Startup support org you should know: Wolves Not Sheep
Wolves Not Sheep is an Oklahoma City-based company that helps businesses new and old, small and large to better understand what makes a business unique and how to stand out in the market.
A marketing and design professional by trade, Wolves Not Sheep Founder, Chris Williams, began his career working in both ad and branding agencies in Oklahoma. However, like many entrepreneurs, he hit a point where doing things the way they’ve always been done stopped making sense.
The path to business owner is rarely a straight road though and Chris’ meandered between startup and consultant before briefly returning to agency life. A return that also led him to what would be his future partner and Wolves Not Sheep co-founder, Jack Bewley.
Jack brought experience and comfort not only with tech and product but with operational aspects of the business itself. Once the pair realized they shared a vision for what could be, the entrepreneurial route became a no-brainer, and thus Wolves Not Sheep was born.
Their positioning studio capitalizes on its roots in marketing to help companies figure out and communicate exactly what their value is. Many businesses – especially startups – get stuck in the weeds of their product or service and become solution-oriented. They know it inside-out and can explain what it does, how it does it, and all its intricacies. What they often miss is how to communicate the message of the actual value they’re creating for their customers.
Wolves Not Sheep helps to break this down figuring out not only what the true value proposition is but also what the root of the problem is that their client’s business is helping to solve. This is done through a customer’s point-of-view with a problem-oriented approach. The process is all about “building context for why you … and positioning yourself to influence how your customers associate you with others.”
While the Wolves tailor each client engagement, the collaboration follows a formulaic process they’ve developed. This ability to be such a bespoke operation has enabled them to assist both bootstrapped and VC-backed startups carving a new path, as well as well-established businesses stuck in need of getting back in touch with their true value.
The team works with 2-3 clients at a time to ensure that each one gets the full attention and in-depth assistance they need. The process is extremely collaborative, with 1-2 weekly meetings and multiple check-ins throughout as their clients are growing and understanding methodologies to apply long after the project's end – an outcome the team places great importance on.
Wolves Not Sheep are proving to be a tremendous resource for founders across the US and Europe and they’re committedto being a strong force in helping shape the venture ecosystem in the heart of Oklahoma.
