On Demand Technology

Client: On Demand Technology – digital marketing experts

Challenge: ODT Managing Director Julian Thompson came to us with a business model that was changing focus but with no surplus cash to invest in the resources needed to make it happen.

Solution: Over a few coffees, Julian outlined his plans for the business, talked us through his services, the market, the competition and why he was well poised to develop a far more profitable business than the one he had been running to that point.

Over the next couple of weeks we worked closely together, building details of the financial model to create a three year P&L, balance sheet and cashflow, all driven by bottom up business metrics, deal by deal and month by month.

After lots of inevitable iterations, stripping out some bullish optimism, much challenging, poking, tweaking and remodelling, we had a set of financials that reflected a realistic picture of the business. Julian always had a gut feel for what finance he would need for expansion but what the model did for us was to give us something we could hang our hat on, that we could point at, talk anyone through and justify to any external third party.

We spent just as long helping to build the general business strategy; the competitive position, the market analysis, the USPs, pipeline and overview of the team. All important factors in our final submission to Finance East for £150k of funding from the Growth Fund they manage on behalf of the East of England Development Agency.

Some weeks later we received the good news that the credit committee had approved the project and we would get £150k of funding in 2 equal tranches.

My Business FD continues to work closely with Julian and ODT as they recruit a larger team and start to deliver their anticipated growth. We’re confident the business will go from strength to strength.

What the client says: “Chris was absolutely critical in building our bid for investment and I’m sure we wouldn’t have been successful if it wasn’t for his involvement. I valued not only his keen financial eye but also his broad commercial experience and a wealth of contacts that is already boosting our pipeline and I’m sure will result in some new key clients.

“There’s no doubt Chris has added significant value across the business and I’m looking forward to him being a permanent, albeit part time board level member of our team for some time to come. We didn’t want someone who would come in, do a job and move on. We were looking for someone to sit beside us, to guide us and help secure investment but then continue to work with us on an ongoing basis. That’s exactly what we’ve now got and we’re delighted.”

Julian Thompson, managing director, ODT

What My Business FD says: “Julian and the ODT team were great to work with. They were very open with us and receptive of our input and we quickly developed an extremely positive relationship. I’m looking forward to being involved in ODT’s continued success and working with Julian and his team.”

Chris Chapman

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