Find the Path to Launch, Grow, Profit, and Exit
In 2024 we raised a $500k pre-seed with our investor syndicate to build a labor procurement and management platform targeting the construction industry. We researched and vetted viability and scoped the project in three months, built the MVP in six months, and launched in Q4 of 2024.
We purchased the Lake George Grocery in 2021 for $400k. We then invested another $200k to renovate this historic building and pivoted towards a more community-focused establishment selling artisan goods and cafe. The new business, rebranded as The Horn, soft launched in 2022.
With Unicorn’s brick & mortar investments and endeavors, we needed general construction services but couldn’t find a reputable business in the local area. So we instead made the investment to build a construction company for northern Michigan and launched it into the market.
Starting in 2020, we have been advising and incubating ReVision as a startup. We made a $500k pre-seed commitment and have built and launched their MVP and go-to-market strategy. We also stood in as operators providing an interim CTO for fundraising and piloting with customers.
Unicorn has worked with iPondr since summer of 2020 to build and launch their MVP, Artificial Intelligence Patent, and go-to-market strategy. We offered discounted development services for equity and provided their interim CTO. We also currently sit on their board of advisors.
In 2018 we purchased a hair salon, Expressions Hair Studio, in Lake George, Michigan. Unicorn then renovated the business, trained new staff, and implemented better technology, processes, and branding. The value of the business has tripled with our investment and innovation.
Starting in 2017 we partnered up with one of the largest Construction Management companies in the United States to co-create the Elements application. With a $250k investment from Unicorn, we were able to build an iPad application that has been independently evaluated at $50M.
In fall of 2015 we invested in Bowery to take their proof-of-concept idea to market. With a $150k investment of development services from Unicorn operating as a venture studio, we built the MVP in six months and helped them raise $6.2M in the following year and to a valuation over $350M today.
We started working on an e-learning platform in summer of 2014. Over the years, we have continuously invested and improved this content management system to have the best-in-class features for media management and workflow integrations.
From powering @GoogleMaps on Twitter to working on experimental prototypes and joining design sprints, Google has trusted Unicorn as an ongoing development and innovation partner for product and experimental marketing endeavors.
Unicorn is a trusted partner of Samsung, often collaborating on marketing initiatives related to ABM websites and the annual Unpacked event. We have built dozens of applications with zero downtime.
We worked on a few projects for Indeed: the Job Seeker Community forums, a UK based marketing site, and a few other marketing-focused solutions. Indeed trusted Unicorn with initiatives that intersected heavily between marketing and tech.
Hilti partnered with Unicorn to build intranet systems, custom web applications, and use Artificial Intelligence technology to transform Hilti’s operating procedures and sales documentation into a digital playbook.
Unicorn partnered with the YMCA to develop a scalable mobile app and WordPress site, enabling local chapters to efficiently franchise while maintaining consistency in technology and branding.
Comcast embarked on a transformative journey in collaboration with Unicorn starting in spring of 2010. Together, they tackled numerous prototypes and product releases aimed at enhancing the sales and marketing efforts of the company.
Going back to 2009 we have worked with SalesForce on a number of initiatives. Mostly designing and developing the user interfaces and frontend frameworks around their Guide Templating Language and Lightning Design Framework.
Chosen, an ad agency, was founded originally by a collective of college students as a non-profit to build up real-world experience before entering the job market. The company went on to become a full-service agency and sold a few years later.
In 2017 we helped Arrae Creative, a design agency founded in Colorado, find a buyer and exit. The company specialized in creating superb e-commerce solutions and experiences. The company was sold to a development agency.
We helped a struggling business and overwhelmed founder find their path through months of strategy and incremental improvement for digital transformation and succession planning. The Spot, a retail store, sold for 8x of gross revenue.
We helped Ambit Design roll up into an agency acquisition, helping the founder find his path to exit. The founder has the opportunity to level up his career and continue on with the purchaser to grow the business with innovation and better operations.
In 2023 we connected with Room 214 to help the company transform and seek acquisition. We worked with the company for roughly 30 days to build a data room and had an offer and LOI for the company to exit within two weeks.
