“A consultant is someone who takes your watch away to tell you what time it is.”
Service providers we trust
We’ve engaged and paid hundreds of service providers.
There’s countless accountants, lawyers, wealth managers, venture banks, commercial banks, benefits, payroll, PR firms, marketing consultants, recruiters, marketing tech companies, and sales consultants.
Some are great. Many will bleed you to death slowly, or worse, cost you a ton of time and money.
Listed below are vendors and service providers we trust that you will need.
They are on this list because they have outshined all of the others we have worked with (and have generated tremendous value for us).
Note, if you need more context, we are happy so speak directly to give you more details on our direct experiences with any of these firms (or people) and why they have made this list (that we take very seriously).
Estate Planning
If you have raised a Series A and have children, you are lighting your money on fire if you don’t set up an estate (GRAT), will, insurance trust, and healthy care proxy. Use Michael Arlein at PBWT. Trust.
Commercial Real Estate
“Man I love my commercial real estate broker” said no founder ever. Well, we LOVE Jason Majlessi. He’s moved on from JLL to do his own thing, and he’s doing it better than anyone. He can pretty much do anything the larger firms can do — but with better service, more transparency, no conflicts, and with much more effort, time, and attention.
Legal Counsel
Kevin Grant from DLA Piper is one of our two “go to” counsels. We’ve been through countless lawyers and Megan and Kevin are better than all of the rest. There’s so many lawyers claim to “discount fees” and be available whenever you need them (they’re not). Megan and Kevin really do — they are the best in this business.
Legal Counsel
Megan Baier from Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati is one of our two “go to” counsels. We’ve been through countless lawyers and Megan and Kevin are better than all of the rest. There’s so many lawyers claim to “discount fees” and be available whenever you need them (they’re not). Megan and Kevin really do — they are the best in this business.
Personal Wealth Management
I bet you never knew there were this many PWMs until you raised some capital or had some liquidity. Yes, they are all relentless. Yes, they all sound the same. Yes, you feel like you need to take a shower after you speak with any of them. Just use Massey Quick Simon. Your money will be invested with the firm’s founders’ and you will generate wealth for you family (not to mention they will completely take over management of your day to day finances as well).
Note, I am on their advisory board, but for a reason. Which makes this even less biased.
Venture Debt
Venture debt is a very competitive space with more and more providers entering every day. When things go sour, however, you want a great partner. SVB and Square 1 are those partners (although, Brad Ellis just left S1 - so we are a bit concerned). Be very careful with venture debt — there’s lots of money and these deals always get competitive, but some of these banks have real teeth when you least expect it (hit me up and I’ll tell you who to avoid fo sho).
Venture Debt
Venture debt is a very competitive space with more and more providers entering every day. When things go sour, however, you want a great partner. SVB and Square 1 are those partners (although, Brad Ellis just left S1 - so we are a bit concerned). Be very careful with venture debt — there’s lots of money and these deals always get competitive, but some of these banks have real teeth when you least expect it (hit me up and I’ll tell you who to avoid fo sho).
Marketing
Do not hire a senior marketing person. Hire 100YTG first and get your shit together first (brand positioning and foundational automated marketing machine). Then go build your marketing team (with a full appreciation of your LTV / CAC and how to tweak it). Every software business, no matter how great the product, ultimately becomes a software enabled sales and marketing organization — so your understanding of the underlying unit economics are critical to success and a key asset. 100YTG will help you get the machinery in place.
Commercial Banking
Need a mortgage? Closing your round (or fund) and need a great commercial banking relationships? There are countless providers in the space, but none of them come close to First Republic Bank. They are like Cartier and everyone else is Old Navy. Between their white glove service, aggressive pricing, and clear investment in seamless technology, we have yet to find a commercial bank for venture backed businesses that comes close to comparison.
(and no, it’s not just because they found us on vacation and sent us warm cookies. I mean, it helps, but that’s not the reason).
Audit and Tax
Normally the big 4 cannot make a photo copy for less than $100k so when they started working with “emerging growth” companies 10 years ago, we were all skeptical. Deloitte has really become the cream of the crop here and their Emerging Growth Practice has certainly emerged as the leader in audit and tax for venture backed businesses. You’re not going to get some biz dev guy with a big title leading your sales process and then junior employees leading the engagement (while undercutting on price). Even though they will probably lose money (until you go public) the firm will provide top talent who will be constantly engaged and continuing to invest in your success. They will be available and accessible, pragmatic, and helpful . They audited ShopKeep from the earliest stages and everyone of our companies since — for the right reasons. We couldn’t even get the other firms on the phone after they sold into us. They all sound the same, but go with Deloitte — no brainer.
Public Relations
It’s hard to find a PR person who is the best fit for your company and brand. They all seem to have great connections with journalists (let’s be honest, all you really want is press), but they all want many months retainers while making zero promises of delivery. The 20 or so we’ve hired — rarely have they delivered. Except Cari Sommer at Raise. We support her firm because she always exceeds our expectations.
Benefits & Payroll
We’ve run through the gambit on payroll and benefits providers. PEOs are great, and if they are a fit for you, nothing beats Just Works - the product just works, and keeps getting better and better (note, if some one could get Isaac to sponsor a Voray, that would be amazing. C’mon man! Wtf. Show some love).