Manos Insights
Ideas, strategies, and stories from the frontlines of vertical software. A closer look at how long-term thinking drives performance, leadership, and growth.
Written by
Caroline Hansen
At Manos, we acquire great software businesses—and help them become even better.
Post-acquisition, the focus shifts quickly from closing the deal to driving performance. But we don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all integration process. Instead, we bring a playbook that’s adaptable, founder-friendly, and built for sustainable growth.
This is how we accelerate operational excellence without sacrificing what made the business great to begin with.
Start with what works
Every company we acquire has something special—product-market fit, loyal customers, and deep domain knowledge. That’s the foundation. We don’t impose change for the sake of change. Instead, we dig in to understand:
What’s already working?
Where is growth being held back?
What capabilities are missing or underutilized?
We take the time to learn the business before introducing improvements—so nothing gets lost in translation.
The Manos operational advantage
Once aligned with the leadership team, we introduce operational upgrades that create immediate and compounding impact. Our support is structured around four key levers:
1. Financial discipline that fuels growth
We bring proven frameworks to improve visibility, margin, and forecasting:
Unit economics and pricing strategy
Budget alignment with business priorities
Cash flow optimization
Scenario planning for strategic bets
2. Sales and marketing alignment
We help teams generate more predictable, scalable revenue:
ICP refinement and segmentation
Demand generation strategies (SEO, ABM, partner-led)
Sales process diagnostics and improvements
Performance tracking and attribution modeling
3. Product and technology focus
We ensure roadmap decisions are strategic and customer-driven:
Voice of customer programs
Feature prioritization and backlog cleanup
Technical debt audits and modernization planning
Usage and retention analysis to inform roadmap direction
4. Talent and org design
Great businesses are built by great people:
Key leadership hires to unlock scale
Org restructuring for clarity and accountability
Performance management systems
Cross-functional alignment and team development
Built for scale, not control
We don’t micromanage. Our approach is to give founders and operators the context, tools, and benchmarks they need to make high-quality decisions fast. That’s why we track what matters, measure consistently, and coach teams to run with autonomy.
Operational excellence is not about rigidity—it’s about momentum. When the right systems are in place, teams move faster, make better calls, and create more value.
A better path to growth
At Manos, our operational playbook isn’t just about optimization. It’s about building durable, high-performing businesses that can lead their verticals for years to come. With the right inputs—and the right partners—performance compounds.
We don’t just bet on software. We bet on execution.
Want to see what performance looks like post-acquisition?
Let’s connect. The next chapter of your business could be your strongest yet.
