How to get largest individual,particularly institutional shareholders to contact me (email/phone) when they try to sell/pledge stocks from portfolio?

Normally, investors want startups to either exit or go public. They're not exactly interested in making some small return before. They want to make at least 10x the amount they invested, that's why it's worth it for them, even with the risk of losing the capital (and that's what happens to a considerable number of investments they do).

Full disclosure, I used to work there but Axial provides a great platform for identifying relevant m&a advisors. With their platform, you can view a number of qualified bankers/advisors, see their prior experience and determine who would be the best fit for your business. My recommendation would be to develop a list of 5-10 bankers, interview them and decide who you feel most comfortable with. The process you choose to find the right partner is almost as important as the m&a process itself.

There are a couple of key questions embedded in your decision that aren't addressed in your description that make this difficult to provide input: What are you looking to gain with a partnership? (capital, connections, expertise, access to customer base) How much and on what timeline? To use for what specifically? (equipment, facilities, labor, marketing) How will it enable you to grow? (efficiencies, new markets, additional revenue streams) Is your objective incremental organic growth, "hockey stick" growth or other? How urgent is the need? (Do you have working capital? Are you pre-revenue, break even or positive? Is it sustainable?) Happy to discuss in detail once I have a bit more perspective on your situation. Best, Tamarah

There are several options for consulting on shareholders' stock portfolios, custodian communication, and stock loans. Some of these include: Financial Advisors: Many financial advisors, such as those at large financial institutions or independent firms, have experience working with shareholders and can provide guidance on managing stock portfolios and other investments. Stockbrokers: Stockbrokers can provide information and advice on buying and selling stocks and can assist with executing trades on behalf of shareholders. Stock loan service providers: There are a number of firms that provide stock loan services, these firms typically focus on lending against publicly traded shares, they also provide collateral management services and market intelligence to their clients. Custodian banks: Some custodian banks also provide custodian services as well as services of communication with the shareholders and other parties related to the shares or securities on the portfolio. It's important to keep in mind that consulting services may require a fee, and it's important to understand what you're paying for and to make sure that the firm or individual providing the services is qualified and licensed to do so. Researching the background of the firm or individual, reading reviews and checking with regulatory agencies, like SEC, would be a good step before engaging in any business with them.

Without knowing where in the world you are it's hard to name any specific institutions but here are some things I've learned over the years: 1. Don't do business banking virtually. By having a relationship with my local bank officer I was allowed to go over my line of credit limit by $5,000 for 14 days on her authority alone. The only reason she let me was our personal relationship. People matter. 2. Ask if you'll automatically be offered credit limit increases based on account activity or if you need to apply each time you want to expand credit. Applying each time will likely create a 'hit' on your credit score. I once had my credit expanded by $20,000 simply because of the account activity. 3. Get a clear understanding of the fees and understand that dealing with you costs the bank money. I'm very suspicious of 'free' accounts of any kind. There is always a cost. 4. Make sure the branch is convenient. I don't like waiting for an hour on the phone to speak to someone in a call center. When there is a royal screw-up in your banking nothing beats marching down and talking to the commercial manager. They'll want you out of their office fast and that means getting a resolution most of the time. 5. If you're going to be doing business internationally, ask about foreign branches or brands. Here in Canada most of the banks own US banks so it can make things easier for business in the US to open a US account in the USA from the comfort of home. Set up a call if you'd like to talk about your specific needs. David C Barnett