Management

Tom Metz founded the boutique investment bank T.V. Metz & Co., LLC in 1983 and has been an investment banker for more than four decades. The firm specializes in arranging mergers and acquisitions in the technology industries.

Previously Mr. Metz invested venture capital for a private holding company. He held positions in finance with the DeLorean Motor Co. and computer sales with IBM. Mr. Metz has degrees in Mathematics and Computer Science from the University of Oregon and an MBA from the University of California at Berkeley. He is a frequent speaker on mergers, acquisitions and entrepreneurial topics.

Tom is an avid golfer and downhill skier. In his younger years he was a top nationally-ranked squash player. He is also a pilot and for many years he flew his Cessna 182 named Loretta to family and golf destinations.

Tom has authored four books:

• Selling the Intangible Company—How to Negotiate and Capture the Value of a Growth Firm (John Wiley & Sons, 2009)
• Perfect Your Exit Strategy—7 Steps to Maximum Value (Bettencourt, 2016)
• Defining Excellence—The Discipline of Company Definition (Bettencourt, 2019)
• Entrepreneurs: The Economic Spark (Bettencourt, 2025)

Perfect Your Exit Strategy

In Selling the Intangible Company, Thomas Metz helps entrepreneurs and CEOs understand the nuances of selling a company whose value is strategic. Companies with strategic value—as opposed to financial value—are predominantly found in the fast-changing technology industries. Metz reveals the best time to sell, debunks M&A myths and offers advice on negotiating tactics. Selling the Intangible Company is an essential read to help CEOs when selling a company with strategic value.  (John Wiley & Sons, 2009. > Click here for more information.

A business exists for only one reason—to deliver value to its customers. A company should therefore be defined by its customers, not by its products or services. Company definition impacts how you think about your company—how you perceive your markets and new opportunities for growth. Company definition impacts every corporate communication—press releases, investor presentations, etc. Clarity is not optional. (Bettencourt Publishing, 2019) > Click here for more information.

Entrepreneurs are the driving force in the economy.  They create every company and every job. They take risks, often fail, yet they persist and drive innovation. Many people misunderstand  our economy. They think markets fail, the economy is zero-sum, profits are excessive and spending drives growth. The book explores entrepreneurship, risk-taking and value creation. It explains how markets really function and why economic freedom matters. (Bettencourt Publishing, 2025) > Click here for more information.