Our passion is to work with business owners to bring the exit value that they deserve after decades of dedication to their passion.
We do what others don't, nor can't. We bring investment, executive resources, investment banking, and tie it all together in a seamless exit strategy, ensuring that the business owner benefits more from our process than current exit values.
Exit advisors wonder how we can identify the optimum exit value of a business, find the ideal motivated buyer that would pay a premium, build the business to its acquisition attractive state, fund the growth strategy, and then seamlessly coordinate the exit transaction?
Welcome to what makes Cutwater Advisory Partners a Unicorn
Our Vision & Philosophy
Three Steps To An Optimal Exit
A detailed analysis and diagnosis resulting in a personalized roadmap that defines what the optimum value may be, and what is required to actually achieve it — including operational gaps, buyer value metrics, and capital injection. The Optimal Timing may be six months or 36 months depending on the results of the PROVE it Canvas™.
Using the PROVE It Canvas™, we build the pre-paved path to an optimal exit by executing the plan; We define a strategic team for operational improvement (as needed); deliver capital injection; and then begin to agree with the right strategic buyers a premium exit price. This process could take six months or 36 months depending on the results of the PROVE it Canvas™.
Regardless of the timing, our focus is to exit your business at the Optimum Value. We will find the strategic buyers that will pay a premium, pre-pave the exit and seamlessly coordinate the M&A event. We are Series 79 licensed and have significant M&A experience and a broad network of investment banking and private equity partners.
"Most business owners
leave 15%-50% on the
table, because they don't understand
what their company
is truly worth."
ENGAGEMENT TIMING
Step 1: 2-4 Weeks
Step 2: 6-24 Months
Step 3: 6-9 Months (Overlaps with Step 2)
Optimal Exit Matrix
A critical part of our process is to evaluate where your company is on two axis:
X-Axis: Your current enterprise value relative to the
optimum exit value.
Y-Axis: How effective your current business operational model is relative to the trajectory of what it needs to be to achieve the optimum exit value.
Using our PROVE It Canvas™, we will map your company on this matrix to determine what needs to be done to drive you to the the Optimum Value at the optimal timing.
Only Cutwater Advisory Partners provides the four critical components to an optimal exit:
Money (Capital) required to grow or expand or drive efficiency,
Time required to implement the specific improvements that buyers will pay a premium for,
People who have the experience to change the things that need to be changed for the express purpose of exiting you at the optimum exit value, not just fix things to make you more efficient.
The relationships, and licensure to manage your exit transaction.
Partners
Our partners are a critical component to our engagements. All of our partners either are business owners, or advising/working with them on seeking a maximum exit price for their business. Contact us so we can discuss what a mutually beneficial partnership can look like.
You can click on one of the boxes below to read more about each of our specific partnership relationships...
Our Customers
Growth & Exit: Most of our clients have revenues between $10mm - $250mm, but we also work with smaller companies and larger ones, depending on their needs and the upside opportunity.
Exit: We will coordinate and implement an exit at above market values for businesses with $5mm - $250mm with our strategic investment banking partners.
Industries: While we are industry agnostic, we have specialized expertise and experience in over a dozen industries.
"The Cutwater experience exiting our technology company was unlike what we knew of traditional investment banking. When we closed our deal at 34% higher exit value only 11 months after our final offer from other investment banking sources, we couldn't believe that this option was available...and we almost missed it."
Dennis, CPA Partner & Business Owner
“[Steve] is sharp, clear and decisive. I’ve seen him come into multiple situations and bring in deep insights and action right where they are needed most.”
Jesse, Chief Executive Officer
"Chris is a very intelligent and talented CEO who performed admirably in a high pressure and quickly changing environment. He had a tremendous command of accounting and financial issues, and easily grasped the legal issues assigned to me...his leadership style allowed for executives to remain calm and motivated during challenging situations."
Former US Attorney, General Counsel
Our Leadership Team
Steve Maegdlin
Co-Founder + CEO
Steve is a veteran of technology, software, and service industries and serial entrepreneur. Steve oversees strategy, revenue, and marketing activities and runs our optimal exit engagement teams.
Chris Riley
Co-Founder + Chairman
Chris is a 35-year business owner and CEO that focuses on growing and exiting businesses at their Optimum Value. He is series-79 licensed, a forensic financial expert, and runs our Private Equity and Investment Banking divisions.
David Dickinson
Chief Information Officer
Dave is a veteran of technology, communications, and healthcare industries and oversees technology strategy and operational effectiveness engagements.
DR. Abhay Trivedi
VP Strategic Growth
Dr. Trivedi is a highly sought after risk, operational and cultural development resource and leads operational improvement engagements.
Chris Carlstrom
VP Operations
Chris is a seasoned business executive with experience in product management, manufacturing, DoD, and operations. He oversees operational and growth engagements.
Jesse Phelps
Chief Technology Officer
Jesse is our lead technology expert and oversees technology development, integrations, and operational improvement engagements.