Cybersecurity, Contracts and Culture: De-risking Your Deal Before You Sell with Sarah Djamshidi and Cy Alba

The Real Deal is a new Peel series created by Speedshift Ventures and PilieroMazza PLLC. Episodes will explore the fast-evolving world of M&A in the government contracting space. This series dives deep into the realities facing buyers, sellers, advisors, and operators—unpacking the trends, risks, and decisions behind successful (and sometimes failed) deals. In this premiere episode, Sarah Djamshidi, President and Managing Partner at Speedshift Ventures and Cy Alba, Partner at PilieroMazza PLLC unravel the complex dynamics shaping mergers and acquisitions in government contracting today. Sarah Djamshidi, CEO and Managing Partner of SpeedShift Ventures, is a licensed investment banker with over two decades of experience advising more than 300 government contractors. She shares invaluable insight into what makes a business truly ready to sell in 2025—from strong margins and pipeline visibility to key positions on vehicles like GSA and OASIS+. Sarah also walks through the biggest deal-breakers she sees, including due diligence blind spots, integration missteps, cultural mismatches, and overreliance on founder relationships. Her approach emphasizes strategic preparation and risk awareness, helping sellers avoid costly surprises. Cy Alba, a partner at PilieroMazza, offers deep legal perspective on the evolving regulatory landscape. He breaks down the rising importance of 800-171 and CMMC compliance, sharing why early transparency and risk mitigation are critical in preserving deal value. Sai explains how AI usage in federal proposals is becoming less controversial under the current administration, and how OTAs and teaming with OEMs are boosting valuation potential. He also addresses how contractors should respond when facing a de-scoping modification or a termination for convenience, laying out legal protections, proactive strategies, and real-world examples of how to protect your interests. This episode is packed with insights and actionable guidance for government contractors navigating the buy-sell landscape in a year defined by scrutiny, compliance, and opportunity. Whether you’re preparing to exit or preparing to buy, you’ll walk away better equipped to evaluate readiness, manage risk, and close with confidence. To connect with Sarah, visit her LinkedIn page here. Learn more about Speedshift Advisors by visiting their webpage here. To connect with Cy, visit his LinkedIn page here. Learn more about PilieroMazza PLLC by visiting their webpage here. To view all of our podcast series, visit our podcast page.