IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM
You are: on the brink
of going from concept to reality.
We are: the bridge.
In Residence Program
Created to help founders advance an idea to an investor-ready company through formal branding and the development of a digital presence.
Powered by Haystack Needle’s suite of services, we provide select entrepreneurs and organizations with access to teams of dedicated branding and marketing resources in exchange for a minority stake.
Who We're Looking For
Just like you, we’re selective of who we work with. We’re looking for companies:
In the early, seed investment stage
Showing promise in a sector with a B2B focus
Considering a 3-5 year exit strategy
Many of our investments focus on founders in the military (past or current) and ex-convicts (of non-violent crimes)
How It Works
Some companies need just a simple logo or website. Others require an extensive digital footprint. Still others would benefit from a new brand and full, inbound marketing. There is no right answer; your digital footprint depends on the kind of company you start and how you plan to engage your target audiences.
At Haystack’s In Residence Program, our goal is to set you up for success. This entails building something impressive enough to raise money on a larger scale. We can then introduce you to later stage investors—or acquirers.
More Than Money
All investors supply some assortment of services, introductions, and money. In our case, the services we offer are the most important thing we do:
Brand Identity (name, logo, brand guidelines, corporate ID)
Website Design and Development, including SEO
Search and Social Strategy and Social Channel Setup
Professional Photography and Videography
Presentation/Deck Design
Our services put companies in a position to secure future funding with confidence and a clear position on how to succeed.
The second most important thing we do is perfectly position founders with investors and acquirers. Yes, we can make introductions, but that part is easy. Once the company has an established brand and the promise of a successful marketing strategy, we spend time teaching founders how to pitch their companies to investors, and how to close a deal once they’ve generated interest.
Philosophy
We’re active investors, meaning we’re not looking to build you a website and send you on your way in hopes we’ll collect a check in our mailbox at the end of every month. We hand-select those with whom we work, and only take on projects we’re passionate about, with people we sincerely like and trust. We’re in it for the long haul – so we aim to enjoy the process, in terms of both what we’re building and even more importantly, who we’re building it with.