Why Ronan Berder Walked Away from Techstars and Sold Wiredcraft for 67 Million Euros

Ronan Berder built Wiredcraft to 140 people, then sold to Publicis for a reported 67 million euros. This Exit Story traces the moment he walked away from Techstars and a product dream to double down on services—and why that decision paid off. 

In this episode, you discover how to 

• Choose services over product when the market is voting with cash 

• Pivot from “dabbling in SaaS” to a single operating model that compounds 

• Price enterprise work so premium clients lean in 

• Anchor LOIs away from stock and heavy earn-outs 

• Hire “weirdos” at scale by hosting the talent party 

• Defend margins with playbooks instead of heroics 

• Document a culture so the business runs without the founder 

Show Notes & Links

Connect with Ronan on LinkedIn

Learn more about Ronan

Definitions

Due-Diligence: This is a comprehensive appraisal of a business or investment undertaken before a merger, acquisition, or investment. It seeks to validate the information provided and uncover any potential risks or liabilities.

Earn-out: This is a financing arrangement for the purchase of a business, where the seller must meet certain performance goals before receiving the full purchase price. It reduces the buyer’s risk and aligns the interests of both parties post-acquisition.

Errors and Omissions Insurance (E&O): This is a form of liability insurance that protects companies and their employees against claims of inadequate or negligent actions, particularly in professional advice and services.

Re-Trading: This occurs when a buyer attempts to renegotiate the purchase price of a deal after initially agreeing to one. It is often seen unfavorably as it occurs after due diligence, seemingly exploiting newly discovered information.

About Our Guest

Ronan Berder

Ronan Berder is a serial entrepreneur and the founder of Wiredcraft, a digital product agency he scaled from a small living-room operation in Shanghai to a 160-person global team serving brands like Starbucks, Nike, Adidas, Lululemon, Marriott, and the World Bank. Under his leadership, Wiredcraft became known for bridging Western brands with the Chinese market through cutting-edge design, engineering, and product strategy.

In 2022, Ronan successfully exited Wiredcraft through a sale to global agency giant Publicis Groupe in a deal reportedly valued at €67 million. He’s now focused on writing, open-source software development, and advising fellow entrepreneurs.