In conversation with Floris Waage
“Collaborating with M3 Consultancy has been a pleasant experience from start to finish,” says Floris Waage, managing partner at Egeria. “The consultants gained a thorough understanding of the portfolio company and its market. Part of that had to do with their experience: we worked with senior consultants who had dealt with similar issues. But it also stemmed from their ability to focus on the things that mattered.”
Another element Floris praises is M3 Consultancy’s honesty: “When working with external consultants, you don’t want them to agree with everything you say. They should form their own, well-grounded opinions and share these. The consultants we worked with were not afraid to push back during meetings with us or the portfolio company. They took an independent stance.”
“M3 Consultancy helped us gain insights into the feasibility of plans”
“The portfolio company concerned operates in a market we weren’t familiar with,” says Floris. “We had to gain in-depth insights, and time was limited. M3 Consultancy performed thorough analyses and separated the wheat from the chaff when it came to the various plans management had suggested. As a result, we were able to assess which of these plans were feasible.”
Together, the parties also considered risk-related questions: “With M3’s consultants, we got a grasp of the value chain and mapped the disintermediation risk.”
“We swiftly had a pragmatic roadmap with clear priorities”
As the joining of forces was a success, it led to a second collaboration one year later. This time around, the consultants weren’t called in for a due diligence issue. Floris explains, “M3 Consultancy focused on operational matters, such as co-creating a pragmatic business plan and determining choices based on payoff and probability. Ideas and entrepreneurship were abundant at this portfolio company, so it was crucial for us to set priorities. We couldn’t accurately assess the impact of each initiative, so we hired M3 Consultancy to help us in that regard. They did a great job: we swiftly had a roadmap with clear priorities.”
“M3’s senior consultants adopt a personal approach that works”
“M3 Consultancy distinguishes itself at several levels,” says Floris. “First, we got to work with the same senior consultants throughout the project. There wasn’t a doubt in our minds that our assignment was taken seriously.”
On top of that, M3 Consultancy adopts a personal approach, which Floris believes is crucial for this type of collaboration. “As a private equity investment company, we have to ensure the portfolio company’s management team agrees with our investment plan. That’s a prerequisite for getting things in motion. Through its method, M3 Consultancy aptly got everyone on the same page.”
Would Floris recommend a collaboration with M3 Consultancy? “Definitely. If you need to map out a situation and set priorities in an entrepreneurial setting, they’re the go-to consulting firm!”
“M3 Consultancy is pragmatic and down to earth and prioritizes quality. You get to work with senior consultants who provide in-depth insights. Plus, collaborating with them is as pleasant as it is effective!”
