Mark Clare hasn't just advised on hundreds of successful business exits; he’s seen firsthand the pivotal moments that make or break multi-million dollar deals. As the founding partner of Clare Capital, Mark has become the go-to expert for Kiwi founders navigating the complex world of mergers and acquisitions, particularly in the SaaS space.

In this episode, Mark shares why competitive tension is your best friend (and why many New Zealand founders miss the mark here), what truly drives company valuations, and the hidden pitfalls in negotiations that can cost you millions. Whether you're planning your exit or just curious about the strategies behind successful deals, Mark's insights offer essential guidance to maximise your outcome and avoid costly mistakes.

Follow me on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.linkedin.com/in/joshcomrie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Download my e-book, "The Exit Factor: Sell your company for a life-changing sum" and sign up to receive the Business Growth Journal fortnightly: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.joshcomrie.com/the-exit-factor⁠⁠⁠

Greg Munt always knew he was building to sell. Even the name of his business, One50 Group, was a constant reminder of his ambitious $150 million exit goal. From a high school dropout buying properties at 19, to becoming a top mortgage broker in his twenties, Greg's journey is one of relentless drive, strategic pivots, and impeccable timing. In this episode, Greg shares how setting audacious goals shaped his decisions, why knowing your buyer's mindset is crucial, and the delicate art of pivoting business models without losing your best people.

If you're building towards an exit, considering your next strategic move, or simply looking for clarity on how to scale smartly, this conversation is packed with insights you won't want to miss.

Follow me on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.linkedin.com/in/joshcomrie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Download my e-book, "The Exit Factor: Sell your company for a life-changing sum" and sign up to receive the Business Growth Journal fortnightly: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.joshcomrie.com/the-exit-factor⁠⁠

Nick Crawford didn’t build a career in wealth management AND a philosophy around what money really means after the cheque clears. From advising lottery winners to helping founders post-exit, he’s seen firsthand how sudden wealth often triggers more anxiety than freedom.

In this episode, we dive into the emotional aftermath of selling your business, the psychology of “how much is enough,” and why some of the biggest financial mistakes are driven by ego, not strategy. Whether you’re approaching an exit or navigating what comes next, this is an honest, nuanced look at wealth, identity, and the planning that truly brings peace of mind.

Follow me on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.linkedin.com/in/joshcomrie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Download my e-book, "The Exit Factor: Sell your company for a life-changing sum" and sign up to receive the Business Growth Journal fortnightly: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.joshcomrie.com/the-exit-factor⁠⁠

Janine Grainger built conviction in a space most people didn’t know or trust. From raising NZ’s largest-ever first-round funding to leading through crashes, cutbacks, and global scrutiny, she grew Easy Crypto into a $3.5B platform before its exit to an Australian acquirer.

In this episode, we unpack what it takes to build credibility in volatile markets, the emotional reality of exiting a mission-led company, and how Janine quietly launched a skunkworks project during a bear market because it felt like the right thing to do. If you’re navigating uncertainty, leading with purpose, or thinking about the long game this conversation is invaluable.

Follow me on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.linkedin.com/in/joshcomrie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Download my e-book, "The Exit Factor: Sell your company for a life-changing sum" and sign up to receive the Business Growth Journal fortnightly: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.joshcomrie.com/the-exit-factor⁠⁠

Trent Mankelow is one of the OGs of New Zealand’s design and startup scene — a founder, UX leader, and advisor who helped shape the early digital product landscape here. In this conversation, Trent and I talk about what happens when you hit product-market fit... but aren’t ready for what comes next.

We unpack the emotional weight of selling your company, the governance gaps that nearly cost them the deal, and the tension between customer obsession and investor expectations.

If you’re building with an exit in mind — or maybe should be — this one’s full of lived experience.

Follow me on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.linkedin.com/in/joshcomrie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Download my e-book, "The Exit Factor: Sell your company for a life-changing sum" and sign up to receive the Business Growth Journal fortnightly: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.joshcomrie.com/the-exit-factor⁠⁠

Elena Kim didn’t just become one of New Zealand’s most influential lawyers—she built her career helping founders exit well. From navigating M&A deals to managing complex stakeholder dynamics, she’s seen what breaks deals, what builds value, and what founders often learn too late.

In this episode, we unpack the human side of selling a business, the real risks hidden in your shareholder agreements, and why the right legal strategy isn’t about avoiding conflict—it’s about planning for it. Whether you’re preparing to sell or just thinking about what comes next, this conversation is a roadmap for navigating exits with clarity, control, and confidence.

Follow me on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.linkedin.com/in/joshcomrie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Download my e-book, "The Exit Factor: Sell your company for a life-changing sum" and sign up to receive the Business Growth Journal fortnightly: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.joshcomrie.com/the-exit-factor⁠

Igor Portugal spent two decades mastering markets—leading hedge fund strategies and managing billions in capital. But when the industry no longer aligned with his values, he made a rare move in finance: a voluntary, intentional exit. No dramatic blow-up. Just a calculated decision to leave while ahead.

In this episode, we unpack how to know when it’s time to exit, the strategy behind leaving a high-performing career, and why Igor believes your best trade might be walking away. Whether you're planning your next move or rethinking what long-term success looks like, this conversation is a masterclass in exiting on your own terms.

Book Recommendations

• "Unasked Questions" by Igor Portugal
• "The Goal" by Eliyahu M. Goldratt - Structural inspiration for Igor’s book.
• "The Phoenix Project" by Gene Kim - Another narrative-style business book model.
• "Five Dysfunctions of a Team" by Patrick Lencioni - A reference point for narrative-driven business learning.
• "Atlas Shrugged" by Ayn Rand - Referenced for its philosophical style that inspired Igor's earlier novel idea.
• "On Writing" by Stephen King - Recommended by Igor for anyone learning the writing craft. Described as “an amazing book” for aspiring authors .
• "Economical Writing" - My recommendation for improving sentence-level technical writing.

🎙️ Podcasts for Writers

• Fiction Author Business School by Lizelle Hill - Igor binged the entire podcast and considers her a key inspiration.
• The Self-Publishing School Podcast by Chandler Bolt - Tips on self-publishing, writing motivation, and strategy.
• The Creative Penn Podcast by Joanna Penn - Offers guidance on both creative writing and self-publishing.

Follow me on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.linkedin.com/in/joshcomrie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Download my e-book, "The Exit Factor: Sell your company for a life-changing sum" and sign up to receive the Business Growth Journal fortnightly: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.joshcomrie.com/the-exit-factor⁠

Shane Brealey doesn’t just build buildings—he builds movements. After leading Multiplex NZ and founding NZStrong, he made what he calls his “Jerry Maguire” exit: walking away from corporate power to do things on his own terms. Since then, he’s gone from construction heavyweight to housing reformer, using his deep industry knowledge to deliver affordable, high-quality homes through NZ Living and now Simplicity Living.

In this episode, I sat down with Shane to unpack the psychology of leaving big business, the truth about what most developers get wrong, and why he believes the best deals aren’t the biggest—they’re the ones that change lives. Whether you’ve exited already or are thinking about what’s next, this one’s a blueprint for building again—with more clarity, impact, and heart.

Follow me on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.linkedin.com/in/joshcomrie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Download my e-book, "The Exit Factor: Sell your company for a life-changing sum" and sign up to receive the Business Growth Journal fortnightly: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.joshcomrie.com/the-exit-factor⁠