Episode 18: Special—An Acquirer’s View into M&A with Taylor Barada, head of Corp Dev at Adobe

Ben & David are joined by special guest Taylor Barada, VP and Head of Corporate Development & Strategic Partnerships at Adobe, to discuss how large tech acquirers approach buying companies. This episode is full of great insights for startups & entrepreneurs who might find themselves navigating the M&A process, as well as anyone curious about the craft of dealmaking and the strategic approach of large acquirers. Sponsors:Anthropic: https://bit.ly/acquiredclaude25Sentry: https://bit.ly/acquiredsentryThe Acquired Meetup (in SF!): https://bit.ly/sentryacquiredmeetupWorkOS: https://bit.ly/workos26 Full Acquired Unplugged Videos: https://acquired.fm/unpluggedStatsig: https://bit.ly/acquiredstatsig26 More Acquired!Get email updates with hints on next episode and follow-ups from recent episodesJoin the SlackSubscribe to ACQ2Merch Store!© Copyright 2015-2026 ACQ, LLCTopics covered include: How conversations begin between startups and acquirersThe importance of building a relationship with acquirers over time and "investing in lines, not dots” (just like raising VC)The often under-appreciated role of culture fit between acquirers and acquisition targets How entrepreneurs should evaluate acquirers throughout the M&A process Two examples of successful acquisitions Taylor completed at Yahoo in Citizen Sports and IntoNowThe M&A process at large technology acquirers, from initial conversations to LOI, due diligence and the definitive merger agreement The relative roles of Corp Dev, business/product owners and executive sponsors in the M&A processCommon mistakes startups (and VC’s) often make in the M&A processDifferent “categories” of M&A that acquirers think about, and the relative risks & opportunities of “core" acquisitions vs transformative new businesses What percentage of deals Adobe looks at actually happen, and the importance of being willing to say noM&A as a tool for strategy, and the different M&A cultures & approaches at different companies Tech themes Taylor and Adobe think about as part of their M&A strategyEvaluating the longterm success of deals and the importance of the M&A integration function   Followups: Ben & David’s quick take on Instagram Stories!   The Carve Out: Ben:  Why the Concorde failed by VoxDavid: Simone Biles,  the greatest gymnast of all timeTaylor:  Mindset by Carol Dweck,  Shoe Dog by Phil Knight, Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World by Adam GrantNone this week… coverage of Instagram Stories to come next time!