Ep 79 | Designing Your Business for Exit with Christie Kaplan

Most founders build products. Very few intentionally design companies. Even few design their exits.
In this episode of the ExitEngine Podcast, Jo Stapleton and John Canniffe sit down with Christie Kaplan, founder of Startup Design Partners and architect of the design-led venture philosophy.
Christie breaks down why:
• Product-market fit (PMF) is only the beginning
• Founders must design their business models, not just their products
• Scaling without intentional design multiplies dysfunction
• Your values as a founder determine your exit outcome
• Startups move through predictable phases — and most get stuck in perseverance
• Why SMEs (Subject Matter Experts) are the most underrated founders
• Why serial entrepreneurs think differently about risk and growth
• How to align your company with your personal values from Day One
• Why listening to customers early prevents valuation problems later
If you’re building a startup, scaling from $5M, or thinking about exit planning, this conversation connects:
👉 Founder psychology
👉 Venture design
👉 Enterprise value
👉 Saleability
👉 Intentional growth
Christie explains how founders must:
✔ Ask better “why” questions
✔ Stay flexible but not directionless
✔ Avoid scaling broken systems
✔ Design their company to support their life — not consume it
Because exit planning isn’t about selling tomorrow.
It’s about designing options today.
Connect with Christie Kaplan:
Startup Design Partners: https://startupdesignpartners.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christie-kaplan/
Substack: Building a VC Fund in Public
Learn Your Exit Readiness:
Start your Total Exit Value Score™ at
👉 https://www.myexitengine.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
for information about our collection and use of personal data for
advertising.