Exitwise Productions

Colin Hodge built a dating app so viral it hit one million users in three and a half months — then got sued, kicked off the App Store, acquired by a company in Asia, and sold off in a fire sale when his acquirer panicked mid-IPO. So Colin bought it back. Then he 10X'd it.
In this episode, Colin shares the full story with Exitwise Managing Partner Todd Sullivan: from fixing computers at 15 in Pennsylvania, to Microsoft, to launching Bang with Friends at the dawn of the smartphone era. He breaks down the costly mistake of going into M&A pre-revenue, how fast things changed once he finally turned on monetization (zero to $75K/month), and what it felt like to watch his own company get divested like a footnote during someone else's IPO process.

Colin also gets into the psychology of M&A that most people skip over: why founders need an honest mirror held up to them before they go to market, how he now helps other founders grow and exit smarter, and how his Amazon bestseller Outrageous Startup Growth started as a way to document his playbook and ended up helping him scale the business beyond himself.

Whether you're pre-revenue and wondering when to monetize, stuck navigating your first acquirer conversation, or trying to understand what buyers are really looking for, this one's packed with hard-won lessons from someone who's been on every side of the M&A table.

Learn more about Colin and connect with Exitwise: https://exitwise.com/founders/colin-hodge

Thinking about selling your business? Visit https://exitwise.com

Get Colin's book Outrageous Startup Growth: https://colinhodge.com 

What is Exitwise Productions?

Exitwise Productions is the home of M&A education for entrepreneurs. If you're a founder thinking about selling your business, a business owner exploring your exit options, or simply trying to understand how mergers and acquisitions actually work, this is where you start.

Three shows. One mission: get founders the exit they deserve.

The Wise Exit by Exitwise is hosted by Todd Sullivan, M&A advisor and CEO and Co-founder of Exitwise. The Wise Exit brings you in-depth conversations with founders and business owners who have successfully sold their companies to some of the top acquirers in the world. From business valuations and quality of earnings to choosing the right M&A advisor or investment banker for your deal, The Wise Exit covers every stage of the M&A process with the depth and clarity that founders actually need.

On the Exited Founder Podcast by Exitwise, hear first-hand exit stories from successful founders across dozens of industries who are now paying it forward as M&A advisors with Exitwise. Each episode features an exited founder sharing what they wish they had done differently, their take on current industry trends, and the lessons they are bringing to help the next generation of business owners maximize their exits. Meet the advisors and explore the Exited Founder Marketplace at exitwise.com/exited-founders.

Wise Up on M&A by Exitwise is the M&A education series for entrepreneurs who are curious about selling their business but don't know where to start. Each episode breaks down one mergers and acquisitions concept in plain English, with zero jargon left unexplained. If you have ever nodded along in a conversation about LOIs, EBITDA, or quality of earnings and had no idea what any of it meant, this show is for you.

Whether you are years away from selling or already exploring a transaction, Exitwise Productions gives you the insights, strategies, and real-world perspective to get the exit you deserve.

Learn more and work with Exitwise at exitwise.com.