<p>Most acquisitions fail because founders obsess over the price — not the people. Monica Kocher built and exited two companies by doing the opposite. In this episode, Carrie sits down with Monica, a rare founder who bootstrapped <em>and</em> sold twice — once through a strategic partnership that became an acquisition, and once through an advisory relationship that turned into a buyer.</p><p><br></p><p>This is a masterclass in what most founders get wrong: thinking exits are transactions, not long-term relationships. Monica breaks down why partnering <em>before</em> you sell can be the difference between a smooth exit and a cultural disaster, and why letting a potential acquirer see your company up close is not weakness, it’s leverage.</p><p><br></p><p>01:00 Meet Monica Kocher</p><p>02:15 First Exit: Building And Selling Gugu Chew</p><p>04:08 How The Acquisition Came Together</p><p>07:15 Looking Back On The Gugu Chew Exit</p><p>08:56 Second Company: The Smart Gift Idea</p><p>11:04 Partnering With 1-800-FLOWERS</p><p>13:16 Why Advisory Boards Matter More Than You Think</p><p>13:57 Aligning Vision With Advisors Early</p><p>14:47 How COVID Changed Corporate Gifting Forever</p><p>15:15 Scaling Fast Without Losing Control</p><p>16:08 Inside The Acquisition Process</p><p>16:44 When Advisors Become Acquirers</p><p>20:34 Advice For Women Building Toward An Exit</p><p>23:43 Final Takeaways + How To Find Monica</p>