Dave Parker is the Managing Partner at DKParker, LLC, a consulting firm that helps companies launch their go-to-market strategies, design business and revenue models, and analyze pricing. As a five-time founder, Dave has been part of over 15 transactions as founder, operator, board member, and advisor. He splits his time between funding early-stage companies and helping them exit through NextPath Advisors.

Dave is a Senior Partner at Fearless Fund, which invests in women of color founders seeking pre-seed, seed level, or series A financing. He is the author of Trajectory: Startup: Ideation to Product/Market Fit. Dave previously served as COO and Senior VP of Programs and People at UP Global, ­the parent company of Startup Weekend/Startup America, which was acquired by Techstars.

As an entrepreneur, scaling your business to prepare for exit can be daunting. There are many initiatives to undertake such as raising capital, finding talent, and increasing revenue. So, how can you grow and exit your company?

Raising capital for your startup company is critical for business development. Dave Parker advises early-stage founders to leverage the venture power curve concept. This requires analyzing your top decile and quartile to generate returns. Entrepreneurs must also develop a robust business model to price their products and maximize revenue. Once you’ve reached the exit stage, Dave recommends experimenting with investments to financially prepare for the transaction.

In this episode of The Future is Borderless, David Nilssen sits down with Dave Parker, Managing Partner at DKParker, to discuss tips for managing and exiting a startup business. Dave explains the inspiration behind writing Trajectory: Startup: Ideation to Product/Market Fit, shares advice about raising capital, and how to navigate the exit process emotionally.