Exit Smarter, Sooner: The 3-Year Acceleration Strategy - Mahen Gundecha

What if you could add $1M to your exit, without working extra years? Jerome Myers talks with Mahen Gundecha, a seasoned dealmaker, about how timing, positioning, and rolled equity can boost your exit value. Learn why most exits fail, what buyers want, and how to avoid costly delays. A must-listen for any founder thinking about an exit, now or years from now. [00:00 – 12:58] Mahen’s Global Journey + The Wake-Up Call for Founders From Tanzania to Toronto to Pennsylvania: Mahen’s backstory Why unplanned exits leave millions on the table The value of starting exit prep years before you're ready [12:59 – 24:32] What Makes a Business Truly Sellable Why only 20% of listed businesses ever sell Founder dependency: the hidden value killer How rolled equity can add major upside post-sale [24:33 – 36:25] Market Forces You Can’t Ignore: Consolidation + Competition What happens when your competitor is acquired by private equity Why does consolidation raise the risk of customer loss The importance of differentiation to stay competitive [36:26 – 48:07] When Growth Becomes a Gamble: Hope vs. Strategy Why acquisition strategies often fail without a solid plan How age affects your exit risk tolerance The danger of relying on “hope” as a growth strategy [48:08 – 1:07:47] A Smarter Path Forward: Preparation Without Pressure Why you should never negotiate with one buyer How deal fatigue kills value and momentum Tools and steps to start preparing for a clean, profitable exit Key Quotes: “Prepare your business before life forces your hand.”— Mahen Gundecha “Hope is what drives you, but you’ve got to have a plan.”— Mahen Gundecha Connect with Mahen! Email: mahen@bristol.group LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bristol-group/ Ready for your next chapter? Start Your Assessment Now 👉 https://theexitparadox.com/assessment Leave a Review + Help Others Achieve a Great Legacy If you found this episode valuable, leave us a review and share it with someone who wants to expand their business growth. Your Next is more than a podcast—it’s a community that welcomes individuals from all backgrounds and ages, united by a shared passion for personal growth and achieving excellence.  🎧 Explore our previous episodes or learn more about our mission at https://exittoexcellence.com. Your next chapter starts here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices