exit strategy
Way to leave
An exit strategy is a plan for ending involvement in something—a business venture, investment, military engagement, or difficult situation.
The term implies forethought about how to withdraw cleanly when conditions warrant: What's your exit strategy if the startup fails?
In military contexts, it refers to plans for disengaging from conflict.
In business, it often means how investors will eventually cash out: through acquisition, IPO, or sale.
Emergency departure procedure
- escape routePlanned exit path
- fire drillEmergency evacuation practice
- assembly pointDesignated gathering location
- lifeboatEmergency vessel for survivors
safe room · shelter-in-place · evacuation route · backup plan · contingency · precaution · crisis management · failsafe
Act of taking away
- retreatSanctuary or withdrawal
- evacuationRemoval from danger
- disengagementWithdrawal from involvement
- redeploymentRelocating resources or personnel
extraction · pullout · demobilization · drawdown · exfiltration · fallback · egress · repatriation
Disposal of assets
- acquisitionAct of obtaining something
- mergerCorporate combination
- buyoutPurchase of controlling interest
- IPOFirst public stock offering
liquidation · spin-off · sale · valuation · stakeholder · equity · investor · founder
Uncertain possible event
- roadmapDetailed plan forward
- preparationArranging things in advance
- forecastingEstimating future conditions
- milestonesNotable points of progress
risk management · objectives · timeline · implementation · backup plan · feasibility · benchmarking · optimization
Romantic relationship's termination
- separationState of being apart
- divorceLegal end of matrimony
- disengagementWithdrawal from involvement
- closureSense of emotional resolution
moving on · letting go · uncoupling · parting · detachment · severance · ending · extrication
evacuation plan
Emergency departure procedure
- escape routePlanned exit path
- fire drillEmergency evacuation practice
- assembly pointDesignated gathering location
lifeboat · safe room · shelter-in-place · evacuation route · backup plan · contingency · precaution · crisis management · failsafe · alarm
withdrawal
Act of taking away
- retreatSanctuary or withdrawal
- evacuationRemoval from danger
- disengagementWithdrawal from involvement
redeployment · extraction · pullout · demobilization · drawdown · exfiltration · fallback · egress · repatriation · ceasefire
divestiture
Disposal of assets
- acquisitionAct of obtaining something
- mergerCorporate combination
- buyoutPurchase of controlling interest
IPO · liquidation · spin-off · sale · valuation · stakeholder · equity · investor · founder · startup
contingency
Uncertain possible event
- roadmapDetailed plan forward
- preparationArranging things in advance
- forecastingEstimating future conditions
milestones · risk management · objectives · timeline · implementation · backup plan · feasibility · benchmarking · optimization · goal-setting
breakup
Romantic relationship's termination
- separationState of being apart
- divorceLegal end of matrimony
- disengagementWithdrawal from involvement
closure · moving on · letting go · uncoupling · parting · detachment · severance · ending · extrication · independence
- business termsfranchising, revenue stream, board meeting, gross margin, markdown
- entrepreneurshipentrepreneur, startup, founder, co-founder, cofounder
- strategytactics, tactic, tactical, military tactics, master plan
- franchisesfranchise, Star Wars, franchising, franchises, franchisor
- office jargonsynergy, circle back, touch base, deep dive, action item
- corporate strategymergers, acquisitions, divestitures, divestiture, synergies
exit strategyentrenchment
Fortified or fixed position
doubling down · going all in · dig in · till death do us part · ride or die
exit strategymarket entry
Beginning commercial presence
launch plan · market penetration · growth strategy · investment strategy · expansion plan
exit strategyperseverance
Sustained resolve despite obstacles
persistence · staying power · resilience · tenacity · digging in
exit, strategy, strategic, strategies, exiting, strategist, exited, stratagem, strategists