Being in the SME market, there are often so many levers to pull when building out a great platform. The way we think about the first 100 days has evolved, not because the fundamentals have changed, but because execution speed and early focus matter more than ever.
We've found that anything that can be completed or put in place prior to deal completion, or immediately after, delivers the best results. Even while we're completing diligence on potential investments, we often work collaboratively with founders and management to test and embed new initiatives into the business plan. This gives us a far better chance of early success and also give us first-hand insight into how management teams engage with new ideas.
We've learned the value of having a robust, ready-to-deploy team of specialists available to roll up their sleeves from the outset.
These are the 5 key areas we're building out further at Nash to help our investments hit the ground running, often before the ink on the SPA is dry.
1. AI & Automation
We're finding new ways to embed AI across our portfolio, not to reinvent the wheel, but to save time, improve consistency, and lift decision quality. Most of our investments don't have dedicated AI or digital teams, which is why we've built in-house capability to assist implementation. The goal is small compounding improvements, often starting with task automation and smarter dashboards.
In one recent investment, we used AI tools to streamline quoting and customer follow-up processes, cutting lead response times by 60% in the first quarter.
2. Digital Strategy & Conversion
Historically, we've relied on incumbent management to steer digital strategy, including website, ads and funnel performance. That's changing. We now embed digital health checks and conversion audits into every 100-day plan so we can validate what's working and A/B test new ideas early.
In a recent platform acquisition, a quick digital audit uncovered that 70% of ad spend was driving to a page that didn't convert. Within weeks, we restructured the funnel and lifted conversion by 35%.
3. Branding & Messaging
A strong investment story begins with clarity. Branding and messaging aren't just marketing exercises, they're alignment tools. A refreshed brand narrative can unify teams and signal change to customers and the market. It also sets the stage for exit - a well-crafted brand and message can go a long way when courting larger strategic buyers.
Post-acquisition, one portfolio company rebranded within 60 days. It set the tone for the next phase and increased engagement from a group of buyers.
4. Recruitment & Capability Mapping
Before we invest, we need to ask two questions: Is this the right team for today? and Is this the right team for what's next? We map out future capability needs early, from finance and operations to digital leadership, so that recruitment and alignment can start fast. The house view is simple: if we're going to hire the person anyway, why not now?
For one of our manufacturing platforms, we identified the future COO prior to completion. By month two, they were onboard and driving operational improvements across three sites.
5. Bolt-On Market Mapping
We now start mapping the bolt-on landscape before completion, identifying the top 20 logical acquisitions, understanding ownership structures, and building early relationships. That way, day one of ownership is also day one of growth execution.
For one of our portfolio companies, this approach allowed us to sign the first bolt-on within four weeks of completing the investment, doubling revenue and creating strong cross-selling opportunities.
Closing Thoughts
The 100-day plan isn't just a checklist - it's a rhythm setter. Getting the right foundations in place early allows management teams to move faster and focus on what really drives value. For us, it's about building momentum before the deal is even signed and giving our partners the best possible start from day one.
