Grow and sell the company you built - on your terms.
A structured 9–18 month program for SME owners and scaleup founders preparing for a change in ownership — combining operational value creation with disciplined exit execution, so the price reflects what you've actually built.
The Challenge
Owners rarely sell at the price their company deserves.
By the time most owners decide to sell, the value gap is already wide — and time is no longer on their side. Buyers can read a process. They can tell when a company has been groomed for sale, and when it's been put on the market in the hope that someone will see what the owner sees.
Going to market a year too late
By the time most owners start preparing, the equity story, the team and the numbers have already drifted. The work that would have lifted the valuation needed to start 12–24 months earlier — not in the month the broker is hired.
The business depends too much on you
Buyers will pay for a company. They will discount heavily for a job description disguised as one. If clients, decisions and key relationships still run through the owner, the valuation reflects that — and so does the earn-out.
A story that doesn't survive due diligence
The narrative that works in the market doesn't always hold up in a data room. Concentration risks, soft margins, undocumented processes and operational dependencies surface fast — and every one of them costs price.
Wrong buyer, wrong price, wrong terms
Without a clear view of who would pay the most and why, owners end up talking to whoever shows up first. The result is a process driven by the buyer's questions instead of the seller's strengths — and a price set by leverage, not value.
Our commitment
Within 9–18 months, we will
Lift company value before the process starts
Reduce dependence on the owner
Build a data room that holds up to scrutiny
Identify the buyers most likely to pay full price
Run the sale process end-to-end
Negotiate the deal you actually want to sign
How It Works
A three-phase program from assessment to executed exit.
Value creation and exit preparation run in parallel — not sequentially. Every phase produces concrete, measurable outputs that directly support the transaction.
Phase 1
Assessment & Valuation
Identify the value levers that matter most and model realistic exit scenarios. The output is a clear, implementable roadmap — not a generic strategy deck. Fixed-price engagement, discountable if phases 2 & 3 proceed.
What you get
Identification of relevant value growth levers
Scenario-based valuation model
Clear, implementable exit & value creation roadmap
Phase 2
Value Creation & Execution
Deploy experts directly into functional areas and execute the defined revenue and cost actions. We actively position the company with target buyers while improving EBITDA — both running in parallel. Monthly retainer with milestone-based success fee.
What you get
EBITDA improvement track record
Buyer universe & positioning
Strategic exit positioning with target buyers
Operational reporting
Phase 3
Exit Execution
Run the full exit process end-to-end. We onboard the right M&A transaction partner, manage due diligence, and provide continuous sell-side support from first buyer contact through to final close and handover.
What you get
Exit readiness audit & buyer identification
Due diligence simulation & data room
M&A transaction partner onboarding
Full transaction support through close
Designed for
Who is this programme for?
SME owners exploring succession, partial exit or full sale within the next 12–36 months
Scaleup founders considering a strategic sale, growth equity round or change in ownership
Owner-managed companies where the next chapter requires bringing in capital, a partner or a successor
Typical asset profile: CHF 5M–100M revenue · Exit horizon 12–36 months · Swiss or DACH market focus with international buyer universe
Total program duration: 9–18 months · Phases can be entered separately depending on where you are in your preparation
Commercial Structure
Our incentives are fully aligned with yours.
Our engagement model is designed so our economic upside is directly tied to yours — combining fixed-price transparency in assessment with milestone-based success fees in execution.
Fixed Price Assessment
Transparent assessment, clear deliverables
Cost
Fixed fee — discounted if phases 2 & 3 proceed
Duration
4–6 weeks
Output
Valuation model, value creation roadmap and implementation plan
Commitment
Phase only — no obligation to continue
Retainer & Success Fee
Our upside tied directly to yours
Cost
Monthly retainer + milestone-based success fee
Duration
9–16 months
Output
Operational execution, exit positioning and full transaction support through close
Commitment
Milestone-based — incentives fully aligned with exit outcome
Entry at Any Phase
Start where it makes sense for you
Who this suits
Companies closer to exit readiness can enter directly at phase 2 or 3
How it works
Each phase stands alone while building toward the full programme outcome
Why Value Creation Partners
Built specifically for this problem.
We combine deep PE and VC experience with hands-on operational execution — not typical for either category of advisor.
We read companies the way buyers do
Years of PE and VC work mean we know what surfaces in due diligence and what doesn't. We bring that lens to the company months or years before any buyer sees it — so the work happens early, where it still moves price.
Value creation and sale execution in one team
Strategy, operations and the actual transaction don't sit in three different advisory engagements. They sit in one — which is the only way the handover from "improving the company" to "selling it" doesn't lose momentum.
A trusted network for the specialist work
M&A advisors, legal counsel, due diligence specialists — we bring in proven partners we've worked with, when the phase calls for them. Capability and reach without losing accountability for the outcome.
Owner-friendly engagement model
We work with you, not around you. We respect that this is your company, your reputation and your decision — and we structure the work so you stay in control of the outcome at every step.
Skin in the game
Most of our economics depend on yours. A milestone-based success fee in execution means we only win when the sale closes at a value that justifies the work — which is the only honest way to do this.
Our Partner Network
What our clients say
Let's talk about selling the company at the price it deserves.
Start with a no-obligation conversation. We'll take a preliminary look at where your company stands today, where the value gap is widest, and whether we're the right partner to help you close it before you go to market.