Law Firm Panic Attack Leads to $26M Entertainment Empire Exit
  • Sep 03, 2025

Law Firm Panic Attack Leads to $26M Entertainment Empire Exit

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About Podcast

What happens when a $180,000 M&A attorney has a panic attack on the way to work and throws away his legal career for escape rooms? Raleigh Williams built Alcatraz Escape Games from zero to a $26 million exit across four entertainment brands in Utah, Arizona, and Texas. After leaving a prestigious law firm against his father's wishes, Raleigh spent two years in his in-laws' basement before creating an entertainment empire. In this episode of Startups with Stu, host Stuart Draper explores Raleigh's transformation from self-employed business owner to asset builder, including the brutal reality of being told his profitable business was "worth zero" by strategic buyers. Raleigh shares insights on the three stages of entrepreneurship, surviving COVID with $350,000 monthly rent obligations, and why he represented himself through nine transactions instead of using investment bankers. He reveals the mindset shifts required to build a sell-able business and his current work helping entrepreneurs through exitOS and his book "The Creator's Call."

Follow Startups with Stu:

Website: https://www.startupswithstu.com/ 
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StartupsWithStu 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/StartupswithStu/

Follow Stuart Draper: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/draperstu/ 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/draperstu/

Follow Raleigh Williams: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raleigh-williams/
Book: The Creator's Call on Amazon
Alcatraz Escape Games: https://alcatrazescapegames.com/ 
Website: https://exitos.io

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