About

Brian Dukes is a seasoned entrepreneur, M&A advisor, and digital marketing pioneer who has spent over two decades at the intersection of automotive technology and enterprise growth.

His journey began in Big Five consulting, followed by an MBA from the University of Michigan, where he bypassed the traditional corporate route to dive into a startup joint venture with Ford Motor Company. This experience served as the launchpad for his career as a co-founder of Shift Digital, a leading technology and digital marketing agency that revolutionized the industry by synchronizing digital performance across global automotive brands and their massive dealer networks. Under his leadership, the firm became a recognized industry leader, deploying a proprietary technology suite to manage billions in digital marketing spend for manufacturers like Ford, Chrysler, and BMW.

Today, Brian is a Managing Partner at Exitwise, an M&A advisory platform where he leverages his 20 plus years of operational and transaction experience to help founders prepare for and execute life changing exits. Having sat on both sides of the table as a founder and an advisor, Brian is deeply passionate about removing the stigma around exits and empowering business owners with the strategic insights and financial hygiene needed to maximize their company's value.

“I believe that an exit isn't just a transaction; it is the ultimate culmination of a founder's hard work and vision. My mission is to ensure that every entrepreneur I work with is not just ready to sell, but ready to capture the full value of the legacy they have built.”

Schedule a call with an Exitwise advisor to learn more about engaging Brian to Maximize Your Exit™.

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Previous Exits

Shift Digital | Growth and Private Equity Transactions

Valuation: Undisclosed

As a co founder of Shift Digital, Brian Dukes helped build the premier lead management, digital marketing, and enterprise data platform for the automotive industry. The firm’s massive scale and dominant market position led to a significant strategic investment by PPC Enterprises in 2016. This transaction validated the immense value of Shift Digital’s specialized B2B SaaS and service model, providing the founders with a successful realization of value while positioning the company for its next phase of global expansion.

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How It Works

Give us a call to learn how helpful an Exited Founder can be when selling your business.
Todd Sullivan
CEO, Exitwise

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Hire This Exited Founder & Get the Ultimate Seller Advantage

Hire an Exited Founder to serve as an advisor on your M&A team to enhance market credibility, open doors to more buyers, and create an industry insider’s advantage when selling your business.

28%

Increase in Sales Price

20%

Increase in Number of Offers

33%

Increase Transaction
Success Rate

15%

Accelerated Time to Exit

Exited Founder Benefits

This Exited Founder offers personal M&A experience and deep professional networks in their respective industries to help you Maximize Your Exit.™

Qualify Top
M&A Experts

Introduce Personal
Buyer Network

Maximize
Earn-out Structure

Oversee
Company Valuation

Refine
Marketing Materials

Refine Rolled
Equity Terms

Mentor
Executive Team

Maximize Purchase
Agreement Terms

Reduce
Time to Exit

Optimize
Inbound Offers

Join
Advisory Board

And
More!

How to Engage This Exited Founder

Every Exited Founder’s goal is to make sure you create the exit you deserve. Engaging is easy!

Schedule a
Free Call

Once you’ve identified an Exited Founder who might be a great fit to help you achieve your goals, schedule a call with an Exitwise Advisor! We'll answer any questions you have, discuss goals for your exit, and talk about the Exited Founder you’ve selected so we can verify if he or she is the best fit.

Exited Founder Interview

The Exit Founder Interview is a no-pressure, high-value conversation between you and the Exited Founder to explore how helpful he or she can be for you. It’s an opportunity to ensure there’s chemistry, clarity, and alignment and to start imagining what’s possible with the right partner by your side.

Hire Your
Exited Founder

You'll receive a simple onboarding form and fee agreement so you and your Exited Founder can hit the ground running. ExitWise will stay involved as a strategic resource to guide your Exited Founder partnership and help you assemble the rest of your M&A team. Our goal is simple: to help you create the exit you deserve.

What is an Exited Founder?

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Why should I hire an Exited Founder to sell my business?

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What services do Exited Founders provide during the sale process?

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How does an Exited Founder help with the valuation of my company?

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