01 — Gaming / M&A roll-up
Confidential — gaming group
A gaming group needed hands-on support through a takeover, from pre-close diligence and readiness to post-close integration and growth acceleration.
What we did
- Supported pre-close planning, diligence coordination and day-one readiness
- Handled SPA and SFA documentation, spotting and correcting errors in the lawyers' work
- Negotiated key details that materially helped the buyer after closing
- Advised on post-close integration and operational handover
- Built growth initiatives focused on subscriber acquisition and ARR expansion
- Worked alongside management to translate deal thesis into operating reality
Results
- Pre- and post-close workstreams completed without losing momentum
- Sale and purchase agreements finalised with costly legal errors removed
- Buyer entered the post-close period with stronger protections and clearer next steps
- Subscriber and ARR growth initiatives scoped and initiated
- A clearer operating model for the combined group
02 — Founder exit / sell-side advisory
Confidential — founder-led business
A founder wanted to sell the business they had built, but needed help preparing ahead of time and support through the transaction and beyond.
What we did
- Worked with the founder to plan the exit well ahead of going to market
- Shaped the business, data room and narrative for prospective buyers
- Protected the founder's interests through negotiations, diligence and execution
- Structured terms so the founder can act freely and is not constrained post-exit
- Stayed involved post-exit to manage handover, transition and family-office planning
Results
- Founder achieved a successful sale on favourable terms
- Founder protected and able to operate without restrictive post-sale obligations
- Smooth transition to new ownership
- Family office setup in progress to manage proceeds and future interests
- Planning ahead converted into a defensible, executable process
03 — E-commerce / operational turnaround
Confidential — B2B and B2C e-commerce
A ten-year-old B2B and B2C e-commerce business faced declining growth and revenues alongside rising costs. The founder wanted to step down after years of running the business, and DESU Partners was engaged to oversee the commercial transition, implement operational changes, and hit specific targets.
What we did
- Acted as interim chairman and operational, financial and commercial consultant to ensure continuity and effective decision-making
- Oversaw the transition from a drained founder to a new CEO
- Facilitated the transition from a founder-driven business to a new operational structure
- Identified an untapped revenue stream and implemented strategies to capture it
- Streamlined operations and warehousing processes to improve efficiency and reduce costs
- Implemented a new organisational structure with operational and cost-cutting measures
Results
- Net revenue growth delivered over the 12-month engagement
- Improved profit margins
- Operations and warehousing streamlined from two warehouses to one
04 — AI / go-to-market / lead conversion
Confidential — US/UK technology consultancy
A US/UK technology consultancy wanted to boost lead generation, improve cold lead conversion, launch a new innovative AI SaaS product, and pivot the company to be positioned as a trusted AI provider.
What we did
- Developed clear positioning and messaging for AI offerings and the new product, with targeted hooks and a channel strategy to optimise exposure and appeal
- Enhanced lead channels and implemented a cold lead nurturing framework to engage high-potential prospects
- Created new case studies, ROI calculations, pitch materials and other sales and marketing assets
- Established KPIs and a feedback system to track progress and continually optimise lead generation and conversion
Results
- Secured the consultancy's first cold new business AI consultancy project
- In Q1 2024, generated more inbound leads than in all of 2023
- Won two industry awards
- Received more engaging leads and deeper competitive insights than previously
- New AI SaaS product launch received positive public feedback and excellent reviews
05 — Legal-tech SaaS
Apperio
Churn analysis showed that onboarding was a weak customer experience: it was ad hoc, owned by nobody, and slowed time-to-value — putting renewals at risk as the client base grew.
What we did
- Analysed churn data to pinpoint onboarding as the core customer-experience gap
- Designed and operationalised a repeatable onboarding function
- Mapped upstream sales handover and downstream account management
- Worked cross-functionally to remove friction in the customer journey
- Installed owners, milestones and reporting for each onboarding
Results
- Faster value delivery for new clients
- Increased client retention and reduced churn
- A coherent end-to-end customer journey with clear ownership
06 — Trade promotion / cross-border expansion
ProChile
Eight Chilean companies needed to test and enter the UK market at the same time, each with a different product, buyer and level of export readiness.
What we did
- Structured introduction calls to map each company's commercial thesis
- Market and buyer validation for the UK, with pricing and positioning guardrails
- Refined go-to-market plans per company, not a single template
- Comprehensive feedback sessions plus targeted introductions
Results
- Eight refined UK go-to-market strategies delivered
- Actionable recommendations and warm introductions per company
- Founders able to make informed go / no-go decisions on Europe
