As the holiday season approaches, startup founders and business leaders in the mergers and acquisitions (M&A) space have a unique opportunity to prepare for success in the coming year.
Drawing from insights by startup adviser Itay Sagie, as featured in Crunchbase News, this period of relative calm can be a critical time to strategize and position your company for impactful deals.
Holiday Break: A Strategic Window for M&A Planning
While many businesses slow down during the holidays, Sagie emphasizes that this downtime can be used to reflect on past performance and refine future M&A strategies.
Historically, the holiday break has been a time when savvy entrepreneurs reassess their networks, identifying key relationships that could influence potential acquisitions or partnerships.
The impact of such preparation is significant; companies that enter the new year with a clear strategic roadmap often find themselves ahead of competitors who fail to plan.
Building on Past Lessons for Future Gains
Looking back at M&A trends, the past decade has shown a steady increase in deal activity, with 2025 seeing a 35% surge in AI-focused acquisitions alone, according to Crunchbase data.
This historical context underscores the importance of staying ahead of industry shifts, something that can be brainstormed during the quieter holiday period.
Moreover, the future of M&A looks increasingly competitive, with visibility and networking becoming as crucial as financial performance in securing favorable outcomes.
The Broader Impact of Holiday Preparation
Beyond individual companies, strategic holiday planning can influence entire sectors by setting the tone for deal-making momentum in Q1 of the following year.
For founders, this means aligning internal teams, ensuring that post-holiday efforts are focused on executing high-value acquisitions or exits without losing key talent.
As Sagie notes, maintaining team motivation during and after M&A processes is vital, and holiday discussions can help address potential cultural or operational clashes early.
Ultimately, using the holiday break to prepare for M&A success could be the game-changer that positions your startup for a transformative 2026.
Andrew Lee
