Growth Capital
We partner with passionate entrepreneurs who have created successful brands and want to exceed their dreams.
We bring far more than capital. For companies ready for a bold approach to growth, we offer real-world experience, a sustained approach to brand building, and our belief that a partnership has to work for everyone – the company, its management, its employees and investors.
CONSUMER FOCUSED
Great companies capture consumers’ hearts before they capture their dollars. We understand the complexities of the consumer marketplace and what it takes to build Brand Love. For over 25 years, our principals have grown and led consumer-focused companies – our strategy, finance, marketing, operations and technology professionals live by this consumer-first mindset.
The Winona Advisory Council brings even more consumer insight to our companies. These seasoned industry leaders help our partner companies navigate the strategic and operational issues that come with building a great brand.
Apparel & Lifestyle Products
Pet & Juvenile Products
Growth Oriented Branded Retailers
Sports, Recreation & Leisure
Involvement
Our strategic, hands-on team collaborates with company leaders to establish short- and long-term goals with clear plans for execution. Additionally, we lead the design of a Total Growth Blueprint (TGB) for most of our investments. The TGB is aimed at creating a multi-year, full-potential plan for a company – identifying the key success factors, or ‘Pillars’, that will contribute to successful growth and value.
The TGB process identifies the critical initiatives, action steps, responsibilities and measurements that align with key success factors. Typically, as part of the TGB process, Winona leads or participates in regular management calls, monthly finance and budgeting calls, quarterly board meetings, and annual strategic retreats. The TGB process is one important way Winona becomes a trusted partner providing value-creating guidance to the leadership of our portfolio companies.
We’re about more than capital. We’re about partnership. By building strong relationships with management teams, we help grow brands and businesses. To us, commitment means being there through it all.
When we partner with a company, we give it everything. Our investment begins with the creation of a Total Growth Blueprint: a go-forward strategic roadmap designed in collaboration with our CEOs and management teams to achieve brand-building goals. We commit to the Total Growth Blueprint throughout the life of our involvement with a brand.
Our CEOs run our portfolio companies, but we provide impressive brand- and business-building assets – including the annual Winona CEO Leadership Summit. This powerful opportunity to learn and grow brings together portfolio company executives, Winona Advisory Council members and industry experts to discuss marketplace dynamics, brainstorm new opportunities and share best practices.
tenacity
We proactively seek ambitious, growing companies with breakthrough potential. We’re always looking for fresh ideas and trends that signal true shifts in consumer purchasing.
Because we know that relationships fuel success, we rely on our network to connect us to people on the leading edge – giving us access to opportunities missed by others. Sure, we attend our fair share of industry shows and events, but you wont find us in the main aisles. We’re in the corners and back rows eager to meet the next great brand.