Engagements.

I support startup founders to design, fund, and grow purpose-driven ventures - to foster a sustainable & healthy world.

Through my lab, I personally engage with startups alongside a founding team - to design & build new ventures, from an idea to impact at scale.

I also collaborate with academic institutions, venture studios, accelerators, and investment firms - to drive funding & growth across their portfolio.

As a value-creator, I typically work on a retained or project basis, with upside as an equity shareholder.

ENGAGEMENT TYPES

  • I engage with founders & c-suite execs as an external impartial consultant, to guide & support startup design, funding, and growth - I bring strategic & operational expertise from 25+ years experience of collaborating with private, public, and social sector organizations. I advise on a range of management & leadership domains, from venture architecture, to launch, to scaling.

  • I support startup founders by taking-on specific short- or medium-term strategic projects. These may include hands-on brand design & development, investment readiness & pitch development, fundraising, impact strategy definition & reporting, commercialization of new innovation, and marketing & communication campaigns.

  • I offer fractional & interim startup leadership, acting as an in-house executive for early-stage and emerging ventures. I have held c-level executive roles within bootstrapped and VC-funded startups, from seed to series-D to exit stages - including Chief Strategy Officer & Chief Operations Officer positions - with responsibility for organizational planning & commercial growth, product design & development, and marketing & communications functions. I've led teams of 1-100 people, and overseen board reporting alongside founding teams.

#1: Design

An authentic, embedded Purpose is the critical foundation of any successful organization. A venture’s purpose should identify a clear need in society & the world to which your organization can provide tangible solutions for impact. This ‘identity’ should guide all future decision-making and efforts.

Purpose, Identity, & Impact

Defining a new venture’s foundational purpose & identity - including mission, vision, impact goals, naming, narrative, and visual branding.

Venture Architecture

Creating a venture’s architecture designed to fulfill the mission & vision of the organization - including operating strategies, playbooks, and processes.

Product R&D

Moving from an idea to a solution ready to scale - including community research, rapid prototyping, field testing, iteration, and demonstrable impact.

#2: Fund

Raising funds for purpose-driven ventures requires a mix of public & private capital sources - funders that look beyond pure financial gain to invest based on impact potential. From initial pre-seed funding for research & proof-of-concept, to seed funds for venture setup & prototyping, to Series-A and beyond for commercialization and impact scaling.

Fundraising Readiness

Preparing well, to be in the best position to raise funds - including clear planning, narrative & pitch deck, supporting documentation, and data room.

Fund Development

Dedicated campaigns to raise capital from a variety of sources including - investor & donor identification, outreach, and relationship building.

Funder Management

Maintaining good relations with investors & donors including - impact reporting, financial & venture status updates, and community events.

#3: Grow

Growing a new venture should be focused on creating a sustainable enterprise that is true to the organization’s purpose, mission, and vision. Growth is driven by a startup’s ability to scale its impact on society - this requires an amazing culture & team, and continuous innovation to meet the needs of an changing world.

Culture & Team

Creating the environment to attract & retain talented people - whilst staying true to the organization’s purpose, mission & vision, and impact goals.

Innovation

Embedding a practice of continuous innovation across the organization - understanding societal needs, and evolving solutions for impact.

Impact Scaling

Commercial strategies & operations to scale impact of innovation including - market development, customer & partner engagement, and public affairs.