About the programme
Why does it matter now (even if you are not planning to sell)?
“You shouldn’t create an exit strategy for an investor – it’s the first question you should ask yourself when you’re thinking about starting a company.”
Many founders focus 100% on product development and the next funding round. The risk is building a company that grows, but becomes strategically difficult to sell. It’s too big to pivot andtoo complex for an acquirer.
Every successful exit starts long before the exit itself. The Exit Strategy Awareness Programme gives you the clarity, tools and discipline to design your endgame from day one. By embedding "continuous exit thinking" into your operations, you align your funding path, growth decisions and investor relationships with a high-value future outcome.
This programme provides a framework to set priorities:
- Focus on decision making: Know which milestones add value for a future strategic partner (and which do not).
- Board alignment: Prevent abstract discussions by creating a shared vision of the endgame and the path to get there.
- Stronger investor narrative: Demonstrate that you are building a transferable asset, not just a product.
Important dates
- Applications close: 06 Feb 2026
- Programme Kick-off: 18 March 2026
- Programme ends: 08 April 2026
Want to know more?
If you have any questions at all or would like to find out more about the programme you can contact:
What can you expect?
This is not a theoretical course. It is a strategic intervention to professionalise your company’s governance and long-term planning. By the end of the programme you will:
- Understand strategic value: See how early choices shape your outcome. You will understand how today's roadmap decisions impact your future valuation, investor expectations and long-term options.
- Create & embed your strategy: Build a realistic, defensible plan. You will move beyond vague ideas to create an exit strategy that is integrated into your roadmap, milestones and messaging.
- Master your inflection points: Know what moves the needle. You will identify which proof points matter to acquirers as well as late-stage investors and learn how to hit them with intention.
Concrete Outputs
Governance tools you can use immediately
We don't do fluff. You will leave with concrete instruments to professionalise your strategy and board meetings:
- Exit Strategy canvas: A clear, one-page overview of your strategic value, potential buyer archetypes and value drivers.
- Stakeholder alignment charter: A transparency document to ensure founders, the board, and investors are on the exact same page regarding timelines, return expectations and exit scenarios.
- Inflection point radar: A visual tool to track the 5-7 key moments (metrics, market shifts) that will change your strategic options over the next 12-24 months.
- Boardroom integration: Concrete formats and slides to make 'exit awareness' a fixed, compact part of your quarterly reporting, saving you time in future meetings.
Who is it for?
This programme is specifically curated for ambitious founders who want to professionalise their long-term strategy.
- Profile: Seed to Series A founders.
- Funding: You require substantial external funding (>1M EUR) and have (or will have) VC shareholders.
- Sector: Tailored for B2B Software, AI, Deeptech, and Hardware-enabled tech. We understand that IP, long development cycles and regulatory hurdles require a different exit approach than standard consumer apps.
- Mindset: You are serious about the awareness of the need for an exit strategy and want to move from reactive decision-making to proactive value creation.
Format & Commitment
Compact & high-leverage. We know you are busy. This programme is designed to save you time in the long run by establishing a clear strategic framework now.
- Confidential setting: All sessions operate under Chatham House Rules. This provides a safe space to discuss strategic dilemmas openly with peers, without signaling "exit intent" to the market.
- Peer learning: You will work in a select cohort. Validate your assumptions with peers facing similar challenges.
- Time investment: 4 sessions of approx. 4 hours at BOM’s office in Tilburg.
- Expert leads: Facilitated by ex-founders who have successfully exited and VC partners who sit on boards. You’ll get real stories, real trade-offs and real tools.
Ready to control your endgame?
Don't leave your long-term value to chance. Join the next cohort to control your path to an exit. Sign up by using the button below.
Once you apply, we will go through a structured screening process.
