GHO Sydney and PKF Sydney/Newcastle launch combined venture for Australian start-ups

Offering start-ups access to the right creative minds and the right processes to fast track a path to market, brand, product and marketing firm, GHO Sydney, has joined forces with business planning and finance advisory, PKF Sydney/Newcastle, to bring their shared expertise to Australian start-ups in a new offering.

Together, GHO and PKF will combine to provide uniquely designed programs with a framework for innovation and growth, prioritising go-to-market strategies and idea generation.

Says Steve Meyn (above right), managing director, PKF Sydney/Newcastle: “With existing clients like Grub Lab and AirCamp, PKF has been supporting start-ups for some time, but together with GHO, this new venture enables us to provide a more holistic offering and reduce the risk for the start-ups we back as they go to market and scale.”

Despite a growth in professional services focused on start-ups, the new alliance fills a gap in the market for a more complete service, helping new businesses avoid conflicting advice or the steep cost of working with multiple partners. Despite an increase in professional services in this area, buoyed by strong growth in capital for investment in start-ups, the path to market remains challenging.

Equally, with borders still shut and corporates paying more than ever to secure creative and technology talent, start-ups are challenged to find and have access to the talent they need and are paying a premium to retain key skills.

Says James Legge (above left), strategy partner, GHO: “Innovation and creativity are core to what we do, and are a critical requirement of start-ups, but we’ve long believed there is an opportunity to change the model for supporting these businesses and to help them scale rapidly and with clear purpose. By developing our design thinking offering and service-for-equity commercial models, together with PKF, we’re in a position to help deliver a clearer path to profit and growth.”

The new offering provides start-ups with proven processes and the right balance of advice and experience, enabling them to access diverse talent across business, finance, creative, product and marketing through either a full sweat-equity or part cash/part equity deal.

The model has already been successfully implemented with Hunter-based start-up Grub Lab, an augmented reality entertainment experience for the food service industry. The firm has recently completed a new round of funding and signed a major distribution deal with food services industry leader Simplot, along with NRL and AFL licensing deals.

Says Mick Carr, CEO, Grub Lab: “The problem that start-ups like us face is not a lack of advice from business, finance and creative industries. It’s being able to access this breadth of experience without signing over a lot of equity or much-needed cash to a long list of partners. PKF and GHO bring these skills together and provide strategic processes for us that are designed to ensure we can leverage this mix and breadth of experience alongside our own talents. We’ve worked together for three years now, and I couldn’t be more delighted with the outcome.”