Services

CompanyCrafters is a management consulting firm that helps Global 2000 corporations, research institutions and entrepreneurs craft and launch new businesses. We provide a range of advisory, hands-on management and educational services focused on planning, launching and scaling new enterprises and corporate and university spin-outs.

• Planning & Launching New Businesses
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• Structuring Corporate and University Spinouts
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• Interim Executive Assignments
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• CompanyCrafters Education and Seminars
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Well-run corporations tend to spawn a number of innovations and new-business ideas in the normal course of business. But here's the dilemma: so many of these innovative ideas are outside the realm of the company’s mainstream business and therefore need to draw on resources outside of the enterprise to shape the business plan and launch the venture. That’s where CompanyCrafters comes in. As experienced tech entrepreneurs in our own right, we've been through the drill multiple times. At CompanyCrafters, we've built a practice around helping others to successfully plan, launch and scale robust new ventures. We bring a unique entrepreneurial perspective on new business development that is structured, repeatable, and geared toward maximizing value and minimizing the new-venture risk.

CompanyCrafters provides hands-on coaching and assistance to the management team in researching and developing new business plans. Our structured planning process entails applying a suite of analytical tools to fully understand the market, the industry dynamics and the business opportunities. From this analysis, we identify the most powerful combinations among alternative business models, market segment focuses and go-to-market strategy. We start with an outward-focused market perspective, test the various alternative strategies, and analyze the financial viability and return of the most promising approaches.

Through the business planning process, CompanyCrafters works with the management team to produce a validated business plan, a practical marketing plan, and a detailed financial model – crucial tools for launching the new business

Some of the specific tools we bring to bear in the business planning process include:

Development of a comprehensive industry map Value chain and margin structure analysis Market segmentation Competitive mapping Examination of business model alternatives Compelling value and strategic fit analysis Strategic pricing Financial modeling and forecasting Risk analysis and delineation of critical success factors

Many of our clients ask CompanyCrafters to take a hands-on role in leading the team through the new business launch process, testing and proving out the strategy and refining the business plan based on market and customer feedback. We assist in building out and coaching the management team through the launch process including development of a comprehensive “flight checklist," an execution framework, 30/60/90 day execution plans and deliverables to keep the launch on track.

We work with the management team to assure customer and market feedback are integrated back into a living, breathing business plan and ongoing risk mitigation strategies to keep the team focused on the right milestones toward success. Our role in our clients' new-venture launches ranges from executive leadership to active advisory and coaching assistance to board participation.

Once the business plan is proven, and predictable, repeatable sales can be delivered in a particular sub-segment of the market, the business may be in a position to be rapidly scaled up. CompanyCrafters works with clients as they scale the business through this high growth phase. We serve as active hands-on advisors and board members, coaching management through the tumultuous changes always associated with rapid growth.

At CompanyCrafters, we've achieved notable success working with both corporations and research institutions to evaluate new innovations and business opportunities, formulate rigorous business plans and ultimately launch new businesses. In some cases, these ventures are spun out as independent entities, while in other cases they are launched as new business initiatives within the parent organization. In developing new spinouts, we exercise our extensive professional network to bring the right resources – legal, financial, executive talent, etc. – into the mix as needed. Our focus in on partnering with the parent organization – the innovating corporation or institution – to leverage their innovations and create a robust new business with a high confidence of success.

At CompanyCrafters, we believe that many of the "mysteries" of starting a new business from scratch aren't mysteries at all, but there are many common but entirely unnecessary mistakes. Some of these mistakes can be company-killers if they're not headed off early in the process. Most new ventures take risks they don't need to. We believe that low-risk, high-probability-of-success venturing can be taught and coached.

CompanyCrafters is provides customized training and seminars on crafting great businesses, strategic planning for start-ups and spin-outs, and entreprenuerial management skills. Contact us here to request more information.

Here is a sample of some of the upcoming CompanyCrafters Seminars and Training:

Ann Arbor SPARK Special Forces Training

Intensive Business Planning Training, Ann Arbor SPARK, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Ann Arbor SPARK is teaming up with CompanyCrafters to provide a 3-week, intensive business planning training for high-potential start-up companies. This series of workshops and coaching is designed to lay the foundation of building great businesses and prepare the companies for the Michigan Pre-Seed Capital Fund and outside investor financing.

The SPARK Special Forces Training program focuses on creating a detailed business plan that can withstand the due diligence of angel and venture capital investors, and prepare the companies for Michigan Pre-Seed Capital funding. The goal of this program is not just to develop a business plan, but to lay the foundation of building a great business by making sure the company has a complete understanding of the market opportunity and needs, industry structure, business model alternatives, financial requirements, go-to-market plan, and risk mitigation strategy.

Through the “Science of Business Planning” process, CompanyCrafters will teach a structured set of analytical tools and take each company through the step-by-step process of constructing their business plan. Each company will develop key insights into their market, industry and business upon which they can develop a solid, well thought-out business strategy that is easy to communicate to investors.

What attendees are saying about Special Forces Training:

On the eve of our final Special Forces Training sessions next week, I wanted to thank both of you for the amazing transformation you’ve facilitated within the management team here at findatitle.  The positive impact you and CompanyCrafters have had on our company and our thinking at this critical point in our history would truly be difficult to overestimate.

I am a career entrepreneur nearly 30 years of startup experience.  I’ve been there, done that, and certainly utilized the professional services of a number of business consultants over the years.  But I have to tell you that I have never experienced anything quite like your “Special Forces Training.”  The practical, results-oriented methods and tools you have given us for stepping back and refocusing on our industry and our business are empowering us to see our future in a whole new light.  I shudder to think that but for the article I happened to see in the Oakland Business Review we might not have become a participant in your program.  As a business owner and resident of Michigan, thank you for this course and your contribution to the business community within our region.

- Jim Mooradian, Chief Executive Officer, findatitle, LLC

I came into the Special Forces Training pretty skeptical that I’d take much away. Coming from a top-5/10 MBA program (depending on the poll) and a stint at a top consultancy (where I’d spent 6 months in the Private Equity practice), I figured I’d be sitting through dry discussion of a lot of familiar frameworks. I was 100% wrong.

• You were able to expose us to a wealth of very practical, real-world entrepreneurial experience.
• You did a great job packaging it in a logical way so that flowed well and it wasn’t a set of disjointed anecdotes.
• You were able to give us help with our plan that has been specific, practical, meaningful, and creative.
• Finally, and not to be minimized, you’ve warned us of the emotional ups and downs of the process so that we’re better positioned to manage them.

In my opinion, we’re significantly farther along than we’d have been without your help. I also think we’re better positioned for eventual success than we would have been otherwise. And if the proposal doesn’t work out, the learning I’ve taken away will have made it more than worth the effort.

- Chad Johnston, Tuck class of 98 & Bain alum

A few thoughts to add from my vantage point (17 years in Big Pharma in varying finance roles; currently leader of Pfizer’s Michigan Research & Development Finance organization) on CompanyCrafters Special Forces Training:

• The Special Forces training is the type of immersion program that folks transitioning from Pfizer need.  Mike and Jim, through training and sharing real world entrepreneurial experiences, provide the bridge that is necessary to move from a Fortune 50 company to a mindset that leads to successful Life Science start-ups. 
• For successful outcomes, the Special Forces training is necessary to get “below the surface” and focus on what it really takes to create a team, business plan and the mindset that is takes to create a successful growth company 
• Jim and Mike rapidly moved up the pharmaceutical industry learning curve and taught us how to fully leverage our collective knowledge.  Their expertise in creatively building new business strategies, negotiating and partnering with investors and other key partners has positioned us for success.
• The Special Forces training goes beyond planning and launching a new business.  The program prepares a leadership team for success as a company moves through the various phases of growth.
• Beyond the classroom, Jim and Mike provided one-on-one coaching sessions and actively participated in meetings with key business partners (e.g. potential investors, etc)

Thank you for your personal commitment to our team and providing us with the opportunity to succeed!

- Gerry Cox, Senior Director, Pfizer

For information on the next Special Forces Training, please contact Skip Simms at Ann Arbor SPARK at 734-646-3173.

Remember the old expression, "It's not what you know, it's who you know"? Well, if you know CompanyCrafters, you've got access to top-notch venturing professionals who can jump in and help ensure a highly successful, low-risk launch of your new business. If we can't do the job ourselves – due to time constraints, prior commitments, or need for a specific skill set, we'll tap our extensive network of experienced CEOs and tech-venture pros to help you fill out your "A team."