and capital raising advice to founder-led software, AI, and internet businesses. We partner with entrepreneurs of growing businesses to help them understand their options in the marketplace so they can maximize business value, leverage their options, and realize their ideal outcomes. Securities offered through Vista Point Advisors, member FINRA/SIPC. This has been provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered as investment advice or a recommendation. It is not intended to address all circumstances that might arise. The views expressed herein may change at any time subsequent to the date of issue. Opinions contained herein should not be interpreted as a guarantee of future results. Outcomes will vary depending on individual circumstances. Any examples used in this material are generic, hypothetical and for illustration purposes only. Testimonials from past clients may not be representative of the experience of other clients and there is no guarantee of future performance or success. Clients are not compensated for their comments.

October 13, 202622 min

45 | Beyond Valuation: Deal Terms That Impact What Founders Take Home

A founder can sign a deal with an impressive headline number and still take home far less than expected, because the price at the top of a term sheet is rarely the amount that gets wired at close. In this episode, managing directors Mike Lyon and Jeff Koons break down the terms that can erode a founder's take-home, which ones buyers negotiate hardest, and which ones founders tend to overlook, and how holding onto leverage early in the process can help founders improve their final outcome. Vista Point Advisors is a boutique sell-side investment bank providing unconflicted M&A and capital raising advice to founder-led software, AI, and internet businesses. We partner with entrepreneurs of growing businesses to help them understand their options in the marketplace so they can maximize business value, leverage their options, and realize their ideal outcomes. Securities offered through Vista Point Advisors, member FINRA/SIPC. This has been provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered as investment advice or a recommendation. It is not intended to address all circumstances that might arise. The views expressed herein may change at any time subsequent to the date of issue. Opinions contained herein should not be interpreted as a guarantee of future results. Outcomes will vary depending on individual circumstances. Any examples used in this material are generic, hypothetical and for illustration purposes only. Testimonials from past clients may not be representative of the experience of other clients and there is no guarantee of future performance or success. Clients are not compensated for their comments.

September 15, 202621 min

44 | How Bootstrapped Software Founders Build a Company Worth Buying (with Greg Head of Practical Founders)

For founders who built a software company without big venture rounds, the exit playbook looks different. Raising little or nothing keeps your options open, but it also means you have to build a company worth buying without the fuel VC-backed peers spend on sales, marketing, and product. In this episode, Mike Lyon sits down with Greg Head, founder of Practical Founders, to discuss how bootstrapped SaaS founders keep their optionality, why AI is shifting the calculus for smaller and middle-market software companies, and the specific steps to prepare for a transaction on your own terms. Vista Point Advisors is a boutique sell-side investment bank providing unconflicted M&A and capital raising advice to founder-led software, AI, and internet businesses. We partner with entrepreneurs of growing businesses to help them understand their options in the marketplace so they can maximize business value, leverage their options, and realize their ideal outcomes. Securities offered through Vista Point Advisors, member FINRA/SIPC. This has been provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered as investment advice or a recommendation. It is not intended to address all circumstances that might arise. The views expressed herein may change at any time subsequent to the date of issue. Opinions contained herein should not be interpreted as a guarantee of future results. Outcomes will vary depending on individual circumstances. Any examples used in this material are generic, hypothetical and for illustration purposes only. Testimonials from past clients may not be representative of the experience of other clients and there is no guarantee of future performance or success. Clients are not compensated for their comments.

August 18, 202624 min

43 | Who's Buying Your Software Company? Strategic vs. Private Equity

When founders picture selling their company, they often focus on one thing: the price. But who sits on the other side of the table shapes far more than valuation. It changes how the deal gets structured, how fast it moves, what buyers dig into during diligence, and what life looks like after closing. In this episode, managing directors Mike Lyon and Jeff Bean discuss the different buyer types software founders are most likely to meet, how they think about value, and what founders should weigh before deciding who fits. Vista Point Advisors is a boutique sell-side investment bank providing unconflicted M&A and capital raising advice to founder-led software, AI, and internet businesses. We partner with entrepreneurs of growing businesses to help them understand their options in the marketplace so they can maximize business value, leverage their options, and realize their ideal outcomes. Securities offered through Vista Point Advisors, member FINRA/SIPC. This has been provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered as investment advice or a recommendation. It is not intended to address all circumstances that might arise. The views expressed herein may change at any time subsequent to the date of issue. Opinions contained herein should not be interpreted as a guarantee of future results. Outcomes will vary depending on individual circumstances. Any examples used in this material are generic, hypothetical and for illustration purposes only. Testimonials from past clients may not be representative of the experience of other clients and there is no guarantee of future performance or success. Clients are not compensated for their comments.

July 21, 202618 min

42 | Where Software M&A Deals Typically Fall Apart

When does a software deal typically fall apart? What issues surface in diligence that can derail a close or lead to a retrade? In this episode, managing directors Mike Lyon and Scott Austin discuss the most common reasons deals break down, the potential surprises founders need to prepare for, and how the right groundwork can help you preserve leverage and keep a process on track from LOI to close. Vista Point Advisors is a boutique sell-side investment bank providing unconflicted M&A and capital raising advice to founder-led software, AI, and internet businesses. We partner with entrepreneurs of growing businesses to help them understand their options in the marketplace so they can maximize business value, leverage their options, and realize their ideal outcomes. Securities offered through Vista Point Advisors, member FINRA/SIPC. This has been provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered as investment advice or a recommendation. It is not intended to address all circumstances that might arise. The views expressed herein may change at any time subsequent to the date of issue. Opinions contained herein should not be interpreted as a guarantee of future results. Outcomes will vary depending on individual circumstances. Any examples used in this material are generic, hypothetical and for illustration purposes only. Testimonials from past clients may not be representative of the experience of other clients and there is no guarantee of future performance or success. Clients are not compensated for their comments.

June 30, 202615 min

41 | How Software Buyers Evaluate Defensibility in an AI World

AI has changed what buyers consider a defensible software business, and the gap between companies that command a premium and those facing a potential discount is widening. For founders, where your software sits in the AI stack now shapes valuation almost as much as growth does. In this episode, managing directors Mike Lyon and Miles Lacey discuss what makes software essential rather than replaceable, the questions buyers ask in diligence to test defensibility, and the steps founders can take to strengthen their position. If you are not sure where your business lands, it is a conversation worth having early. Vista Point Advisors is a boutique sell-side investment bank providing unconflicted M&A and capital raising advice to founder-led software, AI, and internet businesses. We partner with entrepreneurs of growing businesses to help them understand their options in the marketplace so they can maximize business value, leverage their options, and realize their ideal outcomes. Securities offered through Vista Point Advisors, member FINRA/SIPC. This has been provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered as investment advice or a recommendation. It is not intended to address all circumstances that might arise. The views expressed herein may change at any time subsequent to the date of issue. Opinions contained herein should not be interpreted as a guarantee of future results. Outcomes will vary depending on individual circumstances. Any examples used in this material are generic, hypothetical and for illustration purposes only. Testimonials from past clients may not be representative of the experience of other clients and there is no guarantee of future performance or success. Clients are not compensated for their comments.

May 19, 202618 min

40 | Choosing Software M&A Counsel: What Founders Should Know Before Their Exit

Choosing the wrong M&A attorney can slow your deal, cost you on terms, and in some cases, put the whole transaction at risk. Yet most software founders give this decision far less thought than it deserves. In this episode, managing directors Mike Lyon and Mike Greco discuss what to look for in a lawyer who specializes in software deals, the most common mistakes founders make when selecting legal counsel, and the specific questions every founder should ask before making the hire. Vista Point Advisors is a boutique sell-side investment bank providing unconflicted M&A and capital raising advice to founder-led software, AI, and internet businesses. We partner with entrepreneurs of growing businesses to help them understand their options in the marketplace so they can maximize business value, leverage their options, and realize their ideal outcomes. Securities offered through Vista Point Advisors, member FINRA/SIPC. This has been provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered as investment advice or a recommendation. It is not intended to address all circumstances that might arise. The views expressed herein may change at any time subsequent to the date of issue. Opinions contained herein should not be interpreted as a guarantee of future results. Outcomes will vary depending on individual circumstances. Any examples used in this material are generic, hypothetical and for illustration purposes only. Testimonials from past clients may not be representative of the experience of other clients and there is no guarantee of future performance or success. Clients are not compensated for their comments.

April 14, 202619 min

39 | SaaSpocalypse? How AI Is Reshaping Software M&A

AI is reshaping what buyers and investors look for in software businesses faster than most founders realize, and many are still operating with an outdated playbook. In this episode, managing directors Mike Lyon and Jeff Koons break down what is driving the so-called SaaSpocalypse, why we think it is more of a market re-rating than a collapse, what criteria investors are now using to evaluate software companies, and what concrete steps founders can take right now to assess and help strengthen their position. Vista Point Advisors is a boutique sell-side investment bank providing unconflicted M&A and capital raising advice to founder-led software, AI, and internet businesses. We partner with entrepreneurs of growing businesses to help them understand their options in the marketplace so they can maximize business value, leverage their options, and realize their ideal outcomes. Securities offered through Vista Point Advisors, member FINRA/SIPC. This has been provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered as investment advice or a recommendation. It is not intended to address all circumstances that might arise. The views expressed herein may change at any time subsequent to the date of issue. Opinions contained herein should not be interpreted as a guarantee of future results. Outcomes will vary depending on individual circumstances. Any examples used in this material are generic, hypothetical and for illustration purposes only. Testimonials from past clients may not be representative of the experience of other clients and there is no guarantee of future performance or success. Clients are not compensated for their comments.

March 17, 202620 min

38 | The Entrepreneur's Dilemma: When Should You Sell or Raise Capital?

When is the right time to sell your business or raise capital? And why would you consider a transaction when business is booming? Founders often delay selling or raising capital when their company is performing so well, yet that is frequently when buyers and investors pay the most attention. In this episode, managing directors Mike Lyon and Jeff Koons revisit The Entrepreneur’s Dilemma to unpack how founders should think about timing a transaction, ways to reduce risk in the process, and practical steps that can help maximize outcomes when the time comes. Vista Point Advisors is a boutique sell-side investment bank providing unconflicted M&A and capital raising advice to founder-led software, AI, and internet businesses. We partner with entrepreneurs of growing businesses to help them understand their options in the marketplace so they can maximize business value, leverage their options, and realize their ideal outcomes. Securities offered through Vista Point Advisors, member FINRA/SIPC. This has been provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered as investment advice or a recommendation. It is not intended to address all circumstances that might arise. The views expressed herein may change at any time subsequent to the date of issue. Opinions contained herein should not be interpreted as a guarantee of future results. Outcomes will vary depending on individual circumstances. Any examples used in this material are generic, hypothetical and for illustration purposes only. Testimonials from past clients may not be representative of the experience of other clients and there is no guarantee of future performance or success. Clients are not compensated for their comments.

February 17, 202617 min

37 | Why Retention Is Now Driving Software Company Valuations

Retention is becoming an increasingly important factor in how software companies are valued, and many founders are not prepared for the level of scrutiny buyers are applying to these metrics. In this episode, managing director Mike Lyon and senior associate Sarabeth Sandweiss explain why retention has become a key valuation driver, how investors evaluate it, where founders often get the math wrong, and how they can help avoid diligence surprises while positioning your company for a stronger outcome. Vista Point Advisors is a boutique sell-side investment bank providing unconflicted M&A and capital raising advice to founder-led software, AI, and internet businesses. We partner with entrepreneurs of growing businesses to help them understand their options in the marketplace so they can maximize business value, leverage their options, and realize their ideal outcomes. Securities offered through Vista Point Advisors, member FINRA/SIPC. This has been provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered as investment advice or a recommendation. It is not intended to address all circumstances that might arise. The views expressed herein may change at any time subsequent to the date of issue. Opinions contained herein should not be interpreted as a guarantee of future results. Outcomes will vary depending on individual circumstances. Any examples used in this material are generic, hypothetical and for illustration purposes only. Testimonials from past clients may not be representative of the experience of other clients and there is no guarantee of future performance or success. Clients are not compensated for their comments.