Mature firms under private equity (PE) ownership often require guidance a few years before their next exit. Just as an architect assesses a building’s structural integrity before a major sale, we conduct exit readiness assessments—evaluating cyber, people, product, and technology.
Investors want top dollar for their investment, but there are always structural issues beneath the surface. Sometimes, a fresh coat of paint isn’t enough. The question becomes: Do we extend the house, repaint it, or demolish it and rebuild?
Scenario 1: The Grand Mansion That Needs a Knock-Down Rebuild
Imagine a company that has spent the last decade building a sprawling estate—an enterprise platform finally turning a profit with an impressive client list. But underneath the facade, the tech stack is a labyrinth of workarounds, patches, and legacy constraints.
This was the case with a Martech firm we assessed. Their platform was functional but inefficient—requiring a headcount of 80 to keep it running, and scaling to the next level would have demanded hiring 300 more people. The investor’s choice was clear: either sell at a discount or invest a few million in a complete replatforming.
Key Fixes:
✅ Replatforming Strategy – Build a scalable, modern architecture
✅ Formal Tech Team – Establish internal engineering leadership
✅ AI Integration – Automate processes to reduce operational bloat
🏆 Outcome: Investment into modernisation transformed the firm’s valuation, making it an attractive acquisition target rather than a costly maintenance project.
Scenario 2: The Overextended Mansion – Too Many Extensions, Not Enough Value
Some firms believe that growth means expansion in every direction. They start with a solid, successful product but soon add new features, modules, and pricing tiers in a bid to capture a larger market. It’s like adding rooms to a house without considering the foundation—resulting in a disjointed mess.
Take a SaaS firm that found success with mid-market customers. They assumed the next step was to move upmarket while also offering a cut-down version for startups. The result? Price confusion, cannibalised revenue, and a loss of brand clarity.
Key Fixes:
✅ Rationalise the Product Line – Cut unnecessary offerings
✅ Refocus on Core Market – Extract maximum value before diversifying
✅ Align Pricing & Positioning – Stop confusing customers with overlapping options
🏆 Outcome: Simplifying the menu increased ARR by 20% within a year, without additional marketing spend.
Scenario 3: The Once-Grand Estate That Fell into Disrepair
Some firms were the dominant player in their market, but complacency let competitors move in. The house once stood tall, but over the years, the competition built new high-rises around it. Now, customers are migrating, and the firm is stuck with aging infrastructure and a leadership team hesitant to undertake a massive transformation.
In these cases, experience becomes the problem. Previously, they built blindly with energy and speed. Now, they know the size of the challenge—and that knowledge has become a barrier to action.
One clear sign? Projects never get finished. Teams plan transformation but fail to execute. Here, we need a hit squad—a small, elite team of 2–3 people with full autonomy to rebuild internally.
Key Fixes:
✅ Create a Focused Internal Task Force – Small, fast, decisive
✅ Cut Bureaucracy – Reduce decision fatigue and empower action
✅ Adopt a Product Mindset – Build as if they were a startup again
🏆 Outcome: With a streamlined team, the company built an MVP of their new platform in 9 months—re-engaging lost customers and attracting fresh investment.
Exit Readiness: It’s About the Who, Not the How
Investors want a company that looks good on the surface—but they also want confidence that it won’t crumble post-sale. True exit readiness isn’t just about tech architecture; it’s about leadership agility, market adaptability, and a firm’s ability to evolve.
✅ Tech must be modern, scalable, and AI-ready.
✅ Product strategy must be clear and non-dilutive.
✅ Leadership must be proactive, not reactive.
And that often means addressing the WHO, not just the HOW.
So, if you’re an investor preparing for an exit, ask yourself: Does this firm need an extension, a repaint, or a total rebuild? We’re here to make sure the answer aligns with maximising valuation.
If you are looking to get ready for an exit or investment, you can always utilise our platform, Lens, which guides founders on how to make their business presentable.
