The Book Promise
Zero to Acquisition is a practical, research-backed book about how startups actually get acquired. Built on an original dataset of over 388,000 U.S. startups founded between 2010–2020, the book investigates what separates the acquired from the closed — using both statistical insights and real-world founder experiences.
We examine companies that pursued outside investment to grow quickly — not lifestyle businesses or holding companies — and compare nearly 17,700 acquired startups to 24,700 failed ones, across sectors, funding stages, and founder types.
Highlights:
- The key signals that attract acquirers
- Traits that consistently show up in successful exits
- Data patterns across 388,700+ startups
- Tools to benchmark your own startup’s acquisition potential
- Insights on what founders can skip, ignore, or stop wasting time on
Who Benefits from This Book?
- Founders seeking the fastest path to value and exit
- Startup Advisors guiding early-stage teams toward effective traction
- Investors spotting patterns early and helping companies raise follow-on rounds
- Early Employees wanting to work on the most value-driving activities
About the Author
Andrew Opala is a founder, investor, and advisor with a track record of startup acquisitions — including multiple exits in the $10M–$100M range as a cofounder, and several as an early investor. Andrew is an active member of the Brampton Angels, the Mississauga Investor Network, the Chair of the Altitude Accelerator and the Founder and Managing Partner of Preference Capital. Over his career, he’s held cross-functional roles spanning software and platform engineering, product development, marketing, fundraising, and strategic partnerships. Drawing from decades in tech and business, Andrew shares a practical, data-driven view of what separates startups that exit from those that stall.
Get Early Access to the Book
Subscribe to Zero to Acquisition on Substack and receive early chapters, founder insights, and acquisition data before the book is released.