Consider a Soft Merger

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What IS a Soft Merger? Which Soft merger is right for you? Can you help me with a Soft Merger?

These are hard times:
it's time for
Soft Mergers.

If the words 'Mergers & Acquisitions'... If the words 'Mergers & Acquisitions'... If the words 'Mergers & Acquisitions'...
make you think of armies of lawyers If the words 'Mergers & Acquisitions'...
make you think of armies of lawyers
and snot-nosed MBAs : ), think again...
 If the words 'Mergers & Acquisitions'...
make you think of armies of lawyers
and snot-nosed MBAs : ), think again... There's a new type of merger on the horizon... There's a new type of merger on the horizon...
It's called the soft merger. There's a new type of merger on the horizon...
It's called the soft merger
(or the mellow merger). And in these hard times, And in these hard times,
a soft merger And in these hard times,
a soft merger may just be And in these hard times,
a soft merger may just be
what your business needs And in these hard times,
a soft merger may just be
what your business needs to survive And in these hard times,
a soft merger may just be
what your business needs to survive — and thrive. These are tough times; it's time for Soft mergers.

A Conspiracy: The Origin Story of the Soft Merger

Once upon a time, back in my mid-20's, I was sent to the tiny town of ...

Ok. So what is a Soft Merger?

There's a new merger on the horizon... use it to revolutionize your strategy and transform your business in the coming year. — and beyond.

Whether you're running

a tech startup,

a wine shop,

an accounting firm,

a dry cleaner,

a country... : )
find out how a soft merger can transform your strategy — right now.

Let the Wall Street crowd deal with their expensive, messy mergers.
There's a newer, smarter way to do business.

And if If you're running

a tech startup,

a wine shop,

an accounting firm,

a dry cleaner,

a clean energy fund,

a solo business,

a brewery,

a temp agency,

an engineering firm,

a medical office,

a nonprofit,

a biotech startup,

a BBQ joint,

a university,

anything non-Crypto : ),

a lumberyard,

a venture capital firm,

a literary agency,

a gym,

a bookstore,

a truck stop,

a country... : )
a soft merger can transform your strategy — right now.

And if you ARE the Wall Street crowd, maybe you should try a different approach... like, say, (hint, hint) a soft merger?

Ok. So what is a Soft Merger?

A soft merger is a moneyless, lawyerless, flexible partnership between...

In the Valley of Silica: A Startup Fable
On Taylor, Tech, Biotech, Killer Acquisitions, & the Birth of the Soft Merger

Once upon a time, in deepest, darkest...

So, what IS a Soft merger?

Call it
a partnership,
an alliance,
a coalition,
a joint venture
a soft merger — or mellow merger — is a:
flexible, short-term union between 2 or more companies.

No names are changed, no money is exchanged,
no one's laid off, no executives leave in anger...
In a soft merger,
businesses partner with each other
to achieve a common goal, for a short period of time.
And when they're done?
They can just part ways cleanly — no lawyers needed (and no headaches, either : ).

A soft merger can be used by ANY type of business — not just big ones. Also, different types of businesses can soft-merge with each other...

What is a Soft merger? 

a moneyless, lawyerless, flexible partnership ...
A soft merger is a moneyless, lawyerless, flexible partnership ...

          Qu'est ce qu'une Fusion soft? —¿Qué es una Fusión 'soft'? — O que é uma Fusão 'soft'? —           

     What is a Soft merger?

Should you consider a Soft merger?
Well, if you need a hand getting customers in the door,

 generating new ideas, or hiring top talent,

then a soft merger may be what you need.

If your company is already perfect, then God bless you.



What are the 5 types of Soft Mergers?

[5]

Why should I consider a Soft Merger?

[6]

Can you help me with a Soft Merger?

[3]



Welcome to the Soft merger
The 5 Ways to Choose a Soft Merger —
Executive-Led — Employee-Led — Customer-Centered — Magic-driven — Ego-driven — 
And 5 Types of Soft Mergers to Choose from:   HORIZONTAL, VERTICAL, TRANSACTIONAL, GEOGRAPHIC, PROTECTIVE

The 5 Types of Soft Mergers

There are millions of potential partners you could soft-merge with, but just 5 types of soft mergers.
They are: HORIZONTAL, VERTICAL, GEOGRAPHIC, TRANSACTIONAL, and PROTECTIVE.



1. HORIZONTAL Soft Merger

Best for: Small & Medium businesses, Solo businesses, Businesses in creative industries as well as those in seemingly "boring" / commodities industries.

A Horizontal soft merger is one in which a business or organization partners with...

Click for more info A Horizontal soft merger is one in which a business or organization partners with companies in the same sector as them — or in very similar sectors.
Example:
Let's say that you run an architectural firm in Los Angeles, specialized in public centers – museums, concert halls, convention centers, etc.

A Horizontal soft merger might involve partnering with:
- a similar architectural firm, but in a different location – say, Mexico City
- a different architectural firm in L.A., but one that does residential projects
- a New York-based interior designer who works on architectural projects around the world.


2. VERTICAL Soft Merger

Best for: Any business, but particularly those with small or specialised suppliers. Also well suited to businesses that worry about the vulnerablity of their supplier(s) or distributor(s).

A Vertical soft merger is one in which a business or organization partners with...

Click for more info A Vertical soft merger is one in which a business or organization partners with another company that is part of its chain of activity.
Take your production and break it down into steps. A vertical soft merger would be a partnership between you and any of the companies at the different steps of production.

Example:
Suppose you are a British fashion company that creates slippers and socks made from Yorkshire wool.

A Vertical soft merger might involve partnering with:
- the sheep farmer in North Yorkshire that produces the wool you use
- the family-operated factory in Cornwall that cleans and dyes the wool
- the West London boutique that sells your slippers to customers.


3. GEOGRAPHIC Soft Merger

[Coming soon]

Best for: Any business, but particularly those that are located in out-of-the-way or under-the-radar locations. Also suited to businesses & organizations in creative industries.

In a Geographic soft merger, a business or organization uses geography...

Click for more info In a Geographic soft merger, a business or organization uses geography or location to determine who to partner with it.

TIGHT Geographic mergers = partnering with nearby businesses
LOOSE Geographic mergers = partnering with faraway businesses

Example:
Let's say that you run a spa and nutrition center in Albania, outside the capital -- Tirana. Albania is a beautiful, and cheap, and right on the Mediterranean! But no one seems to know about your country. You want to change that.

In a TIGHT Geographic soft merger, you would partner with:
- a luxury hotel in Albania
- a yacht & boating company in Albania
- a VIP tour guide with expertise in the ABC countries (Albania, Bosnia, Croatia)
And all together, you would promote Albania and your companies — to attract customers to your business, and visitors to your country.

In a LOOSE Geographic soft merger, you would partner with:
- sports team in Europe and Africa
and encourage their players to visit your spa in Albania for rest, rehab & relaxation



4. TRANSACTIONAL Soft Merger

[Coming soon]

Best for: Any business in any industry, but particularly for smaller ones seeking better deals and greater negotiating power.

In a Transactional soft merger, companies or organizations partner together for a specific, usually short-term purpose... .

Click for more info In a Transactional soft merger, companies partner together for a specific, usually short-term purpose...

Example:
Suppose you are the Director of a national art museum in Bamako, Mali – in West Africa.
There is a group of African sculptures being auctioned, some of them from Mali. You would love for them to be in your museum, and not end up in some private home, never to be seen again. But you don't have the millions needed to acquire the sculpture.


In a Transactional soft merger, you would partner with:
- a wealthy businesswoman from Bamako who is a patron of the arts
- a European agency that supports cultural initiatives
- a famous Malian soccer player who now lives in Dubai

Together, you would raise the funds for the art, and buy the sculptures for your museum.

As part of the arrangement, you may:
* name a new wing of the museum after the businesswoman,
* feature the soccer player in your brochures, and
* credit the European agency in the exhibition materials.

In a transactional soft merger, entities that wouldn't normally partner with each other decide to get together. And once their mission is achieved, they can break up the partnership.

5. PROTECTIVE Soft Merger

[Coming soon]

Best for: Businesses — of any size, in any industry — that are considering a traditional merger or acquisition; particularly for Startups in tech, biotech, & pharma that are being acquired.
A Protective soft merger is one in which a business or organization agrees to...

Click for more info A Protective soft merger is one in which a business or organization agrees to a pre-merger or a temporary merger before the official merger.

Example:
Suppose you run a small but very successful agricutural engineering firm in Iowa.
A major conglomerate has been trying to get you to join them. You have a very specific chemical process that you follow to make your fertilizers. You are not certain the big corporation will uphold the rigorous process.
You are also wondering if they're trying to get rid of you as a competitor.

In a Protective soft merger, you would:
- agree to a temporary partnership with the other company (12-18 months)
- outline the projects and products that you are currently engaged in
- obtain written agreement that the methods you are using will not be changed or weakened during a soft (or hard) merger
- negotiate a payment for the soft merger period — a payment that would be deducted from the acquisition price if all goes well, and the official merger takes place.
Ready for a soft merger?    Have questions? We'll help you out.
INFORMATION Session - Online, Over-the-phone, or In-person

Teach me more about Soft Mergers

If you're ready to learn more about Soft Mergers IN GENERAL.

What you will get


  • An in-depth review of the 5 types of soft mergers, their uses, benefits, and opportunities.
  • Additional focus on areas of particular interest to you / your group.
  • This is an Information session.
    If you are ready to implement a soft merger at your company or organization,
    you should choose 1 of the Interactive sessions (see Help me choose; Help me decide).

    Request this session
    • INTERACTIVE Session - Online, Over-the-phone, or In-person

    Help me choose the Soft Merger I need

    If you're considering a Soft Merger, but aren't sure about WHICH type.

    What you will get


  • An in-depth look at the company / individual / organization's strengths & weaknesses.
  • A brief oveview of the varous types of soft mergers, their uses, benefits, and opportunities.
  • An in-depth discussion of the soft mergers that might be best suited to the individual / company / orgainzation.
  • An outline of next steps.
  • This is an Interactive session.
    It should be booked for a company or organization ready to implement a soft merger.
    If you simply want to learn more about Soft mergers, you should book an Information session (see Teach me more).

    Request this session
    • INTERACTIVE Session - Online, Over-the-phone, or In-person

    Help me decide who to Soft-merge with

    If you're READY for a Soft Merger, but haven't decided with WHOM to merge. .

    What you will get

  • A brief review of the internal discussion that led to the Soft merger decision
  • A brief revisit — of other Soft Merger types & options.
  • An in-depth analysis of Soft Merger candidates (who they could be, where to find them, and how to work with them).
  • An outline of next steps.
  • This is an Interactive session.
    It should be booked for a company or organization ready to implement a soft merger.
    If you simply want to learn more about Soft mergers, you should book an Information session (see Teach me more).


    Request this session


    • Which Soft Merger is Right for You?


    A Soft Merger can help your business or organization solve 1 or more key challenges.
    Take the quiz to see which Soft Merger might make the difference for you.







    .
    The Soft Merger is a concept that came to me on a business trip to the South Pacific, as a 1st year MBA student. I was part of the E&I program at MIT, and I had applied for the chance to travel to the other side of the world -- a 20-hour plane ride from Cambridge -- to see innovation in a totally new setting. My teammates and I spent the winter on the other side of the planet meeting and working with entrepreneurs and venture capitalists in Oceania. My very first day in this new land, I thought of the idea of the soft merger and it became clearer to me the logner I stayed. 10 years later, I was using the term soft merger in an e-mail, wondering if the person I was writing to would get it, and also thinking to myself that surelya a definition must exist somewhere. I checked Google, the Library, the Law and Business SChool textbooks. NOthing. This was not a real term with a specific defintiion. so I decided to make one. This website is a humble introduction to the soft merger and what it means. It is also a way for you to try your own soft merger and get guidance from us on which soft merger(s) to pursue. Lastly, it's a place for companies to talk about their own soft mergers -- what they were aiming for, what they got, and what they learned. Thank you for your time, interest and engagement. And good luck to you and your business. C.Z. Nnaemeka - Creator of the Soft MErger
    Ready for a soft merger?    Have questions? We'll help you out.
    Teach me more
    about Soft Mergers    		 Help me choose
    the Soft Merger I need    		 Help me decide who
    to Soft-merge with

    If you're ready to learn more about Soft Mergers IN GENERAL.

    What you will get:    
  • An in-depth review of the 5 types of soft mergers, their uses, benefits, and opportunities.
  • Additional focus on areas of particular interest to you / your group.
  • This is an information session. If you are planning a Soft merger, you should book one of the application sessions (see Help me choose; Help me decide).

    Book a Session

    • If you're considering a Soft Merger, but aren't sure about WHICH type.

    What you will get:    
  • An in-depth look at the company / individual / organization's strengths & weaknesses.
  • A brief oveview of the varous types of soft mergers, their uses, benefits, and opportunities.
  • An in-depth discussion of the soft mergers that might be best suited to the individual / company / orgainzation.
  • An outline of next steps.
  • This is an application session. If you simply want to learn more about Soft mergers, you should book an education session (see Teach me more).

    Book a Session

    • If you're READY for a Soft Merger, but haven't decided with WHOM to merge.

    What you will get:   
  • A brief review of the internal discussion that led to the Soft merger decision
  • A brief revisit — of other Soft Merger types & options.
  • An in-depth analysis of Soft Merger candidates (who they could be, where to find them, and how to work with them).
  • An outline of next steps. • This is an application session. If you simply want to learn more about Soft mergers, you should book an education session (see Teach me more).

    Book a Session
    • The Soft Merger is a concept that came to me on a business trip to the South Pacific, as a 1st year MBA student. I was part of the E&I program at MIT, and I had applied for the chance to travel to the other side of the world -- a 20-hour plane ride from Cambridge -- to see innovation in a totally new setting. My teammates and I spent the winter on the other side of the planet meeting and working with entrepreneurs and venture capitalists in Oceania. My very first day in this new land, I thought of the idea of the soft merger and it became clearer to me the logner I stayed. 10 years later, I was using the term soft merger in an e-mail, wondering if the person I was writing to would get it, and also thinking to myself that surelya a definition must exist somewhere. I checked Google, the Library, the Law and Business SChool textbooks. NOthing. This was not a real term with a specific defintiion. so I decided to make one. This website is a humble introduction to the soft merger and what it means. It is also a way for you to try your own soft merger and get guidance from us on which soft merger(s) to pursue. Lastly, it's a place for companies to talk about their own soft mergers -- what they were aiming for, what they got, and what they learned. Thank you for your time, interest and engagement. And good luck to you and your business. C.Z. Nnaemeka - Creator of the Soft MErger

    What can we help
    your business or
    organization with?
    Give us a shout!

    hello@softmerger.com

    Soft Mergers in the Wild

    "...But there was no brutality to their queries — none of the needless put-downs or one-ups of tech business bastardship..."

    Julian Shapiro — Founder of Demand Curve

    From — A Conspiracy: The Origin Story of the Soft Merger

    No one — no matter how much they love cars — likes going to the car dealership. Carmaker Acura understood that hesitancy and decided to inject a dose of glamour into the car-buying experience...

    James Schuler — CTO of Kafene

    ...to hotel locations around the country, and allowed Guests of the W Hotel to take the new cars out for a test-drive.

    This soft merger works brilliantly on 3 levels:
    1/ it turns what is normally an inconvenience (the car-buying process) into an unexpected treat.
    2/ it taps into the affluent, stylish customer base of W Hotels,
    3/ it capitalizes on the happier, more open mindset of tourists and vacationers.
    Most of us may not have the time (or the temperament) to check out cars for fun back home. But put us in vacation mode, and we're suddenly more receptive to trying different things.
    Acura was clever in recognizing it could separate its product — the car — from its traditional point of sale. By using the hotel as its new salesroom, Acura benefits from the sophisticated setting, and W Hotels benefits from having a fun and unexpected perk — test-driving a new luxury vehicle — for its guests.

    Type of Soft Merger:
    MAGIC-DRIVEN & GEOGRAPHIC

    Genius of this Soft Merger:
    In partnership with luxury group W Hotels, Acura brought its newest models to...     ***

    Mega-dealer, Josh Altman of the Altman Brothers, partners with 2 power players in L.A. real estate — Tracy Tutor & Josh Flagg — to help him find buyers for an ultra-luxe housing development in Las Vegas.

    James Schuler — CTO of Kafene

    ... that he will need strong partners to get (gigantic, risky) deals done. He reaches out to 2 highly-respected rivals, knowing that their client bases are similar but not identical (all are high net worth but some are old money vs tech money vs sports & entertainment). This allows all 3 agents to target a much wider selection of luxury buyers than any 1 of them would attract on their own.

    Also, by pooling the marketing budgets of 3 agents (and their agencies), they can spend more —make a bigger splash with their marketing efforts, draw more eyeballs and hopefully, lure the right buyers to their offering.

    Type of Soft Merger:
    HORIZONTAL & GEOGRAPHIC (Regional)

    Genius of this Soft Merger:
    In a rough luxury market, Josh Altman wisely recognizes that...     ***

    "...But there was no brutality to their queries — none of the needless put-downs or one-ups of tech business bastardship..

    Julian Shapiro — Founder of Demand Curve

    From — A Conspiracy: The Origin Story of the Soft Merger

    ... that he will need strong partners to get (gigantic, risky) deals done. He reaches out to 2 highly-respected rivals, knowing that their client bases are similar but not identical (all are high net worth but some are old money vs tech money vs sports & entertainment). ). This allows all 3 agents to target a much wider selection of luxury buyers than any 1 of them would attract on their own.

    Also, by pooling the marketing budgets of 3 agents (and their agencies), they can spend more —make a bigger splash with their marketing efforts, draw more eyeballs and hopefully, lure the right buyers to their offering.

    Type of Soft Merger:
    HORIZONTAL & GEOGRAPHIC (G-Regional)

    Genius of this Soft Merger: n a rough luxury market, Josh Altman wisely recognizes that...     ***

    James Schuler — CTO of Kafene

    Mega-dealer, Josh Altman of the Altman Brothers, partners with 2 power players in L.A. real estate — Tracy Tutor & Josh Flagg — to help him find buyers for an ultra-luxe housing development in Las Vegas.

    You've got Questions/Concerns???

    Would a soft merger really apply to me? I'm not a CEO; I don't work in an office... My friend: the soft merger was created precisely for you.
    No matter what kind of business (or organization) you work for, there's a soft merger that can help you... and in some cases, even transform you.

    At its most basic level, the soft merger is a partnership:
    2 or more companies coming together — usually for a short period of time — to help each other out.
    Every company — even the most powerful ones — could use a partner once in a while.
    Is there ANYONE you could partner with? in a way that would benefit both you and them?

    Of course, there is. So, consider a soft merger. ***



    I love the concept, but I know my boss: she never says yes to a new idea! Ahhh... The Idea Assassins: they are the worst!
    But they come in different flavors, so let's taste the rainbow, shall we?

    The 3 main Idea Assassins:
       •   #1. People who ALWAYS reject new ideas.  Period. Dot.   End of discussion.
       •   #2. People who reject new ideas depending on who proposed them (ie. if the idea comes from INSIDE the company, your boss may say no. But she'd be open to that same idea if it came from an outsider).
       •   #3. People who reject new ideas because they assume that new ideas will require time or money or thought from them. And they have no time or money or thought for anyone — except themselves.

    So what to do?
       •   Step 1 - Determine what kind of Idea Assassin your boss is.
       •   Step 2 - If you think you can convince her (or get her to listen), go for it.
       •   Step 3 - If you skipped Step 2 or if it didn't work, schedule a call or session with us. We'll talk about possible approaches.

    Whatever happens, Good luck...
    ***



    I'm ready for a Soft Merger. What's next? You're a smart chap: Welcome to the future of Business!

    But, first, 3 questions for the present:
    1. WHAT are your real issues, and would a Soft merger really address them?
    2. If a Soft merger is needed, WHICH type(s) should you use?
    3. You've chosen a type, now WHO should you soft-merge with?


    You can answer these questions alone, with your team, with your Board...
    You can also answer them with us.
    Feel free to schedule a session so we can help you out.


    And again, good luck!



    The Soft Merger is a concept that came to me on a business trip to the South Pacific, as a 1st year MBA student. I was part of the E&I program at MIT, and I had applied for the chance to travel to the other side of the world -- a 20-hour plane ride from Cambridge -- to see innovation in a totally new setting. My teammates and I spent the winter on the other side of the planet meeting and working with entrepreneurs and venture capitalists in Oceania. My very first day in this new land, I thought of the idea of the soft merger and it became clearer to me the logner I stayed. 10 years later, I was using the term soft merger in an e-mail, wondering if the person I was writing to would get it, and also thinking to myself that surelya a definition must exist somewhere. I checked Google, the Library, the Law and Business SChool textbooks. NOthing. This was not a real term with a specific defintiion. so I decided to make one. This website is a humble introduction to the soft merger and what it means. It is also a way for you to try your own soft merger and get guidance from us on which soft merger(s) to pursue. Lastly, it's a place for companies to talk about their own soft mergers -- what they were aiming for, what they got, and what they learned. Thank you for your time, interest and engagement. And good luck to you and your business. C.Z. Nnaemeka - Creator of the Soft MErger
    .
    The Journal of Soft Mergers
    The Journal of Soft Mergers is coming soon...
    The Journal of Soft Mergers
    is coming soon...
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