Developing Innovative Strategies
ACHIEVING GROWTH
Venezia Capital
We focus on acceleration and growth primarily in the technology sector. Transformation of the sales organisation and growth through M&A are the two levers we use to accelerate companies.
After playing a pivotal role in propelling The Access Group (now the UK's largest software company) from £280 million SaaS ARR to over £1 billion in under four years, and successfully navigating two major financial transactions, our Managing Partner Alex Blakeway is now dedicated to helping other companies achieve accelerated growth.
Projects Executed
Acceleration
Sales acceleration isn't merely about speed, but direction. It starts with understanding 'why' we do what we do. With clarity of purpose, we can inspire others faster and more effectively. It's not just about reaching the finish line quicker; it's ensuring the journey is grounded in trust, vision, and meaningful connections.
M&A
In successful M&A, integration is less about merging systems and more about uniting 'whys'. It's forging a shared purpose, bridging cultures and values. True integration success isn't just in seamless processes but in inspired teams aligned under a common vision, driven by trust and a mutual desire to succeed.
Acceleration
Sales acceleration isn't merely about pace, but about purpose. It's the fusion of strategy with passion, moving businesses forward not just swiftly, but meaningfully. We believe that to truly accelerate, one must first understand and connect with the core values and vision. It's not about merely reaching the destination faster, but about ensuring every step taken is grounded in purpose, direction, and a profound desire to make a difference.
Strategy - Consultancy - Workshops - Interim - Permanent
Sales Execution Partners
Sales Workshops
Genesis Growth Model
This growth model is the culmination of two decades of meticulous refinement, shaped by the diverse challenges and triumphs encountered across a spectrum of tech enterprises. It embodies a fusion of strategic precision and a profound appreciation for the human element. Each insight, developed over the years from tech giants to the nimble frameworks of startups, is woven seamlessly into a comprehensive playbook. A blueprint that covers strategy and execution in equal measure crafted to catalyse accelerated growth.
Say no to dull sales training! Say yes to outcome based Sales Workshops
01
Plan for Success
We start by refining your LinkedIn profile to make you stand out in a crowded marketplace. From there, we focus on crafting compelling content and building strategic connections to expand your network. Planning is the cornerstone of sales success, and we guide you through creating a robust strategy, providing you with tools and templates designed to help you exceed your goals.
Why: Planning is often the most underestimated skill in sales, yet the most successful teams execute a well-crafted plan rather than improvising. This workshop will instil structure in your team's routine and equip them with a plan that can be regularly reviewed to monitor progress.
03
Self-Gen Superhero
Accelerating your pipeline requires mastery in Self-Generation. We work with you to create a comprehensive plan to achieve your self-gen goals, covering everything from content creation to automation. Our approach includes analysing your company’s unique selling points and value proposition, developing a winning sales cadence that gives you the confidence to execute flawlessly.
Why: Data shows that self-gen pipelines have faster sales velocities, higher conversion rates and larger average order values compared to marketing-generated leads.
02
Big Week of Action
We offer an intensive, week-long programme designed to drive explosive pipeline growth. In collaboration with your marketing team, we implement a structured process that will result in the biggest week of pipeline generation in your company’s history. Beyond hard work, we incorporate team-building elements like competitions and a team night out to enhance social cohesion to amplify performance.
Why: Pipeline is the lifeblood of sales - you can’t close deals without it. This Big Week of Action will unite your team and dramatically boost your pipeline and hone your self-gen skills.
04
Video Enablement
We work with you to integrate video into your sales process, helping you differentiate your approach and increase your conversion rates. Our workshop guides you through creating video introductions, recording micro-demos, and producing videos for ROI demonstrations and contract signings. We also offer insights on how to request video referrals from clients.
Why: Video accelerates sales, improves close rates, and boosts cross-sell and upsell opportunities. This extra effort will be a game-changer for your conversion rates.
Sales Acceleration
One of the biggest challenges for Sales Managers and Sales Directors is that you often find yourselves working "in" the business rather than "on" the business. The relentless demands of weekly, monthly, and quarterly commits can leave little time to step back and strategise. By partnering with an experienced operator, you can introduce fresh ideas and a laser-focused approach to sales execution, equipping you with the tools and systems needed to accelerate growth more effectively than ever before.
Individual Coaching & Mentoring
As a seasoned sales leader I can unlock your potential by offering tailored coaching and mentorship, guiding you through the art and science of sales. By sharing real-world insights, refining your approach and fostering a mindset of purpose-driven selling. I help you not just hit targets, but exceed them. It’s about finding your “why” in sales, mastering the fundamentals and developing the resilience to thrive in any market. With my guidance, you'll transform from a salesperson to a trusted advisor, creating lasting value for your clients.
How – Pick several of your team and let me work with them for 3-6 months with ongoing sessions to provide mentoring and support to achieve accelerated results.
GTM Design & Execution
Number one rule in tech sales! Don’t rely on your marketing teams to provide you with the best GTM and expect them to tell you how to pitch your company and product. The most successful teams work with Marketing to craft a sales driven GTM. I can elevate your business by crafting a Go-To-Market strategy that’s not just strategic but purpose-driven. By aligning your product’s strengths with market needs, they ensure every move is intentional and impactful. After the GTM we work on a plan to execute with precision, drawing from deep industry knowledge and real-world experience. It’s about connecting with your customers “why” and delivering value that resonates.
How – Get you team involved in your GTM to craft a sales message that works, plus design a pencil pitch you can draw on a white board so you can articulate your “why” in under 2 minutes with a white board and pen.
Sales Kick-Off
I can craft a Sales Kick-off event that’s both inspiring and practical. By uncovering and sharing best practices from across your business, they create a blueprint for success that resonates with your entire team. The event features hands-on sessions where you’ll leave with actionable tools ready for immediate use. It’s not just about learning, it’s about celebrating your wins. Showcasing real case studies, and empowering your team to achieve even greater success. This is where purpose meets execution, driving your sales teams forward.
Mergers & Acquisitions
True synergy emerges not just from uniting teams, but from rallying them under a shared purpose. We prioritise three pillars:
-
Developing a harmonious blending of cultures
-
Understanding the market landscape and its latent potential for cross-selling and upselling
-
Creating and executing a sales acceleration plan tailored to the enriched offering
Drawing from learnings over the years, we help guide you through this challenging time. We navigate the intricacies of M&A with reduced risk, ensuring each organisation not only achieves growth but truly amplifies value. We have several offerings for any M&A activity:
01
Due Diligence
DD isn't merely about numbers! it's about discerning potential value and defining what future success will look like. With a rich history of interactions with founders over the years, we've cultivated an intuition that sees beyond the surface. We look not just for the shine but seek the authentic, ensuring we aren't swayed by mere illusions, but always attuned to the deeper truths and untold stories that lie hidden. If it's there we will find it.
03
Integration
A paramount yet frequently undervalued hurdle in M&A integration is the fusion of corporate cultures. Bridging entities with unique values, standards, and operational cadences can drive employee detachment. A decrease in morale, discord, and diminished productivity. We stand poised to offer guidance, ensuring that growth isn't just realised, but accelerated. Great leadership is paramount to success.
02
Sales Due Diligence
Companies, in their eagerness to finalise transactions, often overlook the pivotal significance of Sales Due Diligence. While a stellar product paired with a promising market landscape is commendable, we've witnessed numerous setbacks stemming from an overlooked sales assessment. We offer a comprehensive examination of both the personnel and the sales strategy, ensuring a meticulous and enlightening review.
04
Sales Acceleration
A sales blueprint is essencial to delivering the transaction's value. It's vital to grasp and successfully implement the nuances of cross-selling and upselling strategies. Regrettably, many enterprises harbor the misconception of effortlessly cross-selling products to their clients. We offer an exhaustive approach, meticulously crafting and deploying a sales strategy designed not merely to spur growth but to amplify value.
Growth Events
Bring your portfolio together to inspire, learn and celebrate
Imagine the synergy of convening your company, driving inspiration, motivation, and recognition of triumphs. It's a prime opportunity to exchange best practices and glean insights into common challenges. Allow us to curate the content, spotlight your luminaries, and orchestrate a transformative growth event.
01
Event Organisation & Execution
We meticulously select the perfect venue and manage every operational nuance to flawlessly orchestrate your event. Whether you envision a bespoke, intimate gathering for founders or a grander assembly encompassing all pivotal to the company's growth and acceleration, we ensure a seamless experience tailored to your needs.
03
Share Success Stories
We collaborate with your team to spotlight the superstars, exchanging best practices and sharing success stories. Recognising that we face similar challenges, gleaning insights from high achievers offers invaluable perspectives.
02
External Speakers
Alex Blakeway our Managing Partner will host the event in his usual energetic and engaging style. We curate an agenda of distinguished speakers to provide success narratives and impart insights from industry heavyweights. Furthermore, we share relevant content from our growth playbook, educating best practices and our time-tested strategies for robust growth.
04
Take Something Tangible Away
Each of our events features a dedicated workshop segment, ensuring that participants depart enriched with a new strategy or idea tailored to boost their organisation's growth.
Expert Experience
With over twenty-five years of international event experience working with senior-level decision-makers across North America, APAC, EMEA and UK, our COO Jane Noordhuis (my lovely wife!), not only spearheads our event management and operations, but is also the Co-Founder of Transform Finance.
Jane has developed a dynamic community of hundreds of thousands of senior-level professionals within the global financial community. Her domain encompasses complex live and virtual events, bespoke meetups and lead generation from across the financial crime spectrum focussing on themes such as AML and Data to Fraud, KYC, and the all-encompassing technology areas of Cyber, AI and Digital Transformation. Events will usually include roundtables, workshops, interactive panels, Q+A, keynote sessions, deep dives and tracked focused content.
Investment
We commit our personal capital, often in concert with established VCs and Funds, for Series A investments and beyond, spanning from £3m to £50m. Our distinctive position in the market emanates from the unparalleled support and advisory services we extend. We are aligned to those who seek not just funding, but strategic insight in tandem.
Investment Mandates
Investment Criteria
Our lens is sharply focused on the tech landscape, particularly SaaS. We aspire to infuse capital into fully-fledged ideas, budding start-ups, and established ventures poised for a growth spurt, be it through M&A or strategic outreach.
At Venezia Capital, our expertise converges on three core strengths: uncovering stellar opportunities via our expansive network, collaborating with outstanding partners for co-investments, and propelling growth through our distinctive execution methodology.
Inspirational Leadership
Managing Partner - Alex Blakeway
Alex's passion is building and driving high-calibre teams and catalysing others to achieve unprecedented heights of growth. With two decades of experience in the tech market, Alex has not only accelerated businesses but has also done so for some of the world's largest tech companies.
20+ Years Experience in Tech Acceleration
Sales Leadership - Chief Revenue Officer/Global Sales Director. 20+ Years making a difference in Venezia Capital, The Access Group, Oracle, Verizon, Cisco, Siemens.
M&A - Extensive M&A experience including integration and acceleration.
Funding - Employed by the European Commission as Venture Capital advisor and worked with several VC/PE’s and funding organisations to secure investment.
Recruitment - From Sales & Marketing to Customer Success and Finance we have a wide network of top talent.
Network - Access to Senior Executives, CEO’s, NED’s and many VC/PE’s.