CO-PILOT® has consulted, led & collaborated on a range of projects, outside of 1:1 Advisory, covering;
Broad Business Audits (Due Diligence/DD & Discovery), Business & Action Planning, Growth Strategies, Pathways to Leadership/Partnership & PlanB's, Evolving Revenue Models, Business Plans & IM’s, Business Exits/Succession Planning, Technology & Marketing Platforms & Automation, Increasing Asset value, Marketing & Communications Plans, Digital & eCommerce projects, Provide Recommendations on RFP decisions, Business Model Transition, Contingency Planning, Branding, PR, Lead Generation & Filling Sales Pipelines, Building Strategic Relationships, Customer journey roadmaps, UX/CX, Risk/Derisking, Governance & Management, Idea generation, IP, Term Sheets, Evolving databases into an on & offline Community, Creating a single view of the customer for greater personalisation & segmentation, Assisting businesses evolve from off to online eCommerce, People/HR - contracts and process, the 50+ demographic opportunity, Coaching & facilitating Strategy & Business Planning Workshops and Health & Wellness guidance.

As an example of the broad offering, please refer to the GrownUps case study below.

Building and Scaling GrownUps® – A Strategic Journey to Success

Background:

GrownUps®, an innovative online lifestyle magazine and social hub designed for the active 50+ demographic, wasfounded and managed for 10 years before being successfully sold to Cigna Insurance.

Challenges:

  • Startup Phase: Building a unique online platform from scratch for a niche audience.
  • Funding and Partnerships: Securing strategic investments and partnerships to scale operations.
  • Market Fluctuations: Navigating financial instability during economic downturns.
  • Operational Hurdles: Managing daily business operations and overcoming internal challenges.

Approach:

  • Market Analysis and Concept Development: Identified a growing demand for an online platform catering to the 50+ demographic, leading to the creation of GrownUps®.
  • Strategic Partnerships: Negotiated key partnerships and investments to fuel growth and stability.
  • Operational Management: Hands-on management approach, addressing operational challenges and optimising business processes.
  • Exit Strategy: Developed and executed a strategic exit plan, culminating in a successful sale to a Fortune 500 company.

Solutions Implemented:

  1. Business Establishment and Management:
    • Launched GrownUps® and managed all aspects of the business.
    • Ensured consistent growth and engagement with a 50+ audience through innovative content and features.
  2. Strategic Negotiations:
    • Secured a 20% investment from Sentinel/Seniors Finance, later bought back to regain full control.
    • Entered a joint venture with Yellow Pages, enhancing visibility and resources, then reacquired the stake post-GFC.
    • Engaged in negotiations with multiple local and international media and private equity companies for potential acquisitions.
  3. Successful Exit:
    • Negotiated and completed the sale to Cigna, a major global player, integrating operations smoothly over a two-year period.

Achievements:

  • Audience Growth: Became New Zealand’s largest website for the 50+ demographic, attracting up to 200,000 monthly visitors and 150,000 active members.
  • Content and Engagement: Developed a rich repository of 10,000 unique articles and features, fostering strong community engagement.
  • Financial Stability and Growth: Secured significant investments and partnerships, ensuring financial health and growth through economic challenges.
  • Successful Sale and Integration: Achieved a successful sale to Cigna, ensuring a seamless transition and continued growth post-acquisition.

Key Learnings and Experiences:

  • Perseverance and Resilience: Navigated the highs and lows of startup life, from financial struggles to operational challenges.
  • Hands-on Management: Gained invaluable experience in managing day-to-day operations, making critical decisions, and addressing crises.
  • Strategic Thinking: Developed a keen sense for strategic partnerships, investments and exit strategies.
  • Work-Life Balance: Learned the importance of maintaining personal health, wellbeing, and family life amidst business pressures.