They Got Acquired

They Got Acquired, Alexis Grant

A show about life-changing business acquisitions and founders who don't follow the Silicon Valley narrative.

These stories will inspire you to think differently about how you build your business. And if an exit is in your future, you'll learn practical tips about how to get there.

Hosted by Alexis Grant, founder & CEO of They Got Acquired, and produced by Laura Boach.

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20 episodes
Updated January 12

Episodes20

Newest first

January 12 · 25 min
How to Get Your Financials Buyer-Ready
CFO Lauren Colson tells us how founders can clean up their financials so buyers trust the numbers. Plus, our new course, The Exit Playbook, is live!
Dec 18, 2025 · 5 min
What Founders Say is the Hardest Part of Selling Their Business
We’ve interviewed nearly 300 founders, and the same challenge keeps surfacing as the most demanding part of selling a business. Here’s what they wish they’d known sooner.
Dec 11, 2025 · 8 min
The Fear of Leaving Money on the Table
Two days before closing the sale of her business, a founder called me in a panic. She wasn’t sure if she should take the deal — or walk away.
Dec 4, 2025 · 5 min
This Pays Off Even If You Never Sell
Improving your business for an eventual sale doesn’t just affect your future valuation — it also makes your business easier to run right now. Use this mindset shift to benefit from exit prep long before you actually sell.
Nov 20, 2025 · 5 min
This Hidden Lever Can Multiply Your Exit Value
Most founders underestimate this single metric — and it can dramatically change your exit.
Nov 13, 2025 · 8 min
These Founders Nailed Every Mark for a High-Value Exit
Host Lexi Grant reflects on a conversation with two co-founders who were well positioned for a sale. Their business hit every mark that buyers look for — and Lexi shares exactly what made them stand out.
Nov 6, 2025 · 10 min
How to Handle Inbound Offers from Buyers
What happens when a buyer emails you out of the blue? Not all offers are what they seem. Learn how to spot legit interest, protect your time, and maximize your leverage when inbound offers roll in.
Oct 30, 2025 · 10 min
What Makes a Business Unsellable — And How to Fix It
It’s a question we hear all the time: “Is my business sellable?” In most cases, the answer is yes. But there are a few factors that can make selling your company harder than it should be or even impossible. In this episode of They Got Acquired, Lexi shares the four biggest reasons a company might be unsellable, and how to correct them before you’re ready to exit.
Oct 23, 2025 · 7 min
When’s the Right Time to Sell Your Business?
How do you know when it’s the right time to sell your business? The answer might surprise you. Lexi Grant breaks down the three real factors that determine when to sell — and why waiting for perfect market timing could actually cost you.
Oct 21, 2025 · 2 min
We’re Back! What You Need to Know Before Selling Your Business (Season 2 Trailer)
They Got Acquired is back! In this new season, host Lexi Grant shares insider insights every founder should know before selling a business.
Oct 3, 2022 · 5 min
How much do companies like yours sell for? How to find out (bonus)
We’re launching something new at They Got Acquired — and we’re back with a short bonus episode to tell you about it. We usually focus on stories of other entrepreneurs and how they're building their businesses. But today, we explain what we're working on. To see the reports we reference in this episode, visit: http://TheyGotAcquired.com/reports For more stories like this, subscribe to our newsletter: https://TheyGotAcquired.com/newsletter For the transcript, go to: https://theygotacquired.c
May 9, 2022 · 36 min
Donald Spann's goal was time freedom. He got it by building a virtual call center
From a young age, Donald Spann wanted to become an entrepreneur because he wanted two simple things: time freedom and financial stability. Thanks to an over seven-figure exit from Vicky Virtual Receptionists, he achieved this goal. But getting there was full of twists and turns. Listen to learn how a random Reddit thread, a cleaning business and a spinoff company led to this life-changing sale. For more stories like this one, sign up for the newsletter: https://TheyGotAcquired.com/newsletter T
May 2, 2022 · 43 min
Can you sell a business based on a personal brand? Lauren Gaggioli did
Like so many founders, Lauren Gaggioli had been heads down in her Higher Scores Test Prep business for so long, she didn’t realize how valuable it was. She wanted to know: was this course business sellable? In this episode, you’ll learn how Lauren leveraged her podcast, consistent passive income, SEO traffic, list size, and course offerings to exit for $180,000. For more stories like this one, sign up for newsletter: https://TheyGotAcquired.com/newsletter For the transcript, go to: https://th
Apr 25, 2022 · 29 min
How a 7-hour workweek led to Anna Maste’s 7-figure sale
How far can seven hours a week take your business? For Anna Maste and Marianne Edwards, it led to a seven-figure deal that funded Marianne’s retirement. Learn how this mother-daughter duo bootstrapped a membership site for RVers called Boondockers Welcome — and along the way, redefined what entrepreneurship can look like. For more stories like this one, sign up for newsletter: https://TheyGotAcquired.com/newsletter To get free access to Dr. Sherry Walling's MicroConf talk, go to: https://micro
Apr 18, 2022 · 39 min
From hot dog stand to 8-figure exit: How Sam Parr built and sold The Hustle
Sam Parr catapulted to celebrity status within the startup world when he sold a daily newsletter called The Hustle for a reported 8 figures. But how did this down-to-earth guy with no previous media experience build such a valuable company? This episode breaks down that story. You’ll hear exactly how Sam Parr went from being a scrappy college kid with a hot dog stand to one of the leading voices in entrepreneurship. Thanks to this episode’s sponsor, Chicago Partners, a team of financial advisor
Apr 11, 2022 · 30 min
When’s the right time to exit? Jon Hainstock on selling ZoomShift
Is there a right time to sell your business? This was what Jon Hainstock and his co-founder, Ben Bartling, had to figure out when they were planning their exit from ZoomShift. Learn how they chose the right moment to agree to a 7-figure deal — and how they approached building one of the top small business scheduling softwares on the market. For more stories like this one, sign up for newsletter: https://TheyGotAcquired.com/newsletter
Apr 4, 2022 · 38 min
Lexi Grant on the acquihire and 6-figure asset sale that led to They Got Acquired
Lexi Grant didn’t start her first or second business with the goal of selling them one day. She was just doing what she does best: bootstrapping content companies from the ground up. But thanks to an acquihire that thrust her career forward, and a six-figure exit from a side project called The Write Life, Lexi knows just how meaningful an acquisition can be. Learn about her journey through both businesses — and the moment she knew it was time to create They Got Acquired. For more stories like t
Mar 28, 2022 · 35 min
From failed startup to 6-figure exit: Manuel Frigerio’s ReferralHero journey
The marketing software ReferralHero wouldn’t exist if Manuel Frigerio hadn’t built his previous startup — one that ultimately failed. But thanks to Manuel’s ability to listen to customers’ needs and pivot at the right moment, he built ReferralHero and sold it for 6 figures. Learn how Manuel used each business he built to springboard to his next big opportunity. For more stories like this, sign up for our newsletter: https://TheyGotAcquired.com/newsletter
Mar 21, 2022 · 32 min
The gutsy cold pitch that landed Laura Roeder a 7-figure deal
Laura Roeder didn’t use a broker, M&A advisor, or marketplace to sell the social media scheduling tool, MeetEdgar. She found her buyer the same way she’d found success throughout her career: with a gutsy cold pitch. Learn how she and her husband, Chris Williams, built and sold the platform for seven figures — and how they did it without sacrificing all their time to the business. For more stories like this, sign up for our newsletter: https://TheyGotAcquired.com/newsletter
Mar 5, 2022 · 2 min
Introducing They Got Acquired
Take a sneak peek at our They Got Acquired podcast with this Season 1 trailer. Host Lexi Grant takes you behind the scenes of companies that sell for 6, 7 or low-8 figures — the kinds of exits that don’t usually get splashy headlines but can be life-changing for founders. Over the course of this 8-episode season, you’ll learn what founders go through when they start, grow, and sell a business. We explore not only each acquisition, but everything it took to get there. These eight inspiring sto