I_eat_SaaS

Account Executive

What do acquisitions look like?

I work for a startup that boot strapped their entire company until just recently. As we've had investors come in, our goals have skyrocketed and everyone is now starting to feel burnt out.

we've also hired on a wave of new SDRs in the last 2 months (20+).

while "plans" to get acquired have been said to be at least 2 years out, my gut tells me it's coming sooner.

anyone know what acquisitions look like generally?

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18 comments

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Sunbunny31

Arsonist

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

It totally depends on the company and who acquires, and what they plan to do.

Are they acquiring your tech to package and continue to sell it? Are they acquiring your tech to scrape the parts of it they want and discard the rest? Do they want your region/book of business/roadmap?

Some companies are far better and more experienced at acquisition than others, and it's a softer landing for employees in that case.

What's your sense of the reasons your company is a target for acquisition?

I_eat_SaaS

Contributor

Account Executive

Execs seem disconnected. Mentioning they’re traveling and never in office bc they want to put our name on the map.

Our software isn’t an enterprise type of software, mainly SMB/mid market though but could be added as a branch to another company’s tool.

People I work with feel we can’t scale based on current capabilities and they’ve been through double digit acquisitions, so they think the goal is acquired earlier rather than later

jefe

Arsonist

🍁

Are you asking about signs to tell if it's coming or what will happen if it does?

I_eat_SaaS

Contributor

Account Executive

Signs to tell if it’s coming !

NotCreativeEnough

Big Shot

Professional Day Ruiner

in general, expect layoffs from an acquisition. Especially for middle management positions.

I_eat_SaaS

Contributor

Account Executive

That’s good to know

SoccerandSales

Big Shot

Account Executive

It is extremely variable depending on what exactly happens with the product and the go to market strategy with new product mix. Not the answer you are looking for, but usually it is a crapshoot

I_eat_SaaS

Contributor

Account Executive

Appreciate the response. I came from the medical world so it’s all new to me

Kosta_Konfucius

Politicker

ERP Sales

I have been a part of a company getting acquired, but been on a company who acquired another. I did find this post

https://bravado.co/war-room/posts/company-being-acquired-impact-on-sales-folks

I_eat_SaaS

Contributor

Account Executive

Appreciate this !

TennisandSales

Politicker

Head Of Sales

when you say what acquisitions look like, what do you mean specifically? for the sales team? For the product for the culture? anything you are MOST concerned about?

I_eat_SaaS

Contributor

Account Executive

For the sales team. Most the team has been there since beginning and are top producers bc of full pipelines. Then a small % of new comers still trying to grow pipeline like myself

TennisandSales

Politicker

Head Of Sales

ahhh i see. So the worst thing that could happen is that the NEW company just keeps the experienced team that is doing well and lets the other ones go.
But there really is NO way to tell if that will happen ahead of time.
And if that does happen, there is normally a severance package so you wont be TOTALLY screwed.

ADK

Opinionated

VC Associate

In general, very shaky. It's close to impossible for both sides to plan out everything and there'll always be grey areas but don't forget where there is chaos, there's opportunity. If they are interesting in tech together with the team behind it, they will make the right offers for you to stay longer

CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

Totally digging your name.

I_eat_SaaS

Contributor

Account Executive

Haha thanks I try!

AnchorPoint

Politicker

Business Coach

Not a one size fits all.