dave allison
Business Strategist | Chartered Accountant, BSc (hons)
E: david.allison@creativehq.co.nz
P: +64 4 381 4448 | M:
About DAVE
Managing the growth of small companies and enabling the visions of entrepreneurs are the motivations for Dave’s conviction that Wellington is the place to be.
A Scottish chartered accountant with an honours degree in chemistry, Dave joined Creative HQ after a decade with PWC (PricewaterhouseCoopers). Working largely with SMEs and start up companies over the past few years, he recognises a good idea and a potential global opportunity.
"the crux is understanding the personal story behind a business venture"More to the point, he loves the journey to get from one to the other.
“The guts of what drives me being involved with start up companies comes back to the fundamentals of solving real business problems. It’s what I have done for years, and why I’m doing it now with some of Wellington smartest entrepreneurial ventures.”
Start ups don’t have forever to get it right, and often they only have a slim jump on the competition. In many cases they don’t have the luxury of contemplation.
“You have to cut through the crap to deal with the central issue - focussing effort on the key objectives of the business.”
A career working with big business, small business and every iteration in between has put Dave in the thick of it. Working with Wellington’s investor group Angel HQ has given him a look at business through the eyes of angel investors, and secondments over the years have seen him within businesses looking out.
“The nuts and bolts of finance and business strategy are all very well, but the crux of what makes working in growth-focussed businesses both challenging and rewarding is dealing with people as individuals and understanding the personal story behind a business venture.”
