E165: Can DevTools Get to $1B ARR?

Strategic Pathways

Max Stoiber shares the strategic approach he took for Stellate's acquisition, emphasizing the importance of networking and outreach. He meticulously crafted a list of potential acquirers, including GraphQL, API companies, and cloud providers, and engaged in weekly calls with investors to identify key contacts within these organizations 1. This process resembled an enterprise sales strategy, where persistence and relationship-building were crucial.

You have to frame things in a way that makes it so you're not selling yourself, but they are trying to buy you.

--- Max Stoiber

Stoiber also highlights the role of trust and support from investors, who were understanding and supportive throughout the acquisition journey 2.

   

Emotional Challenges

The emotional challenges of preparing Stellate for acquisition were significant for Max Stoiber. He had to maintain team morale and vision while secretly working on the acquisition, which required balancing transparency and confidentiality 1. Stoiber reflects on the difficulty of keeping the team motivated when he himself had lost belief in the company's vision.

Startups fail because founders give up. Have you given up?

--- Max Stoiber

This emotional toll was compounded by the need to ensure that his team remained engaged and committed, despite the uncertain future 3.