14 Company growth

 

This chapter covers

  • Different ways a company can be acquired or grow through acquisition
  • Being prepared to put your best forward with no notice
  • Performing due diligence and getting to what really matters
  • Taking over from a CTO, or handing over—how to do it properly

At some point in the growth of the company, a number of the following events, or transactions, may occur:

  • Be acquired by another firm
  • Be acquired by a private equity or investment group
  • Purchase a smaller company
  • Merge with another

Each of these occurrences comes with its own challenges and strategies for success—which we will dive into in this chapter—but they all share a common threat of being a huge distraction and time sink if not properly handled.

14.1 Investment groups

The executive team, which you are part of as CTO, is always looking for ways to create value for customers, employees, and investors alike. A well-executed transaction serves all constituents. Whether you are being acquired or doing the acquiring, it is a huge validation that something in your organization is being done right.

What does this mean for you, as the leader and visionary of your organization’s technology? It means you are responsible for positioning all the work done to date and all future plans in the best possible light without misrepresentation or lying.

14.2 Impromptu pitch

14.3 Investment cadence

14.4 Preparing for integration

14.5 Due diligence

14.5.1 Performing due diligence

14.5.2 Conducting due diligence

14.5.3 Presenting your findings