What Cost Me $90M as a Startup CEO?
I built a $10M company…
But it could’ve been $100M.
Let me explain the real reason it didn’t happen and how you can avoid the same mistake.
The Startup Dream vs. Exit Reality
When I launched my company, I had one goal: build something massive.
We were growing, hiring, getting press.
Everyone told me,
“You’re on track for a $100M valuation.”
And I believed them.
But a few years later…
We exited at $10M.
Still a win but not the game-changer it could’ve been.
And I’ll tell you the brutal truth of why:
I Built for Ego. Not Exit.
I was building what I thought the market wanted.
What looked sexy on TechCrunch.
Big team. Beautiful office.
Product features no one asked for.
I chased cool instead of chasing customers.
Here’s what I ignored:
→ Real demand
→ Acquisition potential
→ Boring, profitable growth
The Lesson: Distribution > Product
The best product doesn’t always win.
The most acquirable one does.
I should’ve focused on:
Building strong revenue lines
Locking in repeatable customers
Creating scarcity in the investor/acquirer market
Keeping costs lean and focus tight
I made money, sure.
But I left $90M on the table… because I wasn’t thinking like a buyer.
What I’d Do Differently Now
If I could go back, I’d build with the exit in mind — from day one.
I’d start with this question:
“Who will want to buy this… and why?”
That changes everything:
→ Product roadmap
→ Capital strategy
→ Hiring plan
→ Even your valuation narrative
Question for you:
Have you ever made a decision that looked smart in the moment — but cost you big later?
At SevenX Syndicate Community, this is exactly how we operate.
We’re not passive investors.
We don’t just bet on potential.
We roll up our sleeves and work side-by-side with the founders we back hunting problems, fixing bottlenecks, and building companies that are built to last.
If you’re raising capital and you're serious about building something real.
We want to hear from you.
Let’s solve bigger problems, together.
Stay Tuned
Sven Milder
