Dashboard: A Marketplace for Ethical Exits

Dashboard: A Marketplace for Ethical Exits

From 21 Hats Podcast by 21 Hats

May 15, 2026 · 31 min

About this episode

Hannah Sandmeyer discusses her journey in building Steward Market, a marketplace for ethical business exits.

Hannah Sandmeyer spent years acquiring ecommerce businesses for an Amazon aggregator, giving her a front-row seat to how deals get done—and what often gets lost in the process. Too many owners, she came to believe, are forced to choose between shutting down their businesses or selling to buyers whose priorities may have little to do with preserving the company, the culture, or the people who built it. So she decided to build an alternative. Hannah is now founder and CEO of Steward Market , which she describes as “the first marketplace for ethical exits.”In this week’s Dashboard, she explains what makes an exit “ethical,” why some owners are actively looking for alternatives to private equity, and how Steward Market hopes to connect values-driven sellers with buyers who want to continue what those owners have built—not simply maximize short-term returns. She also explains why the company chose a business model that doesn’t rely on taking commissions from deals.

People in this episode

Guest: Hannah Sandmeyer

Topics covered

  • ethical exits
  • ecommerce
  • business acquisition
  • values-driven selling
  • marketplace
  • entrepreneurship

Keywords

  • ethical exits
  • ecommerce businesses
  • business acquisition
  • Steward Market
  • private equity
  • values-driven sellers
  • business culture

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Steward Market, Amazon, private equity

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