Moritz Dausinger
@mdausinger France2.5K followers
Serial bootstrapped SaaS founder: Mailparser, Docparser and now Refiner
Refiner, Docparser, Mailparser
exit story · 2018 · saas founders
How Moritz Dausinger Sold Docparser to SureSwift Capital (2018)
Docparser was built by Moritz Dausinger and sold to SureSwift Capital in 2018.
Key facts
- Buyer
- SureSwift Capital ↗
- Year
- 2018
- Price
- Undisclosed
- Revenue at sale
- —
- Years operated
- —
- Channel
- Direct sale
Why they sold: Moritz Dausinger said his personal situation had changed and the risk grew as the business got bigger, and he had long seen a sale of a small-to-medium SaaS as an ideal outcome.
The story of Docparser
Docparser extracts structured data from PDFs and other business documents. Moritz Dausinger built it as a sister product to Mailparser, which does the same for emails, and bootstrapped both to early profitability.
SureSwift Capital bought Mailparser in an all-cash deal in 2016, and the two sides made a handshake agreement giving SureSwift first refusal on Docparser. Two years later, in 2018, SureSwift acquired Docparser as well.
Dausinger worked with SureSwift for close to a year after the sale, then started Refiner, a customer survey tool that grew out of his wish to better profile Docparser's users.
Lessons Moritz Dausinger shared
- 1.Bootstrapping and staying profitable early let him grow on his own terms without investor pressure.
- 2.Keeping a future sale option open, such as a right of first refusal, can work well for both sides.
- 3.Deals can be structured in unconventional, collaborative ways.
Paraphrased from the maker's public posts and interviews (see sources).
The maker
See the Docparser product page or Moritz Dausinger's full profile for everything they have built since.
Other exits by Moritz Dausinger
Mailparser
→ SureSwift Capital · 2016
Selling had been one of Moritz's goals from the start. As the business grew, so did his personal risk, and with no outside investors he felt no pressure to go big. He also described the money as life-changing security.
by Moritz Dausinger
Related exit stories
Same buyer, category or sale channel as Docparser.
Storemapper
→ SureSwift Capital · 2017
Tyler Tringas wanted to diversify his income away from a single business, lock in a win, and focus full-time on his next project.
by Tyler Tringas
Arvid Kahl has said he was close to burnout and that the founders wanted to diversify, since nearly all of their wealth was tied up in the business.
by Arvid Kahl
MeetEdgar
→ SureSwift Capital · 2021
After about seven years running MeetEdgar, Roeder wanted to focus fully on her newer company, Paperbell, a software business for coaches.
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Zero BS CRM (Jetpack CRM)
→ Automattic · 2019
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Sources
- sureswiftcapital.com — sureswiftcapital.com/blog/interview-with-mailparser-docparser-founder-moritz-dausinger
- sureswiftcapital.com — sureswiftcapital.com/portfolio/mailparser
Facts are taken from the maker's and buyer's public statements and press coverage. Prices and revenue are shown only when publicly stated; self-reported figures are not independently verified.
Keep exploring
Docparser acquisition FAQ
Who bought Docparser?
Docparser was acquired by SureSwift Capital in 2018 from Moritz Dausinger.
How much did Docparser sell for?
The price was not publicly disclosed.
Why did Moritz Dausinger sell Docparser?
Moritz Dausinger said his personal situation had changed and the risk grew as the business got bigger, and he had long seen a sale of a small-to-medium SaaS as an ideal outcome.
How was Docparser sold?
Docparser was a direct sale: sold directly to a buyer, often a competitor, customer or acquirer that reached out.
What did Moritz Dausinger learn from selling Docparser?
Bootstrapping and staying profitable early let him grow on his own terms without investor pressure. Keeping a future sale option open, such as a right of first refusal, can work well for both sides.