John Martinka
Dealmaker
What if your exit strategy was more important than your business strategy?
For over 25 years, John Martinka has helped entrepreneurs not just build businesses—but exit them with clarity, confidence, and real financial reward. Known as “The Escape Artist®,” John has guided hundreds of business owners through the most emotional and misunderstood chapter of entrepreneurship: getting out.
He's not a flashy VC or a startup guru. He’s the guy behind the scenes helping owners transition their life's work into lasting legacy—whether that means selling to the right buyer, preparing the next generation, or buying a business the smart way.
With three bestselling books, decades of consulting, and a firm grasp on the psychology behind acquisitions and exits, John has built a reputation for asking the right questions long before most people realize they need answers.
But this conversation isn’t just about the technicals of buying or selling a company. It’s about identity, letting go, and what happens when the business you built no longer needs you.
If you're a founder, an acquirer, or just someone who wants to own a business without starting one from scratch—John’s perspective might just change how you think about the end... and the beginning.
