The Biggest Investor & Exit Pitfalls in 2026
Stuart Coleman and Jonathan Wilson on the unglamorous prep, margin benchmarks and last-mile traps that decide consulting deals.
The session, in short.
Stuart Coleman (SuperStep Capital) and Jonathan Wilson (Dubb Value Creation) on what actually moves valuation for boutique consulting founders raising or selling in 2026. The data and narrative prep that sets the price; the gross-margin tiers PE actually underwrites against (40 / 45 / 50 / 55%); why buyers pay for future vision validated by past performance — and how trust erosion quietly kills deals. Last-mile pitfalls: deal fatigue, penny-pinching renegotiation, premature comms, and founder self-sabotage. Plus the post-deal reality — founder transition, working on the business not in it, the M&A platform play, and where AI (back office, delivery, client) compounds value today.
Every resource from this session.
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The full blog from this session — the framing, the arguments, and the playbook.
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The standout moments — short clips, perfect for sharing with the team.
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The complete session, on demand, whenever it fits your day.
Other sessions from the day
Prospecting, Pitching & Closing in the AI Era
Dannii Mathers on why bad data is the binding constraint for AI-era BD — and the human skill premium that follows.
Become The Visible Authority in your Niche
Luk Smeyers and Florian Heinrichs on why specificity — not visibility — is what makes a boutique firm impossible to ignore.
How to Beat the Big Consultancies: The Power of Niche
Prof. Joe O'Mahoney and Christian Barnard on the operating-model gap that's widening between boutiques and the global firms.
