Venture Building firms

Question

Hi everyone

I am interested to pursue a career in venture building, and I was wondering what are the options out there. Specifically, I'm interested in the middle east.

I have many questions:

- What are the types of venture building firms (I know there is venture studios and management consultancies, any others?)

- Who are the leading ME players (within management consultancy I know McKinsey Leap, BCG Digital Ventures, Bain Next)?

- How are they different? what are the different services they offer?

- Any other advice/ emerging hot topics I should pay attention to?

Any help would be much appreciated!

Answer 1

Hi there, I can't give much insight into other firms but I was involved in building LEAP by McKinsey in the Middle East. The way a typically LEAP engagement might run:

Ideation phase (2 weeks): Look at the existing business with the client and understand where there are spaces for disruption and a right to win (this will be typically staffed with generalist consultants and folks from McKinsey Design)
Strategy phase (6 weeks): This will involve building out the business case/strategy for the new venture, draft tech stack & wireframes of the interface (if applicable) (this is typically staffed with generalists, designers and core tech specialists)
Build phase (36-52 weeks): Where an MVP is built :)

To give you a sense of industries LEAP features in, in the Middle East, I did LEAP projects in healthcare, construction, housing etc. building marketplaces and e-comm offerings.

Happy to talk about my experience/Middle East if helpful on a call :)

Answer 2

Hi there,

This is a crazy amount of context you're looking for here! Alas, not only do we not have time to write full answers to all of your questions, but it would be impossible to even get this all down in writing.

You need to ask more precise/concise/direct questions!

For the above, please network! You're going to slowly figure this all out by hopping on lots of calls, reading articles etc. You're looking for a quick answer here when there isn't one…you need to do your own research!