For CEOs leading companies in the 1M to 5M range, early acquisition interest can feel exciting and unsettling at the same time. The decision is rarely just about the numbers. It is about the future of the product, the people, and the mission you worked hard to build.
In a recent Wisdom From Wizards conversation, Saket Saurabh, CEO at Nexla, shared a simple filter for one of the biggest choices a founder faces: sell to a competitor or sell to a private equity firm.
His answer cut through the noise.
“When I did an M&A, the selling decision was about where the idea can continue to survive and thrive. As a founder, you built something. It is your baby. You want it to keep growing.”
For many scaleup CEOs, that perspective is the heart of the decision. A competitor might accelerate the vision you started. A PE firm might provide structure and capital for a new chapter. What matters most is which environment helps your idea live on.
As you grow, ask yourself which buyer will take care of what you created, which option lifts your customers and team, and which future you want for the company after you step out of the driver’s seat.
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