Orchid Black

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Owner and Founder of Moving Proz.

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We offer local and long-distance moving services.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Orchid Black to accomplish?

• Financial forcasting
• Compensation packages

SOLUTION

How did you find Orchid Black?

Clutch Site
Why did you select Orchid Black over others?

• High ratings
• Great culture fit
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Orchid Black were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

The primary objective is to build job roles with accompanying pay structures for different positions within the company. As part of that, there will be a financial forecasting advisory led by Michelle with execution assistance from the Moving Proz team (primarily Kelli). The goal is to deliver immediate value by addressing pressing issues related to:

• Defining and communicating job roles, goals, and pay structures for key sales and operational roles, which will reduce and/or eliminate employee job satisfaction issues and better position the business to retain and continue to attract top talent 
• Implementing a financial budgeting/forecasting capability that will increase ownership confidence around the daily management of the business and ensure the proposed pay plans are financially feasible

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

One of the most significant improvements we've seen is the implementation of a forecasting model. This model has proven to be an indispensable tool, guiding us precisely on when to hire new personnel and when to invest in expanding our fleet of trucks. The accuracy of these predictions has not only optimized our operations but has also resulted in substantial cost savings. 

Furthermore, Orchid Black has enabled us to develop crystal-clear compensation packages that align seamlessly with our organizational goals. These packages are designed to motivate and drive the behaviors we need to achieve our objectives. The direct impact on our team's performance and morale has been remarkable, leading to a more harmonious and productive work environment.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Project management was nothing short of exemplary. They consistently delivered items on time, displaying a high level of professionalism and dedication throughout our engagement. Their commitment to understanding our business and goals was truly remarkable. They went above and beyond by investing extra time in comprehending the intricacies of our industry, which was instrumental in tailoring their solutions to our specific needs. 

This level of dedication demonstrated their genuine interest in our success and their willingness to do whatever it took to meet our requirements. Their responsiveness was also highly commendable. They were always quick to address any concerns, answer questions, and adapt to any changes or requests that arose during the project. Their flexibility and proactive communication ensured that we were always on the same page, which greatly contributed to the overall success of the project. 

Orchid Black not only met but exceeded our expectations with their project management. Their punctuality, dedication, and willingness to invest extra time and effort to understand our business and goals made them exceptional partners. We couldn't be more satisfied with the results they delivered.

What was your primary form of communication with Orchid Black?

Virtual Meeting

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

What stood out most about Orchid Black was their transparency, expertise, and genuine shared desire to help our company succeed. Orchid Black was refreshingly transparent in their interactions with us. They were upfront about their capabilities, timelines, and potential challenges. This transparency created a strong foundation of trust from the beginning of our engagement, allowing us to have open and honest discussions throughout the project. 

The depth of expertise exhibited by their team was truly impressive. They possessed a profound understanding of needs as a small business and were well-versed in the latest trends and best practices. This expertise was evident in the solutions they proposed and the recommendations they made, all of which were backed by data and industry knowledge. 

What set Orchid Black apart was their genuine commitment to our company's success. They didn't just approach our project as a business transaction; they genuinely cared about our goals and were invested in helping us achieve them. This level of dedication went beyond what we expected and made the partnership with them truly exceptional.

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

There are no apparent areas for improvement or things that Orchid Black could have done differently in our experience. Their performance and dedication exceeded our expectations, and we were highly satisfied with the results they delivered.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of a SaaS company focused on the social media space.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Orchid Black?

We needed help with our approach to sales. We also wanted to improve our operational efficiency as well.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

First, we went through a “value creation assessment” where they reviewed different elements of our business. They interviewed employees, researched competition, and compiled data for us to review. Now, we’re in a second phase, where we’ll build a 3-year operational plan.

What is the team composition?

I work with a couple of their partners as well as a couple of junior employees. I also work with one of their consultants.

How did you come to work with Orchid Black?

We were referred to them. I really appreciated Jim’s (Co-founding Managing Partner) approach.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $250,000 in total so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in April 2021, and our work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve been very pleased with them so far. Orchid Black has been brilliant at orchestrating the three-year alignment plan with our staff.  

How did Orchid Black perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re amazing. I’m impressed with their organization, methodology, and how fast they’re able to move. We use email for communication and Miro for project management.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their ability to communicate our goals and methodology stands out. They’re great at organizing and communicating the plan that we have, and they make sure we take that forward as a company.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I honestly can’t think of anything.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I would absolutely refer Orchid Black to anyone.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and president of an information services firm. We primarily work with B2B sales organizations and give them insights into their clients. Ultimately, we help them estimate how much financial benefit their solutions will deliver to their clients.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Orchid Black?

Our market has changed pretty significantly over the last few years with the utilization of AI and machine learning. Buyers are getting more sophisticated. I felt like it was time to bring in a third party to assess the market, strategy, and help us continue to grow the top line. We wanted their outside perspective and for them to find ways to help us grow revenue faster.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Orchid Black provided market research and consulting services for us. They broke the process down into four areas. First, they looked at our company, strategy, and product-market fit. The second part was Orchid Black looking at our team itself as well as our culture and logistics. They focused on how our skills match against what we need to do to continue to grow the business.

The third part was looking at the product themselves, looking for the net promoter score from our clients as well as the product strategy and roadmap. They also looked at other aspects within our sales and marketing organization and if they aligned with intel from the market. The fourth part was looking at the operations, which is our main function.

What is the team composition?

There was a total of four people. We worked with Jim (Founding Partner), Alex (Practice Leader of Market Research & Analytics), John (Operating Partner), and Noel (Managing Partner).

How did you come to work with Orchid Black?

We work with a law firm who highly recommended Orchid Black to us. We had worked with other companies in the past and didn’t get the results we wanted. I was skeptical when I first talked to Orchid Black and told them that. Having talked to them and looked at their case studies, I was pretty impressed and knew it was worth the effort to go forward.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested about $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our ongoing engagement started in August 2020. The initial engagement lasted two weeks, and we just signed for another engagement that will last for two months.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The initial assessment and reports made sense. They were telling me some things I did know and some that I didn’t. It was successful in the sense of letting us know where we are as well as providing insights into where we need to be. That was very successful from my perspective. Ultimately, the next problem is to grow the business.

How did Orchid Black perform from a project management standpoint?

Their communication is very effective, and every deadline has been met. They gave us a detailed timeline and then followed it pristinely. Their team has been professional when it comes to project management.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re very professional in the way they communicate and act. They have the experience, which helped me have the confidence that what they were saying was going to make sense. What they came up with makes a lot of sense.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I haven’t seen any kinks in the armor.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Ask them for case studies and examples of when they worked with companies like yours. Do your due diligence in seeing if an engagement with Orchid Black would be a good fit for the market you’re in. In my experience, they were very transparent about providing examples of companies like ours and the outcome.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Exiom is commercializing a new system to enable orthopedic providers to rapidly scan and measure a patient’s limb using an iPad-based 3D scanning system. We’re exclusive distributors of software that rapidly builds a brace and creates a 3D printable file.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Morgan Hill Partners?

We needed to position our company for investment.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Morgan Hill Partners helped us to strategically position our company for investment and built out backend management systems for our business on Google. Their team helped me to make the right decisions around the company's structure. They helped to build out our company to be ready to scale. Their team created a pitch deck as well as a managed service model with volume-based pricing, so we know how to price our new products.

They helped to negotiate complex contractual agreements with our providers. Their team also helped me to develop a comprehensive financial model and forecasting so that we knew how much money to spend and how fast we could grow. They developed the total scope and picture of what we present to our investors. 

What is the team composition?

There were two main people assigned to the work.

How did you come to work with Morgan Hill Partners?

I met them at a conference where we started talking. We were a brand new company at that point. I was looking for guidance and help with structuring the company. We talked for a couple of months and ended up signing them on to provide their services.

How much have you invested with them?

We invested around $30,000 in total.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started with them in May 2019 and the project wrapped up in October 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

One of our main goals was to figure out how to best integrate a brand new 3D printer system into an orthopedic clinic. We developed a managed service model for the equipment and a volume-based pricing model, which has been well received by orthopedic doctors around the country.

We’ve been able to capitalize on the contracts and take advantage of the interest in our products to land contracts. They looked for every single opportunity to help us. Their team tried to fill all the gaps that needed to be filled.

How did Morgan Hill Partners perform from a project management standpoint?

We had weekly calls and uploaded everything onto Google Drive, We still talk often because their team reaches out to ask how we’re doing. They created folders with all of our investor documents and that was well built out. Our main points of contact gave us their numbers and were available at any time. They met deadlines and usually got tasks done before deadlines.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They take a personal interest in each and every one of their clients. They got to know us and strived to deliver the best work possible. Their team understood that word of mouth's the best advertising out there. There were several times during the project when the CEO reached out directly to ask about my experience with his team. That spoke volumes.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s always room for improvement but I got my money’s worth.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Have a clear understanding and expectations upfront. The more engaged you are with them, the more satisfied you’ll be with the process. You have to do your part so that the value you receive is what you expected.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the CEO of LEI.INFO, which is a startup in the digital identification space.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Morgan Hill Partners ?

Morgan Hill Partners conducted a workshop on strategy for our startup.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to improve our business plan, presentation, and pitch. Another of our goals was to formulate a solid strategy to overcome potential problems related to our startup environment. 

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

They were recommended to us by another company. When we met at the 2019 Synapse Summit in Tampa, we discussed opportunities to work together.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Morgan Hill Partners held a workshop for our team. We discussed the current business plan for our start-up at length, identified problems, and sketched out solutions to overcome them and improve. better. The central deliverable they produced was a marketplace assessment for our products and services.

What was the team composition?

We worked with a team of three people. Each of them was a fully qualified business advisor.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

Our workshop with Morgan Hill Partners helped me reformulate the business plan for our company. While we are still working on finalizing the assessment, this experience helped me understand both potential opportunities and threats better.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Every aspect of the team’s organization was just great. Since the workshop was only one day long, we didn’t need larger-scale project management. 

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their business advisors had an impressive ability to delve deep into our market and domain.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I don’t see any such areas. Everything went well.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there. 

I’m the president and founder of BulliPatrol, a company that monitors social media accounts for parents to alert them when cyberbullying occurs. We partner with companies to add our services to their wellness programs as a corporate benefit.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Morgan Hill Partners? 

We initially engaged Morgan Hill Partners for strategic insights, focusing on how to position ourselves on the B2B side. Since then, their scope has evolved into more of a fractional management role, which also encompasses support for our sales and marketing departments.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement? 

Morgan Hill Partners provides a range of consulting services, acting as both coaches to our staff as well as conduits when necessary. If I’m pressed for time and need a meeting taken off of my plate, their team will take the meeting in my stead, which is helpful.

On the sales side, they’re working with my sales force to improve our call scripts, streamline our outreach efforts, and close calls. One of their main projects is a LinkedIn outreach program that helps us create more connections and gain more leads.

They’ve also served as the entirety of our marketing department for the past 6–9 months. Using our input, they’re responsible for most of the messaging for our digital and print collateral. This includes creating fliers and banners for conferences, developing and testing emails, and reworking half of our messaging for our public-facing site. In addition, they’ve provided design inputs to our site and our main application’s UI.

What is the team composition?  

Overall, I’ve worked with about 7–8 resources.

How did you come to work with Morgan Hill Partners?

I found Morgan Hill Partners through a referral from my attorney. After meeting with them, we decided to try them out.

How much have you invested with them? 

We’ve spent about $40,000 to date.

What is the status of this engagement? 

Their work started in October 2018, and we still have a contract with them.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve received about 70 leads from their LinkedIn outreach program over the course of around six weeks. On top of that, their deliverables are top-notch, and they have a robust review process to weed out any errors. I haven’t seen mistakes come back to us like with other providers I’ve worked with.

How did Morgan Hill Partners perform from a project management standpoint?

They manage their team really well; it’s a disciplined approach that’s different than what I’m used to, but it works. They’re methodical, provide lots of notes, and are on time for meetings. In terms of communication, we interact via text, email, phone, and in-person meetings since they’re local.

What did you find most impressive about them? 

One of the biggest initial draws for me was how connected they are to the local professional networks within the Tampa Bay area. Other than that, I’ve grown to respect what they do after working with them for the past few months.

Are there any areas they could improve? 

We did have some scheduling issues with one of our main connections early on, but they resolved the issue by reassigning the contact. Now, they meet all of our scheduling needs.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?
 
Be sure to clarify contract points, especially in terms of the deliverables. There have been times when I thought that my requests were clear when there was actually some ambiguity.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and CEO of a startup that links horse owners to equestrian service providers through a mobile app.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Morgan Hill Partners?

Because I’m the sole owner and employee of my company, I realized that I needed an experienced partner to guide my marketing efforts and help me find investors. I hired Morgan Hill Partners to provide ideas for my advertising strategy and financial backing efforts.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They offer guidance for my marketing and sales strategy, which includes social media campaigns, email outreach, sponsorships, and other advertising methods. Rather than delivering marketing services themselves, they refer me to other firms that can provide in these areas. They’re also evaluating my app developer alongside other potential technology partners and making recommendations based on their findings. Aside from these consulting services, their team is also helping me find investors who are interested in my app.

What is the team composition?

I work primarily with Steve (Operating Partner, Morgan Hill Partners) and Alex (Associate Partner, Morgan Hill Partners). I also communicate occasionally with Jim (General Partner, Morgan Hill Partners) and John (Operating Partner, Morgan Hill Partners). John specializes in technology consulting.

How did you come to work with Morgan Hill Partners?

I was referred to them by one of the VPs at the development company that built my app. They introduced me to Jim, and we began our partnership soon after that.

How much have you invested with them?

I’ve spent approximately $20,000 at this point.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our partnership began in November 2018 and has continued since then.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Activity on the app has doubled month over month since the beginning of 2019. My users are becoming more engaged with the product, which has led to more transactions on the platform.

How did Morgan Hill Partners perform from a project management standpoint?

They call me twice a week, every week. We've dedicated one of the weekly calls to marketing strategy, and the other is for anything else related to my business. We also communicate frequently via email. Their team is very accessible, even connecting with me over the weekend when I’ve had urgent questions.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re easy to work with, and their team regularly brings forth useful ideas and innovative solutions. They’re also very experienced and have a deep understanding of the ways they can support my business.

Are there any areas they could improve?

At times, I wish they would actively steer me in my decision making. I appreciate that they want me to run my business and that they value my input. But, in areas where they’re more experienced, I would benefit more from a specific recommendation rather than a variety of options.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of programming and partnerships at a startup hub. We offer support services that help build bold scalable and thriving companies in Tampa Bay.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Morgan Hill Partners? 

We were seeking a solution to provide coaching for our member companies.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement? 

Morgan Hill Partners works with us to train our coaches. So we hired expert advisers and coaches to be part of our team. Then we utilize Morgan Hill Partners for training purposes. They train our coaches on their proprietary curriculum and methodology. They also provide us with a platform of content and resources for our coaches can leverage. 

What is the team composition?

We worked with around 10 of their staff and operating partners for our methodology training. On a weekly basis, we work with about five of their staff.

How did you come to work with Morgan Hill Partners?

We were originally going to build a training program in-house. Then we decided to find a solution that would save us time and efficiency. Morgan Hill Partners had the most in-depth resources and repositories of content. We liked that not only do they craft their own content but that they curate the best resources in the industry. They’re also located near us, which is convenient. We connected with them and worked out what our arrangement would be. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $80,000.

What is the status of this engagement? 

Our first conversation happened in June 2018, and the project is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They’ve trained five coaches in this initial period, who are working with 25 member companies. The member companies get access to this for free through their membership in our collective. We're still in the onboarding process but so far they are quite excited. It's helping to provide them clarity in the direction of their businesses. 

We're satisfied with their product delivery to date, although it does look different in practice how we assumed the methodology would be used with our coaches. Despite some hiccups, they've created a solid product that will hopefully turn into a pillar of our programming.

How did Morgan Hill Partners perform from a project management standpoint?

Morgan Hill Partners does an excellent job of keeping us informed and up-to-date on action items. I've been quite impressed with their project management throughout the engagement. We communicate via email and then do weekly calls via Zoom or occasionally in-person. While the initial phase took longer than we wanted, we’ve been pleased with the way they set timelines and achieve objectives. They communicate well about the process and are accommodating to our needs. 

What did you find most impressive about them? 

Their methodology provided a common language for our coaches and their repository of content is extremely robust. 

Are there any areas they could improve? 

There's always room for improvement, but overall we’re satisfied with the experience. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers? 

Have a clear idea of your objective from the get-go. We're in startup mode as a new organization, so we weren't entirely sure what we needed from them. It took longer to get to the final product as a result. Coming in with a clear objective as a client would be helpful. That's probably the biggest takeaway. Our engagement with them isn’t a typical project, but I would much rather leverage their expert resources than create them on my own time.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Equiti Games. We manage a digital distribution platform for video games. Users can download and play games via their PC, interact with friends, and work towards different achievements. We’re implementing blockchain technology to allow users to own and resell their games and their digital goods on the platform.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Morgan Hill Partners?

We’re an early-stage startup, so we needed a team of technical experts to guide us as we grow, go to market, and maneuver various business challenges and issues.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Basically, Morgan Hill Partners is helping us develop and implement a working business strategy. As we continue to grow, their team provides insight to help us efficiently allocate money and structure our business to attract investors. They’ve created several documents to help us secure investments. The team is also helping us plan the next stages for the platform, as well as supporting our hiring and outsourcing efforts.

What is the team composition?

Our main point of contact is John (General Partner, Morgan Hill Partners), but Jim (General Partner, Morgan Hill Partners) and Steven (General Partner, Morgan Hill Partners) are also involved. For day-to-day communication, we primarily interact with Nick (Associate Partner, Morgan Hill Partners). We’ve also worked with Adam (Associate Partner, Morgan Hill Partners) because he has a background in the venture capital space. If we ever encounter a situation that requires a different skill set, they’ll provide an additional specialist for immediate assistance.

How did you come to work with Morgan Hill Partners?

A personal friend of mine is an executive recruiter. She was familiar with Morgan Hill Partners because they run in the same professional circle. Following her positive recommendation, we met with their team. They seemed to be a good match, so we chose to partner with them.

How much have you invested with them?

So far, we’ve spent around $25,000, but we plan to spend more.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in June 2018, and it’s an ongoing relationship.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Overall, their expertise has been extremely helpful. Because of their work in the field, they know how to navigate situations that we’ve never encountered. Morgan Hill Partners has helped us avoid pitfalls and establish an efficient path forward. They’ve even helped us manage our relationships with outside partners and investors, and they’ve connected us with their professional network.

How did Morgan Hill Partners perform from a project management standpoint?

They stay on top of their workflow. The team is organized and productive from their top-level executives to their lower-level staff. We generally communicate through phone calls, emails, and Slack messages. Any time someone from their team makes the trip from Florida to New York, I’ll meet with them in person.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They feel like part of our internal team. It’s clear that they believe in our project and are committed to the success of our business. We have a good inter-team dynamic. Our partnership feels genuine.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Because our priorities are constantly changing as we try to establish a foundational business plan, the Morgan Hill Partners team never really has enough time to use their full skill set on a specific task.