Frequently asked questions
Fit
Who do you work with?
Media and Tech Companies, and Private Equity and Venture Capital investors backing those businesses. We work with founders, commercial leaders, investment teams and portfolio leaders across the UK, Europe and the US, adapting the work to the business's stage and commercial priorities.
Do you only work with private equity-backed companies?
No. Many of our clients are backed by private equity, and we also work directly with independent companies and their leadership teams.
What kind of situations do you help with?
Four groups of commercial problems. Growing in new markets and through partners. Earning more from what you sell, through the revenue model, pricing and keeping customers. Strengthening how you sell, from founder-led selling, the commercial team and the pipeline to AI that pays off. And creating and proving investment value, from due diligence and the value-creation plan to integration after a deal and preparing for exit.
Who is this not for?
We focus on commercial growth, commercial diligence and value creation, and the practical use of AI in commercial work for media and technology businesses and their investors. We are not a substitute for financial, legal or technical diligence. If the need falls outside that scope, or the business is not ready to put the work into practice, we discuss that before agreeing an assignment.
Do you only work with certain types of companies or projects?
We work with media and technology companies and the investors backing them, including independent businesses and PE- or VC-backed companies. The fit depends on the commercial problem, the business context and the work needed, not a universal revenue threshold. We discuss that fit before agreeing an assignment.
Is this approach only for venture-backed or high-growth companies?
No. We work with independent companies as well as businesses backed by private equity or venture capital. What matters is the commercial question, the willingness to act on it and whether the assignment fits the business, not a particular funding model.
Working together
Do you do strategy or execution?
Both. We help set the right commercial priorities and then work alongside your team to put them into practice, because the value is in the results.
How do you work with our team?
Alongside them. We agree the priorities and roles at the start, work with your people on the real work and help build the capability to carry it forward.
Can you help with commercial leadership and the team?
Yes. Commercial leadership, organisation, incentives and skills are often part of the answer. We can also provide experienced interim or fractional commercial leadership.
How do you use AI?
In two ways. We use AI in our own research, analysis and preparation, with experienced people reviewing and deciding. And we help commercial teams adopt AI where it improves results.
What do you need from us?
Start with the business or portfolio, the commercial question and any timing that matters. For an assignment, we agree the relevant data, access, decision-makers and internal owner with you. That may include pipeline, retention, pricing or customer information, shared under the agreed confidentiality arrangements. You do not need to send confidential records in an initial enquiry.
Can you integrate with our existing teams and systems, or do we need to replace everything?
We work alongside your team and start from the systems and processes you already have. We keep what supports the agreed commercial priorities and identify changes where there is a clear reason. Replacing the whole organisation or technology stack is not the default.
What happens if we disagree with your recommendation?
We agree decision rights and a working rhythm at the start. If we disagree, we make the evidence, assumptions and trade-offs explicit and discuss the decision with the people who own it. Recommendations can change when the evidence changes; your leadership retains the decisions within its agreed mandate.
Scope and terms
How is an engagement scoped and priced?
Every assignment is shaped to the situation. We agree the scope, the way of working and the commercial terms with you before work begins.
What results can we expect, and when?
The answer depends on the starting point, the problem and the scope. We agree priorities, measures, responsibilities and the working rhythm before the work begins, then review what the evidence shows. Past cases are context, not a promise of the same result or timetable for your business.
Confidentiality
How do you handle confidentiality?
We treat client and investor information as confidential and agree confidentiality terms, and who sees what, at the start of each assignment.
Can we speak to a client?
Tell us what you would want to understand from a reference. Any introduction depends on relevance, availability and the client giving permission. We do not share client identities, contact details or confidential engagement information without that permission.
First step
Do we have to start with a diagnostic?
No. A focused assessment is useful when a situation needs an outside view before committing, and we will recommend one when it helps. If you already know what needs doing, we can start there.
What is the Commercial Value Assessment?
A free online assessment that looks across eight areas of the commercial engine. It gives you a personalised view of where you are strong and where the next value is, from an investor's or a leadership team's perspective. The result is shown on screen and we send a copy to your email address.
