I'm new to the talent side of Upwork - but not to business or consulting - I am an expert in my field with over 20 years of experience building, vetting, and investing in startup companies. As a seasoned investor and serial entrepreneur, I've been where you are and I know the thrill and challenges of the journey. My role as a consultant is to help entrepreneurs and executives navigate the start-up world and give their idea the best chance for success.
Currently, I'm a general partner at an early-stage investment firm that manages over $200 million where I also served on the. board and investment committee. I have evaluated opportunities, teams and pitches and helped guide companies to successful exits; several portfolio companies have been acquired by Fortune 500 companies. I have served on boards and stepped in as interim CFO, always ready to roll up my sleeves and do what it takes to ensure success.
Aside from the VC world, I was, am, and always will be an entrepreneur. I've founded or co-founded businesses in a variety of sectors, from tech and financial services to media/ad-tech, health and wellness, retail, and tourism - my favorite adventure is the next one (yes - short attention span 😄). I've also raised over $25 million for my own projects, so I know what pitching an investor feels like.
Whether it's creating or deconstructing financial models and forecasting, building or assessing pitches, due diligence, valuation, negotiating term sheets, structuring complex financing offers, or crafting entirely new business models, I've tackled it all.
Crafting the essential documents that investors need to properly assess your company's investment opportunity demands expertise and time. Through my journey of building my own startups and as an investor myself, I have a deep understanding of what investors seek when evaluating startups. While wearing my VC hat, I've assisted in guiding multiple companies to successful exits and have experience with businesses ranging from pre-seed to series A and beyond.
I know what investors and accelerators are looking for when they're considering startups. Let me leverage this experience to carefully guide you through the process and prepare the necessary collateral to pique an investor's interest and raise capital. Let's connect!
Relevant Expertise:
- Business Model Evaluation and Feedback: This service entails a comprehensive review of your business model, evaluating its strengths and weaknesses, and providing constructive feedback for improvement. This includes a detailed report that outlines potential areas for refinement and strategies for enhancing profitability and sustainability.
- Investor Pitch Deck Creation and Review: This process involves gaining a thorough understanding of your organization and the market you are targeting, developing or refining a realistic financial model and an independent valuation to support the “ask” slide and position the offer for a successful raise. Includes advice on content, design, and presentation, with the aim of increasing your chances of securing investment.
- Advice on Strategic Capital Structure: Thorough analysis of your current capital structure, advice on optimizing it to meet your strategic goals, maximizing shareholder value and guidance on making it appealing to potential investors.
- Investor Memorandums & Business Plans: Personalized memorandums and various documents required in capital raising. Present your offer in a compelling way while providing proper disclosure. These templates are based on industry standards and my personal experience in raising capital for multiple businesses.
- Coaching for Early-Stage Entrepreneurs: This is a one-on-one coaching service tailored to the needs of early-stage entrepreneurs. Sessions could cover topics like business strategy, fundraising, financial modeling, and more.
- Advice on Performance Metrics: This service includes an assessment of your current performance metrics, advice on which metrics would be most meaningful to track based on your specific business model, defining your KPI's and guidance on how to monitor and interpret these metrics.
- Financial Modeling and Forecasting: Develop a custom financial model for your business, including projections for revenue, costs, and profitability. This model will be a valuable tool for planning, fundraising, and decision-making.
If you're passionate about your idea but your eyes glaze over when you see a spreadsheet, or if you're trying to figure out how to raise outside capital, we might be a fit.