What if the end is just the beginning?

Acquired, Not Retired® is the largest community of exited female founders who have built, scaled, and sold their business.

Less than 1% of all businesses sold are fully owned by women. You are part of the rare few who have been through this career evolution, but you don’t have to navigate this new identity alone. 

Acquired, Not Retired is a private community offering inspiring events, confidential connection to peers who share your lived experience, and the opportunity to advise the next generation of exiting female founders while getting paid for it.

Join for just $250 a year!
Several women seated at a dinner table having a conversation, with glasses of water and a menu visible on the table, in a restaurant or dining setting.
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Over 2B in exit value captured in our acquired, not retired Community

A woman with long dark hair, wearing a sleeveless gray dress with metallic chain details around the neckline, resting her chin on her hand, looking at the camera against a plain beige background.

“The exit gap for women is so real.

We know that and closing it takes more than capital. It takes rooms like this one, full of women who’ve actually done it, who are choosing to do it again. Thank you to Carrie and to Maggie for creating a space that supports women through this next stage. What they are doing with this community really matters.”

-Emma Grede

Two women smiling and posing for a photo in a restaurant or cafe. One woman has long, wavy light brown hair and is wearing a blue denim shirt, while the other has long, wavy light brown hair and is wearing a white sleeveless blouse and brown pants. The background shows other people and warm lighting.
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What does it mean to have EFF You Money®?

EFF you (Exited Female Founder) money and F* you money is not necessarily the same thing.

While some founders have lucrative exits that exceed their wildest dreams, some sell early to move on to new ventures, and others worked their asses off but ended up with deals that fell far short of what they wanted. 

This is our safe space to talk about all the real things. Why we wanted to get acquired, how the experience differed from what we expected, what it looks like to move through unpredictable identity shifts, investment decisions, exploring new ambitions and sitting with the freedom we have for the first time in our careers.

Two women are standing and smiling at each other in a living room or art gallery. One woman is wearing a white pleated dress with high heels, and the other woman is barefoot wearing a colorful floral dress and a straw hat. The background features a wall with decorative objects on glass shelves, framed photographs, and an abstract painting.

it’s a myth to think we all go from selling our business to sipping mimosas on the beach.

Many of us build again. Often not because we have to, but because we want to.

If you feel called to a new purpose, pursuit, or even a little reinvention, the Acquired, Not Retired community was made for you. We’ll help you navigate this season with impact and intention. And if you want to join us from your beach chair, we’re fully here for that, too.

Join for just $250 a year!
  • Close-up of a circular badge with pink and navy text on a cream background, reading 'AVAILABILITY, NOT REQUIRED, COUNTY, EXCELLENT, C.'

    “Exits aren’t for the weak. It’s a hard journey and The Whisper Group provides a space to experience share things that are otherwise completely unsharable.”

    - Cris Gordon, CB Communications, Acquired by MMC

  • Close-up of a circular logo with a pink border, containing the text 'ACQUiRED, NOT REThINK' around the top and bottom, and a large pink letter 'V' with black accents in the center.

    “Acquired, Not Retired is a hell yes for me! Exiting allowed me to shift into my next chapter and my highest power, and the fact that The Whisper Group built a community around that sentiment is unique and groundbreaking!”

    - Jessica Zweig, Simply Be, Acquired by Hawke Media

  • Close-up of the circular seal of Westchester County, New York, displaying the text 'Approved, Not Rejected' around the circumference, with decorative pink and navy borders.

    “When The Whisper Group says “it’s a myth to think we all go from selling out businesses to sipping mimosas on the beach”, they’re not kidding. Regardless of the size or shape of an exit, building is in our DNA, and I am a proud member of a community that recognizes this.”

    - Kass Lazerow, Buddy Media, Acquired by Salesforce

  • Close-up of a circular official seal with navy blue and pink text reading 'Approved, Not Rejected' and 'County, State, City' around a large pink and navy blue letter 'V' in the center, on a cream background.

    “Where was The Whisper Group when I was selling? What this team is doing for exited female founders and the women that they can educate and inspire is simply unparalleled. I love being a part of their community”

    - Kendra Bracken Ferguson, Digital Brand Architects, Acquired by United Talent Agency

Wear Your Exit Win with Pride

Shop our Exit Merch Collection made exclusively for women just like you!

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