From Gut Feel to Growth Strategy

About Venture Catalysts Portal

We build and back early‑stage ambition. Our portal gives founders, mentors, and funders an AI‑powered toolkit that strips away guesswork and turns raw hunches into investable numbers.

Why we exist

Startups rarely fail because the idea is bad, they fail because the groundwork is thin. We plug that gap with tools that pressure‑test assumptions at speed and depth usually reserved for Series A boards. The result, better decisions made sooner.

Who we serve

  • Startups: Stress‑test your plan, tighten your deck, and surface the metrics investors actually read.

  • Coaches, mentors, advisors: Swap spreadsheets for crisp, shareable reports that make your guidance land faster.

  • Funders: See the signals that matter, minus the noise, so you can place smarter bets and track portfolio health in one dashboard.

The toolkit in brief

ToolWhat it doesWhy it matters
Startup Assessment (Lean Canvas Builder)Converts your pitch deck into a full lean canvas ready for board scrutiny in under ten minutes.Snap validation of problem‑solution fit and model viability.
MarketScope AICalculates TAM, SAM, SOM, benchmarks rivals, and builds personas.Evidence you can drop straight into a deck or IM.
Pitch Deck AnalyzerScores your slides against live investor criteria and highlights gaps.Sharper storytelling, higher close rates.
Market ValidatorBreaks down segmentation, pricing, and growth pathways.Stops you chasing markets that won’t scale.
Profitability CalculatorModels margins in real time as you tweak cost and revenue levers.Clear line of sight to cash, not just vanity metrics.
DISC AssessmentMaps team communication styles.Better boardrooms, calmer sprints, fewer costly mis‑fires.

How it works

  1. Create a portal account with your company email.

  2. Choose your profile – startup, coach, or funder – so we tailor dashboards to your workflow.

  3. Upload or input: decks, financials, assumptions.

  4. Review auto‑generated insights in minutes.

  5. Export, share, iterate until your story and numbers stack up.

Built by practitioners, backed by expertise

Our steering board has scaled, exited, and funded businesses across tech, finance, and creative. Chris Simmance, John Barber, Mark Huxley, Rita Bologna, Simon West, and John Leyden keep the tools grounded in what actually gets deals done.

Our promise

  • Accuracy: Data sources are refreshed constantly, algorithms audited quarterly.

  • Security: End‑to‑end encryption and no data reselling. Ever.

  • Fair pricing: One flat annual fee, no usage caps, and every new tool unlocks automatically.

Join the founders, advisors, and investors already turning insight into unfair advantage.

Unlock your venture’s true potential today.

Our Steering Board

Chris Simmance

Founder

Digital, Marketing & Systems

John Barber

Venture Board Member

Funding & Commercial

Mark Huxley

Venture Board Member

Strategy, Leadership & Growth

Rita Bologna

Venture Board Member
Strategic Growth & Governance

Simon West

Steering Board Member
Technology, Sales, Strategy

John Leyden

Venture Board Member
Financial Strategy & Compliance

Chris is a highly accomplished entrepreneur and business leader with over a decade of experience in founding, scaling, and exiting multiple successful ventures. As a founding partner of Venture Consultants, Chris is dedicated to reshaping the startup ecosystem by placing expert boards with high-potential ventures to drive growth and secure funding. His mission is to reduce startup failure rates by providing expert guidance that aligns with strategic goals, ensuring both investors and founders maximize value.

In addition to his work at Venture Consultants, Chris is the founder of The OMG Center, a platform that accelerates the growth of digital marketing agencies through peer-to-peer support, coaching, and strategic resources. He has helped hundreds of businesses thrive by providing tailored mentorship and preparing agencies for successful exits. Chris has also built a network of partners offering essential services such as finance, legal, and HR, ensuring businesses have everything they need to succeed.

Chris is a Freeman of the Company of Entrepreneurs and holds the prestigious Freedom of the City of London, reflecting his deep commitment to the entrepreneurial community. He is also a sought-after international keynote speaker, sharing insights on business growth, digital marketing, and strategic innovation. Through his diverse roles, Chris has consistently championed entrepreneurship, guiding businesses from inception to successful exits and beyond.

John is a seasoned business leader with over 30 years of experience across multiple industries, including finance, technology, and consulting. As Director of Barber Consulting Ltd, John has successfully guided numerous ventures through capital raises, strategic growth, and high-profile exits. His expertise spans from working with global financial services giants to leading startups through complex mergers and acquisitions.

John has an impressive track record of driving business transformations. Notably, he raised capital and negotiated the successful sale of Firezza, a London-based food delivery company, to Pizza Express owner Hony Capital, as well as overseeing the sale of biotech innovator Redd and Whyte to Wagner Technologies. He also led Cash Netting Services Ltd, collaborating with CGI and FNA to deliver bespoke financial solutions for banks, and SSI-Central Ltd, developing a centralized standard settlement instruction database.

John’s leadership extends into tech, having served as CEO of Logicscope, where he reversed the company’s losses and led its sale to MarkitSERV. He also held senior roles at ICAP, managing multi-million dollar divisions, and at Dow Jones Telerate, where he grew the EMEA region into the company’s most profitable division.

In addition to his consulting work, John serves as a Visiting Coach at the Royal College of Art, mentoring innovative startups, and he is frequently featured in business leader spotlights, such as his profile on the OMG Center. John’s ability to elevate startups and established companies alike, paired with his strong financial acumen, makes him a valuable partner for businesses seeking strategic growth and investment.

His deep experience in guiding businesses through capital raises, building exit strategies, and fostering growth makes him a highly sought-after expert in the field.

Mark Huxley is a distinguished business leader and founder of Huxley Advisory, with over 46 years of experience in the insurance and broader financial services sectors. His career began in frontline claims delivery, managing property, casualty, and professional risks, eventually expanding into operational and regulatory roles for a leading Managing Agency. Mark also proudly served on several Lloyd’s Committees, including founding the NMA Claims and Catastrophe Committees, where he led initiatives such as the development of the ECF system.

Mark’s entrepreneurial spirit led him to establish one of the UK’s pioneering outsourced claims management companies, building it from the ground up. His strategic acumen also saw him co-found agencies specializing in strategic marketing, helping businesses define their value propositions and grow their brand equity. In 2018, Mark launched Huxley Advisory to offer bespoke business consultancy and personal mentoring, working with a network of trusted partners to maximize client outcomes.

In addition to his business ventures, Mark has been a proud member of the Company of Entrepreneurs, serving as Master. His contributions to the insurance and consultancy sectors have cemented his reputation as a trusted advisor and mentor, helping leaders achieve their ambitions.

Rita W Bologna is a dynamic C-suite leader, serial entrepreneur, and board advisor with a proven track record of building and scaling successful ventures. As CEO of The Good Global Group, Rita grew and sold multiple companies, leveraging her strategic insight and leadership to drive growth and innovation.

Her ability to turn challenges into opportunities has made her a sought-after board member, adept at navigating complex governance issues and guiding companies toward impactful decisions.

Rita has worked extensively to promote inclusive leadership through mentorship, speaking engagements, and her philanthropic work with organisations such as the Company of Entrepreneurs and the Asian Women’s Resource Centre. Rita’s leadership is defined by her empathy, collaborative approach, and commitment to excellence, making her an influential figure in both business and community settings.

Simon West is an accomplished technologist, strategist, and business leader with over 15 years of experience helping companies grow through innovative sales and marketing systems. As Managing Director of Sales Now Ltd, Simon specializes in designing and implementing lead generation systems that attract new clients while maximizing value from existing customers. His unique ability to blend strategic thinking with hands-on execution has helped countless businesses overcome poor sales performance and achieve lasting success.

In addition to his work at Sales Now Ltd, Simon serves as Technical Director at Fruition Systems, where he leads a team focused on simplifying business processes and enhancing client services. His diverse career also includes professional sports photography, multiple startup ventures, and a passion for emerging technologies like cryptocurrency. Simon’s broad interests and varied experiences give him a fresh perspective on business challenges, making him a sought-after advisor for early-stage ventures and established companies alike.

A Freeman of the Company of Entrepreneurs, Simon’s extensive network and entrepreneurial mindset enable him to offer valuable insights across industries, helping businesses not only survive but thrive in competitive markets.

John Leyden is an experienced Chartered Accountant and business leader with over three decades of expertise in corporate finance, audit, and strategic business advisory. As CEO of Carbon Accountancy, John specialises in providing tailored financial solutions, including tax planning, R&D tax credits, due diligence, and share option schemes. 

He has been instrumental in over 50 fundraisings, 35 acquisitions, and 50 business disposals, offering expert guidance to fast-growing businesses and venture capital-backed companies.

In addition to his role at Carbon Accountancy, John serves as a part-time Finance Director for several companies, leveraging his extensive background in business valuations, shareholder disputes, and HMRC tax enquiries. His proactive, results-driven approach has made him a trusted advisor for UK subsidiaries of international companies, helping them achieve significant cost savings while maintaining high compliance standards.

John’s ability to combine technical expertise with strategic insight has earned him a reputation for delivering exceptional client service, ensuring long-term relationships and repeat business.

Are You a Fit to Talk with Us?

  1. Post-Friends and Family Round:
    1. You’ve raised initial capital and are now seeking your first significant funding (e.g., £1-2 million).
  2. Customer Traction:
    1. You have Letters of Intent or an early customer base that validates your product or service.
  3. Scalability Potential:
    1. Your business has a clear path for growth but requires strategic guidance and funding to accelerate.
  4. Open to Expert Guidance:
    1. You’re willing to work with a board of experienced professionals to refine your strategy and pitch.
  5. Ready for Funding:
    1. You need support not only in securing funds but also in preparing your business for investor confidence.