Windsor Circle’s Matt Williamson and his team are showing other entrepreneurs how to grow a successful business and – in these days of tight capital at least locally – the way to land venture capital.
In the first of a two-part Q&A with WRAL TechWire, Williamson shares his three secrets for raising VC after the startup closed on a $5 million-plus round earlier this week.
What lessons did you learn in seeking an institutional round of financing that you want to share with other startups in the Triangle?
1 – Responsibility
It’s not a VC’s job to fund your entrepreneurial pursuits. Their job is to make a high return and to fulfill investment objectives. Your job as an entrepreneur is to build a business that is venture worthy, position it in the market and earn the right to step up to the next level.
2 – Striking the right balance of effort
Funding is not winning the lottery it comes with responsibilities
We coached our team to remain humble as we step into the major leagues
3 – Stay hungry
Its exciting to have reached our funding goal, but it is just a part of a bigger plan. Now it is time to execute other parts of the plan like hiring new talent, and maximizing the reach of or first product- our retention automation platform.
Our bigger vision is to have a cross channel retention automation platform and to extend our thought leadership through the 9 Pillars of Retention Automation
So what are the “9 Pillars?”
1. Know Your Customers
2. Get Connected
3. Thank Your Customers
4. Amaze Your Best Customers
5. Help Your Customers Buy More
6. Save Your Churning Customers
7. Create Evangelists
8. Listen to Your Customers
9. Acquire Retainable Customers
For more details, read the full breakdown.
In the forthcoming part of our Q&A, Williamson talks about expansion plans, how it landed a new high-profile investor and what that means beyond capital, as well as the importance of customer references.
