Thinking About a Private Equity Exit? Avoid These Costly Founder Mistakes

If you’re a business owner thinking about private equity, growth, or an eventual exit , this episode could save you years of stress — and potentially millions of dollars. Most founders only learn how private equity really works after they’ve signed a term sheet, when it’s often too late to negotiate from a position of strength. Paul Sweeney is joined by Alexis Sikorsky, founder of KnightScale Partners and a former CEO who successfully scaled and sold his own software company in a $100M+ private equity exit. You'll learn: What private equity buyers are actually looking for How deals are structured, and what you should have in place before you ever start the conversation A deeper understanding of private equity - it's not 'funding' in the traditional sense, how it differs from venture capital, and why so many founders misunderstand the process What private equity firms really buy (profitability, growth, and operational discipline) The importance of understanding your numbers Why time horizons, autonomy, and alignment matter more than headline valuations Hard-earned lessons on due diligence, common red flags, and tactics founders must watch out for — including how deals can quietly change during the process This conversation is an essential listen for founders approaching the $5–15 million revenue mark, feeling stuck at a growth plateau, or wondering whether private equity is the right exit path for them. It’s a practical, honest look at how to prepare your business, protect your interests, and make informed decisions about your next chapter. Alexis Sikorsky is a strategic advisor to founders who are serious about scaling fast and exiting strong. With a nine-figure private equity exit under his belt, Alexis isn’t speaking from theory—he’s lived the entrepreneurial highs and lows across decades of company building, boardroom negotiation, and international leadership. His flagship book Cashing Out lays out the APEX methodology, a four-part framework (Assess, Plan, Execute, Exit) that demystifies the journey to private equity for founders feeling stuck or overwhelmed by growth and decision fatigue. Alexis founded, scaled, and sold New Access, a Switzerland-based software company, ultimately closing a $100M+ exit and transitioning into a new chapter as a Special Advisor to ambitious CEOs. Today, through Sikorsky Consulting and KnightScale Partners, he works with growth-stage businesses, typically doing $5M+ in annual revenue, who want to engineer their next chapter or PE exit. A straight-talking alternative to cookie-cutter coaches, Alexis is often referred to as "The CEO Whisperer" for his candid insight and ability to diagnose issues in minutes. He supports leaders who are weighed down by their own business, helping them build vision, unlock cash flow, and scale toward freedom. He's also on a mission to serve founders priced out of one-to-one consulting through his mastermind programs, offering a rare blend of lived experience and practical strategy. LinkedIn Support the show Connect with us: Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Instagram

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Thinking About a Private Equity Exit? Avoid These Costly Founder Mistakes is an episode from The Business Behind Your Business by Paul Sweeney.

This episode is 34:59 long.

This episode was published on Feb 16, 2026.

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