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David Steen
Growth Tech PE/VC - Now Hiring - Working alongside founders in a partnership (i.e. risk sharing) model to identify and execute on value creation / growth opportunities
Professional Background
David Steen is a seasoned value creation partner and growth strategist who has dedicated his career to propelling growth companies, particularly those generating revenues between $2 million and $50 million. His professional focus encompasses dynamic sectors such as FinTech and Blockchain/Crypto, though his expertise extends to a diverse range of tech-driven organizations. Over the past decade, David has cultivated a profound understanding of the financial markets through his experience as a technical trader in cryptocurrencies, equities, foreign exchange (FX), and derivatives.
As an Associate Partner at Orchid Black, David plays a pivotal role in assisting companies to unlock their full potential by identifying and executing growth opportunities. He is driven by a passion for maximizing outcomes, whether it be for a successful company exit, a funding event, or the achievement of key business milestones. His hands-on approach combined with a shared-risk model sets the foundation for illuminating pathways to accelerated success for his clients.
David’s impressive professional journey includes several leadership roles across various organizations where he has continually showcased his ability to create value and foster growth.
Education and Achievements
David Steen pursued his academic journey at Eckerd College, where he laid the groundwork for his future endeavors in business and finance. His education provided him with critical thinking skills and a profound understanding of market dynamics, which have become indispensable in his strategic roles throughout his career.
In addition to his educational background, David was nominated for the Inno Under 25 award, highlighting his significant contributions and innovative approaches within the tech industry, particularly in the realm of growth strategies and value creation. This recognition reflects both his expertise and his dedication to driving change in the business landscape.
Professional Experience
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Orchid Black
As an Associate Partner at Orchid Black, David specializes in value creation through strategic growth initiatives. The firm focuses on a shared-risk approach, which is unique in its commitment to genuinely partnering with clients to boost their value and expedite their growth strategies. -
CarePro.io
Previously, David served as an Advisory Board Member at CarePro.io, contributing his insights and strategic acumen to enhance the organization’s growth trajectory. -
Meros Works
His role as the Interim/Fractional Chief Operating Officer allowed him to leverage his operational expertise to improve efficiencies and align business strategies with growth objectives. -
SparkVision
As a Founding Partner at SparkVision, David played a critical role in establishing the company’s vision and strategies to fulfill emerging market needs. -
VendXOR
David held the position of Strategy, Business Development, Marketing, & Blockchain/Crypto Subject Matter Expert, where he applied his extensive knowledge in blockchain technology to drive the company’s initiatives forward. -
Priatek
His experience in BizOps at Priatek allowed him to enhance operational strategies that supported growth and increased market penetration. -
Internet of People
David commenced his career with a role in Business Development, where he started building a robust understanding of market dynamics that would serve him throughout his professional journey.
Skills and Interests
David is highly skilled in areas such as strategic growth, business development, and operational management. He possesses a unique ability to analyze complex market trends, particularly within the tech sector, and translate his findings into actionable strategies that drive growth. His focus on value creation in sectors like Enterprise Software, Infrastructure Technology, FinTech, Cybersecurity, HealthTech, and many more exemplifies his multifaceted expertise.
Moreover, David’s keen interest in contemporary technologies such as IoT, AI, and Machine Learning positions him as a forward-thinking leader who stays aligned with market advancements. His advocacy for Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technology further illustrates his commitment to innovation and transformation within the industry.
David combines his comprehensive skill set with his passion for technology to offer tailored solutions for clients, ensuring that they are not only prepared to meet market demands but also to thrive in new opportunities.
tags:[
value creation
growth strategy
FinTech
Blockchain
crypto
technical trader
equities
foreign exchange
derivatives
Eckerd College
Orchid Black
business development
health technology
cybersecurity
AI
machine learning
blockchain technology
enterprise software
cloud technology
infrastructure technology
Highlights
I interviewed 120+ B2B founders, PE firms, and consultants about how top-performing B2B companies are building and growing in 2024 and beyond - here’s 2 key insights 👇
Between changing economic conditions and tech like AI and no-code making headway, top 1% B2B companies are adapting to a new growth model.
2 things stood out as important focus areas:
1️⃣ Creating efficiency, measuring performance in terms of efficiency, and running hyper-lean is more important than ever.
The organizational model is shifting from focusing on scaling through hiring FTEs to having a highly motivated and performance-driven ‘10x’ core team with all other functions either being outsourced or automated.
It’s not about layoffs, it’s about creating an entirely new culture around being lean and setting new performance standards.
Measurement of overall company performance has shifted to metrics like profit per employee and Return on Invested Capital (ROIC).
2️⃣ Greater focus on data and creating moats around data, even for smaller companies.
It is really the only true moat that still exists and it’s the new oil in the AI economy.
Your data + AI is a competitive advantage, even if all of the possibilities to leverage it are not available or feasible today.
Market leaders have a clear understanding of their data strategy. They know what data they should collect and how to orient their business and product around this data.
They also structure their data effectively and have the necessary infrastructure in place to manage it for current and future use, whether that’s using it in conjunction with AI or just to make data-driven decisions.
What was most interesting on this point is that I heard this beyond just large enterprise and mid-market companies who were typically the ones that would have to start worrying about this.
Instead, the smaller startups and growth companies were focused here at varying degrees.
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⭐ Main takeaway ⭐
Hyper-lean businesses that are data focused and automation-savvy will outperform in the coming years.
Acquirers will be looking for these characteristics as well.
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Excited to start sharing deeper insights on what the top 1% B2B companies are doing to outperform (i.e., generate alpha) in my upcoming newsletter, Manifesting Alpha.
You can subscribe here 👉 https://lnkd.in/gkS3Jn-2
