Innovation Under New Ownership: Our SME Acquisition Journey

Leading a company through an acquisition is never just a transaction; it’s a deeply personal experience. This is especially true when that company feels like family. Over the past three years, I’ve navigated the emotional reality of helping guide Agronomix through its acquisition. At the same time, I ensured we protected its innovative mission and the people behind it. It meant long conversations, sleepless nights, and moments of uncertainty. We often wondered whether we were making the right decisions for the business and the people who had given so much to it. It was about honouring the 35-year legacy built by Dieter. Additionally, it was about ensuring that we found a home that would allow Agronomix to continue growing, serving, and innovating for plant breeders around the world.

Values

Conversations with Dieter were not only about numbers and timing but about values, people, and legacy. We wrestled with the fear of losing what made Agronomix special. Simultaneously, we recognized the need to let it grow beyond us to continue serving plant breeders worldwide. Announcing the acquisition to our team was one of the hardest moments of my career. I’m not generally an outwardly emotional person, but for a brief moment, I was overwhelmed with emotion. It was a moment that crystallized how much this company meant to me and all of us. It showed how important it was to find a partner who understood our mission and shared it. We needed someone who would honour it for the long-term.

Learnings

This journey taught me that leadership during an acquisition requires navigating uncertainty while protecting innovation. It involves maintaining transparency while offering reassurance. It also requires holding tightly to culture while preparing to evolve for future growth. Cultura Technologies became that partner for us. They shared our mission to strengthen agriculture for the benefit of humanity. This partnership allowed Agronomix to continue innovating for our clients.

This experience inspired the Innovation Under New Ownership series, capturing lessons, challenges, and opportunities for SMEs considering or undergoing acquisition:

1️⃣ SME Acquisition Challenges and Innovation Risks

Acquisitions can disrupt the agility and creativity that define SMEs. This article explores the immediate challenges faced post-acquisition. These include cultural shifts, operational realignment, and the potential stifling of innovation if not managed carefully. It provides insight into why these challenges arise, and how leaders can begin to address them. The goal is to preserve the innovative core of their organisation during the transition.

2️⃣ Long-Term Opportunities and Strategies Post-Acquisition

This article explores how acquisitions can, with the right approach, become a platform for continued growth and innovation within SMEs. It discusses the importance of maintaining autonomy where possible, aligning leadership values, and fostering a culture that supports risk-taking and creativity. These elements are crucial even within a larger organisational structure. It offers practical examples and strategies to help leaders turn the challenges of acquisition into opportunities for sustainable growth.

3️⃣ The Incredible Benefits of Being Acquired

While acquisitions can feel daunting, they can also open doors that would be difficult to access alone. This article highlights the tangible benefits of being acquired. These include financial stability, increased resources, wider market reach, and opportunities for collaboration across a broader network. It shares how these benefits can empower SMEs to scale their impact while continuing to innovate for their clients.

4️⃣ A Guide for Business Owners

This final article is a practical guide for business owners considering selling their company. It offers reflections on the personal and professional considerations involved in selling a business. It discusses the key steps in the acquisition journey, and how to prepare your team and your organisation for the transition. It aims to help leaders make informed decisions that align with their values and long-term goals. In doing so, they can safeguard the legacy they have built.

What about you?

If you’re considering what the future of your business might look like or how to protect your team and mission during transition, I hope this series provides encouragement. It also aims to provide practical insight for your own journey of innovation under new ownership.

Explore the Full Series: Innovation Under New Ownership

Discover how acquisitions impact SMEs, innovation, and leadership in this four-part series:

✅ Part 1: SME Acquisition Challenges and Innovation Risks
Understand the risks and cultural challenges SMEs face post-acquisition and how they affect innovation.

✅ Part 2: Long-Term Opportunities and Strategies Post-Acquisition
Explore how SMEs can maintain and grow innovation under new ownership through autonomy, leadership alignment, and risk-taking.

✅ Part 3: The Incredible Benefits of Being Acquired
Learn how acquisitions can bring financial stability, global reach, and collaboration opportunities to SMEs.

✅ Part 4: A Guide for Business Owners
A practical guide for business owners considering selling their company, outlining the acquisition journey step-by-step.

About the Author

Christopher Leonard serves as President of Agronomix Software and has done so since 2017. He succeeded the company’s founder Dieter Mulitze. He played a vital role in Agronomix’s acquisition by Tecnologías de la Cultura in 2022 and explored the impact of acquisition on innovation as part of his MBA capstone project. This collection of articles draws from Chris’ firsthand experience and in-depth research throughout these transformative processes.