We Are A Holding Company That Invests And Grows Digital Agencies Through Strategic Acquisitions And Operational Excellence

Cortes Ventures is your partner in building a legacy. Combining our passion for growth, mastery in operations, and strategic acquisitions, we help you realize the dream of a successful exit.

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Acquisition Criteria & Ideal Target

We target digital agencies for acquisition based on specific criteria. These guidelines help us choose businesses that align with our values, complement our existing portfolio, and are primed for further growth under our management. While the following points outline our ideal acquisition target, we remain open to closely related opportunities.

We are actively looking to acquire digital agencies or B2B online service providers.

Businesses located in the United States or other English-speaking countries are our primary focus.

We consider agencies that have been fully operational for at least three years, indicating stability and durability in their operations.

We’re interested in agencies that have more than five team members, showcasing diversification of roles.

The agency should be profitable, with annual revenue between $1m to $10m, and an upward trend in revenue over the past year.

At least 50% of the agency’s revenue should be recurring, highlighting predictable cash flows.

Our preferred agencies cater to small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) rather than enterprise-level clients.

The owner should NOT be the public face of the business, allowing the agency to maintain its identity and client relationships through a transition of ownership.

The Benefits Of Selling Directly To Cortes Ventures

Your Dream Exit

Meet your financial goals, get paid multiple years' worth of profits, and experience the peace of mind that comes with knowing your business is in capable hands.

Full Confidentiality

We respect your privacy throughout the process. We keep your business details fully confidential, safeguarding your reputation and competitive edge.

No Brokerage Fees

Save significantly by avoiding brokerage commissions. In addition, we manage all agreements and legalities, yielding you the highest value from the transaction.

Flexible Terms

We provide a fair valuation of your business and are open to creative deal structures. Our goal is a realistic, win-win partnership that respects the value of your agency.

Quick Process

Unlike traditional brokers that may take 8-12 months to sell your business, we ensure a speedy transaction without compromising on the value and quality of the deal.

Strategic Buyers

Working with our team means engaging with experienced buyers who understand the nuances of digital businesses, ensuring a smooth transaction and transition.

Efficient Due Diligence

Our specialization in digital agencies enables quick and thorough due diligence. We understand your business, speeding up the process without sacrificing precision.

Continued Legacy

We don't simply flip businesses or lose them in a large portfolio. Instead, we continue to grow the agencies we acquire, making sure your hard work continues to thrive.

Quick & Seamless Acquisition Process

Step 1

1. Discovery Call

We begin with a friendly chat to get to know each other. We learn about your business, your goals, and what you envision for your agency's future. We're all ears, ready to understand how we can assist you.

Step 2

2. Information Review

Next, we'll take a close look at your business details. With total confidentiality, we'll assess your agency's financials, operations, and growth potential. This helps us get a complete picture and prepare for the next step.

Step 3

3. Letter Of Intent

If things look promising, we'll issue a Letter of Intent. This is a formal note expressing our intention of purchase, including initial terms of the deal. It's not binding, but it means we're serious about moving forward.

Step 4

4. Due Diligence

Here's where we take a deep dive into the specifics of your business. We'll look at everything from contracts to culture. We promise a smooth process, making sure we understand every aspect of your business.

Step 5

5. Closing

Once due diligence is complete and we're all happy, it's time to finalize the deal. We'll manage the agreements and paperwork to ensure a smooth closing. Your big payday arrives, and a new chapter begins for your agency.

Step 6

6. Onboarding

The final step is the transition. We work closely with you and your team to ensure a seamless changeover. Our goal is to carry on your legacy, nurture what you've built, and take the business to new heights.

The Core Values That Guide Our Journey

We view relationships as the most precious asset in the world of business (and life). We strive not just to build but to foster these connections, nurturing them with trust and consistent value. For us, relationships are much more than interactions—they are the lifeblood of our existence and the backbone of our success.

Cortes Ventures is built on the premise that strong relationships are nurtured through the act of giving. We believe in the power of giving first, giving more—creating a profound positive impact that goes beyond interactions. By delivering an abundance of value, we not only build and nurture relationships, but we also uplift the quality of life for everyone we connect with.

Real passion is genuine, attractive, and can’t be faked. We love what we do, and we do what we love. Our excitement spills over into our work, fostering an atmosphere of enthusiasm, creativity, and continuous learning.

We’re committed to pushing our limits and always optimizing our performance. We leave no stone unturned in our quest for improvement, seeing every challenge as an opportunity to expand our capabilities and striving relentlessly to surpass our best.

We concentrate our efforts on high-leverage activities, ensuring that every step we take is strategic, purposeful, and propels us closer to our goals. We believe in making the biggest impact by focusing on what matters the most without distractions.

Meet The Leadership Team At Cortes Ventures

Felipe Cortes

Founder
Carlos Cortes

Carlos Cortes

Operations
Rachel Haddad

Rachel Haddad

Executive Assistant
Duda Fernandes

Duda Fernandes

Mergers & Acquisitions

Roland Frasier

Advisor
Grant Teeple

Grant Teeple

Legal

The Core Pillars Of Our Portfolio Growth

Every digital agency is a puzzle waiting to be solved—and at Cortes Ventures, we’re passionate about finding the perfect solution. With our extensive expertise, vast resources, and creative approach, we bring out the best in every agency we partner with.

We understand the unique challenges and opportunities that digital agencies face, and we tailor our strategies to suit your specific needs. When you work with us, you choose a partner committed to your success.

Growth Funnels

By using direct response copywriting and high performance media buying, we engineer growth funnels that consistently attract new clients.

People Management

With extensive experience in hiring and leading diverse teams, we have established a robust HR infrastructure. Our strong culture and effective management make us an employer of choice.

Mergers & Acquisitions

Expanding our portfolio through strategic acquisitions is our main driver. Equipped with financial, legal, and operational know-how, we excel in doing M&A deals.

Tech Development

Our team of dedicated developers helps to streamline operations, reduce costs and drive efficiency across our portfolio agencies, giving them a unique competitive edge.

Still Have Questions? Read Our FAQs

We’re not just buyers; we’re committed partners who seek to provide value at every step of the acquisition process. Going through our acquisition process is similar to receiving a masterclass in business growth and exit strategy. We’ll assess your agency’s value, present multiple options for closing the deal, and even if you choose not to sell to us, we’ll provide an actionable plan to help you achieve your goals.

At Cortes Ventures, we bring decades of experience in the digital agency space, making us the ideal strategic partner for agency owners looking to sell. Unlike traditional buyers, we have a deep understanding of the sector’s unique dynamics, enabling us to recognize your agency’s potential and value accurately.

Additionally, our flexibility sets us apart, as we understand that each seller’s needs are unique. Whether you wish to stay involved with the company or part ways completely, we’re open to crafting a deal structure that suits your specific situation.

Finally, we’re in it for the long haul. Our long-term commitment to the digital agency sector testifies to our focus on fostering lasting relationships, even beyond acquisition. When you engage with us, you gain a strategic partner dedicated to delivering an abundance of value, whether we end up acquiring your agency or not.

Our valuation process is meticulous, precise, and tailored specifically to digital agencies. We kick off the process with an in-depth financial review, taking a comprehensive look at EBITDA multiples, a key determinant of your agency’s value and profitability. We also dive into your revenue trends and expense patterns, offering a clearer picture of your business’s financial health and trajectory.

A significant part of our valuation process is evaluating the level of risk inherent in your business. This involves a thorough risk assessment covering legal, financial, platform stability, market conditions, and even the dependence on the owner—an aspect that’s often overlooked but is of paramount importance for potential buyers or investors.

We also carefully analyze the diversity of your services, prioritizing agencies with a solid base of recurring retainer contracts over those heavily dependent on project-based work. This reflects your agency’s stability and predictability of income, a highly attractive aspect for potential partners.

Our valuation further considers the size, skills, and organization of your team. A competent team and clear, well-implemented SOPs speak volumes about your agency’s operational efficiency.

Lastly, we evaluate your customer acquisition strategy—its predictability and scalability. This allows us to gauge your agency’s growth potential, an essential component of its valuation. Executed by our seasoned team, this exhaustive, industry-specific approach ensures a highly accurate and trustworthy valuation.

At Cortes Ventures, we value and respect the importance of keeping your business information confidential during the acquisition process. We recognize that sharing your business details requires trust, which is why we prioritize maintaining stringent confidentiality measures.

We begin by signing a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) before diving into the specifics of your business. This legally binding agreement ensures that the information you share with us is protected and is used solely for the purpose of evaluating the potential deal.

Additionally, we implement strict protocols to keep your information safe. Our systems and processes are all built with a focus on data security, adhering to strict data protection standards. Rest assured that your business’s confidentiality is our priority.

At Cortes Ventures, we have a proven, comprehensive strategy for igniting growth in the digital agencies we acquire. This strategy is like a five-engine rocket, each engine propelling the agency forward on its trajectory to growth and success.

Our first engine is the consistent generation of new leads. We optimize marketing funnels, strategize paid advertising campaigns, form strategic partnerships for mutual growth, produce organic content that engages and converts, and cultivate a powerful referral system that turns every satisfied client into a potential promoter.

Next, we focus on turning these leads into clients. Our sales team, composed of adept setters who prime potential clients and closers who seal the deals, stands ready. They ensure high conversion rates by crafting offers that are too good to resist, ensuring potential clients see the value in partnering with us.

Our third engine is the delivery of exceptional service value. Here, our focus is on using state-of-the-art AI technology to deliver outstanding results. We also implement highly efficient workflows, utilize top-tier tools and service providers, and enforce strict project management practices. This allows us to not only meet, but exceed client expectations consistently.

The fourth engine in our strategy involves maximizing client lifetime value. We have a dedicated customer success team that ensures every client is thoroughly onboarded and their satisfaction levels are constantly monitored and improved upon. They also spot opportunities for upselling and cross-selling, increasing the revenue we generate from each client.

The final engine in our growth rocket is robust management. We work to integrate all these elements together while fostering a strong company culture and maintaining healthy financials. We also work on improving the balance sheet, managing cash flow effectively, mitigating risks and planning for future investments.

The timeline can vary depending on the complexity of the business, but we strive to be efficient and complete the process in a timely manner. From our initial discovery call to the final onboarding, we aim to finalize acquisitions within 90 days, which is much faster than the traditional 8-12 months period associated with most brokers.

Rest assured, we don’t sacrifice thoroughness for speed. Our goal is to understand every aspect of your business, ensuring a seamless and fast acquisition process that respects the uniqueness of your agency while providing you with a speedy transition and ultimate peace of mind.

At Cortes Ventures, we consider business brokers as an integral part of our growth strategy. Their unique expertise and network of potential acquisition targets make them invaluable partners in our acquisition journey.

For a productive collaboration, we encourage brokers to familiarize themselves with our specific acquisition criteria. We seek digital agencies with a strong financial record, a solid client base, and potential for scalability among other parameters. Our team is always open to providing brokers with all the necessary insights to ensure we are aligned.

Transparency, professionalism, and timely communication are values we greatly appreciate in brokers. A clear, open dialogue helps us quickly identify suitable acquisition targets, facilitating a smoother transaction for both the seller and us. We believe in nurturing a relationship built on trust and mutual benefit, which allows us to work together towards a common goal.

Our collaboration structure is flexible. Whether it’s discussing suitable compensation structures or exploring different partnership arrangements, we aim for a collaborative relationship that respects the broker’s role and rewards their efforts suitably. This approach has seen us build long-lasting partnerships with brokers who consistently provide us with opportunities that perfectly match our acquisition goals.

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