Vince Cacace is a founder, technologist, and digital innovation leader recognized for his pioneering work in augmented reality, e-commerce, and immersive advertising. He is the Founder and former CEO of Vertebrae, a Santa Monica–based AR commerce platform that helped brands and retailers use the smartphone camera to tell stories, showcase products, and drive conversion through interactive 3D and AR experiences.
Under Vince’s leadership, Vertebrae became one of the most advanced AR commerce technologies in the market, powering experiences for global brands across fashion, beauty, and retail. His vision for immersive, camera-first shopping positioned Vertebrae at the center of a new wave of consumer engagement, blending storytelling and technology to transform how people connect with products.
A recognized voice in digital marketing and AR/VR innovation, Vince was named to Forbes’ 30 Under 30 in 2017 and has worked closely with the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) to establish AR/VR ad standards and best practices. He also serves as a board member for Whoopi’s Virtual Field Trip, supporting creative education through technology.
Today, Vince advises founders and brands navigating growth, product-market fit, and strategic exits within frontier technologies. His deep experience in AR/VR, retail innovation, and go-to-market strategy makes him a valuable partner for entrepreneurs looking to position their business at the cutting edge of digital transformation.
“I love helping founders think about how emerging technologies can reshape their industries. Building and exiting Vertebrae taught me how to translate innovation into enterprise value, and now I get to help others do the same.”
Schedule a call with an Exitwise advisor to learn more about engaging Vince to Maximize Your Exit™.
Snap Inc., the parent company of Snapchat, acquired Vertebrae, the augmented reality e-commerce platform founded by Vince Cacace. Vertebrae’s technology allows retailers to create and manage 3D and AR versions of their products for immersive shopping experiences. The acquisition strengthened Snap’s AR commerce capabilities, aligning with its vision to make the camera the next generation of shopping infrastructure. The deal marked a major milestone for Vince and his team, solidifying Vertebrae as a key innovator in the future of retail and digital advertising.
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.
Every Exited Founder engagement is designed around your unique goals and the needs of your company. Fees can vary, but most often include either an hourly rate, a success-based fee, or a blend of both—depending on how involved your Exited Founder will be in your process.
After your initial discovery call with an Exitwise M&A advisor, you’ll get a detailed breakdown of the Exited Founder engagement options. We’ll talk through each option to make sure everything feels fair, transparent, and aligned before you decide to move forward.
Increase in Sales Price
Increase in Number of Offers
Increase Transaction
Success Rate
Accelerated Time to Exit
This Exited Founder offers personal M&A experience and deep professional networks in their respective industries to help you Maximize Your Exit.™
Every Exited Founder’s goal is to make sure you create the exit you deserve. Engaging is easy!
An Exited Founder is an entrepreneur who has founded or cofounded a company and successfully exited his or her company through an IPO, M&A transaction, recapitalization or secondary share transaction. Exited Founders have joined ExitWise to help their fellow founders maximize their exits.
An Exited Founder brings expertise in building a company, M&A deal-making, a network of potential buyers, and experience navigating complex financial, legal and employment issues. An exited founder can not only be a great personal mentor during your exit process but can also help maximize your company's sale price, reduce risks, and ensure a smoother transaction.
Exited Founders typically offer:
- M&A education Founder Mentorship
- Business valuation advice
- Access to top M&A experts to build your M&A team
- Incredible personal networks with strategic investors and buyers in their industry
- Negotiation skills with potential buyers
- Deal structuring and transaction experience
- Advise on Coordination of legal, financial, and tax professionals
- Assistance with due diligence
- Advice on major personal and professional decisions throughout the M&A process
Our Exited Founders have free access to Exitwise valuation services and have visibility into private transaction data in their industry. Exited founders assist investment bankers that use various methods, such as comparable company analysis, discounted cash flow analysis, and market trends, to assess the value of your business. Exited Founded can also factor in your industry dynamics and your growth potential to help negotiate an optimal sale price on your behalf.
Industry experience: Ensure they have exited a business in your sector.
Track record: Ask about their personal exits and how they have helped other business owners with M&A.
Network: A strong personal and professional network of potential buyers is key.
Communication: Choose someone you can trust and communicate with easily.
Industry Stature: Exited founders bring different levels of credibility to your team which can have a dramatic effect on how buyers value your business.
The process can take anywhere from 6 to 12 months or longer, depending on market conditions, the size of your company, and the complexity of the transaction. Exited Founders absolutely help expedite the process.