We create liquidity & value for clients,
via strategy + transactions.
Windigo Bay Group is a boutique strategy & deal firm.
We help our clients close good exits with business buyers, or to build the kinds of valuable businesses that buyers line up to acquire.
Selling your company
We do two kinds of sale engagements.
Where one or more qualified buyers have approached your firm. In that situation, we help you achieve a good deal and get it closed. Our services include:
negotiation preparation (valuation, Red Team analysis, role-playing, negotiating strategy); and
managing all aspects of the process, including diligence, troubleshooting, and so on.
Where a buyer must be found, we go even farther. We review your company in depth, prepare a sales outreach campaign, sales materials, and conduct the outreach effort.
Clients
We work with clients in software, tech hardware, marketing and advanced manufacturing.
Our clients are in the range of $5–$50 million revenue.
Our clients broadly fall in several categories:
successful profitable companies with good economics;
VC-funded tech companies where investors have decided it’s time to exit; and
companies building for the long-term, who want to make wise strategic moves.
Preparing a company for sale
Unless a business already has excellent economics or buyers approaching, we recommend that owners prepare the company in a methodical way. Our goal during this period is to improve the business in all the aways a buyer will value. It’s exactly like getting a home ready for sale.
We develop an actionable time-bounded program for our client, and then coach and advise on its implementation. Our mission is to achieve great results in a short period of time. By showing a buyer what the business can become, we ensure more buyers and better offers when it’s time for us (or another firm) to handle the sale process.
Keith Bates
Keith is the founder & CEO of Windigo Bay. For over 12 years he has advised Windigo Bay clients on strategy and transactions.
His background includes several CEO positions (in manufacturing and software sectors), and a successful high-IRR exit. Keith was an award-winning VC, and has advised various VC firms on their portfolios. He’s done numerous deals in his career, in finance, entertainment and technology.
What sets us apart
My approach to successful dealmaking comes from a lifetime spent finding and making deals—in entertainment, technology and finance.
Before I became an operator and later a VC, I was trained as a corporate lawyer. Later I became a professionally-trained negotiator too.
Unlike most people in finance, I dive deep into understanding the businesses I represent. Not just spreadsheets—everyone does that, it’s trivial—but I go much farther. I use the product. I visit the factory. I go into the field. I read industry publications. My goal is to get the reality of our client’s business into my veins.
Having done that, I think creatively about which buyers would most highly value our client and its capabilities.
We move fast. There’s a reason why Every day counts is my signature line!
In approaching buyers, we produce superb materials, the best in the game. And because of that, I routinely access high-level decision-makers at even the biggest companies. I’ve done that my whole career, and I’m very good at getting powerful execs to sit up and pay attention.
In negotiation, I focus on what matters. Good negotiations come from clarity about what is tradable and what isn’t. I’m big on questions and I’m big on listening to and researching the other guy. As I always tell our clients: Discipline wins games.
But most of all, I care about every one of our clients. I want them to have the best possible outcomes.
Every day counts,
Keith Bates
President
Windigo Bay Group Ltd.
Testimonials
“Keith Bates of Windigo Bay Group advised our company on the buyout of a long-time shareholder. Keith provided strategy, designed deal structures, and led negotiations. We went from impasse to a signed agreement. The final deal met all our goals. We are pleased with the outcome. Highly recommended.” – Name withheld, President of a large manufacturing tech company
“Windigo Bay Group prepared a buy-side valuation analysis for a tech business we own. Working with Keith Bates was a pleasure. He spent time up-front to understand our goals. Once on the project, he energetically got us the insights we needed. We would recommend Windigo Bay Group to other tech business owners.” – Owners, IT services & SaaS company
“Windigo Bay…negotiated with the buyer, managed the lawyers, stayed on top of the formal documents, and kept my legal fees to a reasonable level. The result was that I got a great deal that made me very happy, and we closed it smoothly and on friendly terms.” – S.M., former co-owner of a digital health company
“Keith was instrumental in helping structure, negotiate and close my round of funding. To say we couldn’t have done it without him would be an understatement. Not only was a tremendous advocate for me as his client, but he also quickly gained the trust of my investors…” – J.P., owner of SAAS company
“Keith recently help me negotiate a key business transaction. Keith was able to quickly dissect all parties' interests and motivations at the emotional level as well as the financial level. He quickly combined his insight and understanding of the parties with his knowledge and previous experience to recommend an effective deal structure.” - G.B., owner of a SAAS company in e-commerce
Contact Us
Want to discuss your needs and learn what’s possible? Use the form submission or email us at clientdev [at] windigobay.com.