Assertion certainty 4/5 debate potential 1/5

Keeley: Verne Recently Lost Deals to Constellation Software

Colin Keeley · Startup Acquisition Stories with Colin Keeley, Founder at Verne (Acquire'd 2x) · Sep 13, 2022 · at 8:53

Colin Keeley, founder of holding company Verne, discusses competing against giant acquirers in the micro-private equity software space.

0:00 / 0:05exact quote · 5.6s
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“We just got beat out on a couple of deals by them recently, which is kind of cool. It's like, you know, losing basketball to Michael Jordan or something.”

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Opinion
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Disclosure
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Prediction Not checkable as stated
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