Building Tomorrow: The Journey of McDonagh Technologies

This one has it all --> stories, cool technology and a vision for the future

When I look back at my life, I see a mosaic of experiences: each tiny shard, an idea, an innovation, a moment that transformed how everything felt.

Of all these adventures, the journey launching our family office, McDonagh Technologies, stands out — shining with the brilliance of a thousand suns.

Let's start at the beginning.

Innovation is not just about creating—it's about radically changing the way we interact with the world.

At its core, McDonagh Technologies is not just about earning returns on investments; it's about molding the future by influencing the growth and development of exciting new technologies and bold new companies.

We achieve this by building several revenue engines inside each of these companies, and then amplifying their output by leveraging technology.

Why Tech Companies?

Because therein lies the true potential of tomorrow.

As I studied the success of the Apple ecosystem over the years, creating products that resonated with billions, I realized the magic lies in integration.

Our team has imbued that same spirit and philosophy into McDonagh Technologies.

These companies remind me of Apple in its garage days—raw, untamed, filled with dreams. And like a piece of uncut diamond, in the right hands, they can be shaped, polished, and transformed into entities of unmatched value. This is where McDonagh Technologies with our statistical process controlled and laser-focused approach steps in.

We build big beautiful revenue engines.

Enter: The Revenue Engine

At the heart of every groundbreaking company, beyond its products, beyond its branding, lies an engine—a force that propels it forward, dictating its pace, its direction, and its future.

This is what we call the Revenue Engine.

It is the confluence of:

• People - Sales, marketing, engineering, design, support, finance

• Process - Account-based marketing, outbound sales, channel sales

• Platform - CRM, SEP, BI, ERP, Data Warehouse

Basically its all the folks focused on making (or keeping) money + the playbooks and tools they use to do that.

Modern revenue engines have AI brains, automation brawn and analytic capabilities that drive revenue leak and white space assessment, among much else.

Before moving on we're going to dissect these machines, to truly understand their anatomy and mechanics.

The Core: Vision and Strategy

Before we delve into the nuts and bolts, it's essential to understand the core.

The Revenue Engine's core is the company's vision and overarching strategy. This vision is the North Star, guiding every gear, every cog of this engine, ensuring alignment and purpose.

Net new revenue goals, revenue retention objectives, upsell/expansion quotas… there are several metrics that matter, with variations depending on the company’s revenue model.

CRM: The Chassis of the Engine

Every engine needs a structure.

That's what the CRM, or Customer Relationship Management system, brings to the table. It contains the Account, Contact, Opportunity, Contract, Customer Support Request and every other list related to the business.

It's not just about data or numbers; it's about understanding, about building relationships.

The CRM ensures that every customer interaction is personal, meaningful, and adds value.

Sales Engagement Platforms: The Transmission System

Now, imagine you have the best engine in the world, but you can't control its power or direct it.

That’s where the Sales Engagement Platforms come in.

Acting as the transmission system, they ensure that the power generated by the engine is directed appropriately, harnessed effectively, and yields tangible results. They bridge the gap between the potential and the actual, translating raw energy into meaningful forward motion.

SEPs are great tools to ensure the power of the revenue engine reaches the road.

Go-to-Market Strategies: The Fuel

Even the most advanced engine needs fuel.

The Go-to-Market (GTM) strategies serve as this fuel. Whether it's earning share of a new market, launching a revolutionary product, or simply reinforcing a brand's presence, these strategies provide the essential energy.

Intelligent and integrated GTM strategies ensure sustained, optimized energy supply to the Revenue Engine.

Customer Success Tools: The Cooling System

Any mechanical aficionado will tell you—while generating power is crucial, managing and dissipating heat is equally vital.

As revenue builds up, so does the need to manage post-sale interactions, ensuring that customers aren't just satisfied but delighted.

The Customer Success Tools act as the cooling system, ensuring the engine doesn't overheat, providing a seamless, smooth experience for the customer, and ensuring longevity and efficiency.

AI and Automation: The Turbochargers

In the quest for speed, power, and efficiency, the world of automobiles introduced turbochargers, giving engines that extra boost.

In our Revenue Engine, AI and automation play this role.

AI, with its predictive analytics, offers insights, trends, and forecasts, giving that extra thrust, that edge over the competition. Automation, meanwhile, ensures that the routine, the mundane is taken care of, allowing the engine to focus on what truly matters: growth and innovation.

The Result: A Symphony of Precision and Performance

When all these components come together, orchestrated with precision, the result is pure magic—a symphony of performance, innovation, and growth.

The Revenue Engine, when understood, optimized, and nurtured, becomes more than just a part of a company; it becomes its driving force, its heart and soul.

However, just having the pieces isn’t enough.

Integration is key.

Like how our devices seamlessly blend into our daily lives, McDonagh Technologies integrates and enhances these systems. It's about creating an ecosystem where every tool, every strategy, is harmoniously connected, leading to growth that's organic yet explosive.

If there's one thing I've always believed in, it's that technology is an enabler.

We've seen this with increasingly powerful personal computers.

Similarly, McDonagh Technologies harnesses the power of AI and automation, not just as tools but as catalysts—amplifying, accelerating, and perfecting. AI, with its predictive analytics, doesn't just provide insights; it paints a vision of the future. Automation, on the other hand, is the workhorse—ensuring efficiency, minimizing errors, and maximizing potential.

I've always maintained that the true worth of a company lies in its transparency and power.

Using Generative AI tools McDonagh Technologies has brought in a level of transparency that’s game-changing when we introduced RevSystems in 2022.

Every cog, every wheel of the revenue engine is now visible, making it not just efficient but also trustworthy.

Power, on the other hand, comes from a relentless drive to innovate, to challenge the status quo, and to always aim for the zenith. That’s the ethos that’s driven Apple, and that’s what I see with McDonagh Technologies.

I’ve been fortunate to bear witness to some incredible technologies in the last 15-years, and even more incredible individuals and teams.

Each one is a testament to what's achievable when vision meets execution.

Small firms, once operating in shadows, are now giants, casting long shadows of their own.

Now, looking ahead, I'm reminded of the time when we envisioned a world where technology and humans coexisted, not as master and servant, but as partners.

The future vision of McDonagh Technologies mirrors this.

We are not just shaping the future of our portfolio companies; I believe we are shaping the future of the world, one innovation at a time.

P.s. if you’d like to talk about your company (or even idea) — reach out here:

https://mcdonagh.tech/