Latest / The Startup Exit Podcast with Fexingo: IPOs, Acquisitions, and Founder Liquidity Events
How Founders Use Earnout Milestone Sweat Equity
Lucas and Luna unpack the hidden cost of earnouts: the 'sweat equity' founders give up after an acquisition closes. Using the recent wave of AI startup exits and the broader M&A climate as a backdrop, they walk through a real scenario where a founder's earnout payment hinged on hitting aggressive product milestones — and what that meant for their post-exit leverage. They break down the accounting, the negotiation tactics, and the psychological toll of staying on after the check clears. With market context from this week's tech stock moves and a nod to Apple's…
The skinny
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