Growth Hub

Founder & CEO

Quantanite

Sold out of Quantanite having scaled from $1m AAR to $20m ARR within 5 years. Closing multiple deals from 10-350 seats.

Chief Commercial Officer & Shareholder

Founder (Growthonics)

CAKE Technologies

•	Planned and executed the overall sales and business development strategy from the ground up.
•	Built a team to take signed partners from just 14 to over 280 including Corbin and King, Ricker Restaurants, Soho House Group, Toms Kitchen, Salt Yard Group, M Resturants, Obica, Noble Inns and the Zetter Group.

Sales Director

Rocket Internet SE

Managing Director, Sales

Pheonix Global Management

Director Business Development

Walton Asset Management 

Sage

Formally Alchemex (Bought by Sage in 2011).

Business Development

Waltech PLC

Business Development & Shareholder

In deal origination, speed wins—but most firms are still slowed down by messy data, manual processes, and missed signals.

I help deal teams cut through the noise with automation, AI, and real-time insights—so they can focus on what really matters: closing better deals, faster.

As CEO and Founder of Growth Hub, I work with private equity, venture capital, and M&A teams to transform their data from a liability into an advantage. We make sure your CRM is an asset, your pipeline is enriched, and your team is always ahead of the curve.

If your deal flow feels like guesswork instead of a well-oiled machine, let’s talk.

🚀 Data-driven. AI-powered. Deal-focused.

Dan Vanrenen

We got a kitten.

His name is Gus.

He was a birthday present for our youngest, who just turned 8.

And my immediate reaction was:
WTAF are we doing?!

We already have two kids.
Two dogs.
And my wife and I work full-time, together, from home.
Same business. Same office.
Same general chaos.

So yeah…adding a kitten maybe wasn’t the most logical move.

But here we are.

This week Gus has discovered the keyboard.
Rollo (our 8-month-old lab) still face bombs team calls.
Bingo (our 7 year old cockapoo) insists on barking when I'm trying to have a serious call. 
And our house is now essentially a co-working space with fur.

Sometimes I wonder if it’s a bit much to share online.
That we work from our home office.
That we work as a couple.
That I don’t have a slick office in the city and can’t remember the last time I wore a tie for work. 

I worry it might look… small.
Like we’re not “serious” enough for financial services.

But this is our reality.
And the more I think about it the more I think that people actually LIKE working with us because we aren’t particularly ‘corporate’. 

We don’t have lots of middle management (none, in fact). 
If there’s a problem our clients get to speak to Katherine or me. 
We know our clients' workflows inside out. 
There’s no ‘let me push this up the ladder and see if we can accommodate’.  

Just two people at the coal face, supported by the best team in the business, and surrounded by pets. 

It’s busy.
It’s slightly feral.
But it works.

Maximise the impact of fee earning staff with our global capability data, research and operational support teams | Founder & CEO of Growth Hub

AI isn’t coming for your job.

It’s coming for your outdated process. 👀

Too many deal origination teams won’t adopt AI. 
I know this because I’ve spoken to quite a few of them. 

And it’s not because the tools aren’t there (we use them daily). 
And it’s not because they don’t know how to implement it (we do it for them). 

It’s because their culture resists it. 🧱

And I get it, because change = putting your neck on the line. And financial services are notoriously cut-throat. 

But here’s the thing:
AI doesn’t threaten good operators.
It threatens the fragile workflows that have been duct-taped together for years.

And let’s be honest…a lot of firms still rely on expensive talent doing labour intensive workarounds instead of fixing the engine. 🧯

Meanwhile, we’re watching leaner firms eat their lunch. 🍽️

They’re embedding AI into research.
Letting global support teams automate prep.
Removing 60–70% of the admin grind. ⚙️

They’re scaling output without scaling headcount, and moving faster because of it. 🚀

The truth is:
AI and smart ops don’t replace good people (unless you’re Amazon). 
They replace the parts of the job that no one should still be doing. 🧠

And the longer teams cling to "how we’ve always done it,"
the more painful 2026 is going to be. ⏳

Amazon is cutting 30,000 corporate roles and AI is driving the change.

But this isn’t a playbook for everyone else.

Leadership has been direct: AI and automation are enabling "layer removal" and structural redesign at scale.

In short,  when you're Amazon, AI isn't just a productivity tool. It's an org design tool.

But that only works when you have:
✅ Fully digitised processes
✅ High internal data quality
✅ Budget for trial and error
✅ Time to absorb disruption

And that’s simply not the reality for most firms.

In mid-sized and specialist businesses, process is messier, domain knowledge is distributed, and there’s less room to get it wrong.
Which is why AI adoption looks very different at that scale.

The goal isn’t to replace headcount.
It’s to build operational leverage.
To free up bandwidth, not eliminate it.

For most firms, sustainable efficiency will come from:
🔹 Smarter workflows
🔹 Cleaner data foundations
🔹 Human-in-the-loop automation
🔹 Purposeful use of tools like Clay, ChatGPT, and Perplexity

The short version?
AI doesn’t need to be disruptive to be powerful.
And transformation doesn’t require an axe.

The real opportunity isn’t cost-cutting.
It’s capability-building💡.

They’re not support teams. They’re not back office.

They’re capability teams...

If you're still lumping global talent into the “support” bucket, you're missing the point (and the leverage).

The best firms don’t outsource for cost.
They embed teams to unlock capacity, precision, and pace.

And these capability teams? They’re doing real, high-value work:
- Fixing broken pitchbook exports before they go client-side
- Tracking succession signals before your MD even asks
- Unblocking reporting bottlenecks without being told
- Building AI workflows that cut 10+ hours of admin a week
- Cleaning CRM data that’s been quietly rotting for months

Not reactive.
Not low-skill.
Not disposable.

These are embedded specialists solving problems the core team doesn’t have the time (or headspace) to fix.

If you're still calling that "support," you're already behind.

The smartest firms now treat capability like infrastructure:
Essential. Flexible. Strategic.

Because leverage doesn’t come from bloated org charts.
It comes from embedding execution capacity where the work actually happens.

Deal Operations.

Here’s how to run it like a pro:

Last week I shared that in the run-up to Christmas, I’ll be posting a few things we’ve seen work inside high-growth firms.

Here’s what we’re seeing most often (and what actually works):

🧩 Week 1: Deal Operations
CRM, pipeline tracking, reporting, and the invisible workflow debt that kills velocity.

1. The CRM isn’t broken. But it’s not helping.
Everyone uses it. No one fully trusts it.
Tagging is messy. Pipeline stages unclear.
Last touchpoint? Two months ago.

✅ What works:
One owner per list.
Daily updates.
Fields that mirror how teams actually talk about deals.

2. Reporting is still too manual
It takes four exports, a formatting marathon, and two “just checking” emails.
By the time the update lands, the numbers have changed.

✅ What works:
Build export-ready formats once.
Use live data and light automation.
Push updates on a regular cadence, not just when asked.

3. Small blockers add up
No clear owner.
No version control.
No one knows if the CRM is up to date.
That low-grade drag stalls everything.

✅ What works:
Tidy workflows.
Fast feedback loops.
Embedded support that keeps things moving.

(Sidenote: I know December isn’t the easiest time to reflect…It’s busy. Everyone’s trying to close strong. Sometimes ‘surviving, not thriving’ is as good as it’s going to get.

But if it’s feeling a bit chaotic, it might be worth clocking the drag now so you can think on how to go into 2026 with a slightly more chill approach…).

________

👇 What’s one deal ops habit you’d love to clean up in 2026?

When was the last time you tested your carbon monoxide detector?

You know you should. Once a year.

Get the stool, climb up, press the button, maybe swap a battery.
Doesn’t take long.
But most people forget. (Sometimes even if it’s doing that little beep every now and again). 

That’s what background ops work looks like.

We see it all the time:
- Slides that look good because someone reworked them at 11pm.
- Clean data because someone flagged the mess no one else noticed.
- Clients impressed because the ops team quietly fixed the chaos before the meeting.

It’s not flashy.
It’s not “strategic.”
But it’s work that fights fires. 

This year alone, our teams have:
👉 Rebuilt CRMs full of bad data no one had time to clean
👉 Rescued reporting pipelines that should’ve broken weeks earlier
👉 Flagged risks in decks that could’ve tanked client trust

None of these made the quarterly review.
No one gave out bonuses for “saved the partner from embarrassment.”
But it is the work that stops the house from burning down.🔥

If you’re leading ops, here are 5 things worth checking this week:
✅ Is your reporting backlog quietly building up? That’s a pressure valve waiting to blow.
✅ When was your CRM last properly cleaned? Dirty data slows everything down.
✅ Are late-night fire drills becoming routine? That’s operational debt, not hustle.
✅ Are tasks piling up with no clear owner? That’s where accountability erodes.
✅ And yes, check your carbon monoxide alarm. 🔋

Because like the carbon monoxide alarm, when background systems fail, it’s already too late.

Q4 doesn’t kill you with chaos.

It kills you with 2-hour delays, missed updates, and “just one more” review cycles.

By the time December hits, most teams are too busy doing to realise they’re leaking momentum.

And it’s not the big stuff.
It’s the quiet killers…

➡️ Work that’s almost finished.
➡️ Tasks with no clear owner.
➡️ Deadlines that silently shift.

We pulled together a detailed Q4 survival guide based on what we’ve seen inside dozens firms:

The workflow tweaks that stop slippage before it compounds.

✅ Where final mile work gets stuck
✅ How to triage your pipeline
✅ Why “invisible” work costs output
✅ What to fix before Dec 16 hits

No fluff. Just sharp, practical fixes.

If Q4 feels heavier than it should, this will help.
👉 Swipe through the carousel and steal what’s useful.
👇 Got your own Q4 ops trick? Drop it below. We’re collecting the best ones.

Q4's Quiet Killers

Physically, most people will be checking out of work for 2025 in 4 weeks.

Mentally, maybe before that 😜 ...

But the firms who’ll move fastest in Q1 are already thinking about 2026.

Over the next month, I’m going to share a few things that might help you get ahead, especially if you’re reviewing capability gaps, internal workflows, or where to invest in support.

Short, honest posts.
No strategy theatre.
Just practical observations and things we’ve seen work inside fast-moving firms this year.

Here’s the plan:
🧩 Week 1 - Deal Operations
CRM, pipeline tracking, reporting, and the invisible drag that kills velocity

📚 Week 2 - Research & Market Intelligence
How top firms build better lists, faster insight, and real leverage beyond databases

⚙️ Week 3 - Business Support Ops
From AI tooling to client comms and admin execution ie. the glue work that keeps ops running clean

🎁 Week 4 - Wrap-up
A short round-up and a note before we all (rightly) disappear for the holidays

If there’s anything specific you’d like me to cover drop a comment or message me directly.

Let’s make December a launch pad, not a write-off 🚀 .

Director

Pollen VC

Pollen VC has created a data-driven lending model which is designed from the ground up for the digital economy.  Based in San Francisco and London, we help companies all over the world to take control of their finances and grow their business without the need to raise dilutive financing or rely on traditional bank facilities.  Our team includes structured finance, credit experts, and software engineers with in-depth knowledge of the mobile app, gaming and digital publishing market and the growth challenges faced.

Head Of Finance

Self-Employed

Financial consultant for small and start-up companies in a wide range of industries including crypto, SaaS, finance and insurance. Responsible for all finance matters including management of accounting functions, detailed financial and strategic forecasting, coordination of outsource partners and in-depth reporting to stakeholders. Also responsible for implementing financial strategies critical to small and start-up companies such as strict cash management, aggressive debtors recovery, forex management, management of banking and credit relationships and tightening up of internal systems and controls in preparation for planned corporate finance strategies.

Financial Consultant

DeepCrawl

DeepCrawl is a Series-B best-in-class SaaS pioneer in enterprise cloud-based web crawling technologies & solutions with an international blue-chip client list.

Head of Finance

Phoenix Global Management (IOM)

Responsible for setting up the corporate finance function of a boutique financial services firm in the principality of Monaco before relocating to the UK. Acting as a ‘deal facilitator’ to small cap and HNW clients – successfully negotiating and putting together deals to the value of €10m. Operating both on the deal origination and capital raising sides, responsibilities included sourcing investment opportunities, due diligence, securing investment, drafting of investment and contractual documentation and offering timely and focused advice. Other company responsibilities included financial and operations management, liaising with professional advisors and regulatory boards.

Corporate Finance & Advisory

Alexander David Securities <AIM:ADS>

Providing corporate finance advice in connection with a wide range of financial services to public and private equity companies and institutions seeking to manage corporate, strategic or financial opportunities within the small and mid cap market. Working successfully within a team of seven but individually responsible for managing transactions to close and maintaining good client relations.

Responsibilities also extended to assisting within internal corporate strategy and transactions, managing the finance function and sales and marketing of both the corporate finance department and the firm.

Corporate Finance

Haines Watts

Responsibilities centred on being the sole Audit Manager to a team of 12 and reporting directly to five partners. Involved in the planning, management and completion of all audit and associated engagement and cultivating good client relationships. Dealt with a varied UK and international client base (including listed companies, online gaming ventures, FSA regulated clients, owner managed businesses, pensions and charities) with turnovers of up to US$500m.

Additional areas of work and responsibility included winning the engagement of, and conducting FSA compliance work; assistance with AIM placements; sales pitching to potential clients; due diligence; systems and controls advice and management; recruitment and training of ACA trainees.

Audit Manager

Most financial services firms don’t need more people. They need better leverage.

Too often, high-performing teams get stuck doing work that’s critical - but not core.
That’s where we come in.

At Growth Hub we build Global Capability Teams that help firms scale operational output while keeping headcount lean.

Our teams slot into existing workflows and take ownership of the executional load that slows fee earners down.

Here’s what that looks like:
💡 CRM & Deal Data: enriched, deduped, hierarchy-mapped
📊 Pipeline & Origination: priority scoring, watch-lists, fund to portfolio mapping
🔍 Market & Portfolio Intel: live watch-lists, sector deep-dives, competitor signals
📈 Investor Reporting: KPI extraction, LP dashboards, audit-ready datasets
⚙️ Ops Automation: repeat tasks scripted, alerts and updates always-on

We’re not a BPO. We’re an embedded extension of your team, built for speed, precision, and scale.

If your firm is growing and your team’s at capacity, let’s talk.

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