Eli Portnoy
Meet Eli Portnoy, a serial entrepreneur who has done what few have: Founded and led two separate tech companies to successful eight-figure exits. He sold his first company, ThinkNear, for $22.5 million and his second, Sense360, for $44 million. This conversation is an insider’s look into his playbook, revealing the specific strategies he uses to build highly acquirable companies from the ground up. The discussion explores Eli's core philosophies: that companies are bought, not sold, and that influencing an acquirer’s vision is more powerful than chasing it. He details his strategy of building relationships with potential buyers years before a sale and unpacks the vital role of founder-led sales in building a truly valuable company. Beyond tactics, the conversation delves into the emotional reality of the startup journey, from the difficult lows and "moments of just absolute shit" to the incredible highs that provide the motivation to do it again. These lessons led to his latest venture, Back Engine AI, which was built to solve a core problem he faced: losing the "founder superpower" of deep customer connection as a company grows. It is his favorite company yet.
