Uncorking Value, Together

Ashley Cravens
Uncork Capital
Published in
3 min readJun 14, 2024

At Uncork Capital, we view founders as the driving force behind progress, and one of our core missions is to support them in bringing their visionary ideas to life. We excel at helping entrepreneurs every step of the way, from funding announcements to negotiating contracts, hiring, and any other vital decisions the founder wants our input on. It was with this in mind that we built the Uncork Operations and Platform Team, a group solely focused on the success of our portfolio.

We couldn’t be prouder of the deep resources we’ve put together to support our founders and become the most accessible and supportive early-stage investor. We ensure that every member of our team is available as a resource for Uncork founders, and we leverage our extensive Uncork Community — a network of founders, investors, advisors, and best-of-breed service providers — to provide comprehensive support to our portfolio companies.

Our portfolio companies validate the work we do by telling us how much they appreciate the value our platform team brings, especially in navigating the tumultuous last few years. We thought we’d give you a peek under the hood at how our platform team helps founders get from 0 to 1 and beyond.

Our strategy: understanding, cultivating, and connecting

Understanding our companies: We begin by understanding each portfolio company’s story, goals, and needs. This involves regular check-ins to discuss short-term priorities, milestones, customer introductions, and the specific assistance required from the platform team. By establishing a comprehensive understanding of their businesses, we can provide tailored support and advice that helps them achieve their goals.

Cultivating the network: We nurture relationships with relevant service providers and advisors, creating a robust network that our founders can tap into. We aim to find the shortest paths to critical resources through our network, ensuring founders can access the best possible advice and support.

Curated, high-impact events: We host events designed to foster connections and share knowledge. These include networking parties, intimate focused peer dinners, masterclasses, and our annual Portfolio Summit, where founders and executives come together for two days for a unique opportunity to forge lasting relationships with peers and learn from seasoned founders who have navigated the same path they are currently on.

Community and knowledge sharing: We have built an active and thriving community of founders and executives who use Slack to communicate and share insights. This online community complements our in-person events, ensuring continuous support and idea exchange. In addition to Slack, we’ve built a robust platform that hosts all our playbooks and self-serve resources.

Professional development opportunities: We are dedicated to our founders’ and their companies’ growth and success. This includes a nine-month “Uncorking Leadership EQ” coaching cohort, portfolio speaking opportunities, and workshops on various topics, such as scaling organizations and compensation restructuring. We encourage our founders to participate in these programs to enhance their leadership skills and well-being.

Marketing and PR: We have a strong and growing presence on social media, amplifying the personal brands of our partners, the Uncork firm, and our portfolio companies. We also maintain relationships with PR agencies and design firms, helping portfolio companies find the best fit for their needs. We aim to support founders in getting their stories out and gaining their desired visibility.

Talent support: Led by Adriana Roche, our Head of Talent, we help portfolio companies attract, hire, and retain top talent. Adriana provides scalable playbooks, 1:1 guidance, and recruiting help and is your right-hand on all things talent.

Helping founders thrive

We’re proud of the team and the resources we’ve put together to serve our founders, but we are not resting on our laurels. Moving forward, we remain dedicated to refining and expanding our support systems. We aim to ensure that every founder feels connected and empowered, knowing they have a robust network behind them. The Uncork Platform Team will strive to create value by fostering a supportive and dynamic environment where founders can thrive.

At Uncork Capital, our commitment to our founders is unwavering. Founders: We are here to help you navigate your journeys by providing the resources and community you need to succeed. Here’s to creating value together.

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