1. Nobody Wants the Code
Acquirers don't want legacy technical debt, unpatched frameworks, or messy repos. They only want the users and the domain.
The Dignified Offboarding Engine for Software Applications
An honorable off-ramp for software maintainers. High-intent acquisition for growing platforms.
We liquidate stagnant developer tools and B2B SaaS without messy codebase sales. Maintainers get turnkey offboarding, data sanitization, and cash bounties. Acquirers get active switchers and domain authority.
Walk away cleanly. Get paid for the users you built.
You built a useful product, but your focus has moved on. You don't want to spend six months negotiating with micro-PE buyers over legacy dependencies, and you refuse to pull the plug overnight on loyal customers.
- Keep your source code private. No repo handovers, no technical due diligence, no support obligations after shutdown.
- 70% rolling payouts + 30% completion holdback. Earn cash bounties every two weeks as active users migrate, with the final 30% released automatically on shutdown day.
- One line of code. Drop a single banner script into your header. We handle user notices, data exports, and NIST-certified database teardown.
Why traditional marketplaces fail below $500k ARR.
Conventional M&A brokers treat a small SaaS or developer tool like a miniature enterprise buyout. Below $500k ARR, that model breaks down in three predictable ways:
2. Valuation Gridlock
Traditional brokers anchor on unrealistic multiples while apps quietly rot and churn to zero.
3. Reputational Blight
Abandoning an app burns your community; selling blindly risks your domain being turned into spam and SEO slop.
How the deal works for both sides.
Plain terms, aligned incentives, and no hidden broker retainers.
| Feature / Lens | For Maintainers (The Sellers) | For Acquirers (The Buyers) |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Incentive | Relief, reputation protection, and found liquidity. | Lower CAC than cold ads; warm category switchers. |
| Financial Terms | 70% rolling milestone payouts + 30% completion holdback. |
Pay-per-verified-switcher (CPA) + domain option. |
| Work Required | Zero code rewrites. Embed a 1-line banner script. | Integrate target data via our migration bridge schema. |
| Data Protection | Certified NIST SP 800-88 cryptographic sanitization. | GDPR Article 13 compliant user consent workflows. |
| Domain Fate | Keep it, or transfer with strict anti-slop & 60-day ROFR. | 6-month transition microsite, then permanent 301. |
The 4-step decommission runbook.
Every transition follows a fixed 60-to-90 day sequence: Audit → Bridge → Transition → Teardown.
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1. The Discovery & Diligence Vault
We audit user activity and generate anonymized, synthetic schema fixtures. No customer PII is exposed prior to signed agreements.
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2. The Dynamic Edge Bridge
Maintainer embeds our single-line script. Users are given 60–90 days advance notice with direct export options and a one-click path to migrate.
<script src="https://cdn.keelout.com/v1/bridge.js"></script> -
3. Turnkey Switcher Ingestion
Users migrate seamlessly to the buyer's platform with account credits. Conversions log in real time.
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4. Certified Teardown (T-Zero)
Servers go dark, databases undergo certified cryptographic shredding, and milestone holdbacks disburse live.
The Keelout Trust Covenants.
We built Keelout because founders care what happens to their users and their name after they move on. Every agreement is bound by three non-negotiable rules:
NIST SP 800-88 Rev. 1 Sanitization
We issue cryptographically signed teardown certificates verifying database purging and snapshot deletion.
Anti-Slop Domain Covenant
Transferred domains are legally restricted to branded transition microsites and permanent 301 redirects. They are never auctioned to AI blog farms, adult networks, or affiliate spam.
60-Day Right of First Refusal (ROFR)
If an acquirer ever chooses not to renew the domain, the original founder has 60 days to reclaim it for $0 before it expires.
Want to read the full technical protocol? Read the Maintainer Diligence & Offboarding Specification →
Start a conversation.
Choose your form below. Every submission goes straight to our Seattle desk at ops@keelout.com—no automated sales sequences.
Frequently asked questions.
Do I have to hand over my GitHub repository or source code?
No. You keep 100% ownership of your codebase and proprietary IP. Buyers on Keelout are paying for verified user migrations and optional domain stewardship—never your code.
How does the 70% rolling / 30% holdback payout work?
As active users migrate during the 60–90 day window, 70% of earned switcher bounties are paid out every two weeks. The remaining 30% is released at T-Zero once final exports conclude and the NIST SP 800-88 teardown certificate is signed.
How is user privacy handled under GDPR?
During diligence, buyers only see synthetic schema fixtures—zero raw PII is shared. During the transition window, users receive a clear GDPR Article 13 notice and choose whether to migrate their workspace to the partner platform or export a full archive and leave.
What if the buyer stops renewing my domain years from now?
Every domain transfer includes our Anti-Slop Covenant and a 60-day Right of First Refusal (ROFR). If an acquirer ever decides not to renew the domain, you have 60 days to reclaim it for $0 before it expires.