For Entrepreneurs

Selecting and working with a Venture Partner.

 

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We’ve Been There

As former entrepreneurs and operating executives, we know how hard it is to start and grow a business.

We understand that few businesses play out according to plan and that success is rarely achieved in a straight line. Equally important, we know that all companies ultimately succeed or fail based on the performance and commitment of their people.

Finding the right people, managing, motivating and leading them toward a shared vision is the cornerstone of entrepreneurial success.

The 5 Critical Company Building Processes

Product Development

Market Research
Design Standards / Process
Engineering Talent
Systems
Quality Assurance

Customer Acquisition

Value Proposition
Competitive Position
Lead Generation
Pipeline
Sales Tools & Organizations

Customer Success

Post Sales Engagement
Field Operations
Customer Service
Lifetime Value Perspective
Collections / Churn

Team Building

Source / Recruit  •  Interview  •  Manage  •  Compensate  •  Evaluate  •  Develop  •  Integrate

Controls
Financing / Capital Formation
Business Model

Planning and Budgeting
Cash Management
GM Ratio / “Economic Moat”

Monitor / Report
Liquidity Awareness
KPI’s

Selecting A Venture Partner

When selecting a venture capital partner, consider the following:

Relevant Operating Experience

Management and operations experience is essential to providing guidance to entrepreneurs, from tactical advice to setting long-term strategic goals.

The Imagen team brings decades of experience as executives managing successful technology companies

Industry Knowledge
Market dynamics and technological challenges are often industry specific. Understanding these issues is critical to the success of a young company.

We hold significant operating and investment experience in each of our target industries.

Introductions
As a company grows, it needs to develop important relationships with customers, strategic partners, investors, and service providers.

At Imagen, we offer a strong list of contacts with important technology companies, global business leaders, prominent venture capital firms and thought-leaders nationwide. These relationships help provide the foundation for customer relationships, strategic alliances, partnership opportunities, and idea sharing.

Ability to Commit Appropriate Time
Adding-value and helping to build great companies takes time.

We have designed our firm from the ground-up to maximize the amount of time our investment professionals can dedicate to working with entrepreneurs. In addition, our deliberate pace of investment ensures we can spend more time with each portfolio company than the majority of our peers.

Willingness to Be Held Accountable
As former entrepreneurs and operating executives, we know that entrepreneurs want prospective advice, guidance, and real help.

Imagen is committed to providing forward-looking guidance and advice, and to taking on real responsibilities and delivering on our promises to our portfolio companies.

Personality Fit
Entrepreneurs should do all that they can to ensure that their venture capital partners will fit the needs and personality of their organization. When selecting a firm, remember that you are embarking on a relationship that will last many years, and that the decision can play a pivotal role in determining the success of your company.

We invite every entrepreneur to really get to know us prior to working with us. And we encourage all entrepreneurs to check our references.

Our Review Process

Getting Started

As former entrepreneurs and operating executives, we are respectful of your time and are committed to providing continuous feedback throughout the review process. We typically start by reviewing the business plan, which leads to an initial determination of interest and fit.

Next, we meet the management team – we look for entrepreneurs who have direct insights and understandings of the markets they serve and the problems they seek to solve.

If all goes well, we work with the management team to identify the appropriate next steps and outline the due diligence process.

Due Diligence

The due diligence process will include significant collaboration between the Imagen team and the prospective portfolio company. This collaboration will include a thorough review and joint reworking of the business plan with the goal of maximizing the company’s long-term prospects for success.

Common steps in the due diligence process include:

  • Calling references (both from lists provided and our network)
  • Conducting significant industry and competitive research
  • Thoroughly reviewing all:
    • Organizational documents
    • Capitalization tables
    • Stock option plans
    • Financial statements
    • Financial projections
    • Marketing materials
    • Contracts
    • Sales pipelines
    • Intellectual property
    • Technical documentation

Tell Us Your Story

We are entrepreneurs at heart with proven track records, so if you desire seasoned business operators as partners and you seek to innovate, challenge, or transform the dynamics of new or existing markets — we should talk.

Let us know what you’re working on and/or what we may expect to see in the near future. Some brief introductory information is all we need to begin our initial assessment:

What's Your Passion

Sector
Problem Your Solving
Technology Summary
Management Team Bios
Business Model Overview

Attachments

Company pitch decks or “teasers” are welcomed

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Lets get down to business.

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