{"id":1792,"date":"2018-02-01T00:42:01","date_gmt":"2018-02-01T00:42:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.dgen.net\/blog\/?page_id=1792"},"modified":"2026-04-15T00:22:35","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T00:22:35","slug":"founder-startup-and-investor-support","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/dgen.net\/0\/services\/founder-startup-and-investor-support\/","title":{"rendered":"Founder, startup and investor support"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<style>\n.dg1s-body{padding:0 2rem;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif}\n.dg1s-sec{border-bottom:1px solid #e4eaf0;padding:1.25rem 0}\n.dg1s-sec:last-child{border-bottom:none}\n.dg1s-sh{display:flex;align-items:center;gap:10px;margin-bottom:.9rem}\n.dg1s-lbl{font-size:12px;letter-spacing:.1em;text-transform:uppercase;color:#911c35;font-weight:500;white-space:nowrap}\n.dg1s-rule{flex:1;height:1px;background:#fad0d8}\n\n\/* Body text *\/\n.dg1s-p{font-size:14px;line-height:1.75;color:#2a3a4a;margin:0 0 .75rem}\n.dg1s-p:last-child{margin-bottom:0}\n.dg1s-body strong{color:#1d2a39}\n.dg1s-body a{color:#911c35;text-decoration:none;border-bottom:1px solid #fad0d8}\n.dg1s-body a:hover{border-bottom-color:#911c35}\n\n\/* Bullet list *\/\n.dg1s-list{list-style:none;padding:0;margin:0 0 .5rem;display:flex;flex-direction:column;gap:.5rem}\n.dg1s-list li{font-size:14px;line-height:1.7;color:#2a3a4a;padding-left:1.4rem;position:relative}\n.dg1s-list li::before{content:'\u2192';position:absolute;left:0;color:#911c35;font-size:12px;top:3px}\n\n\/* Two-column intro grid *\/\n.dg1s-2col{display:grid;grid-template-columns:1fr 1fr;gap:1.5rem;margin-top:.5rem}\n\n\/* Who we help tags *\/\n.dg1s-tags{display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:8px;margin:.75rem 0}\n.dg1s-tag{font-size:13px;background:#f0f3f6;border:1px solid #cdd5dd;border-radius:20px;padding:5px 14px;color:#1d2a39;line-height:1.4}\n.dg1s-tag span{color:#911c35;font-size:11px;display:block;letter-spacing:.05em;text-transform:uppercase}\n\n\/* How 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.3rem;line-height:1.3}\n.dg1s-card-d{font-size:13px;color:#546a7b;line-height:1.55;margin:0}\n\n\/* CTA bar *\/\n.dg1s-cta{background:#1e3a5f;border-radius:8px;padding:1.25rem 1.5rem;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:space-between;gap:1rem;flex-wrap:wrap}\n.dg1s-cta p{font-size:14px;color:#f0f3f6;margin:0;line-height:1.6}\n.dg1s-cta-links{display:flex;gap:.65rem;flex-wrap:wrap}\n.dg1s-cta a{font-size:13px;color:#f0f3f6;text-decoration:none;border:1px solid #8fa8be;border-radius:6px;padding:.45rem 1rem;white-space:nowrap;transition:background .15s}\n.dg1s-cta a:hover{background:#253d52;border-color:#e8edf2}\n\n@media(max-width:768px){\n  .dg1s-body{padding:0 1rem}\n  .dg1s-2col,.dg1s-how-grid{grid-template-columns:1fr}\n  .dg1s-grid{grid-template-columns:repeat(2,1fr)}\n}\n@media(max-width:480px){\n  .dg1s-grid{grid-template-columns:1fr}\n}\n<\/style>\n\n<div class=\"dg1s-body\">\n\n  <div class=\"dg1s-sec\">\n    <div class=\"dg1s-sh\"><span class=\"dg1s-lbl\">About you<\/span><span class=\"dg1s-rule\"><\/span><\/div>\n    <p class=\"dg1s-p\">If you are a founder or CEO, or looking to support one in your portfolio, we can help you:<\/p>\n    <ul class=\"dg1s-list\">\n      <li>Build a strong and investable business case for the business, its clients and potential investors<\/li>\n      <li>Create the right culture and conditions for multidisciplinary innovation<\/li>\n      <li>Navigate how to create, plan, deliver and scale the business<\/li>\n      <li>Explore constraints (tech vs legal vs commercial) to identify sources of value<\/li>\n      <li>Get the most out of leadership, boards and delivery teams<\/li>\n      <li>Connect with tech, business, government and investor communities across sectors<\/li>\n      <li>Structure strategic development across product, sales, marketing, operations, and finance<\/li>\n      <li>Work out which 95 things to <em>not<\/em> do \u2014 and how to focus on the 5 things you should<\/li>\n      <li>Continuously develop, test and iterate on progress based on user needs<\/li>\n    <\/ul>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"dg1s-sec\">\n    <div class=\"dg1s-sh\"><span class=\"dg1s-lbl\">About us<\/span><span class=\"dg1s-rule\"><\/span><\/div>\n    <div class=\"dg1s-2col\">\n      <p class=\"dg1s-p\">Dgen&#8217;s founder, <strong>Gavin Starks<\/strong>, has 20+ years experience creating dozens of companies, employing hundreds of people, and delivering $100M&#8217;s in measurable impact. He chaired the development of the UK Open Banking Standard, was CEO of the Open Data Institute, and has led teams of 250+ across sectors spanning the web, data, science, finance, policy, and media.<\/p>\n      <p class=\"dg1s-p\">In the <a href=\"https:\/\/dgen.net\/0\/overview\/constellation-team\/\">Dgen Constellation<\/a>, we have dozens of experts, from finance to development, marketing to HR, research to investment, who work on an as-needs basis to help fledgling ideas develop, funded businesses grow, and successful companies scale.<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n    <p class=\"dg1s-p\" style=\"margin-top:.75rem\">We are currently helping:<\/p>\n    <div class=\"dg1s-tags\">\n      <div class=\"dg1s-tag\"><span>Startups<\/span>finance, environment<\/div>\n      <div class=\"dg1s-tag\"><span>Larger businesses<\/span>fintech, environment, media<\/div>\n      <div class=\"dg1s-tag\"><span>Charities<\/span>environment, arts<\/div>\n      <div class=\"dg1s-tag\"><span>Governments<\/span>banking, finance, climate<\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    <p class=\"dg1s-p\">We can engage as a <strong>non-executive director<\/strong>, <strong>advisor<\/strong>, or <strong>mentor<\/strong>.<\/p>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"dg1s-sec\">\n    <div class=\"dg1s-sh\"><span class=\"dg1s-lbl\">How it works<\/span><span class=\"dg1s-rule\"><\/span><\/div>\n    <p class=\"dg1s-p\">Ideally you&#8217;ll be based in London so we can meet face-to-face, although much of our work is on international projects (across Europe, North America, and Asia) so online + travel are options. We&#8217;ll start with a free conversation to see if there&#8217;s a fit.<\/p>\n    <div class=\"dg1s-how-grid\">\n      <div class=\"dg1s-how-card\">\n        <h3>Early-stage startups<\/h3>\n        <p>Weekly or fortnightly meetings of 1\u20132 hours to help focus on what&#8217;s important. Compensated via an ongoing monthly fee plus options.<\/p>\n      <\/div>\n      <div class=\"dg1s-how-card\">\n        <h3>Later-stage startups<\/h3>\n        <p>As Advisor, Non-executive or Chair, working with the Founder\/CEO and executive management across the 18 areas below.<\/p>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n  <figure class=\"alignleft is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/dgen.net\/0\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/dgen-startups-1024x387.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3957\" style=\"width:207px;height:auto\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n  <\/div>\n\n\n  <div class=\"dg1s-sec\">\n    <div class=\"dg1s-sh\"><span class=\"dg1s-lbl\">Areas of support<\/span><span class=\"dg1s-rule\"><\/span><\/div>\n    <div class=\"dg1s-grid\">\n      <div class=\"dg1s-card\"><span class=\"dg1s-card-n\">01<\/span><h3 class=\"dg1s-card-h\">Executive function<\/h3><p class=\"dg1s-card-d\">Supporting communication with the board, investors, and clients.<\/p><\/div>\n      <div class=\"dg1s-card\"><span class=\"dg1s-card-n\">02<\/span><h3 class=\"dg1s-card-h\">Business plan<\/h3><p class=\"dg1s-card-d\">Development of written outputs that define outcomes, timings and how goals will be achieved.<\/p><\/div>\n      <div class=\"dg1s-card\"><span class=\"dg1s-card-n\">03<\/span><h3 class=\"dg1s-card-h\">Business strategy<\/h3><p class=\"dg1s-card-d\">Development of the vision, market positioning, and scale.<\/p><\/div>\n      <div class=\"dg1s-card\"><span class=\"dg1s-card-n\">04<\/span><h3 class=\"dg1s-card-h\">Delivery tactics<\/h3><p class=\"dg1s-card-d\">Development of the roadmap to execution.<\/p><\/div>\n      <div class=\"dg1s-card\"><span class=\"dg1s-card-n\">05<\/span><h3 class=\"dg1s-card-h\">Fundraising<\/h3><p class=\"dg1s-card-d\">Direct development of, and participation in, pitches.<\/p><\/div>\n      <div class=\"dg1s-card\"><span class=\"dg1s-card-n\">06<\/span><h3 class=\"dg1s-card-h\">Commercial models<\/h3><p class=\"dg1s-card-d\">Exploring open vs SaaS vs IP-based, for-profit and non-profit blends.<\/p><\/div>\n      <div class=\"dg1s-card\"><span class=\"dg1s-card-n\">07<\/span><h3 class=\"dg1s-card-h\">Culture development<\/h3><p class=\"dg1s-card-d\">Developing internally- and externally-facing team cultures that support growth.<\/p><\/div>\n      <div class=\"dg1s-card\"><span class=\"dg1s-card-n\">08<\/span><h3 class=\"dg1s-card-h\">Organisational structure<\/h3><p class=\"dg1s-card-d\">Modelling skills, timing, contractual form, and costs.<\/p><\/div>\n      <div class=\"dg1s-card\"><span class=\"dg1s-card-n\">09<\/span><h3 class=\"dg1s-card-h\">Hiring &amp; people management<\/h3><p class=\"dg1s-card-d\">Defining processes and procedures for effective teams.<\/p><\/div>\n      <div class=\"dg1s-card\"><span class=\"dg1s-card-n\">10<\/span><h3 class=\"dg1s-card-h\">Resourcing<\/h3><p class=\"dg1s-card-d\">Analysing the resource needs to support the business at each stage.<\/p><\/div>\n      <div class=\"dg1s-card\"><span class=\"dg1s-card-n\">11<\/span><h3 class=\"dg1s-card-h\">Product development<\/h3><p class=\"dg1s-card-d\">Understanding user-centric design and its relationship with product marketing.<\/p><\/div>\n      <div class=\"dg1s-card\"><span class=\"dg1s-card-n\">12<\/span><h3 class=\"dg1s-card-h\">Data development<\/h3><p class=\"dg1s-card-d\">Supporting the shaping of your data roadmap.<\/p><\/div>\n      <div class=\"dg1s-card\"><span class=\"dg1s-card-n\">13<\/span><h3 class=\"dg1s-card-h\">Finance<\/h3><p class=\"dg1s-card-d\">Financial modelling aligned with strategy and resource needs.<\/p><\/div>\n      <div class=\"dg1s-card\"><span class=\"dg1s-card-n\">14<\/span><h3 class=\"dg1s-card-h\">Sales<\/h3><p class=\"dg1s-card-d\">Sales modelling, pricing, segmentation, prioritisation, and process.<\/p><\/div>\n      <div class=\"dg1s-card\"><span class=\"dg1s-card-n\">15<\/span><h3 class=\"dg1s-card-h\">Marketing<\/h3><p class=\"dg1s-card-d\">Market sizing, segmentation, and campaign approaches.<\/p><\/div>\n      <div class=\"dg1s-card\"><span class=\"dg1s-card-n\">16<\/span><h3 class=\"dg1s-card-h\">PR<\/h3><p class=\"dg1s-card-d\">How to proactively manage external communications.<\/p><\/div>\n      <div class=\"dg1s-card\"><span class=\"dg1s-card-n\">17<\/span><h3 class=\"dg1s-card-h\">Content<\/h3><p class=\"dg1s-card-d\">Developing the internally- and externally-facing assets required to support the strategy.<\/p><\/div>\n      <div class=\"dg1s-card\"><span class=\"dg1s-card-n\">18<\/span><h3 class=\"dg1s-card-h\">Monitoring<\/h3><p class=\"dg1s-card-d\">Defining and monitoring quarterly goals, holding the team to account on delivery.<\/p><\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"dg1s-sec\">\n    <div class=\"dg1s-cta\">\n      <p>Interested? Start with a free conversation to see if there&#8217;s a fit.<\/p>\n      <div class=\"dg1s-cta-links\">\n        <a href=\"\/0\/connect\">Email Gavin \u2192<\/a>\n        <a href=\"https:\/\/linkedin.com\/in\/gavinstarks\">LinkedIn \u2192<\/a>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2619,"parent":1715,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1792","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/PfJFK3-sU","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dgen.net\/0\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1792","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dgen.net\/0\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dgen.net\/0\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dgen.net\/0\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dgen.net\/0\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1792"}],"version-history":[{"count":44,"href":"https:\/\/dgen.net\/0\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1792\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7949,"href":"https:\/\/dgen.net\/0\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1792\/revisions\/7949"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dgen.net\/0\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1715"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dgen.net\/0\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2619"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dgen.net\/0\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1792"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}