Companies Don't Get Sold, They Get Acquired - James Codling (Volution VC)

Innovation and Private Capital x aulium · Aug 4, 2026 · 1h 7m

Companies don't get sold—they get acquired. That distinction, according to James Codling, defines the difference between a forced exit and a strategic one. For UK tech companies navigating the so-called "valley of death" between Series A and Series B, understanding who might acquire you isn't just helpful—it's essential to survival.

Codling argues that the UK's venture ecosystem suffers from a structural flaw: it excels at starting companies and funding early stages, but undercapitalizes them at Series A, leaving founders stranded when growth demands more runway than their existing investors…