Strategy One of the Keys for Success in Software Companies

George Roberts

September 23, 2009

Whenever we are talking to expansion stage software companies looking for growth capital, one of the first things we look at is their strategy. The word strategy derives from the Greek word for general.

In simple terms strategy is a plan of action designed to achieve a particular goal.

I always find it interesting that the successful software companies who have been able to raise capital from Venture Capital Companies all have well defined strategies for how they will attack and win their markets. It is top of mind and tip of tongue when you talk to them… and not just the CEO’s but all the employees from top to bottom. It is clear, it is succinct, it is logical and it makes sense.

So if you are looking to raise capital today or may in the future… make sure you have your strategy clearly defined so that all of your employees are able to communicate it at all levels of your company, to all of your markets, to all of your partners, to all of your customers and to all private equity investment firms you may be talking to.

All the best!

G

Venture Partner

<strong>George Roberts</strong> is a Venture Partner at OpenView. He enjoys partnering with companies and helping them achieve their goals through strategy, focus and operational execution. From 1990 to 2003, George spent 13 years at Oracle Corporation, most recently having served as Executive Vice President of North American Sales. While at Oracle, George was responsible for over $1 billion in revenue and more than 2,000 employees, reporting directly to the company’s CEO and Chairman, Larry Ellison.