Demystifying Startup Acquisitions with Andrew Gazdecki

In this episode of the DealQuest Podcast, I’m excited to sit down with Andrew Gazdecki—founder of Acquire.com and a seasoned startup guy who knows his way around building, scaling, and selling software businesses. Andrew’s been in the trenches. He built and sold Business Apps, and now he’s running Acquire.com, a super helpful platform that makes buying and selling startups way more straightforward—and way more founder-friendly.

We get into some juicy stuff in this conversation: why selling your startup might actually be a smarter move than scaling it the traditional way, and what you really need to do to get your business ready for acquisition. So whether you’re a founder thinking about your next move, someone eyeing their first acquisition, or just curious about how the startup buying-and-selling world works—this one’s for you. It’s honest, insightful, and full of actionable tips. Let’s dive in!

SOLVE A REAL PROBLEM WITH A SCALABLE SOLUTION

Andrew Gazdecki’s first company, Business Apps, succeeded because he solved a real problem: small businesses needed affordable mobile apps but couldn’t afford the $50K–$100K price tags or build them on their own.

That’s when Andrew had a lightbulb moment. He asked, “Why hasn’t anyone created a DIY platform for mobile apps, similar to the website builders that already exist?” This insight led him to hire one of the best developers from his job board and build a simple, web-based app builder. The product wasn’t perfect at first, but it solved a clear, widespread problem that many small businesses were facing.

LET YOUR CUSTOMERS GUIDE YOUR GROWTH—IF YOU’RE WILLING TO ADAPT

While growing Business Apps, Andrew Gazdecki heard from a Swiss man building hotel apps with the platform. Turns out, he ran a major European branding agency and was creating apps for his clients. When Andrew asked how to get him to use the platform for all his clients, the man said: “Make it white-label.” Andrew agreed—and that decision changed everything.

Agencies worldwide began reselling the white-labeled product, charging premium fees while paying Business Apps a cut. One agency paid $30/month per client and charged $100/month plus a $2,000 setup fee. Everyone profited. This led to 5,000+ agency partners, software in 50 languages, and global scale—all without big funding.

The takeaway? Stay curious about how your customers use your product, and be flexible enough to evolve with them. A single conversation could change your entire business model.

DON’T JUST BUILD A PRODUCT—RETHINK HOW YOU DISTRIBUTE IT

Andrew Gazdecki reminded his team: “We’re not a product company. We’re a distribution company.” That mindset helped Business Apps grow by focusing on how to reach customers—not just what to sell.

Instead of relying on slow, expensive sales efforts, Andrew used white labeling, partnerships, and reseller programs to scale fast. I echoed this, urging founders to ask: “Who already has the audience I’m trying to reach?” Then, build a deal—like a joint venture or white label agreement—to tap into it.

Your distribution strategy matters just as much as your product. Find partners who already have trust and reach, and think beyond traditional sales to grow smarter and faster.

WHITE LABELING COMES WITH TRADE-OFFS

While white labeling helped Business Apps grow rapidly, Andrew Gazdecki was clear about its downsides. The biggest one? You don’t have a direct relationship with the end user. That means if one of your partner’s clients cancels or switches to a competitor, you have little control or opportunity to retain them.

It also makes upselling harder. When Andrew’s team released valuable new features—like a customer review tool—they couldn’t go straight to users to promote it. Instead, they had to persuade their white label partners to adopt and resell the upgrade. That extra layer created delays and limited their ability to increase revenue per user.

White labeling can unlock rapid growth and global reach, but it comes at a cost. You sacrifice direct access to customers, which affects retention and limits your ability to scale revenue. Make sure the reach is worth the control you’re giving up.

CAREFUL WHERE YOU BUILD—PLATFORMS CAN PULL THE RUG

Andrew Gazdecki faced a near-crisis when Apple suddenly banned all Business Apps submissions from the App Store. The reason? A new policy aimed at blocking “templatized apps” to reduce spammy copycats. Unfortunately, legitimate businesses like his got caught in the crossfire. Overnight, 100% of their app submissions were rejected—threatening the entire company.

In a bold move, Andrew emailed Apple CEO Tim Cook directly, including a video of a nonprofit app they had created to support teen suicide prevention. The personal story struck a chord. Within days, Apple reversed the ban, and Business Apps was back in business.

If your entire business relies on a single platform—like Apple, Meta, or TikTok—you’re never fully in control. A sudden policy change or algorithm tweak can derail everything. Use platforms to grow, but always have a backup plan. Don’t build your business entirely on rented land.

FLEXIBILITY CAN SAVE YOUR BUSINESS

Andrew Gazdecki’s second company—a cryptocurrency exchange—was ready to launch when the SEC ruled their token could be classified as a security. This unexpected change made their original plan legally risky and financially out of reach. Instead of panicking, Andrew acted fast. He called the SEC to get clarity and consulted lawyers, who estimated it would take $5 million and two years to become fully compliant—resources they didn’t have.

So, he pivoted. Rather than shut down, Andrew white-labeled the platform, partnering with companies that already had the proper licenses. This smart move allowed them to keep operating and eventually sell the business to one of those partners.

NOT READY TO START AGAIN? LEARN FROM OTHERS FIRST

After selling his first company at just 29, Andrew Gazdecki found himself in an in-between season. He had achieved a big milestone—but wasn’t ready to jump into building something new right away. Instead of forcing the next move, he decided to take a step back and work as a consultant for other startups. This gave him time to decompress, reflect, and gain fresh perspective—all while staying close to the startup world.

One of the companies he advised was Spiff, a commission automation platform making just $50K in revenue at the time. With Andrew’s support in building out their sales and marketing systems, Spiff grew rapidly—hitting $2 million in revenue and eventually getting acquired by Salesforce for $450 million.

The experience gave Andrew valuable insight into scaling companies from the inside, without the pressure of being the founder. It also helped shape the approach he’d later bring to his next venture, Acquire.com.

THE POWER OF A STRONG BRAND (AND DOMAIN)

Andrew Gazdecki’s shift from “Micro Acquire” to Acquire.com shows how a strong brand name can transform a business. As they grew beyond small startups, the original name felt limiting. After a year of negotiations, Andrew bought the Acquire.com domain for $200K—and the impact was immediate. Metrics like conversion rates, buyer signups, and seller interest all jumped after the rebrand.

A clear, powerful name (and domain) builds trust, scales with you, and can be well worth the investment.

SIMPLIFY M&A WITH A PRODUCTIZED APPROACH

Andrew built Acquire.com to streamline the traditionally complex and slow process of selling a business. Instead of relying on brokers or investment bankers, Acquire lets sellers list their businesses directly, get guidance from the team, and receive marketing support to attract the right buyers—all through a structured, online platform.

This productized model removes friction and makes the experience faster, more transparent, and accessible for businesses of all sizes.

STRATEGIC CAPITAL = STRATEGIC GROWTH

When Andrew launched his latest venture, he made a pivotal decision—to raise capital not just to grow faster, but to go bigger than ever before. From his past entrepreneurial wins, he knew that bringing in funding wasn’t just about adding dollars to the bank. It was about aligning with investors who believed in his mission to support entrepreneurs and who could open doors to new opportunities.

Of course, raising money comes with expectations and accountability—but when you choose the right partners, it can amplify your impact and accelerate long-term success.

PREPARE YOUR BUSINESS LIKE YOU PLAN TO SELL IT

Andrew stresses the importance of being ready if you ever want to sell your business. Many don’t sell—not because they’re bad, but because they aren’t set up in a way that appeals to buyers. Issues like messy financials, overreliance on one customer, or high churn can be red flags.

His advice? Clean up your financials, diversify your customer base, and set a realistic valuation. A strong, well-structured business tends to sell itself.

Even if you’re not planning to sell right now, build your business like you might. Preparation and solid fundamentals make all the difference.

Tune in to this episode to hear Andrew Gazdecki break down what it really takes to build a sellable startup, the critical mistakes most founders make, and how to navigate the exit process with clarity and confidence.

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Listen to the Full DealQuest Podcast Episode Here: 
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dealquest-podcast-with-corey-kupfer/id1451959848

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FOR MORE ON ANDREW GAZDECKI

Acquire.com
Andrew’s LinkedIn
Andrew’s Twitter

FOR MORE ON COREY KUPFER

Corey Kupfer's LinkedIn
Corey Kupfer's Website

Corey Kupfer is an expert strategist, negotiator, and dealmaker. He has more than 35 years of professional deal-making and negotiating experience. Corey is a successful entrepreneur, attorney, consultant, author, and professional speaker. He is deeply passionate about deal-driven growth. He is also the creator and host of the DealQuest Podcast.

Get deal-ready with the DealQuest Podcast with Corey Kupfer, where like-minded entrepreneurs and business leaders converge, share insights and challenges, and success stories. Equip yourself with the tools, resources, and support necessary to navigate the complex yet rewarding world of dealmaking. Dive into the world of deal-driven growth today!