Formerly SpinOut Advisory
Ways to Work with Me
Each engagement is structured around Seven Touchstones with the level of support adapted to the venture’s maturity, risk profile and sponsor needs.
1. Early Founder Support
Duration: 1 month
Best for:
An early-stage founder who wants regular access to an experienced, independent sounding board without committing to a longer advisory engagement.
What you get:
Includes structured weekly founder sessions, reasonable between-session support, follow-through on agreed priorities and decisions, and continuity across the commercial, funding, team, governance and operational issues facing the venture.
2. Venture Diagnostic
Duration: 1 month
Best for:
A founder, or their stakeholders/sponsors who need a structured independent view of where the company currently stands, what is working and what requires attention.
It can be used at the start of an engagement, before additional investment, following a period of rapid change, before shareholder quarterly updates, or where stakeholders need greater clarity around the venture's priorities and risks.
What you get:
An independent Seven Touchstones review Identification of key strengths, gaps, dependencies and emerging risks; Review of founder roles, responsibilities and decision-making; Assessment of cash runway, milestones and immediate funding pressures; Review of reporting, stakeholder communication, IP and commercialisation dependencies; Identification of the issues requiring immediate attention rather than an exhaustive compliance exercise; A prioritised 90-day action plan; and A concise briefing for the founder and sponsoring stakeholder where applicable.
3. Venture Support
Duration: 3 months
Best for:
A Founder and Executive Team that would benefit from more structured support as the business moves from start-up activity towards a more disciplined and sustainable operating rhythm.
It is particularly useful where the founder is balancing technical or commercial development with the unfamiliar demands of running an incorporated company.
What you get:
Support is structured around the Seven Touchstones, focusing attention where the venture needs it most rather than applying a one-size-fits-all process.
4. Portfolio Support
Duration: 6 months
Best for: Deeper insight for investors or other stakeholders wanting clearer visibility and practical founder support across one or more early-stage ventures without becoming involved in day-to-day management.
What you get:
Regular engagement with supported founders; Independent visibility of venture progress, priorities and emerging issues; Milestone and cash-runway tracking; Monitoring of material risks, decisions and unresolved actions; Support to founders between formal board or investor reporting cycles; Board-observer participation where appropriate; Concise sponsor or portfolio reporting; Early escalation of matters that may require attention; Preparation support when approaching a funding, due-diligence or other significant decision point.
5. Light Touch
Duration: Ongoing
Best for: A founder or sponsoring organisation that has completed a more intensive advisory engagement but wants to retain access to independent support and continuity as the venture develops.
It can also suit a more established venture that needs periodic rather than intensive involvement.
What you get:
Scheduled founder and venture check-ins; An independent sounding board when significant issues arise; Review of priorities, milestones, risks and cash runway where required; Support ahead of important board, investor or stakeholder discussions; Assistance with reporting or board materials where useful; Continuity of knowledge as the venture develops; Early identification of issues that may warrant more intensive support.