Sell or Not to Sell? That is the Question

I was, or do not intend to be, a full-on expert in shakespeare and anything else in the space of fine literature. I am sure, however, like many others who read that most famous opening line in Hamlet, could really feel the agony the protagonist felt. Similarly, with private companies, the media has undoubtedly shown more spotlight over rapidly rising startups to the extent of ultimately drawing readers’ attention to this issue of selling — Are they going to sell? Who are they going likely to sell to? For how much will it be sold for?

As I meet more and more founders each day, irrespective of their stage and vision, almost all would come to the thought of selling their company one day. It’s as if founders these days have come up with an idea and / or built a product with the ultimate end-goal to sell at the very outset already. Now, I’m not saying there is the wrong intention or aim. If anything, this topic is especially one of those that fall into the ‘there is no right or wrong’ categories. I can understand how founders, especially ones backed by venture capital or angel investors, have the long term objective of selling. At the end of the day, if you as the founder can begin to feel that the startup company can only go so far or has reached its ‘peak’ (if that is possible even in the startup ecosystem), then it is most likely to be a better idea to sell it now when it’s actually got interest from somebody.

Having said that, I personally believe and hope to see more founders can re-shift their thinking and mentality to build their startup that truly aims to change the industry they operate in. The belief of many startups originally is to become a driving force of change to all the markets and consumers they touch. Look at the world we live in today and then imagine a world where founders of companies like Facebook, Google, or LinkedIn decided to sell — very different right? There is of course a large difference when a founder of startup needs to consider the thought of being a CEO of a company, but that I must say is a good cross-road to be at. Its a whole new challenge for the team and startup itself but a good challenge. No different to the first day a founder would have encountered, its a moment of truth where you decide to rise up to such a challenge or not.

Sincerely hope all you founders out there have faith in yourselves and go down the right path.