The Exit Table
Meaningful Conversations. Valuable Connections. Better Businesses.
An exclusive dinner for professional services business owners, founders, and M&A professionals committed to building more valuable, transferable businesses.
Wednesday, September 16, 2026 | 5:30 PM | Toronto, Ontario
Complimentary to attend • Application Required • Limited Seating
A Complimentary Invitation
The Exit Table is offered at no cost to invited guests.
Our goal is simple: to bring together exceptional founders and experienced M&A professionals for meaningful conversations that help build stronger, more valuable businesses. There are no presentations, no sponsorship pitches, and no obligation—just an evening of thoughtful discussion, valuable insights, and authentic relationship building over dinner.
Because seating is intentionally limited, attendance is by application and invitation only.
Hosted By:
Melissa Houston, CPA, CEPA
Melissa Houston helps founder-led businesses understand what their company is worth today, what it could be worth tomorrow, and how to close the gap. Through her advisory practice she works with owners to identify the factors that drive enterprise value, reduce owner dependence, and prepare their businesses for a successful future transition. Melissa is also a Forbes contributor and a trusted voice on business value growth and exit readiness.
Naomi Morisawa De Koven
Naomi Morisawa De Koven is a corporate lawyer and partner at Navio Law. She advises entrepreneurs and growing businesses on mergers and acquisitions, financing, corporate structuring, and strategic transactions. Naomi has extensive experience helping business owners navigate complex legal matters while preparing for successful ownership transitions.
Together we are bringing you The Exit Table to connect founders and experienced M&A professionals together for candid conversations about building businesses that are not only successful today, but valuable and transferable for the future.
Most Business Owners Wait Too Long.
Many founders spend years building successful companies, only to discover their business isn’t worth what they expected when it’s time to sell.
The businesses that command premium valuations aren’t built in the year before an exit. They’re built intentionally over many years.
The Exit Table brings together a carefully selected group of founders and experienced M&A professionals for an evening of honest conversation about what truly drives business value.
Whether you’re planning to sell in two years or ten, you’ll leave with practical insights, meaningful relationships, and a clearer understanding of how to build a business that’s worth more tomorrow than it is today.
This Isn’t a Typical Networking Event.
Just meaningful conversations over dinner with people who understand the challenges of building, growing, and eventually transitioning a business. Around the table, you’ll exchange ideas, ask questions, share experiences, and hear perspectives from founders who have faced similar challenges alongside professionals who advise on transactions every day.
The result is an evening of practical insights, trusted relationships, and conversations that continue long after dinner ends.
What We’ll Discuss
Every conversation is unique, but topics often include:
The key drivers of business value
Building a business that can thrive without the founder
Financial performance and valuation
Succession and exit planning
What buyers look for during due diligence
Lessons learned from real transactions
Reducing risk before a sale
Common mistakes that reduce enterprise value
Who Should Attend?
Founders & Business Owners
The Exit Table is designed for business owners who:
Lead businesses generating approximately $1 million to $20 million in annual revenue
Want to increase the value of their company
Are planning for an eventual transition or sale
Value thoughtful conversations with other accomplished founders and trusted advisors
M&A Professionals
A limited number of experienced professionals also join each dinner, including:
M&A advisors and business brokers
Corporate and M&A lawyers
Commercial bankers
Wealth advisors
Tax specialists
Exit planning professionals
Private equity and investment professionals