When growth plateaus and runway slips below 9 months, selling some of the company—rather than the whole entity—can be the smartest way to protect investors, employees, and the product you’ve poured your heart into.
In this founder-centric guide we follow AI Groom, a VC-backed Delaware C-Corp that built an AI pet-grooming SaaS app, and show exactly how the team pivots from “not-quite-breakout” to a positive asset-sale acquisition.
Here’s what you’ll learn:
- Asset sale vs. stock sale & acquihire – why buyers love to cherry-pick IP, data, or customers while leaving liabilities behind.
- When to flip the switch – runway math, “zone of insolvency” red-flags, and how to bring the board/investors in early.
- Deal-structure playbook – employment-only acquihire, license-plus-team, or full APA; what each means for approvals and liabilities.
- Finding & negotiating with buyers – mapping strategic targets, securing warm intros, LOI must-haves, price allocation, and avoiding re-trades.
- Post-close wrap-up – paying debts, investor waterfalls (cash vs. buyer stock), final tax filings, and dissolving the shell without surprises.
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