In this podcast episode, Cristian Dina sits down with Blake, CEO of Flippa, to talk about how founders, entrepreneurs, and online business owners can exit their businesses without going through the traditional investment banking route. Blake explains Flippa’s mission as an “investment bank for the 99%,” built to give everyday founders access to buyers, liquidity, and real exit opportunities, not just unicorn-level outcomes.
The conversation covers the wide range of digital businesses listed on Flippa, including SaaS, ecommerce, mobile apps, content sites, YouTube channels, and the early rise of AI-native businesses. Blake shares his view on why AI will become an attractive category for buyers over time, even though many AI businesses are still in their early stages.
Cristian and Blake also dive into the current state of the M&A market. While overall global M&A volumes have declined due to high interest rates and inflation, Flippa continues to grow strongly. Blake explains why buyer intent is increasing on the platform and why he believes market conditions are starting to improve for founders looking to sell.
A key theme of the episode is education. Blake highlights that many founders do not realize they can exit earlier than expected, often at six or low seven figures, instead of chasing massive outcomes. These smaller exits help create repeat founders, recycle capital, and keep the digital economy moving forward
The episode also walks through Flippa’s origin story, from a developer community forum to a global marketplace and now a full platform that mirrors the services of traditional brokers. Blake explains how Flippa supports larger transactions through structured processes, data-backed valuations, and platform infrastructure, with AI now becoming the next phase of the journey.
Cristian and Blake close by outlining the step-by-step process for selling a SaaS business on Flippa, starting with a free market-based valuation, listing creation, buyer matching, negotiation, and closing the deal. The episode offers practical clarity for founders who want optionality, liquidity, and a realistic path to exit without needing insider connections or investment bankers.
