The Twenty Minute VC (20VC): Venture Capital | Startup Funding | The Pitch
20VC: Selling Drift for $1.2BN is the Biggest Failure: What No One Tells You About Selling Your Company | Why Incumbents Are Slower & Worse Than Ever | Why the Most Valuable Companies in a World of AI Will Not Have More Than 100 People with Elias Torres
Mar 21, 2025
Elias Torres, Co-founder and CEO of Agency and former Drift co-founder, shares insights on his complex journey in tech. He discusses why selling Drift for $1.2BN felt like a massive failure, highlighting the pitfalls of a cushy company culture. Elias examines how incumbents are slower and less effective in today's fast-paced AI landscape, emphasizing that the most valuable companies may remain small and agile. He also reflects on the emotional challenges of balancing entrepreneurship with parenthood, offering a fresh take on success and meaningful work.
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Quick takeaways
- Elias Torres discusses the emotional challenges founders face after selling their companies, feeling disconnected from their creation despite financial success.
- He emphasizes the importance of resilience shaped by diverse backgrounds, arguing that adversity equips founders to tackle entrepreneurial challenges more effectively.
Deep dives
The Emotional Toll of Selling a Company
Selling a company can bring a significant emotional toll on founders, as shared by Elias Torres during the conversation. After selling Drift for $1.2 billion, he experienced feelings of irrelevance, as he had built something from the ground up only to have new leadership take the reins. This shift can be challenging, impacting one's ego and identity, particularly when the founder is no longer pivotal within the organization they created. Despite the financial success, there is a longing for the continued personal relevance and connection to their creation.
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