JP Lewin

Foundy

Head to one of the links in my profile’s *Featured* section to learn more about how we have transformed M&A through Foundy's AI agents and expert advisory service. 

When millions can be gained (or lost) during and after an acquisition event, it is vital that business owners and buyers surround themselves with the right deal flow, community, tools, and expert advisors that specialise in their market niche for their long term acquisition planning and transaction processes. Yet, the process has historically been riddled with inefficiencies, eye watering fees and fragmented processes that leaves stakeholders at a disadvantage.

Foundy offers 2 sell side products and specialist advisory services:

The first is long term exit planning (6 to 36 months from selling): 
1a.) Detailed business valuation report
1b.) Exit readiness score and growth roadmap packed with helpful step by step support and tools
1c.) Tailored buyer list with contact details and insights into how you can position your business to make it as attractive as possible for an acquisition. This has helped businesses unlock millions in additional value. 

Our second product is Deal Execution for business owners ready to sell in the near term
2a.) Centralised deal management portal enabled by AI
b.) Expert advisors, including Foundy's seasoned team and hand selected specialist from you (our client)'s specific industry niche. We will ready your business for sale, find buyers, secure higher acquisition offers and then navigate the end to end DD and legal document process.

On the buy side:
Our popular Buyer Essentials package grants buyers access to an exclusive business buyer community where they access a high profile network and valuable resources. It is designed to set them on a path towards a successful acquisition, including improving their access to quality deal flow, funding and more.

Head to Foundy.com to learn more

Founder and CEO

Focal

Foundy was voted in the top 3 companies out of 1900 (0.16%) that applied to competitive demo day called Focal. This was based on the number of upvotes pre-demo day and the number of meeting requests post-demo day.

S23 Alumni - Voted In Top 3 out of 1900 companies

Pavilion

Pavilion is a community-powered learning platform for B2B SaaS go-to-market executives and their teams.

Executive Member

Revenue Syndicate

Revenue Syndicate is a platform for B2B Saas leaders and angels to access a high-quality deal flow of investment opportunities. It was founded by leading experts in the market and has since become a 500 + member community.

Member and Angel Investor

ZWINGS

Zwings is a SaaS enabled marketplace. At the time of acquisition, we had 80,000 customers and retained major contracts for 4 consecutive extension periods, including one of the UK's most lucrative contracts. We repeatedly outcompeted companies with over 100x more funding than us in head to head tenders. I had a team of 16 staff which increased to 30 during the high season. 

We ran an M&A process after we were contacted by various prospective acquirers. In Q3 of 2022, the company was acquired by Zeus. The acquirer added Zwings' locations to their network of 45+ cities across Europe and Asia. In the year that followed the parent company's valuation doubled. 

I originally founded Zwings as a B2B SaaS electric transport solution provider for hotels and corporate offices. After COVID enforced lengthy stay-at-home orders and the hotel and commercial property markets were some of the worst affected, we had to quickly adapt. We made a successful pivot. We were able to onboard investors and skilled employees which helped us win and retain lucrative contracts. Our business model involved SaaS subscriptions and pay-as-you-go services. We built a streamlined operational model that involved a rotating team working 7 days a week around the clock to swap batteries in scooters and relocate vehicles for different geolocations relative to expected usage. 

We began receiving interest from various rivals and companies in the wider sector looking to acquire ZWINGS which led to our team initiating an M&A process. After a complex exit journey involving multiple bidders, Zwings was acquired for a deal comprising a combination of cash and equity. The M&A process was complex, drawn out and expensive and I have since met a lot of people that also experienced this with their exits. I learned a great deal scaling and exiting Zwings, both personally and professionally. Now, I am on a passion driven mission to drag the antiquated exit process into the digital age.

Founder and CEO (exited via M&A)

Urban Futures Podcast

I produced several podcast videos where I interviewed incredible leaders who are pioneering disruptive change in the transport and sustainability sectors and wider industries.

Founder and Host

Lektron Networks Power Controls

Between my second and final year at business school, I spent 2 months shadowing the founder of a renewable energy systems supplier. They specialise in electrical refurbishments inside hundreds of homes and offices across the south of England. I primarily supported the accounts team to help manage the company's finances. I gained a key insight into the mechanics behind reneweable energy and the wider cost and environmental impact of transitioning to greener systems.

Renewable Energy - Summer Accountant

CEO Foundy: sell & acquire £100k to £15m revenue businesses via Foundy.com's first of its kind AI powered acquisition portal | You no longer need 5 separate tools and 4 advisors, Foundy has all in one portal.

Warm Welcome! 👋 Considering selling or buying a company in the near or long term? Or maybe you want to help your community of business owners or buyers by referring them to Foundy.com and earning by doing so? Explore the links in my profile’s featured section to learn more.

1.) Business Sellers - Experienced advisory team + AI agents trained in historical acquisitions in your market to provide you the most optimal route to a successful acquisition

2. Business Buyers - Off market Deal origination and due diligence reports to find more deal flow and vet them more effectively. 

3.) Exited Founders -  Join our fast growing WhatsApp group for exited founders 

Deeper insights into our product:

1. **Industry-Leading AI**: This scans the entire internet to look for signals that indicate possible buyer interest for your business. We also centralise and streamline client’s growth and exit process, positioning you for the best exit deal.

2. **Specialist Advisors & Account Managers**: Our team collaborates with experts from each client’s market niche, providing tailored guidance and ensuring a seamless experience. 

We don’t compete with traditional advisors. Instead, we collaborate through a partner programme, sharing fees to tap into even the most niche buyer segments. Whether you're planning an exit soon or are already in the process, our tools, network, and advice can help you secure the best deal. Book a confidential call via our website or direct message me to give you free insights. 

**For Buyers:**  
Foundy.com offers buyers access to deal flow, networking events, due diligence tools, 1000 + lenders and educational resources to streamline sourcing and transactions. Meet M&A teams at publicly traded companies, exited founders, fund managers and acquisition entrepreneurs. 

**About Foundy.com** 
With over 14,000 self registered users, Foundy.com had modernised the M&A process. We used to operate a marketplace as our primary business model but we have learned that the best businesses don’t want to list on a marketplace, they want a specialist advisor that can empower them with the tools, knowledge, buyer network and support they need to successfully navigate the process. Our team includes M&A experts and seasoned entrepreneurs, all driven to modernise the M&A landscape on behalf of business owners across the UK, USA and beyond.

Let’s discuss your goals.  
[Book a Call: https://calendly.com/joe-7yw/30min?back=1&month=2024-03 

*(No recruiters, please)*

Foundy has overhauled the acquisition process for tech business sellers and acquirers. We are specialists in helping founders ready their business for an exit, including preparing their data room and finding relevant acquirers. Alternatively, founders and buyers can use our platform for free on a self-serve basis if they prefer. 

Buyer accounts include representatives of large tech companies, private equity and software aggregators as well as acquisition entrepreneurs and family offices. Sellers include founders of mostly profitable online businesses in verticals such as SaaS, fintech, mobile apps, marketplaces, eCommerce, Amazon FBA, Web3 and AI but we are very much open to hearing from companies in other sectors and industries, as well as distressed businesses. 

Alongside a range of digital tools and M&A advisory services, I am helping my team to produce podcasts, tutorials and blogs with the intention of delivering helpful insights and tips to company leaders, buyers and aspiring entrepreneurs on their journey to exit 💵

Join today by creating a free and anonymous account or sign up to our newsletter on https://app.foundy.com/sign-up

Joe Lewin

If you care about AI, this is today’s headline.

Disney just signed a 3-year licensing deal with OpenAI and is investing $1bn equity investment into the company.

Here’s what’s actually in the deal:

1. Users on Sora can generate short AI videos with 200+ characters from Disney, Marvel, Pixar and Star Wars
2. The best fan-inspired clips will appear on Disney+
3. OpenAI gets exclusive generative rights for year one
4. OpenAI cannot train its models on Disney IP
5. No real actor faces or voices, with heavy guardrails around that

The context is what makes this so big. A few months ago, Disney and other studios were blocking Sora and calling it a “significant legal risk.”

So, yesterday they were firing off copyright letters to other AI giants.
Now today they’re OpenAI’s first major content-licensing partner and a $1bn investor.

Disney CEO Bob Iger is already saying this is about licensed use and respecting creative work, not replacing it.

Sam Altman gets capital and a flagship Hollywood partner at a time when model-training costs are exploding.

So you end up with this:

Disney is hedging the future of its IP.

 OpenAI is clearing a legal and commercial path for Sora.

Together they’ve just drawn a blueprint for how AI and big IP might work together.

What do you see this as most: a smart copyright strategy, a lifeline for OpenAI, or the start of a new AI/ entertainment playbook?

Joe Lewin 

AI Native Route To Sell & Buy Companies | DealFlowAgent.com | Helping business owners & Acquirers find one another through conversational AI and navigate through to completion 3x faster

Big news for UK business owners today! 🚨

The proposed exit tax has been pulled from Friday’s Budget plans!

Credit to the 150 plus Startup Coalition signatories. A clear example of what aligned voices can achieve.

The U turn helps, but the initial message still lingers... The proposal for a 20 percent charge on unrealised gains unsettled founders, investors and acquirers across the UK.

Removing it was the right call. The UK cannot afford policies that discourage innovation or investment.

Recent signals people in the market have been talking about:

- founders exploring relocation conversations
- investors slowing deals due to uncertainty
- advisers flagging valuation volatility
- sentiment becoming as big a risk as the policy itself

These are signals, not predictions. But they show why policy clarity matters.

the UK is still a strong ecosystem! Global interest has not disappeared. It's still Europe's hub for innovation, for now, and the 3rd largest market for small cap M&A globally. 
 
YCombinator just release the first company for their winter cohort and it is a UK startup! Plus, we've just raised capital from US based investors. 

The proposal is off the table for this Budget. Now the question is whether confidence rebounds.

What is your take? Does this move restore confidence, or has the damage already been done?

Picture shows an image of the budget announcement with the red briefcase. 

Most founders waste months on buyers who were never serious.

You get an inbound from a potential acquirer. Spirits are high. 
First call booked.
They’re “keen.”

You share numbers. Share plans. Share hope.

Then it drags for weeks or months, unnecessarily.
More calls. More emails. Hidden intent. Then
Silence.
Or “new concerns.”
Or... they never had funding.

This is what happens when signals get lost.

The hard truth: buyer calls are broken.
Too polite (especially in the UK). Too vague.
Too easy for time-wasters.

So we changed it.

We’re building one of the largest, fastest-growing living relationship graphs of active acquirers through our conversational AI, Sterling. He optimises for the 'signal to noise' ratio

Users know his voice is AI but they seem to be building genuine rapport with human (business buyers, some are even hosting long and regular calls with him. 

Sterling surfaces what buyers truly want, what they’ll never touch, and how serious they really are.

No one can fake that.
Time-wasters show in minutes, not months.

I’ve watched founders burn out chasing tyre-kickers.
Now deals move faster because buyers put their cards on the table early.

You can’t scale trust with hope.
You can scale insight with the right questions, asked early.

Want to see how Sterling separates real buyers from the rest?
Comment INSIGHT and I’ll share a high-level framework

thank you Timothy Armoo! Our buy side conversational AI is seeing a serious surge in interest in local service niches, including property services and healthcare. 

Our friendly AI agent, Sterling, is hosting human like conversations with buyers to hear about their nuance search criteria so that we can make warm intro's, where they can, to qualified deal flow. 

(think Boardy.ai or Jack & Jill but specifically for connecting buyers and sellers for small cap M&A.)

Dental, HVAC, Plumbing, Electricians, Emergency Services... and other future proof niches - all moving.

buyers are actively looking for profitable, healthy businesses in the 1-10 million revenue range with recurring revenue models and local defensibility.

if you're a business owner considering a move, whether retiring or moving to your next project, or a business buyer, let's chat.

Join The UK’s Biggest Live Event On January 10th In My Featured Section ⬇️

These businesses will never trend on Twitter.

But they make more than 99% of start-ups.

Everyone's chasing the next AI startup while plumbers are quietly banking £2M a year.
These businesses are insane, and often overlooked.

The pattern is obvious:

- Local service roll-ups
- Boring B2B software
- Unsexy recurring revenue
- Infrastructure nobody thinks about

Steal these business ideas before everyone else catches on. 👇


P.S. If you have a business and you’re thinking of selling in the next 6-24 months, I’ve got something for you. At DealFlowAgent, we help you strategise the path to your exit to get you the best price possible. Send me a message if you want to know more.

These 7 Boring Businesses Make Stupid Money

Tag a trusted operator or thought leader in either property services or healthcare – dinner on us.

Who are the well-respected people across these two verticals and sub-niches?

🏘 Property services: pest control, HVAC, roofing, landscaping, fire safety, solar, electricians, plumbing and data centres etc.

🏥 Healthcare: dental clinics, care homes, outpatient centres, vets etc.

Tag any of the following in the comments below:

 ✓ Service provider or operator
 ✓ Journalist or blogger in these sectors
 ✓ Thought leader on LinkedIn or Meta
 ✓ Anyone else with a strong network of business owners in these niches

If someone you tag ends up partnering with us, we’ll send both of you a dinner gift card for two, as a thank-you. 

Know someone who fits this? Tag them in the comments below.

If they might be in your network, a like or repost helps this reach the right people and might unlock a life-changing opportunity for them.

If that’s you, let’s talk.

The biggest discount on your exit rarely happens on paper. It happens in the first few conversations.

If you do not control the story early, you lose leverage in price and terms.

Preparation is clarity. Contracts, margins, team, and tidy process.

We help owners tighten that story and meet only serious, funded buyers.

I put together a private Home Services Exit Pack

Story Sheet, Buyer Question Set, Contract Visibility template, and the UK and US proof stacks on one page.

Using this pack helps owners tighten the story, reduce buyer pushback, and improve leverage in real negotiations.

Direct message me 'HS-Exit' and I will send it privately.


#HVAC #firesafety #pestcontrol #drainage #electrician #HomeServices #BusinessSale #MergersAndAcquisitions #ExitPlanning #DealFlowAgent

How to sell your home services business

James Samuels

ARIS

ARIS are leaders in the $1bn Business Process Intelligence market, with 10,000 customers including 25% of the Fortune 500.

Partner Program Manager

Voluntas Elevate

Voluntas helps ambitious tech founders to realise their aspirations. We're a global ecosystem of amazing people, innovative technology, and transformative funding.

MD (Europe) | Associate Partner

netXero

netXero makes it easy for busy tech and service companies to comply with climate legislation, profit from sustainability and create high performing teams.

Co-Founder

Predictable Growth

Working closely with founders and exec teams to build great B2B tech businesses. 

Focusing on tech clients with traction (product, customers and revenues) transitioning to repeatable and scaleable sales, international expansion and building predictability into their growth.

Clients include Smart Energy, Sales AI, enterprise BPM, B2B e-commerce, AP automation, spend analytics, source-to-pay, ESG and FM / Prop Tech. 

Developing strategy, building and testing financial models, assessing competitive landscape, funding, building talented teams, creating value propositions and go-to-market, accelerating growth, launch new products, enter new markets, review pricing, optimise profitability, automating and scaling operational processes.

Predictable Growth Partner

Mtivity

Mtivity automates marketing procurement for many of the world's global brands.

Growth Advisor

SaaSrooms

Working with a great team, transforming the relationship between SaaS buyers and vendors. Helped pre-revenue start-up develop GTM strategy, acquire new clients and generate predictable ARR growth.

Start-up Advisor

Claritum

Founded and bootstrapped Claritum from start-up to profitable growth. Claritum’s source-to-pay platform is trusted by 1,300 companies in 70 countries to automate tail spend, provide real time spend visibility, centralised control over local spending, measurable cost savings and process efficiencies.  

Claritum streamlines sourcing, procurement and invoicing for high LTV value, multi-year clients including Canon, Pfizer, Heineken, Coca-Cola, easyJet, Nestle, GSK, Lilly, United Technologies.

Founder & CEO

Small Wonder Marketing

Set up and ran digital marketing agency to deliver services to clients in technology sector.

Managing Director

Clipper Round the World Yacht Race

Crew member on “Jersey Clipper” for leg 2 of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, from Cuba to Hawaii via Panama and Galapagos. Part of 15 member crew and successful winners of race to Galapagos.

Crew Member

THE REAL ADVENTURE MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS LIMITED

Leading regional Marketing Agency, based in Bath. Grew revenues and profits from the agency's 2 largest accounts. Successfully launched grocery Home Shopping service for a major UK grocery retailer). Identified and modelled 6 critical factors of profitable deliveries to drive customer acquisition.

Account Director

Helping tech companies to achieve predictable & profitable revenue growth | GTM automation | Board Advisor | Tech founder x 3 🚀

Hi 👋

If you’re an ambitous B2B SaaS founder looking for an honest, pragmatic and systematic approach to growing your business, let’s have a chat. 

I founded and bootstrapped a B2B SaaS procurement tech business from start-up to profitable growth with over 1,300 high LTV customers in over 70 countries (inc Canon, JP Morgan, Pfizer, United Technologies, Diageo, easyJet). 

So I've experienced the highs and lows of being an early stage founder with limited funds and resources selling successfully into mid-enterprise clients globally. 🎢

More recently I’ve helped B2B SaaS founding teams in sales AI, procurement tech, smart energy, prop tech, data analytics to add $170m ARR from start-up, scale-up, growth and enterprise. 

Together with founders and leadership teams we’ve created significant revenue growth and enhanced shareholder value. 🚀

Along the way I’ve made learned lots of lessons, worked with some amazing companies and inspiring people. 

I can help as much or as little as you need. 

▶️ Strategy, planning and delivery
▶️ Creating the right team and culture
▶️ Robust financial modelling and integration with operating metrics
▶️ Getting investor ready and raising money 
▶️ Working on behalf of investors to grow value / prepare for exit 
▶️ Building systems and processes to grow revenues predictably
▶️ Implementing procurement controls, cutting waste, improving productivity
▶️ Delivering the right KPIs to focus on the metrics that matter

If you need practical advice or hands-on delivery to deliver profitable growth, connect and ask me anything. Happy to help if I can. 

👉 Let's connect. 
Book a Call: https://calendly.com/james-samuels/30min

This is a real eye opener. If you’re an SME supplying public sector, read Jonathan Wragg’s article - take advantage of the changes in public procurement. Don’t get left behind.

Helping tech companies to achieve predictable & profitable revenue growth | AI GTM automation | Board Advisor | Tech founder x 3 🚀

Co-Founder, Ltt Group | Governance & ESG Strategist | Helping SMEs win bigger clients through risk, data and transparency

Back in May, British Chambers of Commerce warned that the Procurement Act “must quickly deliver for SMEs.” At that point, only around 20% of direct public sector procurement spend was reaching smaller businesses, with the average annual spend per SME stuck at about £31,000.

Fast forward six months and the new regime is go go go.
On paper, the intent is positive. The Procurement Act 2023 brings a single rule book, a focus on the Most Advantageous Tender (MAT) rather than the cheapest bid (MEAT) and a clear ambition to make it easier for SMEs to compete.

In practice, this creates a fork in the road for smaller suppliers.

If you can evidence delivery, impact, and risk management, this is a genuine growth opportunity. Transparency, social value, and environmental performance can finally work in your favour rather than being a box-ticking exercise but proof is needed.
If you are still relying on old policies, vague sustainability claims, and inconsistent delivery, the same transparency is a real threat. With performance notices, tougher KPI reporting, and a central debarment regime, one bad contract could close the door on future opportunities.

In our work with SMEs at Ltt Group Limited we are already seeing both stories play out. Some are using the Act as a catalyst to professionalise their offer and become low-risk, high-value partners across multiple contracts. Others are hoping not much will change or are now panicking they have made promises they are now being asked to deliver on.

Public procurement is worth over £380 billion a year. The rules have now changed. The question is whether SME leaders change with them.

I have unpacked what the Procurement Act 2023 really means for SME growth and the practical steps to stay off the wrong side of the line in a new blog for Ltt Group.

If you sell into the public sector, it is worth a read via the link.

Open article: Procurement Act 2023: Growth Moment or Slow Squeeze for SMEs? by lttgroup.uk

Procurement Act 2023: Growth Moment or Slow Squeeze for SMEs?

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