From Founder to Exit: Bastian Grimm on Building, Scaling & Selling Peak Ace AG

In this candid interview on the Legacy Advisors podcast, Bastian Grimm reflects on his entrepreneurial path – from co-founding Peak Ace to scaling it into one of Europe’s largest independent performance marketing agencies and ultimately selling to private equity backed HEROIKS group. Packed with personal insights, hard-won lessons, and real-world advice, this conversation is a masterclass for agency founders thinking about growth, scale, or preparing for a future exit.

What You’ll Learn – Key Takeaways from the Interview

1. International Differentiation Was the Game-Changer

“Most agencies in Europe only serve their local market. We realized early that going international from a single location was our competitive edge.”

Bastian shares how Peak Ace’s unique positioning as a multilingual, cross-border agency helped win global clients like Airbnb – catapulting the agency onto the radar of strategic buyers.

2. Scaling Demands Structure – But Leave Room for Creativity

“You need processes, playbooks, and operational handbooks – but if you kill creativity, people won’t thrive.”

Operationalizing at scale meant building robust systems across teams without stifling innovation. Bastian breaks down how structure, culture, and leadership evolved with each growth milestone – from less than 20 to over 150 employees.

3. Most Founders Are Unprepared for Their First Exit

“The first deal fell through – but it forced us to become much more deliberate in how we structured future conversations and defined our priorities.”

From emotional roller coasters to due diligence missteps, Bastian outlines the common blind spots agency founders face and shares what he wishes he had done differently. His advice: start prepping at least two years out.

4. Money Is a Tool – Freedom Is the Real Reward

“The wire hits your account… and you suddenly ask, ‘Now what?’ It’s not about the money – it’s about what it allows you to do.”

From supporting animal welfare initiatives to mentoring other founders, Bastian explains why post-exit purpose matters – and how redistributing equity through employee stock options helped others win, too.

Whether you’re thinking about your first acquisition, dreaming of a future exit, or just want to hear what really goes on behind the scenes, this episode is worth your time: