Playbook Media vs. software holding companies.
Several companies buy software businesses to keep them. They differ in how they are funded, how much they change and how much they share. Here is where we fit, and where we are new.
Contents8.1Is Playbook Media a software holding company?1 / 5
§ 8.1
Is Playbook Media a software holding company?In part.
We share the plan to own software businesses for the long term. We differ in how we work: we combine long-term ownership with hands-on product improvement and shared internal tools. We are also new. We have reviewed businesses and made offers, but none has completed.
- Like many holding companies: a long-term owner, no resale plan.
- Our difference: hands-on improvement with shared internal tools, and local accountability.
- Our limit: no record of past acquisitions yet.
§ 8.2
How holding companies differ.Three common models.
- Model 1
Hands-off owner
Buys good businesses and leaves the existing team to run them. It changes little.
- Model 2
Shared-services owner
Combines functions such as support, finance or engineering across products to lower costs.
- Model 3
Hands-on improver
Makes deliberate improvements to each product, with shared tools and clear owners. This is our model.
§ 8.3
Where we fit, and where we are new.Typical patterns.
| Established holding company | Playbook Media | |
|---|---|---|
| Time horizon | Often long term. | Long term. We do not buy to resell. |
| After the sale | From hands-off to fully integrated, depending on the company. | Stability first, then a few measured improvements with clear owners. |
| Shared tools | Varies. | An internal growth platform for measurement and experiments, in development. |
| Track record | Many can show past acquisitions. | None completed yet. |
| Size of business | Varies widely by company. | $5k–$20k in monthly recurring revenue, as a first search. |
§ 8.4
When each one fits.An honest list.
Choose an established holding company when
- You want to speak with founders who sold to them.
- You want a buyer that has done this many times.
- You want little or no change after the sale.
Talk to us when
- You want the product improved with care, not only kept.
- You want to talk to the person who decides.
- You are comfortable being early with a new owner.
§ 8.5
Questions founders ask.Short answers.
Why should I sell to a new buyer?
You do not have to. Compare us with buyers who have a record. What we offer is a direct conversation, a published process and a clear plan for the product.
Do you combine products?
No. Products keep their own brands and customers. They share internal tools where the tools help.
What is the internal growth platform?
Shared tools for measurement, experiments and growth operations. It is in development and built for our own operators first.
End of comparison