Thinking about selling your business? Start here.
Built for established Michigan companies in any industry, roughly 11 to 99 employees and $1M to $50M in revenue, with a special focus on manufacturers. Start with a free 30-minute consultation and trusted connections to help you plan your exit with confidence.
Every conversation is confidential.
and a network of Michigan brokers, buyers, and capital providers
For owners thinking about what comes next
- You own an established Michigan company, roughly 11 to 99 employees and $1M to $50M in revenue. Manufacturers especially welcome.
- You're planning for retirement and want to know your options.
- You're thinking about selling sometime in the next 1 to 5 years.
- You're considering passing the business to family or employees.
- You've received an offer and aren't sure what to do next.
Support through your whole transition, at no cost
Free 30-minute consultation
A one-on-one conversation about where you are today and what to focus on first.
Intake and readiness review
A look at how ready your business is for a transition and what drives its value.
A written action plan
Clear next steps for your timeline, whether a sale is one year or five years out.
Coaching through the year
Ongoing guidance from an Expert in Residence as you work through your plan.
Technical help
Access to independent CPAs, attorneys, and valuation and cybersecurity providers.
Connections
Introductions to brokers, buyers, capital providers, and advisors in our Michigan network, only when you're ready.
All consultations, workshops, and events are free. If you choose to hire one of our experts for additional services, that is a separate agreement directly with them, not through Lean Rocket Lab.
Four steps, at your pace
Tell us about your business
Fill out our short intake form so we know where you're starting from.
Free 30-minute consultation
Talk one-on-one with our team about your goals and your timeline.
Get your readiness review and plan
We review where your business stands and put your next steps in a written action plan.
Work your plan with an expert
Get coaching through the year and introductions to the people who fit your situation.
A network of brokers, buyers, and capital providers
Owners in the program can meet a range of Michigan brokers, buyers, and capital providers, so you can compare paths before you choose one.
Fresh Water Ventures is one of those partners: a Michigan private equity fund that provides transition capital to owners of small businesses, many of them manufacturers. Their focus is keeping businesses local, protecting the owner's legacy, and developing the next generation of leaders.
Owners who've made the transition
Businesses that found their next chapter with Fresh Water Ventures, one of our partners.
Exit Readiness Accelerator team & experts
The coaches, experts in residence, and team members guiding Exit Readiness Accelerator.
Jeff Matzen is a Director at Fresh Water Ventures, a Midwest transition equity fund that partners with business owners to move their companies to new ownership while keeping them local. He is also a CFP® and Investment Advisor Representative at Matzen Financial in Jackson, and a Director at NorthStar Capital Advisory Services, which provides capital markets representation. Earlier in his career Jeff was Director of Finance and Ticket Operations for the Rhein Fire of NFL Europe and a market maker on the DAX in Frankfurt. His specialty is business transition capital: helping owners plan and fund the sale or succession of the business they built.
Retired-Associate Regional Director guiding entrepreneurs and small businesses to start and stay in business. Formerly, an entrepreneur with over 9 years experience in business management, event planning, marketing, communications, accounting, and kitchen management.
Steve Tebbetts is the owner of STEAM Services LLC, an engineering consultancy in Tecumseh, Michigan that provides advanced manufacturing engineering, project management, operations consulting, contract engineering and technology scouting. He brings 30 years of hands-on manufacturing experience, from running injection molding lines to leading new model launches and lean improvement programs for automotive suppliers including Visteon, INOAC Interior Systems and Summit Polymers, plus a year as Business Solutions Manager at the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center. A Lean Six Sigma Green Belt and Certified Master Molder with a mechanical engineering degree from Western Michigan University, Steve helps manufacturers succeed by helping the people in their companies succeed.
David serves on the board of Lean Rocket Lab, bringing an investor's perspective and deep experience across operating companies and emerging asset classes. He leads investment efforts for Orbitform alongside his personal investing, and heads the Michigan Investor Group (MIG). His investment acumen and entrepreneurial mindset make him a valuable voice on the LRL board.
Independent experts, with no strings attached
- Experts in Residence are brokers, buyers, business owners, and capital providers.
- They never charge owners for program consultations, workshops, or events.
- Every expert signs a disclosure of their business interests.
- Lean Rocket Lab receives no fee, commission, or ownership interest from any transaction.
Upcoming Exit Readiness Accelerator events
Quarterly succession workshops and the Michigan Business Transition Forum, open to owners statewide, in person or online.
No Exit Readiness Accelerator events scheduled
New events are added regularly. Check back soon.
Common questions
Is it free?
All consultations, workshops, and events are free. If you choose to hire one of our experts for additional services, that is a separate agreement directly with them, not through Lean Rocket Lab.
Do I have to be ready to sell now?
No. Many owners come to us years before a sale, and starting early gives you more options.
Is my information confidential?
Yes. Your conversations with us are confidential. We never share your name, your business, or anything you tell us with buyers, advisors, or anyone else without your permission. Introductions only happen when you say so.
Do you buy businesses?
No. Lean Rocket Lab doesn't buy businesses, and receives no fee, commission, or ownership interest from any transaction. Fresh Water Ventures is one of several Michigan buyers you may meet through the program, alongside brokers and capital providers. Talking with us never commits you to selling to anyone.
Do I need to be in Jackson?
No. We work with business owners statewide, through partner sites across Michigan and by video.
Focused on growing rather than selling? Explore the Sales & Marketing Accelerator and the Industry 4.0 Accelerator.
Ready when you are
Tell us a little about your business and we'll set up your free 30-minute consultation.
Every conversation is confidential.