03: From Clarity to Close: Strategizing Your Ideal Business Exit with Suren Kapse

In this episode of From Angel to Exit, Bruce Eckfeldt speaks with Suren Kapse, a seasoned advisor and coach specializing in M&A and exit strategies. Suren shares hard-earned insights on how founders can prepare for successful exits, whether selling for people, assets, scale, or client access. He also unpacks how buyers evaluate cultural fit, valuation dynamics, and when to go international. A must-listen for CEOs planning to scale or exit.

Key Takeaways

• Exit planning starts with personal clarity—know your “why” before choosing an exit route.
  
• Buyers typically acquire for people, scale, clients, or strategic assets. Know your leverage.
  
• Successful exits take 18–36 months of prep: align metrics, clean financials, and position properly.
  
• Study past deals to model your business around what buyers are actively acquiring.
  
• Cultural alignment is critical—mismatched values derail integrations post-deal.
  
• Founders should consider international buyers who may value U.S. assets more aggressively.
  
• Use AI-powered search tools to find under-the-radar acquisition targets as a buyer.
• Market timing matters—monitor industry cycles and valuation trends before you sell.

Links & Resources

• Suren Kapse

  https://www.linkedin.com/in/suren-kapse/
  https://aptculture.com/
  suren@aptculture.com

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