Blue Ocean Brain’s sale to HSI closed in under six months at an above-market multiple — the result of Sequel starting the process months before the company was ready to go to market, so it could launch at exactly the right moment instead of reacting to one.
Founder Story
Getting Ahead of the Market, Not Chasing It.
Claire Herring
CEO
Before Sequel
Blue Ocean Brain built a microlearning platform out of Glen Allen, Virginia, with thousands of short daily lessons on the topics companies actually needed their people trained on: DEI, leadership, emotional intelligence, communication, delivered to organizations in more than 50 countries. Sequel came in months before the company was ready to go to market, using that runway to build relationships with the right buyers rather than rushing straight into a process.
In It Together
Sequel built a curated exit calendar instead of running a generic auction, targeting buyers where Blue Ocean Brain’s content would fill a specific gap in their platform. That work turned into seven LOIs out of a bidding environment that had gotten extremely competitive by the time the process actually launched.
“Working with Sequel made the daunting process of choosing to sell our company exciting. The coaching and education we received during each phase improved our thinking and helped us select the very best acquirer.”
What Came Next
Blue Ocean Brain is now Blue Ocean Brain, an HSI Company — its content folded into HSI’s broader training and compliance platform, backed by Waud Capital Partners. The following year, the team launched a DEI Advisory Council to expand the same kind of content the company was already known for, now with HSI’s reach behind it.
“We could not be more delighted with the outcome and will always be grateful to Patrick and his team for their expertise, extensive network, and round-the-clock dedication to Blue Ocean Brain.”