Interview

January 20, 2023

Zoopla and LoveFilm veteran William Reeve on navigating startup M&A in a downturn

Looking to exit, or acquire a rival startup? Here's what you need to know, from someone who has sat on both sides of the table


Naomi Ackerman

7 min read

William Reeve (right) with his Goodlord cofounder Tom Mundy

The current downturn is likely to see a wave of startup consolidation across Europe this year. Public and private tech valuations have slumped, the era of cheap money is over and VCs are being far more careful with their cash. In this environment, many companies with short runways will be looking to exit — while growing startups with committed backers will aim to buy rivals on the cheap. 

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Naomi Ackerman

Naomi Ackerman is a freelance business journalist and tweets from @nomiackerman.

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