We typically see four main tipping points for founders when they’re deciding to sell their business or to raise capital. In this episode, managing directors Mike Lyon and Jeff Koons discuss what those milestones look like and how founders can decide for themselves if the time is right to consider pursuing a transaction.

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.

SaaS founders are often overwhelmed by or underprepared for the legal diligence and purchase agreement negotiation during an M&A transaction. In this episode, Brian Lenihan from Choate, Hall and Stewart LLP joins Mike Lyon to discuss typical legal challenges that come up during the diligence process that founders should be aware of so they can be better prepared.

This material is intended for informational purposes and is not intended to provide legal advice or a recommendation. The opinions voiced should not be construed as legal or investment advice and are not intended to replace the advice of a qualified attorney, accountant, and/or financial advisor. Vista Point Advisors does not provide legal advice.

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.

SaaS founders typically receive frequent emails and calls from private equity firms and it can be difficult to know which ones are worth responding to, how to respond correctly, or what information to share (or not share) with them. In this episode, Mike Lyon and Russell Perkins discuss several tips for generating PE interest, navigating initial conversations, and identifying promising firms.

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.

It’s easy for founders to put tax and estate planning on the back burner when you're focused on running a business and thinking about a sale, however, getting an early start on these considerations can really make a big impact on how much you take home. In this episode, Sarah Letourneau from Goldman Sachs joins Mike Lyon to talk about tax planning, QSBS, estate taxes, and when to start planning.

This material is intended for informational purposes and is not intended to provide investment advice or a recommendation. The opinions voiced should not be construed as legal or tax advice and is not intended to replace the advice of a qualified attorney, accountant, and/or tax advisor. Vista Point Advisors does not provide tax or legal advice.

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.

It’s easy to get swept up in the speculations of an election year, and founder-led SaaS companies will likely wonder how high the stakes are for them and if now is the time to sell. In this episode, managing directors Mike Lyon and Jeff Koons discuss why founders shouldn’t worry so much about the coming election, what they should be paying attention to instead, and the current M&A outlook for 2024.

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.

In Episode 7, we discussed key metrics for selling a SaaS business, but getting data into the correct format to calculate these metrics can be difficult and time consuming. In this episode, Mike Lyon and Ethan Carlson discuss some common issues founders face when trying to pull and calculate these metrics for a business valuation.

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.

Founders are sometimes tempted to run the process of selling their business themselves in order to save money on a banker fee. In this episode, Mike Lyon and Loson Stockton discuss the advantages of hiring an investment bank that outweigh the fee, specifically how an investment banker can help add value throughout framing and positioning, negotiation, diligence, and optimizing post-deal relationships.

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.

A major trend in SaaS has been vertical-specific companies integrating payment processing as a strategy to increase revenue and improve attractiveness in M&A. In this episode, managing directors Mike Lyon and Jeff Koons discuss the “FinTechization” of vertical SaaS, how buyers think about payment integration opportunities, and how companies can capitalize on payment tech trends while not handing all the upside to buyers or private equity firms.

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.