FAQs

We evaluate clients beyond financial interests, considering risks, cashflow, entrepreneurship, ethics, personal attitude and enterprise knowledge. 

Client acceptance rate has hovered between 40–50%. We continue to set the standard for professional services excellence, with our client admissions process remaining one of the most competitive in the industry. 

The standard sections of our pitch book you receive consist of a situational overview and background of your business (about you), the advantages of hiring our firm, in comparison with other advisors (about us) and a high-level market analysis (about the market).

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This sets the foundation for a closing brief on how you would be advised:

• the key strategic alternatives realistically available to reach your specific goal (where we take you)

• scope of our work and project deliverables (what you get)

• biography and relevant track record of the senior partners, forming the project team (who you get)

• timeline and cost

We require exclusive client mandate for a minimum of 3 months, for quality purposes and strong, timely delivery. 

To remedy rare, unforeseen circumstances delaying results, an additional 8-month client representation and/or project extension is automatically included in any service proposal, free of charge. In total, our contract covers 12 months of engagement (1 Year).

• We charge a one-time, full service fee, with % discount. In alternative, we offer a subscription-like, interest-free payment plan for you to pay in instalments, without discount, over a maximum period of 5 months from the engagement date.

• Iff any of the monthly payments pause, we will have to interrupt the work we are doing, effective immediately reversing software cycle, implementation or any offers you get from our investor network (sunset clause).​

• Our service proposal comes after we receive your Request for Proposals (RFP) directly or indirectly, and successfully passing Know Your Customer (KYC) standards. 

• In the first meeting, we gain a complete understanding of your business, problems and expectations.

• We conduct preliminary due diligence of your financials and deliberate accordingly on the feasibility of the target project, rarely involving a second, clarification meeting. 

• Once we know there is more than 60% chance of getting what you want, we create a strategy proposal to outline how we can save you x4 the time, and money spent elsewhere to achieve your goals.

We get daily requests to do free work for start ups or give privileged treatment to cash-ill companies for conditional fees. If you embrace any of the following views on our role, we are not a match.

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Zero Budget 

Many don’t have the budget for plenty of things they’d like, that’s why they don’t own them. We are sophisticated professionals and do not work for less or on commission, just like accountants and engineers. 

Scrounging 

Those on the scrounge apply it to their whole business (staff, brand, product development), missing growth opportunities with the same mindset. Good Luck! 

Competitive Advantage

How “different” or “better than others” a business is perceived to be, is an irrelevant ground for reducing the price of any of our business services. No reason why we would “sponsor” a random business over 100 great ones. 

Zero Risk 

Expecting another to bear all the (reputational, legal, financial, time) risks to achieve your own goal, while you don’t risk anything is business-naive. 

Shortcuts

Crucial steps we take in the run up to your end goal make or break its achievement. What you get is the product of small acts, details that aren’t superfluous. Superficiality in business is bad, like shortcuts. What you don’t invest in, you spend.

Zero Value

Expertise, connections, time, intellectual property, trade secrets were earned with hard work and have a price, like everything. They cannot be handed over, casually nor be reduced to replicable, disposable factors. 

If you cannot see the value or difference our white gloves make, it's too early for you. 

• We have 37 partners + affiliates including individual experts, industry professionals and specialized firms.

• Based on geography, sector, capabilities and track record, 10 relevant partners are shortlisted, according to the project goals.

• Depending on their availability and strength of their action plan, a minimum of 5 senior partners are appointed to be in charge of deliverables for a period of 12 months.

• Usually, the service team is composed of:

  • x1 Managing Partner, responsible for strategy (and all strategic consultants) and team leadership

  • x1 Senior Partners, responsible for financial transformation (broker-dealer, investment bank, corporate financial advisor), risk and corporate actions

  • x1 Executive Partner, responsible for the project communications, independent advisory, business performance growth and development

  • x1 Implementation Partner, responsible for the operational delivery of the project, marketing to sales (technical, industry leader)

  • x1 Regional Partner, responsible for project and client relationship management, based in the country where the client is (front office)