Making It with Jon Davids 206 - "We sold for $800M. Here's what happened next." | Mike Lazerow, tech entrepreneur & investor
Aug 19, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Mike Lazerow, co-founder of Buddy Media and a savvy investor, shares his entrepreneurial journey and the lessons learned from selling his company for $800M to Salesforce.com. He reflects on the challenges faced while building partnerships, especially with major players like Unilever. Mike also delves into how sudden wealth can change personal relationships and self-identity. Additionally, he discusses strategic investment approaches, contrasting high-risk ventures with stable options, emphasizing the importance of leveraging networks for success.
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Big Exit From Social Software
- Mike Lazerow sold Buddy Media for $800 million to Salesforce after building social media management software. He started the company in 2007 and pivoted multiple times before finding product-market fit.
Follow The Young Audience
- They predicted social networks would steal ad dollars from TV by attracting young audiences, especially women. Wherever young people go, everyone else eventually follows.
Built For A Northstar Client
- Unilever was Buddy Media's first huge client and they built the product around Unilever's needs across 100 countries and languages. They won via software plus very high-touch service after an RFP process.
