A new initiative to ease the exit process

On 21^st June2016, “Exit accelerator”, a not-for-profit association aimed at boosting the Swiss start-up and SME ecosystem by promoting conversations about exits will be launched. The objective of this foundation is to open new paths for entrepreneurs and show them how to lead their business to a successful exit, enabling them to establish stories that other companies can learn from.  

 “We are still figuring out what exactly the initiative will entail, based on upcoming feedback from participants”, says founder David Butler. The accelerator will organize a number of events and training sessions addressing some of the major issues founders are confronted with in preparation for an exit. These will include; workshops, events, networking/spotlighting Swiss opportunities to foreign investors, awareness and education for founders as well as establishing Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) network. The accelerator will be active all over Switzerland.

First Exit accelerator event
Three events are already planned, however two of them are yet to be confirmed.
The first event of Exit accelerator is scheduled on the launch day on 21^st June 2016 in Zurich. At the event, participants will discuss with accomplished entrepreneurs such as Marco Boella from Lemoptix (exit to Intel), Philipp Bolliger from Koubachi (exit to Husquarna), Mehdi Aminian from Jilion (exit to Dailymotion) and distinguished M&A professionals Thomas Wittig from CTI startup and Entrepreneurship, Colin Turner from Rising Star Ventures, Balthasar Wicki from Wicki Partners and Gregoire Michaux from Raising Star Ventures.

At the event, two panels will share their experience in exiting and buying a start-up in Switzerland. One panel is composed of three successful entrepreneurs with exits in 2014 and 2015and the other contains two M&A professionals that have experienced acquisitions in different perspectives.

The event will address the following topics:  

• Time, costs, and risks involved in the exit process

• The emotional impact of an exit for entrepreneurs

• Lessons learned, what could have been done differently, and the surprises

• Negotiation experience, working with advisors, and dealing with the stakeholders

A team with considerable experience in Exit
Exit accelerator was founded by a team of three experienced personalities; Rodney Reis, was CEO of a startup and worked at another company that went through exit, rebranding, merged with a German company and was traded between private equity funds; Sanja Fabrio with experience in corporate M&A, was member of the due diligence and negotiation teams, understands the dynamics of the deal making and fit requirements on corporate side; and David Butler, who has been active in the Swiss startup scene the last seven years, brings experience from operations, event management, community management, marketing, PR, and the passion for making a difference in the Swiss ecosystem.

(RAN)