Leading a fast-growing scale-up is an exhilarating and bumpy ride

No other time is more demanded from a founder than in the scale-up stage of a business. Some founders handle this better than others. What helps is having an attractive financial prospect.
When your business’s value is growing and you’re not bogged down by daily operations, everything feels more ‘worth it’.

Perspective

Having an investor look at your business

Even if you don’t want to cash in on your company’s value at this moment, one of the goals should always be the value of your company. Why?

By making the increase in your business value a key objective, you undoubtedly develop a Very different view of what is important for the coming years. And going through such fundamental aspects will only benefit you and your business now and in the long term.

1. Having an investor look at your business invariably provides valuable insights and impacts your growth strategy. You develop a whole new perspective on what your business needs to build value.

By focusing on these elements, you’re not just working in your business, but ON your business.

2. Setting up systems that allow the business to operate independently of your daily involvement not only increases its value but also demonstrates to potential investors that the business is well-positioned for sustainable success without requiring the founder’s constant oversight. This shift in approach ensures that you are proactively enhancing independency and operational efficiency, which are crucial for making it attractive to future investors.

I’m curious to see what it does with your ambition when you see the impact that systematizing your business has on its value. And for that reason, keep the increase in your future business value in mind.

Sometimes the life of a founder feels like a marathon combined with an obstacle course. Resilience is key.

Selling your company

Many business owners don’t consider the endgame

If you start planning for a sale early, you focus on making your role within the company redundant—a smart move for any business strategy. Often, owners remain deeply involved in crucial areas such as sales, product delivery, and marketing. However, to truly prepare your business for a potential sale, you need to transition from being a central figure to making your business operate independently.

This shift not only positions your business as a self-sustaining entity—a more attractive asset to potential buyers—but also transforms it from what might seem like a personal passion project to a marketable company. Remember, buyers aren’t looking to purchase a job; they want a company that runs like a well-oiled machine.

Starting small with systematic changes can lead to significant transformations, turning years of struggle into a successful formula. Moreover, becoming redundant requires a shift in mindset and emotional navigation. Detaching yourself from the business is a practical and emotional journey. As you work through this process, the business you emerge with on the other side is far more detached from your personal identity and positioned as a valuable asset that can thrive independently.