Closing a Chapter - Interview with Ethan McAfee

In this episode of Branching Out, Ethan McAfee shares how he built Amify from a one-man operation in his Arlington townhouse into one of the largest Amazon agencies in the country, helping major consumer brands with their strategy content, advertising, and supply chain before selling to Cart.com in 2024.  Drawing on his earlier career as an internet stock investment analyst, Ethan explains how venture capital, market cycles, and founder energy can all factor into the timing and structure of an exit. He offers practical advice on preparing your company years ahead of a sale, reducing founder dependence, and balancing growth against burn to maintain control over your options. Now a senior advisor at a private equity fund, Ethan reflects on what it’s like to move from operator to investor-mentor — and why closing one chapter can be the best way to open the next.