A private roundtable bringing together a select group of founders and investors to unpack what it actually takes to build a company someone wants to buy, and to leave on your own terms.
The old exit playbook was process-shaped: build for a decade, appoint a bank, run a competitive auction, take the highest number. Buyers now diligence differently, windows open and close faster than a formal process moves, and the strongest outcomes tend to start as a relationship years before anyone mentions price.
The session will focus on where the preparation begins, from the perspective of founders approaching a decision point and the capital sitting alongside them.
We'll explore:
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The 24 months before a process: what has to be fixed early and what waits
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Whether building for durability and building for a sale pull in the same direction or against each other
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How founders read acquirer intent, and the moment a conversation quietly becomes a process
Expert guest:
Craig Fagan - Partner at Ashurst Perkins Coie
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Craig's practice is grounded in his experience working on the client side as General Counsel at global fintech Bud, where he worked closely with founders as part of the executive team to scale the business and learned important insights as the lead on global expansion, fundraising and equity transactions.
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Craig is now a Corporate partner advising founders and investors on growth capital, M&A, and venture capital transactions.
The room will be kept small (10-12 founders) to allow for direct discussion and questions.
This session is designed for:
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Founders at Series A-B+ (strong Seed considered) weighing exit paths against continued scaling
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LPs, family offices, and capital partners interested in transatlantic opportunities
FAQ / House rules:
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Chatham House Rule: what's shared in the room stays in the room.
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No pitching the room: intros are fine; hard selling isn't.
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Respect time + signal: come prepared to contribute, not just extract.
Dress: business casual
Photography By attending, you consent to being photographed and filmed for promotional use. If you'd prefer not to have your photos used or details shared, please let us know, and we’ll respect your preferences.
