Recombo 2005 – Michel as EVA

EO Credibility

Yes, the speaker definitely displays confidence in Recombo’s ability to reach goals and achieve.  It is clear that Brad McPhee knows his product, the market and potential problems his business may face.

Management Team

The management team of Recombo is not discussed heavily but Brad does mention that he has a small team of experts and is looking to expand.

Business Model

Recombo prides themselves as a company that “plays well with others” both in how they and their systems operate.  This sharing is facilitated by their contract negotiations and their Content Integration Router platform.  McPhee explains that this router facilitates communication and integration of products like learning management systems and performance evaluation systems with the potential of allowing published content to be shared among Recombo’s customers.

Brad McPhee offers multiple examples of how his product can serve existing markets and make the common problem of integrating content from different systems using their infrastructure.  With this in mind it is clear that Recombo has found a need and utilized some creative business and technical strategies to progress their business.

Competitive Products

McPhee seems confident that there is a big market for his company’s services and products.  It is clear that he can offer a level of integration the learning management market rarely sees, allowing communication across platforms and systems.

There are many companies using learning management and content systems in their human resources and training sectors although Recombo gives no direct numbers within this pitch is can be assumed that with a small, focused company Recombo could offer these new services at competitive prices.

Market Readiness

They have been struggling in the past but now have a “lighthouse” customer that will hopefully prove Recombo’s ability to solve business problems.  As it stands, Recombo is providing a service and tools that bridge a common communication gap in training and education systems and, at least initially, this should give them an edge on the market.

Technical Innovation

At the time of this pitch Recombo seems to have an edge on the market.  After making changes to his company’s direction McPhee is confident that he has found a product and a service that is in need and cannot be met by competitive products.

Exit Strategy

McPhee is clear that success lies in a dollar amount for their business.  He is pushing for success through his “Lighthouse customer” which will expand their business by proving their publishing and learning management competencies.

If his company does not meet the goals laid out McPhee is honest with himself and comfortable with going public or selling to a larger corporation like IBM if need be.

Overall Investment Status

I think I would be willing to risk my capital investment to support Recombo.  It is clear that the company has changed greatly and maybe faltered slightly in the past but has quickly learned from its mistakes and adapted to the market both in their product offerings and overall strategies.

4 comments


1 Cari Wilson { 09.19.09 at 9:20 pm }

I had some of the same feelings you did about Recombo and would also invest. I admired their flexibility.


2 Annette Smith { 09.20.09 at 9:58 am }

I may be the only person who was suspicious of McPhee’s style. I found him to be a bit glib, and was irritated by his repetition of phrases like “plays well with others”. My instinct is that he is a bit of a control freak, and before investing I would want to speak with others on his team.

I do think that Recombo has a good product, although I would want to see the proof that the lighthouse customer strategy really does bring them some of the 700 customers before investing.


3 Michel Lacoursiere { 09.20.09 at 3:38 pm }

Thanks for your response Cari. It seems that flexibility has become ever more important for a business or venture to succeed, recent automotive industry issues come to mind, and McPhee definitely seemed flexible in his business approach.


4 Michel Lacoursiere { 09.20.09 at 3:45 pm }

Good point Annette, I guess I really to McPhee’s word that this lighthouse client would pay off, he sold me on the idea which means it was a pretty good pitch, or I am an inexperienced EVA.

On another note: Does anyone know what has happened to Recombo? The only Recombo in Vancouver is a digital signature company and it appears Brad Mcphee has moved on:
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/brad-mcphee/3/874/630

Did they sell or just fold?

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