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"Thryv Acquired Keap: What This Could Mean for Your System and Business"

Keap (Infusionsoft) was acquired by Thryv

Watch This Video Now to Discover:

What Thryv’s Acquisition of Keap Could Mean for Your Business.

Keap (formerly Infusionsoft) was recently acquired by Thryv, a company focused on helping small businesses grow with CRM software. While no official changes have been made yet, acquisitions often bring changes in platform priorities, support structures, or services.

If your business relies on Keap/Infusionsoft, it’s smart to review your system now to ensure you’re prepared for any future adjustments. I’ve helped businesses safeguard their systems and ensure smooth transitions before changes occur.

Book a free 30-minute consultation to discuss how you can make sure your setup stays stable and efficient as the integration process unfolds. Spots are limited, so don’t wait—secure your spot now.

Infusionsoft/Keap & Thryv Acquisition

What I am going to cover:

  1. Breakdown of the Email to Client's of Keap by Clate Mask.

    1. Break down of the investor letter by Clate to investors.

    2. Thryv - Who Are They and You May Be In Danger?

    3. Transaction Details.

    4. Mike Weiss - Why should you listen to me?

    5. Why Is There An Acquisition Death Spiral.

    6. The Acquired Company Death Spiral Explained.

    7. The Venture Capital and Private Equity Death Spiral Explained.

    8. Why GHL.

    9. Why Trust Mike Weiss With Your Business Migration?

    10. The Catastrophic Cost of Inaction.

    11. Transition Process to GHL (GoHighLevel).

Breakdown of the Email to Client's of Keap:

Mike ,

I am excited to announce Keap has joined forces with Thryv, a leading provider in small business services.

As part of this transition, you can expect our commitment to serving your businesses’ needs to grow even stronger.

With Thryv by our side, we are positioned to bring you enhanced services, access to new tools and resources, and innovative features to help grow your business.

Our teams are working closely together to ensure that you continue to enjoy the exceptional service and seamless experience you’ve come to expect from us.

What does this mean for you?

Right now, everything will remain as it is: the Keap brand, your platform, service agreements, and your points of contact won’t change. Over the coming months, we’ll keep you informed about any new enhancements or improvements designed to bring you greater value.

Our priority is, and always will be, to support your success and make this transition as smooth as possible.

In order to be the best advocate and support for our customer ecosystem, I will be stepping down from my role as the leader of this company, and I will be moving into an advisory role to help the companies achieve our combined mission “To help small businesses succeed”.

As always, please feel free to schedule time with your Customer Success team member if you have any additional needs.

Thank you for your trust and loyalty. I’m genuinely excited for what the future holds and for our journey together to the next level.

Sincerely,

Clate Mask.

Break down of the investor letter by Clate to investors

THIS IS THE SHAREHOLDER LETTER FROM CLATE:

FYI (sharing for visibility) - this is the shareholder email I received today from Clate regarding the acquisition:

“Shareholders,

Today we announced that Keap is being acquired by Thryv, a public company that helps small businesses succeed with CRM software and services.

While there are many positives about this transaction, unfortunately, it does not return any capital to you and our common shareholders.

This will be my last update to you, as I explain what happened and what it means for you and all of our common shareholders.

In short, the sale price was not high enough to put our common shares in the money.

Common shareholders get paid after debt is paid off and preferred investors get paid, and there is nothing left from the proceeds of the sale for you and me as common shareholders.

As a result of the sale of Keap to Thryv, the common stock will go away.

Obviously, the stock going to zero and being wiped out is not what you or I want for our stock. But after many years of trying to get the stock price up, this is the unfortunate outcome for common shareholders. It is time to move forward.

As I shared with you previously, we have been working to get the company’s profit and growth up since I got the reins back four years ago. We got profitable and we reversed the revenue decline, but revenue has essentially been flat for the past four years.

Almost a year ago, we commenced a second banker-led process to find a new investor to replace our existing preferred shareholders. As part of that long and thorough process, we were not able to find a new investor, but we were able to find a strategic acquirer in Thryv.

Thryv’s mission is “To help small businesses succeed,” much like Keap’s.

The combination of Thryv and Keap will be good for employees, partners and customers.

Employees will have new opportunities as part of a larger, public company.

Partners will have more products to offer their small business clients.

And customers will benefit from additional product investment and more products and services to help them succeed.

While I don’t like the acquisition for our common shareholders, I really like it for our employees, partners and customers.

Let me be clear that like you, I own common stock. So I am in the same boat with you on this deal.

I’m disappointed it didn’t work out the way I hoped when I got the reins back four years ago.

My team and I hoped and expected to do better for you and all of our common shareholders. This is a bitter pill to swallow after spending over two decades working to build Infusionsoft and Keap, striving to help small businesses succeed.

After 22 years, I will be stepping down from my role as the leader of this company, and I will be moving into an advisory role to help the company achieve its combined mission
“To help small businesses succeed.

While the outcome is disappointing to me as a shareholder, I am grateful for the many things this company has achieved over the years. Infusionsoft was amazing!

Keap… didn’t quite make it on its own.

But over the years, we provided thousands of jobs, developed many great leaders, and helped tens of thousands of small businesses succeed, all while living our Purpose, Values and Mission.

And the new combined company will have an opportunity to achieve our bigger Mission we’ve always been inspired to pursue—to help one million small businesses succeed.

I am profoundly grateful for the past 2+ decades.

And I’m excited to see what the future holds for the new, combined company.

Clate”

Thryv - Who Are They and You May Be In Danger?

Thryv Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:THRY) (“Thryv” or the “Company”), the provider of Thryv, the leading small business software platform.

Thryv: $349+/month

Podium: $399-$599/month

Keap: $249-$585/month

Clickfunnels: $297

Transaction Details:

  1. Clate Mask and Scott Martineau great guys.

  2. Infusionsoft changed my life - deep appreciation.

  3. Business facts must supersede emotions. YouTube videos.

  4. Partners have a long history with Infusionsoft/Keap

Mike Weiss - Why should you listen to me?

Wall Street Experience:

• Over 20 years on Wall Street. Personally raised more than $100 million in assets. Built a Wealth Management Company, Fund of Funds and Hedge Fund. Deep understanding financial transactions.


Company Liquidation Experience:

• Co-founded and later sold Green Trak, a financial and tax reporting company that tracked over $26 billion in assets.

• 1998 $500 million dollar evaluation. 2001 Sold for $88 million to a public company.

• Within 24 months, shuttered Greentrak and through out the software.

• Fired the employees and forced the customers into their software.


Infusionsoft/Keap Expertise:

• Finalist for Infusionsoft's "Marketer of the Year" in 2012 out of 400 candidates.

• Initial Infusionsoft partner since 2008, providing long-term perspective on the company's evolution.

• Co-founded NeuroGym with John Assaraf on Infusionsoft/Keap, scaling it from $200,000/year to $2 million in 16 months with 7,000 customers in 80 countries.


Pioneer on Keap:

• Founded Client Engagement Academy the leading done-4-you education platform using Keap as the main software.

• Worked with some of the top digital marketing companies in the world demonstrates his intimate knowledge of the platform and its capabilities.


Current Industry Position:

• Founder of Clout Selling.

• AI Digital Marketing Agency.

• GoHighLevel Agency.

• AI Software Developer.

Client Portfolio:

  1. Agora Financial

  2. GKIC (Glazer-Kennedy Insider's Circle) - Dan Kennedy

  3. Digital Marketer - Ryan Deiss

  4. Profit First

  5. AdvantageForbes Media

  6. Brian Tracy

  7. John Assaraf

  8. Matt Bacak

  9. Kent Clothier (Real Estate Worldwide)

  10. + over 50 more impressive clients...

Why Is There An Acquisition Death Spiral

• Why acquiring companies often shut down the software of companies they purchase:

  1. Operational Efficiency:

    • The acquiring company cannot efficiently run two different software platforms due to increases operational complexity and costs.

  1. Customer Base Acquisition:

    • The primary goal of the acquisition is often to acquire the customer base, especially when they are a public company and their stock price has bee suffering.

  1. Keap Employees Fired:

    • The acquiring company typically cuts a significant portion (around 90%) of the acquired company's workforce and the expertise related to the acquired software.

  1. Lack of Intimate Knowledge:

    • Lacks deep understanding of the acquired software's intricacies and software's architecture, unique features, and specific customer needs.

  1. Sole Focus:

    • The acquiring company prefers to focus on its core products and technologies, especially since their stock price has been weak during the last few years.

  1. Integration Is Almost Impossible:

    • The complexities of integrating disparate systems.

The Acquired Company Death Spiral Explained

The Acquired Company Death Spiral Explained

Here’s how the "death spiral" often plays out for companies that are acquired by larger software firms:


1) One Software Company Buys Another

• A big software company buys a smaller one that does something similar.


2) They’re Competing Software Products

• The two companies offer software that competes with each other, often serving similar customer needs.


3) It’s All About Gaining Customers and Revenue

• The main reason for the acquisition? To gain the smaller company’s customers and keep revenue flowing.


4) It Sounds Like Great News at First

• At first, the news release makes it sound like a win for everyone—especially for the acquired company and its customers.


5) Within 24 Months, the Death Spiral Begins

• But within two years (or sooner), the "death spiral" starts.


6) Customers Are Forced to Switch

• Customers of the acquired company get a message: they have to switch to the acquiring company’s software.

7) The Old Software is Shut Down

• The original software they know and use is completely shut down.


8) Acquired Customers Are Neglected

• These customers are often treated poorly. They get no discounts, no compensation, and no incentives to make the switch because the acquiring company is laser-focused on expanding profits and cutting costs.


In the end, this “death spiral” means the acquired company’s customers lose their preferred software and are forced to use a new one with little regard for their needs. It’s all about maximizing profit for the acquiring company.

The Venture Capital and Private Equity Death Spiral Explained

The Venture Capital and Private Equity Death Spiral Explained

Here’s how the “death spiral” often unfolds in companies funded by venture capital (VC) and private equity (PE) firms:


1) They Invest to Make Money Only

• VC and PE firms put their money into companies with one main goal: making a lot of money.


2) Short Time Horizon: 3 to 7 Years

• They don’t plan to stick around forever. They usually want their money back, plus a profit, within 3 to 7 years.


3) Support Growth While Times Are Good

• At first, they do help. As long as the company is doing well, they support its growth with extra funding or advice.


4) Might Even Help Out

• Some firms offer services like recruiting or marketing help if they think it will boost the company’s value.

5) Death Spiral Begins When Sales and Profits Stall

• The "death spiral" starts when the company’s sales slow down or profits shrink. For VC and PE firms, this is a big red flag.


6) Taking Control to “Protect Their Investment

• To protect their money, the VC or PE firm often steps in, taking control of the board of directors and making all the decisions.


7) Trying to Revive a Dying Company

• They might try to “resurrect the dead” by slashing costs or pushing for new strategies, even if it’s risky.

8) If That Fails, They Force Liquidation

• If the company can’t be saved, they’ll force it to sell off its assets to recover as much money as possible.


9) No Concern for Employees or Clients After Liquidation

• Once they pull out, the employees’ jobs and the company’s clients are often left in the dust. Their main concern is the money they’ve managed to get back.


In short, if a company enters the VC or PE “death spiral,” everyone except the investors may lose out in the end. The goal is profit, and when trouble hits, everything else becomes secondary.

Why GHL

Scale & Stability Proof Points

  1. Trusted by 60,000 customers

  2. Powers 1,400,000 businesses

  3. Facilitates 15 billion conversations

  4. Rapidly growing platform (unlike Keap's decline)

Major Cost-Saving Advantages

GHL Replaces 20+ Essential Business Tools:

  1. HubSpot (CRM/Marketing)

  2. Active Campaign (Email)

  3. Click Funnels (Sales Funnels)

  4. Kajabi (Courses)

  5. WordPress/Wix (Websites)

  6. )Typeform (Forms)

  7. Twilio (SMS)

  8. Calendly (Scheduling)

  9. Skool (Community)

  10. Mighty Networks (Membership)

  11. PandaDocs (Documents)

  12. DocuSign (E-signatures)

  13. Plus more...

Revolutionary "All-In-One" Benefits


Unlimited Everything:

• No contact limits.

• Unlimited users.

• No hidden fees or nickel-and-diming.

Complete Marketing Suite:

• Website & funnel builder.

• Landing page creation.

• Survey & form tools.

• Appointment scheduling.

• Membership areas.

• Course management.

Advanced Automation:

• Multi-channel campaigns.

• AI-powered conversations.

• Full webinar automations.

• Automated booking and appointment reminders.

• Abandon cart automation.

• Two-way communication.

• Record phone calls.

• Full workflow automation based on email, link clicks, opens, message response, form submitted, timer, and 20 other triggers.

• Unlimited tags database design.

Business Growth Tools:

• Pipeline management.

• Payment processing.

• Comprehensive analytics.

• Full reporting suite.

Integration Capabilities:

• Zapier compatibility.

• Webhook support.

• Robust API access.

Financial Impact


Immediate Cost Reduction:

• Eliminates 10+ software subscriptions.

• Lower monthly fee than Keap/Infusionsoft.

• Savings often exceed GHL's entire monthly cost.


Revenue Enhancement:

• Better lead capture.

• Improved conversion rates.

• Enhanced customer retention.

• Streamlined payment collection.


Operational Efficiency:

• Single platform management.

• Unified analytics.

• Simplified training.

• Reduced admin time.

Why Trust Mike Weiss With Your Business Migration?

PROVEN EXPERTISE:

• 19 years mastering digital marketing and complex business automation

• Built some of the industry's most sophisticated marketing architectures

• Former Wall Street technologist who understands enterprise-level migrations

• Professional software developer who speaks both business and tech

• Infusionsoft's top partner and platform expert for 15 years

BATTLE-TESTED EXPERIENCE:

• DONE-FOR-YOU build and managed

• Architected platforms for industry giants like Digital Marketer and NeuroGym

• Featured speaker at InfusionCon (1500+ audience)

• Built and scaled Client Engagement Academy into the #1 EdTech platform

• Successfully navigated multiple corporate acquisitions and platform migrations

• Intimately understands the pain of forced software transitions

BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION:

• Reduces software costs by eliminating unnecessary third-party tools

• Transforms clunky workarounds into streamlined operations

• Upgrades your automation capabilities beyond Infusionsoft's limitations

• Future-proofs your business on a rapidly growing platform

• Provides competitive advantage while others struggle with forced migration

STRATEGIC IMPLEMENTATION:

• Custom migration blueprint that preserves your business while enhancing it

• Proven methodology that protects revenue streams during transition

• Expert-level knowledge of both Infusionsoft and GHL architectures

• Deep understanding of complex automation and integration requirements

• Priority access to migration support before the 30,000-user exodus begins

RISK MITIGATION:

• Protects your customer data during the transition

• Preserves complex automation sequences

• Maintains billing continuity to protect revenue

• Ensures zero business disruption during migration

• Prevents getting stuck in the coming support bottleneck

The Catastrophic Cost of Inaction

IMMEDIATE REVENUE DISRUPTION:

• Every recurring payment must be re-authorized with new credit card processing

• Significant percentage of customers will not update payment information


• Monthly recurring revenue will drop as billing systems are forced to change

• Each day of payment system disruption = direct revenue loss

• Historical billing data and payment sequences at risk of being lost

CUSTOMER & DATA EXODUS:

• Forced to rebuild entire business infrastructure under pressure.

• Stuck in support queues with 30,000 other desperate businesses.

• Email deliverability will crater during transition.

• Integration connections will break.

• Staff will require extensive retraining on new, unfamiliar systems

AUTOMATION APOCALYPSE:

• Years of marketing automation sequences will break

• Sales funnels will stop functioning

• Email nurture campaigns will cease

• Follow-up sequences will fail

• Entire business processes will need manual intervention

OPERATIONAL PARALYSIS:

• Forced to rebuild entire business infrastructure under pressure

• Stuck in support queues with 30,000 other desperate businesses

• Email deliverability will crater during transition

• Integration connections will break

• Staff will require extensive retraining on new, unfamiliar systems

COMPETITIVE DESTRUCTION:

• Loss of market position while business systems are down

• Competitors who moved early will capture your displaced customers

• Marketing momentum will evaporate during transition

• Brand reputation damage from service interruptions

• Months of recovery time while competition grows stronger

Transition Process to GHL (GoHighLevel)

Next Steps: Your Seamless Transition to GHL with Our Done-for-You Agency

  1. Book Your Strategy Call

We'll schedule a convenient time for an in-depth discussion about your business needs and concerns. This is your opportunity to share your vision and ask any questions you may have about the transition process.

  1. Analyze Your Current Business

    Our team of experts will take a deep dive into your business operations, understanding your unique workflows, customer journey, and pain points. We'll identify areas where GHL can significantly enhance your efficiency and customer engagement.

  1. Review Your Keap/Infusionsoft App and Funnels

    We'll meticulously examine your existing Keap/Infusionsoft setup, including all automations, funnels, and integrations. This thorough analysis ensures we capture every crucial element of your current system.

  1. Conclude Initial Consultation

    We'll summarize our findings and initial recommendations, ensuring you have a clear understanding of the path forward. You'll leave this meeting feeling confident and well-informed about the next steps.

  1. Comprehensive Questionnaire

    To fill in any gaps and dive deeper into specific areas of your business, we'll send you a detailed questionnaire. This helps us tailor our solution precisely to your needs, ensuring no aspect of your business is overlooked.

  1. Develop Your 45-Day Strategic Plan

    Our team will craft a comprehensive 45-day plan, outlining the step-by-step process for your transition to GHL. This plan will include our strategy, timeline, and transparent pricing, giving you a clear roadmap for success.

  1. Strategic Planning Review Meeting

    We'll reconvene to walk you through the 45-day plan, addressing any questions or concerns. This meeting ensures we're aligned on goals, expectations, and the path forward.

  1. Engage and Start the Conversion

    With your approval, we'll kick off the conversion process, putting our meticulous plan into action. Our expert team will begin building your new GHL system in parallel with your existing setup, ensuring a smooth transition without disrupting your current operations.


Throughout this process and beyond, remember that we are your dedicated done-for-you agency.


We don't just consult – we design, build, manage, and provide ongoing support.


Our approach is hands-on and comprehensive:

• Consultation: We dive deep into your business needs and goals.

• Design: We create a custom GHL setup tailored to your specific requirements.

• Build: Our experts construct your new system with meticulous attention to detail.

• Management: We oversee the entire transition process, ensuring smooth operations.

• Ongoing Support: Our team remains by your side, providing continuous assistance and optimization.

Rest assured, we understand the critical nature of your business continuity.


Our dual-track conversion process ensures your existing operations remain unaffected while we build and test your new GHL system.


We'll conduct thorough testing in a parallel environment, and only when we're confident in its performance will we begin the careful process of redirecting traffic and converting your database.


We've successfully executed this process for numerous complex educational sites and businesses across various industries.


Our track record speaks for itself – seamless transitions without disruptions or data loss.


With our expert team guiding you every step of the way, you can look forward to a stress-free transition and a more powerful, efficient business operation with GHL.


Let's embark on this journey together and unlock the full potential of your business.

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Client Engagement Academy | Moraine Circle, Steamboat Springs, CO 80847

(646) 904-4822

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeweiss/

Client Engagement Academy | Moraine Circle, Steamboat Springs,

CO, 80847

917-938-7900

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeweiss/

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