Blue Horizon Venture Consulting

What Blue Horizon Venture Consulting does

Blue Horizon Venture Consulting (BHVC) is a privately held, founder-led management consulting firm headquartered in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, that has provided venture development services to growth-stage companies since 1998. The firm operates with a headcount of 1-10 employees and is led by Founder and CEO Todd H. Smith (UCLA Anderson MBA, Thunderbird Master's, Clemson BS), who previously worked at IBM and Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Florida. BHVC targets startups, middle-market corporations, and Fortune 500 business units, and is primarily known for investor-grade business plans, with 65% of its plans reportedly obtaining capital in some form.

The firm's product portfolio is a sequential service chain spanning the venture lifecycle: Business Plan Development (Summary Level at $2,000-$5,000 for sub-$250K raises, and quote-based Venture Capital Quality plans requiring 80-120 hours), Financial Modelling built on Microsoft Excel or Alight Planning's FP&A software with five-year pro forma statements and scenario analysis, Investor Presentations, Capital Raising support (investor identification, outreach, term sheet negotiation, due diligence preparation) on deferred billing, Interim Executive Management (part-time CFO/COO/CEO placements with cash retainer plus equity), Strategic Consulting powered by Alight Planning, International Rollouts using a market entry matrix, Valuations using multiple methodologies, and Business Brokerage on hourly or commission terms.

The business model is professional services with project-based and retainer pricing. GTM is sales-led and consultative, primarily direct through website, phone (904-372-9222), and email ([email protected]), supported by content marketing, LinkedIn and Facebook presence, an email newsletter, and affiliated referral sites (EStartAcademy, Todd Houston Smith, Brass Tacks Books). The company is bootstrapped, has no institutional investors, and operates primarily within the U.S. Southeast.

Name

Blue Horizon Venture Consulting

Legal name

Blue Horizon Venture Consulting

Website

https://bluehorizonvc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Blue Horizon Venture Consulting is a Jacksonville Beach, Florida-based boutique consulting firm founded in 1998 that develops investor-grade business plans, financial models, and investor presentations, and supports capital raising, interim executive placement, valuations, and business brokerage for startups, middle-market firms, and Fortune 500 business units.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Jacksonville Beach

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Business Plan Development: BHVC develops investor-grade business plans in two tiers: Summary Level plans ($2,000-$5,000) sufficient for raising up to $250,000 in seed capital, friends & family, and SBA loans; and Venture Capital Quality plans with significantly more market analysis and competitive intelligence detail for VC and PE firm funding. Summary plans require 30-60 hours; VC Quality plans require 80-120 hours of professional effort.
2. Financial Modelling Services: Detailed financial projections and business valuations built using Excel or Alight Planning software. Includes assumptions pages, income statements, balance sheets, cash flow statements, and scenario analysis capabilities.
3. Investor Presentations: PowerPoint-based investor presentation development with coaching services to help business owners prepare for pitching and Q&A sessions with potential investors.
4. Capital Raising Support: Investor outreach, presentations, and negotiations. BHVC assists in locating investors, defending business plans, negotiating term sheets, and preparing due diligence packages. BHVC is not a licensed securities broker and cannot be compensated on a percentage of capital raised. For existing business plan clients, they may defer billing until after successful capital raise.
5. Interim Executive Management: BHVC provides interim executive leadership (CFO, COO, CEO) during the formation and capitalization phase. Roles are typically part-time (20-30 hours/week) with a monthly cash retainer plus potential equity component.
6. Strategic Consulting: Through Alight Planning partnership, provides financial planning and analysis, mergers & acquisitions support, due diligence, and competitive intelligence services.
7. International Rollouts: Data-driven international expansion consulting using market entry matrix approach to guide strategic expansion decisions.
8. Business Valuations: Comprehensive valuations using multiple methodologies including Discounted Cash Flow, Industry Comparables, Revenue Multiples, Net Income Multiples, and Customer Multiples. Weighted-average valuation provides defensible final value.
9. Business Brokerage: Marketing, selling, and negotiating business sales. BHVC charges either on an hourly basis or commission basis for this service.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Blue Horizon Venture Consulting develops investor-grade business plans and detailed five-year financial models for growth ventures, startups, middle-market corporations, and Fortune 500 business units. Beyond planning, the firm actively supports clients in raising capital through investor identification, outreach, term sheet negotiation, and due diligence preparation. BHVC also provides interim executive management, valuations, business brokerage, strategic consulting via Alight Planning software, and data-driven international expansion planning.

Product overview

Blue Horizon Venture Consulting offers a portfolio of nine integrated consulting and professional services spanning the full venture lifecycle. The core offering is Business Plan Development (Summary Level and Venture Capital Quality tiers), anchored by a Financial Modelling service that serves as the planning backbone. This is complemented by Investor Presentations (PowerPoint-based) and Raising Capital as the funding-activation layer. Supporting services include Interim Executive Management (CFO/COO/CEOs), Strategic Consulting (via Alight Planning software), International Rollouts (market entry matrix), Valuations (multi-methodology), and Business Brokerage. Together these form a sequential service chain from planning through capitalization and exit.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Business Plan Development Investor-grade comprehensive written business plans for debt and equity investors, covering executive summary, company description, industry analysis, marketing plan, operating plan, management team, and complete financial discussion. Available in two tiers — Summary Level (sufficient for raising up to $250K in seed, friends & family, and SBA loans; priced at $2,000–$5,000) and Venture Capital Quality (significantly more detailed market analysis and competitive intelligence for VC and PE funding; quote-based).
• Financial Modelling Detailed five-year pro forma financial statements including assumptions, income statements, balance sheets, cash flow statements, key measurements, and business valuation. Built in Microsoft Excel (with macros for automated report generation) or Alight Planning software, with scenario analysis (best case, worst case, most likely) and NPV valuation worksheets.
• Investor Presentations Engaging Microsoft PowerPoint investor presentations summarizing the business plan and concept for personal presentation to investors, including coaching services to help business owners prepare for pitching and Q&A sessions.
• Raising Capital Capital raising support service that helps clients secure funding through investor identification, outreach, presentations, term sheet negotiation, and due diligence preparation using BHVC's VC and angel investor database. Includes defense of business plans during investor evaluation. BHVC is not a licensed securities broker and cannot charge a percentage of capital raised; for existing business plan clients, a significant portion of billing may be deferred until after successful capital raise.
• Interim Executive Management Interim executive leadership (CFO, COO, CEO) placed for early-stage ventures between formation and capitalization, on a part-time basis (20–30 hours/week) with a monthly cash retainer and additional equity component depending on preferences and negotiation. Drawn from a pool of experienced startup experts.
• Strategic Consulting Strategic planning and analysis service powered by Alight Planning's financial planning and analysis software, covering planning & budgeting, mergers & acquisitions, due diligence, competitive intelligence, and team alignment around vision, mission, values, goals, and action plans.
• International Rollouts Data-driven international expansion consulting using a market entry matrix that incorporates demographics, growth trends, wealth, business environments, industry measures, and government incentives to identify target countries and partners.
• Valuations Comprehensive business valuations using multiple weighted methodologies including Discounted Cash Flow, Industry Comparables, Revenue Multiples, Net Income Multiples, and Customer Multiples for sales or equity assessments.
• Business Brokerage End-to-end business sale services including business analysis, curb-appeal enhancement, valuation-based pricing, marketing to prominent brokerage networks, and closing process guidance. Available on either hourly basis or commission basis depending on client preference.

Quantifiable outcome

• 65% of BHVC plans obtained capital in one form or another
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Alight PlanningcoreTechnology or IntegrationBHVC has a unique partnership with Alight Planning, leveraging their state-of-the-art financial planning and analysis software for client engagements. Through this partnership, BHVC can model client businesses, assist with planning & budgeting processes, support mergers & acquisitions activities, due diligence, and competitive intelligence. BHVC also helps Alight Planning identify customers and build robust budgeting and forecasting models.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• SCORE: Nationwide nonprofit network providing free mentoring, business plan assistance, and fundraising guidance to entrepreneurs, serving as a well-funded free alternative to BHVC's advisory offerings.
• U.S. Small Business Administration (SBDC): Government-backed Small Business Development Centers deliver no-cost business consulting, plan reviews, and capital access support nationwide, representing a structural competitor to BHVC's advisory services.

Direct peers

• Wise Business Plans: Custom business plan writing service that produces investor-ready plans and financial projections for entrepreneurs seeking funding, competing head-to-head with BHVC's Summary Level and VC Quality tiers.
• Cayenne Consulting: Specialized business plan consulting firm serving startups and emerging growth companies with plans, financial models, and pitch decks, mirroring BHVC's investor-grade deliverables and target client base.
• Murphy Business & Financial Corporation: Established business brokerage and valuation franchise that overlaps directly with BHVC's Valuations and Business Brokerage service lines and serves a similar SMB owner client base.
• Growthink: Boutique business plan and financial consulting firm that develops investor-grade plans, financial models, and capital raising support for startups and growth companies, directly overlapping BHVC's core offering.
• Plan Writers: Professional business plan writing firm offering tailored plans for SBA loans, bank financing, and equity raises, serving the same SMB and early-stage client segment as BHVC.

Emerging players

• BizBuySell: Largest online business-for-sale marketplace that competes with BHVC's Business Brokerage service for owners seeking to market and sell their companies to buyers and brokers.
• LivePlan: SaaS business planning platform that combines financial forecasting with guided plan writing, competing with BHVC's lower tiers on price and convenience while targeting the same startup and SMB audience.
• BizPlanBuilder: Long-running business plan software with structured templates and financials, positioned as a do-it-yourself alternative to BHVC's custom plan development service.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/BlueHorizonVC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/blue-horizon-venture-consulting

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Blue Horizon Venture Consulting