About

Darrell Lerner is a successful serial entrepreneur, digital strategist, and founder with expertise in Consumer Technology, Social Media, and two-sided marketplaces.

He is best known for combining his experience in the online dating industry to co-found AllPaws, a platform designed to streamline pet adoption by matching users with available pets using advanced search and a user-friendly interface. AllPaws quickly grew to millions of users before being acquired by pet industry leader, PetSmart, in 2016.

Prior to AllPaws, Darrell also co-founded SNAP Interactive, a publicly traded company in the social media and online dating space, which scaled to over 100 million users. His experience includes overseeing C-Level responsibilities and managing the operational, legal, and regulatory needs of a publicly traded company.

Today, Darrell leverages his unique experience in user acquisition, growth strategy, and consumer engagement to advise founders.

“My approach to building and selling a company revolves around relentless execution, obsessive consumer focus, and creating a clear narrative that shows an acquirer exactly how your data and audience translates into their future growth.”

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

Previous Exits

AllPaws sold to PetSmart

Valuation: Undisclosed

In 2016, AllPaws was acquired by PetSmart, the leading retailer and resource for pet adoption in North America. The acquisition integrated AllPaws' mobile and online platform—which matched users with pets for adoption—directly into PetSmart's ecosystem. This strategic move accelerated PetSmart's in-store adoption program by leveraging AllPaws’ sophisticated, user-friendly technology, which connected hundreds of thousands of available pets from shelters and rescue organizations with prospective adopters.

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28%

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33%

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