Planned Exit

The client

A brash startup focused on health and lifestyle products.

The issue

The startup had a slightly unusual goal in that they actually wanted help in going out of business—that is, in the sense that they needed to become appealing enough to a large player in the same industry that they would be bought out.

The strategy

We liked the challenge involved in this one and set forth to see what we could do. The startup had limited funding as it entered the competitive arena and its backend—warehouse operations, connections to suppliers and supply chain—was not up to par. We developed a plan that focused on tech-based expansion and market differentiation that helped one of the company’s products carve out a solid niche for itself.

The outcome

As that particular product grew in popularity, corporations in the same industry began to pay attention—and a portfolio company ended up acquiring the startup.