Over the past two weeks, I’ve been immersed in back-to-back fintech conferences — first attending MoneyLIVE in London, and most recently speaking in Berlin at Merchant Payments Ecosystem, where I joined leaders shaping the future of financial services and investment.
The tone of the room was optimistic — but grounded. This wasn’t 2021 energy. It was smarter, more deliberate, and more focused on durability than ever before.
One thing became clear:
There is capital. There are buyers. And there is opportunity.
But many founders and leadership teams are still waiting — trying to be more “ready,” unsure about valuation, worried about timing, stretched between execution and strategy.
And I get it. The idea of fundraising, exploring M&A, or even running a secondary can feel overwhelming when you're in the trenches.
But here’s the truth no one says loud enough:
You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be in motion.
Too many companies wait for a mythical milestone — the quarter where everything clicks, the product sings, CAC drops, and a perfect investor appears.
That moment rarely comes.
The companies that raise on good terms, that run clean exit processes, that negotiate from strength — they don’t start because they’re “ready.”
They start because they understand the market, their story, and their numbers — and they’ve made space to take the first step.
What’s usually missing isn’t capital. It’s momentum — a willingness to turn the corner from internal alignment to external execution.
And in today’s environment, where buyers and investors are both curious and cautious, that early momentum is everything.
Let’s clear this up: the money hasn’t disappeared.
Investors are active. Strategic acquirers are having conversations. And if you're in the right sectors, with the right fundamentals, you’ll find demand.
But that demand comes with discipline.
Capital is flowing toward clarity — efficient growth, clean unit economics, and thoughtful planning. It’s less about storytelling, more about substance.
Investors want to know: What are you building? Why now? How will it scale? Where does their capital fit?
The mistake I see too often? Teams who guess at valuation, or over-index on a multiple they saw in a headline.
Valuation isn’t about ambition — it’s about precision. It’s about how your company fits in today’s environment, with today’s benchmarks, and how investors or buyers will evaluate risk and return.
That’s where strategic guidance matters. The right banker or advisor doesn’t inflate expectations — they help you align them, test them, and present your case with strength and credibility.
Here’s something I always remind founders:
If you want to close before the end of the year, the clock is already ticking.
Most capital raises or M&A deals take six months, minimum. That’s from kickoff to close — not counting early prep, cleanup, internal alignment, or buyer/investor discovery.
And all of it happens while you're still running a business.
So if you’re telling yourself, “We’ll explore that in Q3,” ask yourself: What happens if Q3 turns into Q4? What if you're rushing due diligence or negotiating under pressure?
Starting earlier doesn’t mean starting the process. It means starting the prep.
It means surfacing questions, identifying gaps, and figuring out how you want to show up in the market — and with whom.
These moments — capital raises, exits, secondaries — they’re not just financial decisions. They’re deeply personal.
You're navigating your team’s future, your investors’ expectations, your own ambitions. You're balancing risk and upside. You’re trying to move forward without losing what you’ve built.
That’s why trusted support matters. Not just for logistics or outreach — but for space. For perspective. For strategy.
The right partner gives you more than a deck or a data room.
They give you clarity when things feel murky. They help you move confidently even when things are uncertain. They keep things moving, so you can keep leading.
You don’t have to start a raise this week.
You don’t have to announce a sale.
You don’t even have to know what outcome you want — yet.
But if there’s a part of you that knows capital might help you grow, or that strategic interest might be worth exploring, or that you want to understand what the market might actually pay for your business — don’t wait to be “ready.”
Let’s talk. Before or after the Easter/Passover holiday break. And let’s make sure that when the time comes, you’re not scrambling — you’re ready to move.
