Building for Exit - The Founder's M&A Playbook

In this exclusive episode of Inside Venwise, we sit down with Jon Chen, who leads Shopify’s corporate development and venture investing teams. Prior to Shopify, Jon spent a decade at Twitter leading similar functions. With a career that began in software engineering and evolved into M&A and venture, Jon has executed over 50 transactions across startups and public companies—giving him a rare perspective on both sides of the table.

This conversation goes beyond generic advice and into the real-world nuance of strategic acquisitions: how relationships get built, when to take calls (or walk away), and how cultural fit shapes outcomes post-acquisition. Jon shares lessons from his years at the forefront of corporate development, offering grounded insight for founders who want to stay focused on building—while also staying smart about exits.