Entrepreneur, Strategic Advisor, and Founder of The OMG Center and Venture Consultants

Chris Simmance is an accomplished entrepreneur and strategic advisor with over a decade of experience in founding, scaling, and successfully exiting multiple ventures. As a founding partner of Venture Consultants, Chris is on a mission to reshape the startup ecosystem, aiming to reduce failure rates by aligning expert boards with high-potential ventures. This approach ensures that both investors and founders are empowered to maximise value, creating a foundation for growth, strategic direction, and successful funding.

Chris’s work is also evident through The OMG Center, a platform he founded to accelerate digital marketing agencies’ growth by providing essential coaching, peer support, and strategic resources. Known for his straightforward, no-nonsense approach, Chris has guided hundreds of businesses toward improved scalability and profitability by fostering critical thinking and building solid operational foundations. His method is both engaging and results-driven, focusing on cutting through typical agency challenges and addressing the core issues businesses face in competitive markets.

Strategic Advisor and Growth Consultant

Chris is highly regarded for his strategic insight and his ability to “penetrate the layers” of an organisation, working closely with clients to develop a deep understanding of their unique dynamics. His approach to consultancy is rigorous yet personalised, characterised by active listening and thought-provoking questions that challenge the status quo and encourage innovation. By coaching individuals and fostering critical thinking within teams, he helps clients build a culture of accountability, which leads to greater customer satisfaction and overall business success.

Through The OMG Center, Chris also offers an Accelerator Program tailored to meet the specific needs of each agency. Recognising that rapid growth can carry risks, he focuses on de-risking this growth by identifying potential obstacles and implementing strategies that ensure stability and predictability. The program prioritises time efficiency, allowing businesses to achieve tangible results quickly, which means clients can reallocate resources to other critical areas and further enhance their growth potential.

Entrepreneurial Leadership and Impact on the Agency Landscape

Chris has made a significant impact on the agency landscape, especially in digital marketing and SEO. His background includes founding Optus Digital, which provided him with extensive experience in understanding clients’ needs beyond typical agency pitches. Chris’s consulting style contrasts with traditional approaches, as he avoids generic presentations and focuses instead on direct, value-based interactions that address clients’ specific needs. His emphasis on authenticity and “cutting out the fluff” has distinguished him in the industry, allowing him to compete effectively even against much larger firms by building trust through transparency and practical solutions.

Chris’s insights and advice have proven invaluable to clients, helping them stay competitive by aligning their strategies with core business goals, which he also covers as a sought-after international keynote speaker. His speaking engagements, including discussions on high-performing teams and critical thinking, underscore his commitment to building strong organisational cultures that can adapt and thrive in dynamic environments.

Freeman of the Company of Entrepreneurs and Dedication to Community

Chris’s commitment to the entrepreneurial community is further reflected in his role as a Freeman of the Company of Entrepreneurs, an honour underscoring his dedication to promoting ethical business growth and mentoring future leaders. He also holds the Freedom of the City of London, a prestigious recognition of his contributions to business and community development. In this capacity, Chris actively supports initiatives that aim to foster a supportive and inclusive environment for entrepreneurs, sharing his knowledge to help others navigate the challenges of growth and scale.

The Journey of a Purpose-Driven Leader

With a decade of leadership experience, Chris Simmance combines technical expertise with a pragmatic, people-focused approach that has consistently yielded positive outcomes. His dedication to understanding the “why” behind each project—alongside his ability to build accountable teams—has established him as a key figure in driving sustainable growth. Through The OMG Center and Venture Consultants, Chris remains at the forefront of supporting businesses at every stage, from inception to successful exits, ensuring that his clients not only survive but thrive.

Chris’s impact is seen in the long-term relationships he builds with clients, who value his unfiltered honesty and strategic insight. By challenging clients to think critically and helping them develop actionable plans, he has set a standard for consultancy that goes beyond simple advice to provide measurable, enduring results.