FE International is pleased to welcome Dirk Sahlmer as a Partner, adding a highly experienced M&A professional and recognized SaaS industry expert to our global advisory team. With a career that spans engineering, entrepreneurship, and years of sourcing and closing SaaS acquisitions, Dirk brings a perspective that strengthens our ability to guide founders through the complexities of an exit.
A Career Built on Engineering, Entrepreneurship and M&A
Dirk’s professional journey began in engineering before he shifted into entrepreneurship and investing. That shift gave him first-hand insight into what it takes to build, operate and eventually position a business for acquisition. His early experience working on his own SaaS startup exposed him to the operational realities and challenges many of our clients face, giving him a practical understanding of the entrepreneurial journey.
From those entrepreneurial beginnings, Dirk moved into venture capital and later joined saas.group, an acquirer of SaaS companies. At saas.group, he built the firm’s origination function from the ground up and rose to become Head of Origination. In this role he spoke with hundreds of founders each year, assessed thousands of opportunities across the $1M to $10M ARR range, and helped drive the group's growth through his contribution to over 20 M&A deals. His work there provided unmatched exposure to the factors that make SaaS companies attractive to buyers, the operational risks that can derail a transaction, and the strategic levers that drive long-term value.
Leadership in SaaS and M&A
Beyond his direct deal work, Dirk has established himself as a thought leader in the SaaS ecosystem. He writes regularly on saas.wtf, a newsletter followed by founders and investors for its candid analysis of SaaS metrics, growth levers, and exit readiness. He also shares perspectives on podcasts and at industry events such as SaaStanak, where he has spoken about the benchmarks acquirers look for and how founders can prepare for a successful diligence process.
These contributions have earned Dirk a reputation not only as a dealmaker but also as an educator in the field; someone committed to equipping founders with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about their companies.
Strengthening FE International’s Global SaaS Advisory
Dirk’s move to FE International represents a natural progression in his career. Over the past six years he has worked extensively on the buyer side of SaaS transactions. By joining FE, he now brings that knowledge and discipline to the advisory side, working directly with founders to help them achieve the best possible outcomes. His technical background enables him to understand product and engineering considerations at a deeper level, while his entrepreneurial experience allows him to empathize with the journey of scaling and exiting a business. Combined with his years of origination work, he adds a rigorous and analytical perspective to FE International’s advisory practice.
For SaaS founders, Dirk’s addition to our partners means expanded insight into what drives valuation, which risks to address before going to market, and how to position a business to align with the right buyer pool. For investors, it means sharper sourcing, deeper analysis, and a trusted partner who has evaluated SaaS businesses across every stage of growth.
“Dirk has spent years evaluating SaaS businesses up close and helping founders navigate the path to an exit. He brings a rigorous, founder-first approach that fits our culture and raises the bar for the outcomes we deliver,” said Thomas Smale, Founder & CEO of FE International.
Learn More
- Interested in what makes a SaaS business valuable? Read our in-depth guide: Key SaaS Metrics That Determine Value
- Thinking of selling your SaaS company? Get a free valuation
- Discover more about the FE International leadership team and their impact in the M&A world
This announcement is part of our FE Team News series. To explore our latest insights, visit our M&A blog.