Our unique program insures a steady flow of business development activity for your early stage company which can shorten sales cycles by as much as 50% thereby maximizing the use of human capital and financial resources. At every stage of the sales cycle from qualifying the opportunity to needs analysis, validation of the value proposition and business case, quantification of budgets and decision timelines, through executive review and contract approval, Unicorn will be there to either service you with a total turn-key “management team in a box” solution, or provide a seasoned executive to complement your existing sales force by driving key areas of your business development activity.
Business Development
Even companies with the most innovative products and services often stumble out of the starting gate trying to secure all-important flagship reference accounts in key vertical markets. Unicorn's extensive C-Level relationships enable the access to key decision makers that is normally accorded only to well-established brands. The result: more times at bat with qualified prospects and real decision-makers, leading to shorter sales cycles and more market traction.
Management Outsourcing
The early stage entrepreneur must wear many hats – technology guru, sales leader, evangelist and thought leader, fundraiser, marketeer, and numbers guy, all at the same time. While most realize they are sub-optimizing their business potential by diluting their efforts, inadequate capital or insufficient time to devote to recruiting, often leave gaping holes in their management teams. Unicorn's principals have the experience to “hit the ground running” to fill key vacancies such as Head of Sales, Marketing, Product Development, or Professional Services, on an interim or longer term basis.
Business Plan Creation
Investors need to see more than a great idea – they need a solid business plan that provides the context by which to judge that great idea against the hundreds of others that cross their desks. What is the market potential? Who are the key competitors and how do you stack up against them in a SWAT analysis? Have you thought through the Go-to-Market plan? Will the execution strategy work and do the numbers make sense? The Unicorn team has developed business plans that have resulted in hundreds of millions in funding and has the blend of strategic, financial, and technical skills to quickly deliver the professional business plan that turns a great idea into a “fundable” business.
Raising Capital
Whether raising the first seed stage or subsequent rounds of funding, a targeted strategy and a structured, focused approach are pre-requisites to success - a rolodex full of contacts with angel investors, venture capital or private equity firms wouldn't hurt either. Unicorn has the contacts, the methodology, and the credibility to guide entrepreneurs through this process so that they can secure required funding over a reasonable time horizon, without taking their eye off the full-time job of building a viable and thriving business.
Milestone Management
Milestones drive every business, but with early stage companies, achieving multiple, simultaneous milestones, may be the difference between getting through the gate to secure additional funding or being stuck in a holding pattern. The Unicorn team has the experience to flawlessly execute discrete milestone programs such as:
Market Launch - Integrated brand-building encompassing trade show management, analyst and media relations, messaging and collateral
Pipeline Build – Focused lead generation leveraging extensive contacts with key decision makers to rapidly build a robust pipeline of qualified prospects
Channel Development – Identify, recruit, implement and manage indirect channel partners
Client Management – Ensure successful implementation of key client/reference account
Due Diligence – Evaluate potential business partners or M&A targets across a comprehensive set of business and technical criteria