Zero to Acquisition

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.

• 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, former Chair of Altitude Accelerator, and Founder and Managing Partner of Preference Capital.