Argona Partners

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Founder and CEO of GearBrain,a pioneering recommendation platform where consumers can research, discover, buy, and learn how to connect and optimize smart devices.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Argona Partners?

We hired Argona Partners to helps us build our investor deck as well as revise our executive summary for potential investors. Argona Partners also helped up clean up our cap table and devised a fund raising strategy.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We were looking for a partner to help us build a first rate investor pitch as well as fundraising strategy. After meeting with several firms, we decided to go with Argona Partners because of their understanding of the investment market and track record in working with similar companies like GearBrain. We liked Argona's work ethic and style. We got along very well and found the team easy to work with.

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

We had an initial meeting to review the goals of the project. We supplied Argona with our existing documents, including our pitch deck, executive summary, finanical model and cap table. We also spent a fair amount of time helping Argona understand our business model and the market. While the Argona team was working on our project, we had a few last minute investor calls come up.

Argona was very responsive to our needs to provide an updated pitch deck for these calls. After the pitches, we provided Argona feedback which they were able to incorporate into our investment docs. By mid-summer, we had a good working pitch deck, an easy to read executive summary and financial model to use in the market.

How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

We worked with the two principle members of the Argona Partners, Jeremy and Richard. Both were a pleasure to work with and we had no issues getting in touch with them, especially when. we needed their assistance.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

The outcomes from the project were a success. We were able to clean up our cap table and develop an fundraising strategy to benefit the owners and existing investors. We also got a quality investor deck and executive summary which we can easily update.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The communication between Argona Partners and us was excellent. They listened to us and were good at responding to our requests in a timely manner. There was one time when we needed something for an investor pitch at the last minute. Argona was great in adjusting to our needs and delivered it on time.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

The two things that impressed us the most were their knowledge of developing a good fundraising strategy and the design of our pitch deck. We also liked the work they did on our executive summary. We got a lot of compliments from potential investors about how precise it was and easy to understand.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

For us, the experience was great working with Argona. it would have been nice if we spent more time testing our investor deck before finalizing it. However, the workflow with Argona was fine for our needs.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of a startup sports footwear business.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Argona Partners?

We needed their marketing and financial strategies to get the word out about our products.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We initially provided Argona Partners with some insight on the types of products we developed and what our business goals were. Taking those into account, they helped us determine how we could strategically position our products within our target market and what financial approaches would bring us faster profits. Additionally, Argona Partners devise our pro forma and investment summary to help drive value to our products.

What is the team composition?

I mainly work with two marketing and finance experts from their team.

How did you come to work with Argona Partners?

A law firm that I previously worked with referred Argona Partners to me.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $12,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project ran from July–December 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

Argona Partners created comprehensive and bankable marketing materials that helped us secure investors and bring value to our products. It mattered to us that they had trust in what we built, and they were willing to create convincing and information-packed deliverables to support those.

How did Argona Partners perform from a project management standpoint?

We mainly communicated via Zoom meetings. Argona Partners was a great provider from start to finish — they managed our paperwork with ease, addressed change requests quickly, and collaborated seamlessly with our team. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

We saw their eagerness to work with us, and they understood our needs until we successfully met those.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There wasn’t any aspect that they could’ve done differently.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Pay attention to their insights. Argona Partners is a fantastic and creative team that can bring your vision to life.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of an e-learning platform that connects students with online tutors, depending on their learning needs.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Argona Partners?

We needed their team to formulate strategies and build my marketing funnel to help get the word out about our e-learning business.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I’ve initially met with Argona Partners to seek their advice on how to market our platform effectively and explore more design and development opportunities to refine the product before its go-live. Jeremy (Co-Founder & CEO) has identified our marketing funnel, which we can refer to when building campaigns and strategies tailored to my business.

Their team has given me advice on running a startup business and maximizing my investment through lean strategies. One of their other recommendations is a student waitlist feature, which we’ve also implemented to strengthen the platform’s enrollment infrastructure.

What is the team composition?

I’ve mainly communicated with Jeremy.

How did you come to work with Argona Partners?

I was pitching our product to different investors when Jeremy saw it and reached out to me. We had an initial conversation, and I contacted him when I needed his team’s consulting services.

How much have you invested with them?

Jeremy has offered to give three consulting sessions for free since I’m a university student handling a startup business.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our ongoing engagement kicked off in March 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

We haven’t launched the product yet, but almost 150 students have signed up to be part of our waitlist — Argona Partners has helped leverage our platform before its go-live, so that’s a great success metric for us. 

Jeremy has given me confidence in his consulting services and our product, and I’m excited to introduce our product to our target audience in the coming weeks. Overall, it’s safe to say that Argona Partners’ help has effectively escalated our business progress.

How did Argona Partners perform from a project management standpoint?

We mainly communicate via Google Meet and send quick messages via LinkedIn. Argona Partners is a communicative partner that addresses my consulting needs on time.

What did you find most impressive about them?

While I’ve gotten sensible advice from other acquaintances and experts, Argona Partners stands out because of their structured recommendations and layouts that help position our business effectively within our target market. Jeremy has the expertise and knowledge to leverage my product and improve my approach to managing our startup — his advice is instrumental in our success.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t point out anything — they’ve been an accommodating team from the start.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Clearly outline your needs and expectations and be inquisitive.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I have a skincare company and I'm the co-founder.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Argona Partners, and what were your goals?

We were looking for a business valuation and strategy to help us find investors.

SOLUTION

How did you select this firm and what were the deciding factors?

We were connected with Argona through Righteous Causes.

Describe the engagement and overall scope of work in detail, including the stages of the partnership and any software or documents used.

I had several meetings with Richard and he went through our financials in extreme detail. He provided several valuations and projection models based on the data I gave. He spent time discussing what he did and why and is a wonderful person to work with!

Describe their billing or cost structure.

They are very affordable for the amount of analysis they provide.

How many resources from the firm's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

I only worked with Richard so far and he's the Chairman.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the engagement or general feedback about the services?

Within 1 month they completed an extremely detailed valuation and projections.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

We had several zoom meetings, I provided documents through google drive and email, and we communicated by email regularly. They're very responsive and get back to you in a timely fashion with any questions. A meeting was made about 1 time a week until the project was completed.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

I was very impressed with the level of detail that went into our valuation and projections. Richard has a data science background, and it really shows. I learned so much and am so grateful for all of his help!

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

There is literally nothing I can think of that they would need to improve. I'm extremely happy with the experience I had with Richard and Argona Partners. I would highly recommend them to anyone looking for their services!

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of a talent management media company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Argona Partners?

I needed business consulting services to help me with my organization.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Argona Partners is helping me organize my business to learn how to scale. They’ve also created a roadmap for us to follow over the next five years. This plan includes the numbers and projections that we need to hit.

What is the team composition?

I work directly with Argona Partners’ CEO and two other people.

How did you come to work with Argona Partners?

Argona Partners was referred to me, and they’ve been doing what they said they would do.

How much have you invested with them?

I haven’t spent any money on this project — we’ve exchanged services.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in March 2021, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

I’ve measured the success of our engagement through the growth of my business. Argona Partners has had a positive impact on it.

How did Argona Partners perform from a project management standpoint?

Argona Partners always meets deadlines.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Argona Partners’ most impressive quality is that they’re actually there to help us.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t think there’s anything Argona Partners could improve on.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be open about your project.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the Founder and CEO of Aim-Hi which is a social media marketing platform.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Argona Partners?

Argona partners helped us with hiring, sales, marketing, finance.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal for the project is to grow our company from just an idea to a multi-million dollar product, we have had an ongoing relationship with Argona partners for about 2 years where they have helped us with hiring, sales and marketing.

SOLUTION

How did you select Argona Partners?

We were one of the first clients for Argona partners, so we connected over social media and they were the first ones to believe in our product and have had a relationship with them ever since.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

This company helped us with hiring by providing us with several interns, they helped us with sales as well by providing us with a salesperson and helped us form our financial model to understand our finances over the next few years they have also helped us with business and marketing strategy where they came up with ideas for our social media campaign.

What was the team composition?

We worked very closely with this company and have always had two or three people from this company attend our regular meetings.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Since beginning working with this company, our company has grown from just me starting up the product to having around 10 employees with several interns which come in at the right time for different tasks.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Their team worked seamlessly well with our team. And we've always had a very good relationship where we can easily explain what tasks are required to be done and how to work on them.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The real dedication of everyone in this company to help us grow and a very close partnership with the CEO Jeremy Imlach, who I've known for quite a long time now, and I've definitely seen the dedication he puts to his company and also our company.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I would recommend that they suggest fixing pricing/shares at the beginning when they work with new clients.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO and founder of Forest Founders. We’re an environmental rewards platform that’s in development at the moment. We’re a third party allowing businesses to create an environmental rewards and loyalty program.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Argona Partners?

We had some technical security issues. The technology we decided to move forward with was bulky. We were going to be using a QR code to scan and that was a little clunky and had security issues because people could spam the system to get extra rewards.

Also, there were a lot of steps for a consumer to take in order to redeem a reward. We brought all this to Argona Partners with the concern that the technology wasn’t right.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They helped us move over to a strategy using NFC, which has already proven itself many times over to be the superior choice. They helped make sure we’re gathering the correct consumer data points to ensure the market does indeed need our product rather than just throwing money at something and then having to come back and fix it on the backend.

They’re going to be coming on for a piece of equity, and I’m going to be relying on them for outsourced CTO and CMO services. Eventually, they’ll take over the marketing and will bring it in-house with them. This is a full, hands-on collaboration. I look at them as my outsourced C Suite.

What is the team composition?

I primarily work with one individual on the tech side. Our project manager is Richard (Chairman & Founder).

How did you come to work with Argona Partners?

I started working with them on another project I’m doing. After some trial work, I was so pleased with their services that it snowballed into this collaboration.

How much have you invested with them?

Out of pocket, I’ve spent $7,000. However, I’ve pledged that they’ll see the rollout of $100,000 in assets.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our ongoing engagement started in May 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

The incredible confidence they showed led me to understand they had a great grasp on this. They fully and intrinsically understood what it is that we were trying to accomplish. Because of this, I thought it’d be very beneficial for us to partner with them in a much larger sense.

Bringing them in-house to cover and fill gaps has been instrumental. I quickly learned what their talents and abilities were. We latched on and created a much stronger relationship that transcends a contractor getting paid for something. I look at them as an integral part of the team now.

How did Argona Partners perform from a project management standpoint?

It’s been very simple — I give them tasks, and they go out and get them done. They have a great internal due diligence process. I sent them a couple of informational pieces, and they did their own research. They didn’t want to hear what my pain points were; they wanted to come up with them on their own to make sure we were on the same page.

They’ve been one of the easiest partners I’ve had to work with. In the past, I’ve had others who wanted to know my way of thinking so they could cater to it. Argona Partners has rather put their own unique twist with their expertise on it, which is what made all the difference. They trust themselves enough that they aren’t just taking the lead from the client, they’re bringing a lot of value. Their team has gone above and beyond my expectations.

What did you find most impressive about them?

When they say business development, they mean that they have access to in-house individuals who can touch on literally any facet of the business. Argona Partners is not a firm for just anyone. They’re not just looking for a paycheck. They’re looking for an opportunity. They’re looking to apply their incredible business model to companies that can make an impact.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I can’t think of anything.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Trust them with the process. If you give them the space, they’ll do great things. If you have something you think is game-changing and need support, they can absolutely be that support and perform to success with a high caliber.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of an apparel company. Additionally, I’m the designer and the creator of the concept. I’m looking to manufacture without any toxic chemicals or hazardous processes that will cause any harm to the environment. I’m also trying to do this on renewable energy. My mission is to create a brand new paradigm for manufacturing and to engage with the fashion industry in a completely different way with full transparency.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Argona Partners?

I was looking for assistance in developing my business plans and my pitch deck, honing in the marketing materials that I would need to create my brand, finding ways of connecting digitally to different platforms, and for other ways of selling and reaching my customer base.

Retail and our culture are shifting and changing, so I was looking for a group of people who were fresh out of business school. I wanted a team full of new and current ideas that would be able to help me.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Argona Partners has assisted me in facilitating a weekly meeting with a disciplined approach where we stick to the framework of the conversation so that we’re not deviating from the tasks. They’ve given me tools for project management that I’m still learning how to navigate with.

The team is helping me put together my branding and the marketing materials, creating a source of documents, and all the things necessary if you want to have a strong platform if you’re looking for businesses to invest in capital. These are all the pieces I needed and wouldn’t be able to do myself.

They also started a fundraising platform. There’s an electronic profile that I have ready to go. As I perfect my pitch deck and the actual business plan, I’ll be able to plug those things into that fundraising platform that we have.

Argona Partners is also helping me develop the actual branding, including making design changes to my website. They’re changing all the pages and the way it interfaces with the customer. As we develop that, they’re also going to help me with my social media channels, creating and managing content.

What is the team composition?

My main point of contact is the CEO. He’s just recently brought on someone who assists in the marketing and she’s been amazing.

How did you come to work with Argona Partners?

I was following a conversation thread on LinkedIn and they were part of the conversation. I really liked what they had to say and was very interested so I reached out to them through LinkedIn. They turned out to be the best connection I’ve made so far.

They’ve been at this for quite some time. Finding people to work with who are focused, precise, disciplined, and consistent is not easy to find. Since they’re a young company, they bring fresh energy that an otherwise older, established company might not have.

Additionally, they saw the value in what I wanted to do. They have the passion to do good things in the world that have a positive impact and meaning. The idea is to take an industry where there may have been total disregard for the planet and people and turn it around where it becomes an industry that is exciting.

How much have you invested with them?

I intend to give them 15% equity in the company and a seat on the board.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in December 2019 and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

I feel more confident about being able to actually raise money. I’m looking for partners who want to work with me and who see the value in what it is that I’m doing. Argona Partners has encouraged the beliefs that I have by assisting me with marketing that can back up the things that I’m saying.

They helped me to both understand my target market and be creative in that process. Argona Partners coaxes it out of me as opposed to where I had a lot of people shut me down. They consistently continued the dialogue with me where we’re getting to the nitty-gritty and getting closer to identifying all of those things that you need for an amazing pitch deck.

I want them to work with me forever. I hope the success we’re able to create is something ongoing and also supports the movement of their company.

How did Argona Partners perform from a project management standpoint?

Our teams collaborated via Trello and Google Docs.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Through conversations, we are creating the business. It’s through the language that we use with each other in keeping ourselves on task and when we’re relating to our audience through our branding. We are creating a business based on language.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, everything has been great.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Stick with it even if it feels slow and laborious.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the CEO of a tech startup called, BrightMinds. The company focuses on the personal and professional development of millennials and Gen-Z's. We align users with unique opportunities to learn, earn and grow.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Argona Partners?

We hired Argona to build our financial model and perform a valuation analysis.

SOLUTION

How did you select this firm and what were the deciding factors?

BrightMinds needed an independent assessment because we were transacting a $50 million debt-capital deal. We chose Argona over a list of others partly because of pricing but largely due to their high professionalism and scope of business acumen.

Describe the project in detail and walk through their service package.

Detailed market research and entering the data into spreadsheets.

How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

Due to the considerable size and scope, we worked exclusively with the principals of Argona.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the engagement that demonstrate progress or success?

The financial model they established for us helped tremendously in the procurement of capital.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Very effective and always on schedule.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

They were solution-oriented, and their deliverables were extremely comprehensive.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

Nothing worth noting at this time.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the co-founder and president

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Argona Partners, and what were your goals?

For a company evaluation.

SOLUTION

How did you select this firm and what were the deciding factors?

I was recommended to them from a trusted friend

Describe the engagement and overall scope of work in detail, including the stages of the partnership and any software or documents used.

We had a full business evaluation done for investment purposes

Describe their billing or cost structure.

Their prices are very fair for the amount of work that goes in.

How many resources from the firm's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

1 that I can remember.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the engagement or general feedback about the services?

This gave us a clear idea of what our company is valued at to move forward with investors. That was huge and we couldn't do such detail on our own.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

Very easy ti communicate with via video conferencing, phone calls, and email. Very responsive team

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

They care about their clients and take interest in your business.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

None that I could think of. I had a wonderful exprerience