8-WEEK INTENSIVE COHORT

Build your Exit Blueprint in 8 Weeks

Exit building is the disciplined practice of constructing a startup that is acquisition-ready from day one, maximizing your profitable exit valuation.

9 Questions every Founder in the MENA region asks

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Financial Metrics

What specific financial metrics (like LTV and CAC) must be world-class to attract a global buyer like Amazon and Google?

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Valuation Strategy

Should I aim for a rewarding exit (3-8x of revenue) that's likely, or keep chasing the unicorn dream to become another Careem?

Icon of three people with upward arrows and a checkmark in a speech bubble above them, symbolizing investor alignment.

Investor Alignment

How can I ensure that my early investors don't deter future buyers and investors?

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Defensible Moat

What unique local advantage (like distribution or local compliance) can I build that a large company can’t copy easily?

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Buyer Profile

Who is the most likely buyer (a regional player or a global company), and how does that change my product plan?

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Execution Strategy

How do I execute quickly and smartly, using proven playbooks instead of wasting time aiming for perfection?

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Team Independence

How can I build a strong management team so that the company doesn't rely on me (the founder) to run it after I sell?

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Due Diligence Readiness

What types of clear financial records and legal documents do I need to prepare to pass a rigorous, international audit?

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Regional Expansion

How can I successfully expand into key regional markets, such as Saudi Arabia or Nigeria, without expensive failures?

Founders who don't know their exit path

Does this sound familiar?
Investor: "What's the exit path here?"
Founder: "IPO or acquisition" (meaningless answer)
Investor: "Who would acquire you?"
Founder: "Google, Microsoft, any big tech company" (shows zero research)
Investor: "Why would they pay a premium multiple?"
Founder: "Because we'll have great technology" (not how M&A works)
If you’re reading this, then most likely you have struggled with your entrepreneurial journey, which caused you to stop and think, “There must be a better way to succeed as a founder.”
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Maybe you started a company and failed, which has created a stigma that you can’t shake off.

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You might have missed multiple exit opportunities because you didn’t pass through the due diligence process.

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You might be in the middle of building your company and feel that everything keeps falling apart.

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Or you might have failed at the integration process after selling your company and losing your hard-earned legacy.

Whatever the situation is, I assure you, You’re not alone.

Why is it normal to fail as a founder?

Normally, there are many conditions that are out of our control, which is also is impacted by the conditions of the location we’re building the business in, especially if it’s in an emerging or developing economy.

According to CB Insights, the following are the top 8 reasons startups fail.

1

No Market Need (42%)

We stop founders from building brilliant solutions to problems nobody has. 42% of startups fail because the market simply doesn't want the product.

2

Ran Out of Cash

We teach disciplined financial modeling and runway management. Don't let poor planning (or impulsive spending) be the reason your doors close.

3

Not the Right Team

We help you vet, align, and retain co-founders and key leaders. Founders often fail because of internal friction or a lack of complementary skillsets.

4

Got Outcompeted

We show you how to build a defensible moat and anticipate market shifts. The most successful companies thrive because they anticipate competition, they don't react to it.

5

Pricing/Cost Issues

We focus on deep unit economics and proven monetization strategies. A powerful product is useless if you price it wrong and cannot sustain profitability.

6

Poor Product

We mandate a focus on rapid iteration and customer validation over perfection. Launching a mediocre product that doesn't solve the core problem is a death sentence.

7

Lacked a Business Model

We guide you past the 'idea' stage to a clear, repeatable system for earning revenue. An idea is not a company; a proven business model is the only path to scale.

8

Poor Marketing

We create a playbook for capturing attention and communicating value efficiently. You can have the best product, but if nobody hears about it, you will fail.

J-Curve& The "Valley of Death"

According to early tech analyst and entrepreneur Howard Love, the author of “The Start-Up J Curve”, he called it the “Valley of Death”. The "Valley of Death" is the high-risk, negative cash flow phase a startup enters after initial funding but before achieving sustainable revenue. This challenging period is visually represented by the J-Curve, a common financial pattern in startups where the initial cash flow dips sharply (the "valley" or negative investment period) before a strong, positive ascent (the profitable scale-up). Surviving this phase requires intense focus on extending the runway by aggressively cutting costs and rapidly achieving Product-Market Fit to secure the next funding round. Howard emphasized that understanding and controlling the factors that define this J-Curve (especially managing cash burn and maximizing product speed) is critical to a startup's survival and eventual success.
The Exit Builders approach teaches you to build with the runway and the exit in mind, mitigating the J-Curve risk.

So what is the Exit Builders Framework?

We've studied 50+ exits to create a systematic, 6-stage blueprint for building acquisition-ready companies that command premium multiples.

Stage 1: Strategic Positioning

Know who would acquire you and what they value. Set up the company's legal and tax structure to ensure an optimal net exit.

Stage 2: Become Scalable & Sustainable

Build operational and financial discipline that works without you. Clean books, protected IP, and key employee alignment. (Ongoing)

Stage 3: Market the Deal

When buyer interest is real (or initiated), manage conversations with multiple parties. Run a tight process without letting it distract the business.

Stage 4: Negotiate & Close

Finalize purchase agreement and optimize deal structure. Manage due diligence efficiently. Control communications to prevent leaks.

Stage 5: Integration Success

Execute whatever your deal structure requires: clean handoff, earnout execution, or long-term role.

Stage 6: Transition

Deploy proceeds intelligently. Take time to recover. Figure out what's next: new company, investing, boards, or a mix.

Adel Hameed

Hi, I’m Adel Hameed

Author and founder of the Exit Builders Movement.
After 20 years of numerous failures and moderate successes, I decided to stop experimenting on myself and embark on an expedition to learn from the best, serial entrepreneurs who have achieved success, especially in emerging economies, where many of the rules from Silicon Valley seem too theoretical to most founders. From this expedition, my team and I have been simplifying and testing existing frameworks and tools, as well as creating new frameworks that address the unique challenges of emerging economies or specific regions.

What started as an expedition evolved into a lifelong mission to help you build an exit-ready company that will benefit you and your local emerging and developing economies, countries, and states in the Middle East, Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.
My work evolved into a lifelong mission to help you build an exit-ready company that will benefit you and your local economy.

My work includes dissecting founders such as the following and tracking their lives:

Mudassir Sheikha, Magnus Olsson
Founder/s:
Mudassir Sheikha, Magnus Olsson
Careem.com
Acquired by:
Uber
Value:
$3.1 billion
Ronaldo Mouchawar
Founder/s:
Ronaldo Mouchawar
Souq.com
Acquired by:
Amazon.com
Value:
$600 million
Abdulaziz Al Loughani
Founder/s:
Abdulaziz Al Loughani
Talabat.com
Acquired by:
Rocket Internet (later Delivery Hero)
Value:
170 million
Oskar Hjertonsson, Daniel Undurraga, and Juan Pablo Cuevas
Founder/s:
Oskar Hjertonsson, Daniel Undurraga, and Juan Pablo Cuevas
cornershopapp.com
Acquired by:
Uber
Value:
$3 billion
Mohamad Ballout
Founder/s:
Mohamad Ballout
Kitopi.com
Acquired by:
Series C led by SoftBank Vision Fund
Value:
$415 million
Hassan Jaffar and Marwan Chaar
Founder/s:
Hassan Jaffar and Marwan Chaar
carzaty.com
Acquired by:
Kavak (Mexico)
Value:
$100-200 million
Maaz Sheikh
Founder/s:
Maaz Sheikh
starzplay.com
Acquired by:
e& (Etisalat) and ADQ
Value:
$420 million
Karim Beguir and Zohra Slim
Founder/s:
Karim Beguir and Zohra Slim
InstaDeep.com
Acquired by:
BioNTech
Value:
$700 million

The Exit Builders Accelerator

The Accelerator is five weeks of intensive exit training that feels nothing like your MBA case study. It's a warp-speed runway to your first (or next) eight-figure payout.

8-Week Accelerator

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Live Instruction & Strategy

We guide you through the thinking process, building your strategy step by step. Learn how to build an acquirable company over and over again.

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Peer Cohort & People

Plug into a cohort of battle-tested founders, C-levels, and mentors with whom you can war-room exit strategies.

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Personalized Feedback

Receive line-by-line edits on your Exit Blueprint, data room mockups, and pitch decks from a personal exit coach.

Special Launch Offer

Start with a 4-week Accelerator (+ 8th week Coaching), live cohort sessions to map your exit blueprint, then roll straight into the club for direct monthly interaction with Adel, Ed, and the experts for a full year.
Standard Annual

$1,200/ year

OR
Lifetime Access (First 50)

$2,500/ one-time

Join the Exit Builders Club

  • Monthly Themes: Supplemented by behind-the-scenes interviews with the guests of the Founder Exit Secrets show
  • Monthly Live Q&A Sessions with Adel Hameed and Mentor Ed: Get direct coaching from an expert to work through any roadblocks that are keeping your exit stalled
  • Expert Workshops: Focused on specific topics within the Exit Builders Framework, these workshops aim to help you enhance your strategy and remain focused as you build your startup
  • Exit Builders Community: Grouped by role: founders, C-levels, and mentors. The goal is to connect you with like-minded peers who will support you on your journey on Circle
  • Exit Readiness Checkup: 1-to-1 assessment checkups once a year to diagnose your company’s acquirability and receive personalized Exit Builders Blueprint recommendations
  • Physical Local Events: Invites to offsite meetups and the annual Silicon Gulf Summit
  • Access to the Latest Lectures: Fresh content drops from Startup Exit Mastery and Venture Exit Accelerator
  • BONUS: Free Access to Recorded Courses & Webinars: Everything from Season One of Founder Exit Secrets to full podcast archives
The Exit Builders Accelerator Guarantee: 100% risk-free. Full refund within the first 14 days, no questions asked.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is this Accelerator right for me?
Listen, too many founders are mismatched: wrong market, wrong cap table, wrong buyer. Maybe you’re one of them. Maybe you want nothing more than to turn your startup into someone’s acquisition priority.

If you're tired of building in silence while VCs ghost you, then yes, Exit Builders Accelerator is right for you.
Why should I join this Accelerator now?
The Middle East and Africa are booming: PE dry powder reached $25B in 2025, and strategic buyers are on the hunt. You’re not too late. In fact, you're right on time.

And if you start now, you could have a signed Letter of Intent (LOI) in six months. So, ask yourself: where do you want your cap table to be in six months?
Are there any prerequisites?
Nope. We'll help you set everything up: your acquirer shortlist, data-room skeleton, and teaser deck. All you have to do is bring some grit and hustle.
What if I’ve never built for exit before?
Don't worry, we're never going to let you pitch sloppy work. You'll have exit coaches, PE-trained editors, and peers all helping you map moats, clean financials, and refine your story, so you can close something you’re proud of.
What if I’m a serial founder with past exits?
Great! Then you know exits are a craft you can never fully master. We will help you build the deal that only you can close and make it the cleanest term sheet you’ve ever signed. And you’ll leave with all the tools to do this over and over again. Plus, this isn’t just about closing. It’s about stacking chips and mentoring the next wave in Exit Builders Club.
I'm not based in the Middle East or Africa. Can I still participate?
Absolutely. Our team, partners, mentors, and investors already span London, Singapore, and Silicon Valley. Exit Builders Accelerator is a global experience.
What if I don't know who would buy me?
Ah, our favorite villain has entered the chat: buyer’s block. Not to pull the "we're the experts" card, but seriously, we're a team that went through exits and have studied over 100 exits in both developed and emerging economies. We know just how to help you reverse-engineer the perfect acquirer and unleash the exit thesis inside of you.
What if I can't attend a Live Session?
Live Sessions are the main event of the Accelerator, so we recommend attending as many as you can. But if you can’t attend live, you can always watch the recording on your own or join a Watch Party the day after at 12 pm GST. Watch Parties are live replays where you and your peers run the same breakout war-rooms and pitch drills. No FOMO allowed here.
How much time will I spend each week?
To reap the full benefits, we recommend you commit at least 8 hours per week.

With that time, you could attend every Live Session, every Lab (coworking sessions), and still have 4 hours to build and revise your artifacts. Of course, you can spend as much time deal-hunting as you’d like. This is just our recommendation to help you succeed.
How long can I access materials?
You’ll receive access to everything one week before the Accelerator starts, and you’ll have access indefinitely. Once you graduate, you’ll access additional resources as a member of the Exit Builders Club.
Are there scholarships available?
Yes. If you want to be in Exit Builders Accelerator, we want you here too.

If the price is preventative, you can apply for a scholarship to the upcoming cohort.
Can't I find all this content online for free?
Sure, you can read PE blogs for free on the Internet, but what we offer is the support you need to close the best deal of your life. Any learning you do on your own will be, well, on your own. You won’t do it alongside dozens of high-caliber founders. You won’t receive PE-trained feedback on your data room. And you won’t participate in live auctions, Labs (peer co-working sessions), and breakout war-rooms.

In the Accelerator, you’ll receive a Michelin-star exit curriculum. But more importantly, you’ll receive a priceless network you can’t find anywhere else on the Internet.
What if English isn’t my first language?
You’re welcome to build your artifacts in whatever language you pitch in, but please note that all sessions are run in English, and our coaches will only be able to give feedback on materials written in English. Some of our coaches will be able to provide feedback in Arabic, Urdu, and Hindi.
Which tools and platforms will I need?
Here’s a breakdown of the tools you can expect to use. First, the bare necessities:
  • Circle: The bustling hub of our community, where Exit Builders comes alive.
  • Google Drive: Where you’ll build data rooms and exchange feedback.
  • Google Meet: For our Online Session.
And here are a few "nice to have's":
  • DocSend / DealRoom: For secure teaser sharing (we’ll set you up).
  • Notion: Our recommended cap-table & moat tracker.
  • LinkedIn & AngelList: Two places you will distribute your teaser (suggestions only).
If you’re a tech-novice, don’t worry. We’ll help you set up everything you need.
What's your refund policy?
Enrollment is 100% risk-free. If you’re not satisfied, you can request a full refund within 14 days of the start of the Accelerator, no questions asked.
How much will I interact with Adel & Mentor Ed?
These sessions are highly interactive, so they won’t just be teaching. They’ll answer questions, redline your term sheet, and share years of M&A war stories to help you overcome any roadblocks.

Adel also hosts a private Q&A at the start of the Accelerator to give you a behind-the-scenes, unplugged experience.
What if I don't have a data room or teaser yet?
No worries, we’ll give you all the support you need to set up your systems. Countdown Week (the week leading up to the Accelerator) has all the templates you’ll need to build a skeleton data room and 1-pager so your systems are set and you can focus on closing. You won’t need to pitch until Week 5, and we’ll make sure you’re ready by then.
Who is the Accelerator not for?
The Exit Builders Accelerator is not a beginner’s “how to start a company” course. We’re focused on refining and pressure-testing your existing startup for acquisition, especially if you already have a monthly revenue of $500,000 or more, a user base, or a cap table.

(If you’re pre-product, start with the Startup Exit Mastery self-paced course.)

It’s also not ideal for anyone looking for a spoon-fed approach. The Accelerator thrives on active participation, featuring breakout war rooms, peer audits, and live pitch roasts. The more you engage, the sharper your deal becomes.
Where do you host the Accelerator?
We’re hosting the Exit Builders Accelerator on the popular community platform Circle. Circle is also available as a mobile app for Apple and Android so you can access the cohort conveniently on the go. Once you sign up, you’ll receive your login.
Do you offer discounts or PPP?
Didn’t see the answer to your question? Please contact us at support@exitbuilders.com
What kind of events do you offer in the Accelerator?
Adel hosts seven Live Sessions (90-minute masterclasses) and a private kick-off Q&A.

In addition, we offer:
  • Daily Labs (60-min working sessions) to drill your Blueprint, Moats, Data Room, Pitch, or Flow
  • Three Workshops with PE partners & unicorn founders
  • Watch Parties the day after every Live Session.