faqs
Finding experienced qualified advisors is one of the most significant problems Startup founders face today. There’s a lot of expense, noise, and activity without results in the advisory space. We’re different, see how our unique solutions address areas of interest by reviewing some of our most frequently asked questions below.
Overview of our process
How does Cresco Actus Group work with us?
Who from the group do we work with?
Does the group make introductions?
What commitments do clients have to make?
General Questions
Are our services virtual or in-person?
Where are we located?
Do we make investments in client companies?
Are you, your idea or product a good fit?
Intellicual property
How you will always own the legal rights to work created by or with a CAG advisor?
How do we ensure your IP is protected?
How does the group work with us?
We work in several ways.
– We can provide a stand-alone service focusing on one of about eight specific startup tasks. For example, pitch deck creation or critiquing your financial model. These services are performed on a project basis for a flat fee. Once we understand your needs we can give you a project price.
– We can provide ongoing support where we are available to the founder and your team as you move forward on business development milestones. This is work is project-based and the activity is related to what’s necessary to reach your next agreed-upon milestone with a specific time each week to collaborate and expectation set.
– Finally, we can be retained for a set amount of time and/or of service to the business as needed. This can include fractional executive roles as well.
Who from the group works with us?
The group’s founder and principal will work with you initially. Other advisors are brought in as the situation requires. If you’d be better served with a different advisor, we’ll identify the best advisors in our group based on their experience and availability. Most of our advisor network is busy building and running startups, so we don’t promote them, as we need to understand your needs and their availability.
Does the group make introductions?
We will make introductions and develop relevant contacts both inside and outside our networks for your customers, distributors, suppliers, partners, investors, and affiliates.
What commitments do clients have to make?
Our contracts are specific about the service deliverables and are not long-term. Your advisor is checking in with you no less than weekly and often more frequently. If you’re dissatisifed for any reason you can simply stop using our services. There are no penalties or continuing obligations.
are you virtual or in-person ?
We work the way that the client is most comfortable working. In general, we prefer when we schedule meetings to do that in person. Depending on the service we may find it necessary to meet in-person (i.e., pitch deck presentation). For catchups or office hours, that can be in-person or virtual. It’s your call.
where are we located?
All of us are in the District, Maryland, and Virginia area. We maintain access to conference space and private offices throughout the area, including at the Gateway Crescent office building in Bethesda, Maryland.
do we make investments in client companies?
In general, we don’t, because we believe that as an advisor to the business there are too many possible conflicts if we were to also act as an investor. It’s our job to make you an attractive investment opportunity for others.
Are you, your product or idea a good fit?
Founders: We work with all founders from accelerator cohort grads to accelerator rejects. We have self-taught founders looking to raise for the first time and experienced founders. Solo founders or startup teams. If you are building a scalable business, we can help you.
Startups: We are industry agnostic and focus on scalable startups. Some of the business models we work with: B2B SaaS, Consumer Apps, Marketplaces, E-commerce, and Product/Service Innovations. If we’re not a good fit, we’ll know right away and are happy to make a referral.
Stage: We support early-stage founders from the initial idea stage through raising pre-seed and Seed rounds. Pre-product and pre-revenue businesses are also fine.
Who owns the legal rights to the work created by a Cresco Actus Group advisor?
The client. Cresco Actus Group business involves connecting startup experts with the clients who want to work with them – not intellectual property. Our contracts provide that all work created by a Cresco Actus advisor is the property of the client, not Cresco Actus Group.
How do we ensure our IP is protected?
Initially, we sign a non-disclosure agreement with you that includes any advisor you work with. Cresco Actus Group also enters into agreements with every member of our network. Through these agreements, you obtain exclusive ownership of the work created by the Cresco Actus Group advisor that works with you. Each advisor you work and our group executes a Confidential Information and Invention Assignment Agreement that effects the transfer of any intellectual property and inventions they create in the course of the engagement with you to your business.
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