{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Episode 100: Inside the Deal with Seth Freedman","description":" In this episode of the Tech M&A Podcast, we chat with Seth Freedman, founder of Intelligent Observation, to explore the realities of building, scaling, and ultimately exiting a venture-backed software business. Over a six-year period, Seth grew the company from startup to acquisition, navigating the pressures of institutional capital and the strategic decisions that come with sustained growth. Seth shares how a timely outreach from Corum initiated his M&A journey and walks through the board-level decision between raising additional capital versus pursuing a sale. He offers candid insight into the emotional transition founders experience post-exit, the demands of running a company while selling it, and how a strategic \u201chiatus\u201d period allowed Intelligent Observation to strengthen key metrics\u2014particularly churn\u2014before returning to market with a stronger position and a clearer value story. Takeaways Exits are a strategic fork in the road: For VC-backed companies, selling is often weighed directly against raising more capital and scaling further. Timing and positioning matter: Going to market before the business is fully prepared can limit outcomes\u2014and knowing when to pause can create leverage. A hiatus can add real value: Stepping back to address how churn and sustaining growth can significantly improve buyer confidence and valuation. Selling while operating is demanding: Founders must balance diligence, negotiations, and day-to-day leadership at the same time. Expect the personal transition: The emotional shift after an exit often begins once the deal is done, not before. Timestamps 00:00 \u2013 Pre-roll and setup: audio, video, and resetting the take 01:09 \u2013 Introducing Seth Freedman and Intelligent Observation 02:04 \u2013 How Seth first learned about Corum and why the timing mattered 02:39 \u2013 The VC-backed fork in the road: raise more capital or pursue M&A 03:11 \u2013 Life after the sale: the founder transition after the excitement fades 03:52 \u2013 Lessons learned building and exiting a startup 04:39 \u2013 Advice for CEOs selling their company 05:21 \u2013 What\u2019s next: taking time before the next challenge 05:53 \u2013 The first attempt to sell and why it didn\u2019t close 06:52 \u2013 Using a one-year hiatus to fix churn, strengthen metrics, and return to market ","author_name":"The Tech M&A Podcast","author_url":"http:\/\/www.corumgroup.com","html":"