Most founders wait too long to sell and end up losing leverage. In this episode, Jason Kirby and Oliver Low share the real playbook for navigating M&A in 2025. You’ll learn why the best founders sell in the fourth inning, how to structure deals without falling into earnout traps, and how to position your startup for private equity or strategic buyers.
They also unpack how Thunder helps founders architect their outcomes, whether that means running a sell-side process, launching a buy-side rollup, or structuring a hybrid deal that gives you both liquidity and long-term upside.
💡 If you’re a founder considering an exit, this is required listening.
🎥 Watch the full episode now on YouTube
Here’s what you’re in for:
00:00 Introduction and guest welcome
00:54 Oliver Lowe’s entrepreneurial journey
06:30 The decision to sell and key deal structure insights
10:51 Challenges with earnouts and tough negotiations
13:01 Why selling early can sometimes be the smartest move
21:20 What founders need to know about today’s M&A market
28:25 Consolidation, acquisitions, and evolving strategies
47:33 Real-world advice for founders on structuring deals
01:01:34 Final thoughts and where to connect
ABOUT Oliver Low
Oliver Low is a serial founder, investor, and M&A advisor at Thunder. After selling his ad tech startup, Platform360, into a London Stock Exchange-listed rollup, he now helps founders design their exit paths — from buyouts and consolidations to private equity-backed growth strategies.
Get in touch with Oliver:
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