The Entrepreneur's Advisory Firm
Capital Raises, M&A, and Strategic Initiatives
Trusted by Innovators
Focus
01 — Navigating Inbound Interest
Reviewing​ inbound interest to understand what an offer is actually worth and how to respond.
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02 — Preparing to Sell
Providing a clear view of market expectations, the drivers behind them, and what a buyer will focus on during a sale process. ​
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03 — Executing an M&A Process
Running​ a customized buy-side or sell-side process from preparation through close.
04 — Selecting an Investment Bank or Broker
Helping evaluate investment bankers and brokers before engaging one, and then supporting their management throughout the transaction.​
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05 — Supporting Capital Raises
Preparing to raise institutional capital and providing ongoing counsel to achieve a successful close.
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06 — Fractional and Board Roles
Serving as a fractional executive, board member, or subject-matter expert on an as-needed and ongoing basis.
About DQM
DQM is an independent advisory firm exclusively for founders, entrepreneurs, and family-owned businesses.
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DQM's founder, Steve Simon, has started, scaled, bought, and sold businesses; he's invested in and alongside private equity and venture capital; and advised founders through complex transactions. That perspective shapes everything we do.
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His background includes Lincoln International, PwC, and, most recently, he led the Space and Satellite Systems practice in the Aerospace and Defense Group at Mesirow.
Steve earned his JD and MBA from Northwestern University and his Master of Science in Accountancy from Bentley University. He is a CPA (inactive) and holds an FAA license for high-powered rocketry. Before finance, he began his career as a professional gambler.
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DQM was built on the belief that our most important role is to provide insight, protect leverage, and help owners avoid costly mistakes before decisions become irreversible.
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We do not represent private equity firms. Our only function is to act in the best interest of founders, entrepreneurs, and their families.
