The Exit Whisperer
Women-owned businesses capture just 0.8% of the total exit value in the US. Carrie Kerpen is here to change that, through sharing the stories of women who have broken through and sold their businesses. Having sold her own business for 8-figures in 2021, Carrie knows what it takes to build a sellable brand. She also knows that the experience can be different for women than it is for men because she has personally interviewed hundreds of exited female founders. New Episode Every Tuesday!
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Episodes
Tuesday Jun 25, 2024
Tuesday Jun 25, 2024
This week I interview Cheryl Contee. Among her many successes, Cheryl was a co-founder of social marketing software Attentive.ly at Blackbaud, the first tech startup with a black female founder on board in history to be acquired by a NASDAQ-traded company.
In this episode, Cheryl talks about how she bootstrapped her first business, which incubated Attentive.ly. She talks about fundraising, and the numbers for black women who are out there doing the same.
She talks candidly about her sale, and how she felt delivering a return for her investors. And she talks about her book, Mechanical Bull: How You Can Achieve Startup Success.
Tuesday Jun 18, 2024
Tuesday Jun 18, 2024
A Sweet Exit: Insights from Sheila Mains.
Sheila built and sold Brownie Brittle, the worlds most delectable snack.
From getting excessed at her job, to selling her engagement ring, to getting screwed by a vendor, you will hear the story of Sheila-- one of persistence, and unwavering belief in her business. She's an inspiration, and boy oh boy does this story have a SWEET ending.
Tuesday Jun 11, 2024
Tuesday Jun 11, 2024
Meet Melissa Kwan, the most badass bootstrapper around.
In this episode, Melissa tells the story of her journey, including the sale of her startup Spacio to Homespotter in 2019.
Melissa drops so many gems in this episode, including highlights around bootstrapping versus fundraising, the path to finding an acquirer, and the trick to living life on your own terms, never conforming to the status quo.
I am in awe of Melissa's transparency and desire to give back to fellow entrepreneurs and I hope you enjoy Episode 2 of The Exit Whisperer!
Monday Jun 03, 2024
Monday Jun 03, 2024
A Likeable Exit: Insights From Carrie Kerpen
From how my husband Dave and I started Likeable Media on our wedding day, to our quick pivot to becoming one of the world's first social media agencies, you'll hear all about our start.
You'll also hear about the challenges of being a woman tasked with the scale of a business that started flatlining-- which is exactly what happened when my husband left.
You'll hear what I did to make sure that we doubled both in revenue and profit. And of course, you'll hear all of the details around our sale.
This episode provides actionable advice for anyone looking to start, scale, and ultimately sell their business.