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. 

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and investors look for in software businesses faster than most founders realize, and many are still operating with an outdated playbook.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. 

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. 

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. 

Software founders planning to exit or raise capital in 2026 need a clear read on where M&A is heading after a volatile few years. In this episode, Vista Point Advisors Managing Directors Mike Lyon and Jeff Koons unpack the most important 2025 trends and what founders could expect in 2026. From buyer behaviors to changes in vertical SaaS valuations, they offer a view of the market dynamics that can help software founders better understand their exit timing, deal structure, and negotiating 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. 

Many founders wait for the “perfect moment” to sell or fixate on hitting a specific valuation target, but both can lead to missed opportunities. In this episode, Sarah Letourneau from Goldman Sachs joins Mike Lyon to discuss the most common mistakes they see founders make on the path to an exit; from waiting too long to run a process, to anchoring on a headline number, to assembling the wrong deal team. They share how to plan ahead, build the right advisors around you, and make informed decisions that support both your transaction and your life after the deal.

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. 

Software founders often underestimate who needs to be involved to successfully sell their business or raise capital, and how much value the right team can add. In this episode, Managing Directors Mike Lyon and Mike Greco walk through the key people founders should have on their side, and how assembling the right team early can make the entire transaction smoother and more successful.

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. 

When founders set out to sell their business, many underestimate how important it is to choose the right investment bank, and how costly it can be to get it wrong. In this episode, managing directors Mike Lyon and Miles Lacey break down what founders should and shouldn’t do when evaluating banks, negotiating fees, and determining the best time to hire, so you can run a competitive process and achieve a better 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. 

When founders lack experience in selling a business, they’ll often accept what buyers lead with, especially the demand for an exclusivity period. In this episode, managing directors Mike Lyon and Jeff Bean break down why buyers push for exclusivity, the real motivations behind their request, and how to navigate the conversation in a way that preserves your leverage throughout the negotiation.

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. 

SaaS founders often lean toward pursuing a minority deal when looking to raise capital because they believe it means they can maintain control of the business and take advantage of current growth and future upside in their equity ownership, but it’s not that simple. In this episode, managing directors Mike Lyon and Scott Austin unpack the common misconceptions founders have about minority deals, why they often come with more strings attached than expected, and how founders can help set themselves up for a better eventual exit.

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.