Member Since 2015
Thomas Smale
FE International
San Francisco Bay Area
Thomas is the Founder of FE International. He is a serial business entrepreneur and M&A expert, having built the industry-leading firm in the $1-100M global technology sector. With experience dating back to the early 2000s, Smale offers invaluable technical, diligence and negotiation advice to early-stage and seasoned business owners alike, which has resulted in over 900 successful exits. Smale can be regularly found speaking at industry events where he enjoys meeting like-minded entrepreneurs and investors. FE International is an award-winning global M&A Advisor of SaaS, E-Commerce & Content businesses and the preeminent valuation thought leader in the industry. Founded in 2010, the leadership team has over 50 years of combined experience in investment banking, strategy consulting, technology, and entrepreneurship. The firm offers comprehensive exit planning services, as well as direct access to an established network of international investors. With headquarters in New York and regional offices in San Francisco, London, and Hong Kong, FE International is a truly global company. FE was named No. 8 Fastest-Growing Financial Services Company in the Americas in 2020 by the Financial Times (No. 133 overall) and is a two-time U.S. Inc. 5000 company. Visit www.feinternational.com for more information.
SKILLS
- Exit planning
- Business valuation
- Growth strategy
RECENT CONTENT
August 3rd, 2020
16 Essential Skills to Look for in a New Hire
Within an organization, some skills are far more valuable than others. If your business is looking at hiring new employees, then these skills should be a primary focus for your interviews. Knowing what skills are crucial for an enterprise to grow and thrive helps you figure out if an employee may be worth hiring, even if they don't fit the ideal. Sometimes the company needs more than just the right qualifications for their employees.
July 6th, 2020
Want to Improve Your Workplace? 16 Productive Questions to Ask Yourself
As a leader, you know your workplace dynamic directly impacts employee morale and, in turn, your bottom line. No matter how great your company culture might be, there is always room for improvement. But to make impactful changes, you’ll have to first understand which areas warrant the most attention.
June 25th, 2020
10 Smart Ways Business Leaders Can Leverage Social Media in a PR Crisis
Since the internet has permeated business to such an extent, PR crises are becoming far more common for companies. Many of those PR faux-pas are due to misuse or misunderstanding of social media interaction. However, as much as social media can be a tool to cause a PR crisis, it can also be useful in helping to manage it. Social media is still the best way to create a rapport and interact with a particular demographic of customers directly.
June 24th, 2020
16 HR Quality Checks to Ensure You're Recruiting With Equity
June 16th, 2020
https://www.inc.com/young-entrepreneur-council/how-to-encourage-employees-to-create-their-own-company-culture.html
May 29th, 2020
18 key considerations when selling a business
18 leaders from YEC discuss what elements business leaders should keep in mind before selling their company.
May 19th, 2020
10 Creative Ways To Find New Revenue Streams For Your Business
In the wake of COVID-19, many businesses have had to significantly modify or even temporarily shut down their daily operations. In tough times such as these, finding new revenue streams can be a great way to make up the lost income and keep the company afloat.
May 11th, 2020
Eight Tips For Teams Shifting To A Work-From-Home Model
The culture of the modern workplace has changed drastically, and far more businesses are looking favorably at work-from-home arrangements. Industries that have traditionally depended on employees coming in no longer need to conform to the archaic principle of in-office work. The result is a lot more freedom for workers, as well as potentially increased productivity.
March 2nd, 2020
Eight "Harmless" Habits That Are Keeping You Back
Entrepreneurs have habits that can both aid and hamper their efforts to be better businesspeople. Some practices even seem to be completely harmless but we don’t truly realize how damaging they can be until we make a small change that impacts them and shows how die-reaching its consequences are.
February 10th, 2020
Identifying Your Employees’ Leadership Potential: Eight Critical Traits
A leader is someone who takes the initiative and drives the business forward to fulfill its goals. Within a company, leaders are responsible for guiding and inspiring those whose departments they lead. Many leaders get to their positions after years of experience and learning what their jobs entail.
January 14th, 2020
https://www.inc.com/young-entrepreneur-council/fighting-winter-slump-7-ways-to-get-team-back-in-working-shape.html
January 13th, 2020
Here's How To Stay Active On Social Media As An Introverted Leader
Having an active social media presence is a great way for leaders to grow their business. It helps you establish your personal brand and authority, as well as reach a wider audience of potential customers. However, it also requires you to expend time and energy, which can be especially draining for an introverted or introspective business owner.
Fortunately, you can use your introspection to your advantage while engaging on social media. Below , 10 Young Entrepreneur Council members share their best tips for introverted leaders who want to stay active on social media without burning out.
December 17th, 2019
Eight Tech Hacks For Smarter And Easier Work Management
Technological advancement offers us lots of tools that can make our lives easier as entrepreneurs. Mass communication, social media and the ability to connect are hallmarks of the 21st century. Even daily work is a lot simpler, thanks to products such as Slack or Github, which allow remote management of teams. More than anything else, constant connectivity ensures that everyone within the business can be "in the know" at all points in time.
COMPANY INFO
FE International
FE International provides award winning M&A advisory services for mid-market SaaS, e-commerce and content businesses. The company has become the pre-eminent adviser and valuation thought-leader in the industry. FE offers comprehensive exit planning services, as well as direct access to an established network of pre-qualified international investors to drive demand and maximize value for the clients it represents. The team is comprised of professionals from investment banking, strategy consulting as well as online entrepreneurs, all of which have extensive transaction execution expertise. FE International’s advisers complement this formal experience with unique and innovative approaches to deal marketing and structuring. FE International offers comprehensive exit planning services as well as direct access to an established network of pre-qualified international investors to drive demand to your business and maximize value for your company. - 94.1% success rate - Over hundreds of businesses sold - Extensive global network of 30,000+ pre-qualified online investors - 100% confidential process - Market leading M&A advisors Accolades and affiliations: - IBBA Deal Maker of the Year 2015 & 2016 - IBBA Deal Maker Award 2016 - IBBA Top Global Producer of the Year 2016 - IBBA Chairman's Circle Award 2016 - Inc 5000 EU (2017) - Financial Services Authority (FSA) - Escrow.com Partner - BBB A+ Rating Featured in: Forbes, Entrepreneur, Inc., Huffington Post, Reuters, TIME, Yahoo Financial News, and more. Get in touch today for a free consultation and valuation (info@feinternational.com).
AREA OF FOCUS
- Online business valuation
- Exit planning
- M&A advisory
INDUSTRY
Financial Services