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How David Sinkinson Bootstrapped AppArmor to a $40M Exit

Writer's picture: Mark HartmannMark Hartmann

In this week’s Built to Sell Radio episode, John Warrillow interviews David Sinkinson, co-founder of AppArmor. David and his brother Chris created a mobile app that allows students to alert campus security by pressing a single button on their phones. Their journey from developing AppArmor to selling their company for $40 million is packed with insight. 


During the interview, you’ll discover how answering a simple question posed by an acquirer almost cost the Sinkinson brothers $20 million. Learn how they navigated this near-disastrous moment and what steps they took to recover and close the deal successfully. 


In this episode, you’ll also learn how to: 

- Dodge the question that almost ended up costing David $20 million. 

- Turn your customers into raving fans. 

- Unlock the hidden strategy that helped AppArmor fund its growth without outside investors. 

- Transform one-time app users into dedicated, recurring customers with a simple tactic. 

- Master the negotiation techniques that secured AppArmor’s $40 million exit. 

- Achieve an incredibly low customer churn rate with this unexpected approach. 

- Strengthen your co-founder relationship using the Sinkinson brothers’ key insights.


Want to learn how to make your business irresistible to buyers? CLICK HERE to schedule a meeting with me today. 



Video: How David Sinkinson Bootstrapped AppArmor to a $40M Exit








 
Mark Hartmann - CEO of HartmannRhodes

Mark Hartmann is a three-time Inc 500|5000 CEO with a rich sales, operations, and leadership background in the insurance, financial services, and healthcare sectors. With extensive experience growing and selling his own businesses, Mark leverages his expertise to help owners grow and sell businesses valued at $1M —$25M. He’s earned a master’s degree in organizational change management from St. Elizabeth University and a graduate certificate in executive coaching from Columbia University. Mark’s professional certifications include Certified Mergers and Acquisitions Professional (CM&AP), Certified Business Intermediary (CBI), Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA), and Certified Value Builder (CVB).

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