What if the best acquirers never even see your business because you started too late?

In episode #15 of The Retention Edge, we go deep with Emmett Kilduff, co-founder of The Fortia Group, to demystify the M&A process for DTC brands and agencies. With $20B in deals behind him and a rare mix of Wall Street and eCommerce expertise, Emmett shares the hard lessons founders usually learn too late.

From why 80% of brands never close a deal to how to reverse-engineer your business for acquirers, this is a masterclass in how to think like a buyer and build accordingly.

We get into:

- How to make buyers chase you (instead of the other way around)

- The red flags that kill 8-figure exits before they start

- Why DTC aggregators collapsed and which ones are still quietly thriving

- The $10M+ retention signals acquirers actually look for

- How deal dynamics, timing, and fatigue can override your financials

Whether you're planning an exit in 3 years or just getting started, this episode will change how you build. Because M&A isn't just about metrics., it's about momentum, trust, and timing.

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Connect with Eric: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-gopeesingh/

Connect with Emmett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmettkilduff/