Overview
Our corporate clients are a variety of newly formed startups, emerging companies, and global powerhouses operating in cities like Austin, New York, Denver, Dallas, Chicago, Tokyo, Toronto, and San Francisco. They cluster around software. Generally, the CEO hires us. But we've done work for COOs, Presidents, Chief Growth Officers, CHROs, and other leaders—who generally have us engage their teams
Our investor clients include seed stage individuals, venture capitalists, growth equity firms, and private equity leaders.
Finally, our artist clients are talented, creative, and inspiring musicians. We help them imagine, create, stretch, record, ship, perform, and build audiences.
Our investor clients include seed stage individuals, venture capitalists, growth equity firms, and private equity leaders.
Finally, our artist clients are talented, creative, and inspiring musicians. We help them imagine, create, stretch, record, ship, perform, and build audiences.
Select Client Projects
The Alder Growth Partners Founder Steve Semelsberger is proud to have led consulting and advisory engagements that included those below. Note that some client projects (as identified) were done with and through management consulting firm SYPartners.
AARP
Assisted the CTO and Chief Innovation Officer at AARP with new business design, measurement, and development (note: work performed through SYPartners).
Assisted the CTO and Chief Innovation Officer at AARP with new business design, measurement, and development (note: work performed through SYPartners).
Experiment Engine
Via mentoring and advisory services, along with seed capital, helped the cofounders (CEO and CPO) of marketing optimization service Experiment Engine craft initial go-to-market strategies, build a direct SaaS sales team, and eventually complete a sale to Optimizely.
Via mentoring and advisory services, along with seed capital, helped the cofounders (CEO and CPO) of marketing optimization service Experiment Engine craft initial go-to-market strategies, build a direct SaaS sales team, and eventually complete a sale to Optimizely.
Flite
Advised the CEO of San Francisco adtech innovator Flite ($30M+ raised from Sequoia, General Catalyst, Hummer Winblad and others) Assisted on naming, pricing, ownership, go-to-market, process, tracking, hiring and other strategic company items. Flite was ultimately sold to Snap.
Advised the CEO of San Francisco adtech innovator Flite ($30M+ raised from Sequoia, General Catalyst, Hummer Winblad and others) Assisted on naming, pricing, ownership, go-to-market, process, tracking, hiring and other strategic company items. Flite was ultimately sold to Snap.
FoundersCard
Worked for the CEO of collective services and events leader FoundersCard. Helped with team, market, programs and other growth initiatives.
Worked for the CEO of collective services and events leader FoundersCard. Helped with team, market, programs and other growth initiatives.
GoSpotCheck
Assisted the CEO and founding team. Helped on multiple acceleration projects, including reconstructing the company messaging and positioning for Denver-based field software pioneer GoSpotCheck. Company was subsequently sold to Form.com
Assisted the CEO and founding team. Helped on multiple acceleration projects, including reconstructing the company messaging and positioning for Denver-based field software pioneer GoSpotCheck. Company was subsequently sold to Form.com
Kellogg Company
Collaborated with Chief Growth Officer, Chief Scientist, Chief Information Officer, and other leaders at Kellogg on across multiple engagements, ranging from a digital transformation strategy to a corporate growth narrative (note: work performed through SYPartners).
Collaborated with Chief Growth Officer, Chief Scientist, Chief Information Officer, and other leaders at Kellogg on across multiple engagements, ranging from a digital transformation strategy to a corporate growth narrative (note: work performed through SYPartners).
Koupon Media
Consulted to the CEO of Dallas-headquartered mobile offers leader Koupon Media ($10M+ raised from investors like the Mercury Fund). Provided growth advisory services on market segmentation, positioning, pricing, market development and more. Koupon Media was ultimately sold to PDI.
Consulted to the CEO of Dallas-headquartered mobile offers leader Koupon Media ($10M+ raised from investors like the Mercury Fund). Provided growth advisory services on market segmentation, positioning, pricing, market development and more. Koupon Media was ultimately sold to PDI.
Linux Foundation
Worked for the COO and Head of Training for open source innovator the Linux Foundation. Outsourced initial expansionary business development for the non-profit's new global training channel (reseller & delivery) partner program.
Worked for the COO and Head of Training for open source innovator the Linux Foundation. Outsourced initial expansionary business development for the non-profit's new global training channel (reseller & delivery) partner program.
Meshify
Transformed the messaging hierarchy for Houston-based IOT innovator in partnership with the CEO and GM. Meshify was then acquired by HSB.
Transformed the messaging hierarchy for Houston-based IOT innovator in partnership with the CEO and GM. Meshify was then acquired by HSB.
Meta
Served the Chief Growth Officer's team at Facebook. Helped define the strategy, elements, branding, messaging, and positioning for an employee performance and well-being program (note: work performed through SYPartners).
Served the Chief Growth Officer's team at Facebook. Helped define the strategy, elements, branding, messaging, and positioning for an employee performance and well-being program (note: work performed through SYPartners).
Nikon
Helped the Tokyo-based technology innovation leadership team at Nikon explore the dynamics of the US imaging market via start-up assessments and introductions.
Helped the Tokyo-based technology innovation leadership team at Nikon explore the dynamics of the US imaging market via start-up assessments and introductions.
On Being
Aided the CEO of public media leader On Being on team, purpose, vision, messaging, and digital strategy (note: work performed through SYPartners).
Aided the CEO of public media leader On Being on team, purpose, vision, messaging, and digital strategy (note: work performed through SYPartners).
OutboundEngine
Served the CEO of the email & social marketing SaasS startup OutboundEngine ($30M+ raised from investors like Floodgate and Austin Ventures). Outsourced exploratory inorganic growth initiatives, eventually structuring and launching the first reseller agreement with a top global media company. Outbound Engine was acquired by Elm Street.
Served the CEO of the email & social marketing SaasS startup OutboundEngine ($30M+ raised from investors like Floodgate and Austin Ventures). Outsourced exploratory inorganic growth initiatives, eventually structuring and launching the first reseller agreement with a top global media company. Outbound Engine was acquired by Elm Street.
SiteCondor
Served as a sell-side acquisition consultant to the CEO. Helped the Austin-based website auditing tools company complete a successful transaction with gShift.
Served as a sell-side acquisition consultant to the CEO. Helped the Austin-based website auditing tools company complete a successful transaction with gShift.
Spiceworks
Hired by the CEO, led the creation and implementation of two new go-to-market programs for the IT community platform Spiceworks. Provided initial corporate development strategic consulting (buy side), and eventual corporate development outsourcing, as the company surpassed $100M in revenue. Spiceworks was acquired by Ziff Davis.
Hired by the CEO, led the creation and implementation of two new go-to-market programs for the IT community platform Spiceworks. Provided initial corporate development strategic consulting (buy side), and eventual corporate development outsourcing, as the company surpassed $100M in revenue. Spiceworks was acquired by Ziff Davis.
Starcom MediaVest Group
Consulted to the President of Digital for Starcom MediaVest Group, a division of Publicis, on growth acceleration programs across pricing, branding, messaging, positioning, and partnering for a content advertising product delivered via a media model.
Consulted to the President of Digital for Starcom MediaVest Group, a division of Publicis, on growth acceleration programs across pricing, branding, messaging, positioning, and partnering for a content advertising product delivered via a media model.
USA Today
Working for the President of Gannett, provided advisory services on new product and business innovation (note: work performed through SYPartners).
Working for the President of Gannett, provided advisory services on new product and business innovation (note: work performed through SYPartners).