TechExits Podcast

Leary Gates | Founder, Strategic CEO

Interviewed by Ron Noden | Senior Vice President, Corum Group

In this special episode, Ron Noden sits down with longtime colleague Leary Gates, a growth specialist with three decades of experience helping technology companies find new paths to growth. They explore why chasing every opportunity can hold a company back, and how focusing on the right market can unlock greater value.

Leary shares client stories, including an IT services company that launched a new brand for two customers and saw it outperform the parent in about 18 months. He explains how to recognize when optimization is no longer enough, why a bold, specific offer gets attention, and why founders preparing to exit should back their growth opportunities with proof, not promises.

Key Takeaways:

• Opportunism helps early on, but it erodes over time, so focus on the market with the best odds

• Optimizing harder can hit diminishing returns ("summit blindness")

• Buyers pay for the future, so show growth opportunities backed by proof

• A bold, use-case-specific offer can make your company more compelling to a strategic buyer

00:00 – Introduction: Leary Gates and Ron Noden

01:25 – From Cray Research to 30 years of growth consulting

03:45 – Why opportunism stalls growth and focus pays off

08:50 – Optimization, diminishing returns, and "summit blindness"

12:17 – Selling your product vs. selling your company: proof, not promises

21:53 – Bold offers and the "love it, like it, or list it" paths

Jose Esteban Biskofski | Algebraix | Co-Founder

In this Seller's Corner episode, Jose Esteban Biskofski, Co-Founder of Algebraix, shares why he and his co-founder chose to sell their school software and fintech business rather than raise capital to compete with better-funded rivals moving into payments, loans, and factoring.

Jose walks through how an earlier deal that fell through years ago prepared him for the real one, and how a preemptive offer arrived just as they were preparing to go to market. He's candid about what came next: six months of deadline-driven, stressful work, and the one thing he would do differently, which is run due diligence on the buyer too. He also shares what it's like now, adjusting to life inside a younger, faster-growing company where sales and EBITDA are the focus.

Key Takeaways:

• A failed deal can be the best preparation for the next one

• Expect about six months of deadline-driven work

• Diligence should run both ways, so investigate your buyer too

• Add accounting support and a strong attorney early, and lock down any earn-out terms

00:00 – Introduction: Jose Esteban Biskofski and Algebraix

01:43 – Finding the right advisor

02:17 – Why sell: from school software to fintech, and choosing security over raising capital

03:10 – An earlier deal that fell through and what it taught them

03:53 – Hindsight: due diligence on the buyer and the preemptive offer

04:56 – Advice for Latin American founders and life after the deal

Steve Jones | Regional Managing Director, LATAM, Corum Group

What can founders learn from someone who has experienced tech M&A from both sides of the table?

In this Points of View episode of the TechExits Podcast, Steve Jones, Regional Managing Director, LATAM at Corum Group, shares his personal M&A journey, from selling his own technology company to advising founders through more than 40 transactions.

Steve reflects on his first exit as a CEO, what he would do differently today, and why accepting a single buyer can leave founders with little leverage and potentially money on the table.

He also shares lessons from his experience advising companies in Latin America, including how to prepare for an exit, create competitive tension, understand buyer expectations, and build a business with the end goal in mind.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Why having multiple buyers can create leverage and improve outcomes

• What Steve learned from selling his own company without an M&A advisor

• Why founders should prepare for an exit long before they decide to sell

• How understanding the market can help founders negotiate from a position of strength

What does it take to attract global investors in Latin America's rapidly evolving tech ecosystem?

In this special TechExits Podcast episode, we bring you the Investors Panel from Growth & Exit Strategies: LATAM Tech, originally broadcast on March 18, 2026.

Five leading venture capital investors discuss what they're looking for in founders, where they're deploying capital across Latin America, and how entrepreneurs can build companies that are attractive to both investors and future acquirers.

The discussion covers fundraising strategy, AI, capital efficiency, venture capital versus M&A, and the common mistakes founders make when preparing for growth.

Panelists

• Alejandro Diez Barroso, Managing Partner | DILA Capital

• Jorge González Gasque, Managing Partner | G2 Momentum Capital

• Rodolfo Elias Dieck, Managing Partner | Proeza Ventures

• Felipe Camposano, Managing Partner | Taram Capital

• Rodrigo Baer, Co-Founder & Managing Partner | 14B Venture Capital

Moderator

Michael Stinson, Senior Vice President | Corum Group

Key Takeaways

• Why global investors continue to see opportunity across Latin America

• What separates fundable founders from the rest

• Common fundraising mistakes that dilute long-term value

• When venture capital makes sense and when M&A may be the better path

Michael Magliochetti | Operating Partner | Riverside Partners

What separates companies that command premium valuations from those that struggle to close a deal?

In this Buyers Corner episode, Michael Magliochetti, Operating Partner at Riverside Partners, shares insights from decades of leading healthcare companies, completing acquisitions, and helping businesses grow through strategic investment.

Drawing on experience from both sides of the table, Mike explains what buyers evaluate beyond financial performance, why culture and leadership matter during diligence, and how founders can position their companies years before an exit.

He also discusses the realities of integration, common mistakes sellers make during a transaction, and why experienced advisors often make the difference between a good outcome and a great one.

📖 Interested in learning more from Mike? His leadership book, Dancing Between the Toes of Elephants, explores lessons from his career in leadership, business, and life.

Get your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Dancing-Between-Toes-Elephants-Experience/dp/1964421136

Key takeways:

• How buyers evaluate companies beyond the financials

• Why culture and leadership influence acquisition success

• What founders should do years before an exit

• The role experienced advisors play during an M&A process

00:00 – Introduction & Mike's background

03:40 – What Riverside looks for in acquisition opportunities

11:20 – Evaluating management teams and founder readiness

21:10 – Running a successful M&A process and standing out as a buyer

35:24 – The advisors founders need and post-close integration

39:52 – Mike's advice for founders preparing for an exit

Brian Mac Mahon | Expert Dojo | Founder & Managing Partner

What does it really take to attract investment in today's market?

In this Investor's Corner episode, Brian Mac Mahon, Founder & Managing Partner of Expert Dojo, shares his unfiltered perspective on venture capital, startup growth, and why founders spend too much time chasing investors instead of customers.

Brian discusses the realities of today's fundraising environment, how he evaluates founders across a portfolio of more than 300 companies, and why execution matters more than hype—even in the AI era.

He also shares his views on venture-backed exits, secondary transactions, market liquidity, and the traits that separate exceptional founders from everyone else.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Why today's venture market is more challenging than founders realize • How investors evaluate growth and execution • Why customer traction matters more than hype or AI buzzwords • What founders should focus on to build a venture-scale business

Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction & Expert Dojo

00:45 – Investment strategy and emerging markets

02:14 – The reality of today's venture capital market

07:58 – Building companies investors want to back

11:26 – Exits, secondaries, and liquidity trends

15:24 – What founders get wrong about investors

20:53 – AI, growth, and venture-scale businesses

23:43 – Final advice for founders

Don Penland | Operating Partner | Knox Capital

What actually happens after a deal closes—and what do buyers wish founders had done before?

In this Buyer's Corner episode, Don Penland, Operating Partner at Knox Capital, shares a hands-on view of how private equity evaluates, acquires, and then improves software businesses.

Don breaks down what makes a company attractive from an operator's lens, where founders create risk without realizing it, and what typically gets fixed immediately post-acquisition—from financial visibility to go-to-market execution.

If you're building with an exit in mind—or want to understand how buyers think beyond the pitch—this episode gives you a clear, practical view of what happens on the other side of the deal.

Key takeways:

• What private equity buyers prioritize beyond growth

• Where founders create risk before a deal

• What gets fixed in the first 90 days post-acquisition

• How to position your company for a stronger exit

00:00 – Introduction & Knox Capital's acquisition strategy

01:32 – AI trends and consolidation in the MSP market

05:51 – What makes acquisitions succeed or fail

11:16 – Building trust during the M&A process

15:45 – Common founder mistakes and deal breakers

24:33 – Post-acquisition integration challenges

27:08 – Final advice for founders planning an exit

Mark Nardone | Blue Cow Software| Former President

In this Seller's Corner episode, Mark Nardone, President of Blue Cow Software, shares the story behind building — and ultimately selling — a niche SaaS company serving the fuel and energy industry.

Mark reflects on an early acquisition attempt that nearly closed and then fell apart, what that experience taught him about valuation, buyer intent, and timing, and how focusing on recurring revenue fundamentally changed how buyers viewed the business.

He also discusses why choosing the right buyer mattered more than maximizing price, how experienced advisors helped manage friction during negotiations, and what life looks like after the transaction — including why reduced stress became the most meaningful outcome.

Key Takeaways:

• Recurring revenue significantly improves buyer perception and valuation

• Selling without experienced M&A guidance creates real risk

• Buyer fit can matter more than headline price

• The greatest post‑exit benefit is reduced stress and clarity

00:00 – Introduction and Mark Nardone's background 01:05 – Building Blue Cow Software and long‑term vision 06:12 – Preparing for the exit and navigating the sale process 10:23 – Lessons learned and post‑exit reflections

Rodolfo Elias Dieck | Managing Partner | Proeza Ventures

What does today's exit market really look like from the investor's seat?

In this Investor's Corner episode of the TechExits Podcast, Rodolfo Elias Dieck shares how venture investors think about exits in today's market—why most venture‑backed outcomes still happen through strategic M&A, how founders should prepare years in advance, and where valuation expectations often break down.

Rodolfo also discusses the growing role of secondaries, how boards and investors navigate misalignment, and what founders need to understand about building relationships with potential acquirers early.

A practical, grounded conversation for founders, operators, and investors navigating the next wave of tech exits.

Key Takeaways

• Why most venture‑backed exits still happen through M&A

• How investors help founders prepare long before a sale

• Where valuation misalignment between founders and VCs comes from

• Why secondaries matter—but aren't a silver bullet yet

00:00 – Introduction & Proeza Ventures' investment focus 01:50 – Why tech exits are picking up again 04:30 – How investors prepare founders for exits 07:05 – M&A vs IPOs and the role of secondaries 09:10 – Inbound interest vs running a formal M&A process 12:45 – What buyers value that founders often overlook 19:20 – Will the exit wave continue? Advice for founders

Sharon Van Zeeland | Vice President, Strategy & Corporate Development | Rockwell Automation

What do strategic buyers actually look for before they make an acquisition?

In this Buyer's Corner episode of the TechExits Podcast, Sharon Van Zeeland shares how Rockwell Automation approaches M&A—from target identification and diligence through integration and value creation. Sharon explains what founders often misunderstand about buyer priorities, why profitability and focus matter more than ever, and how transparency can make or break a deal.

A must-listen for tech CEOs who want to understand how strategic acquirers think—and how to position their company accordingly.

Key takeways:

• What strategic buyers value beyond revenue • How corporates assess product fit and risk • Why transparency speeds up M&A deals • How founders can prepare to be acquisition-ready

00:00 – Introduction & Sharon's background

01:00 – Rockwell's acquisition strategy

02:50 – What makes a company attractive to buyers

04:30 – Product and technology diligence

07:30 – Common red flags founders underestimate

09:15 – How deals get delayed or derailed

10:20 – Post-close integration realities

11:25 – Advice for founders planning an exit

13:10 – Closing thoughts