Yes. We work with startups at all stages, though you do need some resources to engage with us and to be able to try the things we discuss. You can also read our newsletter for founders for discussions about key challenges facing founders, or  connect with us on LinkedIn for daily tips and observations on startups.

Absolutely! Many clients come to us after raising their first significant financing, to ensure they hit their goals and milestones in time to raise the next financing.

Maybe. Any technical founder able to raise a financing round is great at many things. You are probably extremely smart and are a world-class expert at something–engineering, product, design–and a quick learner. However, without experience or confidence in GTM disciplines, you are signing up to learn on the job. Even if you are a very fast learner, your company will fail faster than you can learn. A GTM advisor works with technical founders to bring them the perspective and confidence to tackle their GTM challenges and achieve their goals. We do that in a way that feels right and conforms to the thinking and mindset of an engineer or other technical thinker, both accelerating learning and helping hire and manage for GTM at the highest level.

We help above all with messaging, marketing, and sales. If you're focused on shipping a great product or building a great technology, these can be blind spots where outsiders can add a lot of value.

We usually work on a monthly retainer, tailored to your needs. We sometimes start with a one-off project to get to know each other.

A GTM assessment is where we dive deep into your whole GTM motion, to understand exactly what is and is not working for you, and to make recommendations on where to spend time and resources. We look at everything from the website and marketing materials to listening to sales calls, reviewing your analytics and paid advertising metrics, and pouring over the data in your CRM or other customer communications. Every company we work with is doing a lot of things right, and benefits from recognizing that while also getting an outsider’s perspective on where the opportunities are for growth and expansion. 

Founders who are new to sales and marketing benefit the most from GTM advising. Newly promoted sales and marketing leaders also benefit, especially when their senior leaders (e.g., founders) do not have hands on GTM leadership experience themselves. While experimenting is the best practice in finding GTM fit, management requires confidence and advisors can bring that confidence. Everyone can use a guide to navigate the challenges of the startup journey.

To us, Silverwood captures the sense of journey. All entrepreneurship is a journey, and while each of us may have their own destination in mind, the journey is where we spend all of our time. Whether the goal is simply achieving profitability and independence or going public in the biggest IPO of the decade, the journey is never easy. The people of Silverwood are your companions and guides, helping you navigate on your journey. We walk alongside founders, helping them make thoughtful and intentional choices about their journey, ultimately emerging successfully at their destination, on their own terms.

Yes, we provide advice and support to international companies. Our team is global and so are our clients. 

We act as the founder’s coach or advisor, distinct from the role of a VC. While VCs often introduce us to founders, we serve as a trusted advisor to the founder. You can ask us questions that you might hesitate to ask a VC or board member, and unlike many VCs and board members, we always provide candid and honest answers.

We differ in another important way: we are operators, unlike most VCs. Many VCs have seen people operate from the boardroom, but that is a once-a-month or once-a-quarter view. We have actually done the hard work–sending the cold emails, dialing the phone, hiring and firing people, and much more. Our advice is rooted in having walked the path. Some investors, of course, have that experience also; they can be the best to work with, especially if they have the time to share it with you. But most do not, and filling that gap is where we add tremendous value.

No, there is no minimum commitment for the majority of our services. If at any point you feel that our engagement is not providing value to you or your company, you can choose to end it. We are dedicated to delivering measurable value and impact every day. The moment you feel we are not delivering that value, we would prefer to part ways.

Yes! Check out our newsletter, Seed to Sequoia, or the podcast of the same name. Both are full of useful and practical advice for founders from subjects ranging from how to sell your company to how to manage lawyers to many, many others. If you're looking for specific advice on your situation, reach out using Contact Us above or drop us a note on LinkedIn.