easyacquire

In today’s fast-paced startup ecosystem, founders are constantly building, testing, and iterating. But what happens when a startup runs out of steam - not because it’s bad, but because the founder wants to move on?

That’s the question we set out to answer with Easyacquire, a marketplace designed to help startup owners easily sell their digital assets - and help buyers discover hidden gems.

The foundation: Building trust and transparency

The first step in our journey was diving into the pain points faced by both sellers and buyers. To better understand their needs, we conducted 10 in-depth interviews—six with sellers and four with buyers. Their insights helped us identify the common frustrations and gaps in the existing process.

Key takeaways from users

What sellers wanted:

• A Smooth, private listing process:
  Sellers wanted a way to list their startups without revealing their identities to everyone. The platform should provide the option to share their startup details only with serious, high-intent buyers.

• Real-time communication:
  Sellers were frustrated with email delays and wanted a more efficient way to communicate directly with buyers.

• Highlight startup value:
  Sellers needed to be able to easily showcase their startup’s real value—users, tech stack, revenue, etc.

• Guidance on legalities:
  Navigating compliance issues, legal paperwork, and IP transfers can be overwhelming, and sellers wanted a clear and easy path to tackle these concerns.

What buyers needed:

• Transparency:
  Buyers wanted clear and comprehensive information on liabilities, assets, and any potential risks associated with the startup.

• Easy comparability:
  Buyers wanted to compare listings easily, finding critical details in a straightforward way.

• Trust in the platform:
  Trust in both the sellers and the platform was crucial to ensure a secure and smooth acquisition process.

• Secure payment and handover:
  A secure payment process and transparent handover were essential for buyers to feel safe in the transaction.

These insights directly shaped our platform’s design and user flows, guiding our decisions on how to create a seamless, transparent, and trustworthy environment for both parties.

The UX breakdown: Two distinct flows, one unified platform

To serve both sellers and buyers effectively, we designed two distinct user flows—one for sellers and one for buyers. Each flow was crafted with the specific needs and pain points of each group in mind, ensuring that both journeys were intuitive and relevant.

Solutions for both parties:

1. Verification process:
   Both buyers and sellers can only sign up using LinkedIn or official email IDs, ensuring they are legitimate. Upon verification, they receive a badge that shows their trustworthiness.

2. Marketplace model for acquisition:
   The marketplace is designed with an easy-to-navigate layout, allowing for quick comparisons of startups.

3. Private and controlled process for sellers:
   Sellers can choose what details they want to share and with whom, giving them full control over the listing process.

4. No listing fees:
   We wanted to make it easy for sellers to list their startups, so there’s no fee to list on the marketplace.

5. Letter of intent feature:
   The platform enables the sharing of a letter of intent (LOI), which helps formalise initial interest before moving forward.

6. Chat feature for communication:
   To improve communication, we added a real-time chat feature, allowing sellers and buyers to connect quickly, eliminating the delays of traditional email exchanges.

Design decisions that matter

• Simplicity:
  We focused on reducing cognitive load by streamlining the onboarding process for both buyers and sellers. Every step is clear, and we collect only the information necessary for making informed decisions. Sellers and buyers alike don’t have to worry about missing key details. To make the experience even smoother, we integrated an AI assistant during onboarding to guide users through every step and provide helpful context.
  
  

• Trust:
  Trust is key in startup acquisitions. We made sure to prominently display a verified badge on listings to ensure that buyers can instantly trust the authenticity of a startup. As the verification process is ongoing, we make sure buyers can still access public information about the startup, so they don’t waste time waiting.
  
  

• Discoverability:
  From thumbnails to tags, we focused on making each startup listing as discoverable and easy to navigate as possible. Our clean and professional typography and spacing offer a blend of indie-friendly aesthetics, making the platform approachable for solo founders, side hustlers, and micro-acquirers.

Final thoughts: Empowering new beginnings

Building EasyAcquire wasn’t just about creating a product—it was about creating a platform that empowers users to confidently take the next step in their journey. Whether you're a founder ready to move on or a buyer looking for your next acquisition, EasyAcquire isn’t just a marketplace; it’s a second chance for founders and a first step for the next chapter.