Companies we've coached
Testimonials
I want to take a moment to share my heartfelt appreciation for an incredible mentor, friend, and colleague, Betsy Brown. Over the last three years, Betsy has been an unwavering source of support, belief, and guidance for both me and my company. When I was just a sophomore in college, Betsy saw something in my business that others might have overlooked. She believed in the potential and vision that I had for my company, and from that moment on, she became not just an advocate, but a true partner in my journey. Betsy's commitment goes beyond just the numbers. While others might focus solely on metrics, Betsy is the type of person who rolls up her sleeves and dives deep into supporting startups. Her passion for helping founders is evident in the extra mile she goes – whether it's brainstorming strategies, offering valuable insights, or providing hands-on assistance when the going gets tough. What truly sets Betsy apart is her genuine care for the people she works with. She isn't just interested in the success of the business; she's invested in the growth and well-being of the individuals behind it. Her ability to be both a mentor and a friend has been a game-changer for me, providing me with a sounding board for ideas, a pillar of strength during challenges, and a cheerleader for every milestone achieved. Betsy, your dedication and unwavering support have made an indelible mark on me and my company. Your passion for nurturing startups and your willingness to lend a helping hand when needed are qualities that inspire and motivate everyone fortunate enough to work with you.
Leah Wyrick
CEO & Founder
Three Strands Recovery Wear
Tony has been an incredible advisor and mentor throughout my founding journey - not only with larger strategic & technical discussion, but also on intra-human issues like employees and business partners. Tony has the ability to take his own agenda and bias out of the conversation, and by doing so, rationally and effectively advise on any issue. Tony underwrites his advice with extensive first-hand experience scaling and exiting his own tech venture. He also listens beyond the business problem and is a great advisor advancing one’s personal growth.
Carl Turner
CEO & Founder
Swipeby
Working alongside Betsy for the past few years has been an amazing experience. She never fails to impress me with her networking skills and aligning deals that work for both parties involved. Her insight when it comes to helping businesses such as startups get traction is phenomenal and her intention is pure and is always in the best interest when it comes to her clients. I will be working with Betsy for many years to come! I couldn't recommend anyone better to partner with when it comes to business consulting.
Cameron Bates
President
AFFIX Studios, LLC
Tony has the innate ability to quickly size up a business model and to strategically parse a business by using frameworks that a founder can grasp. Tony also has superb relational gifts. He is a natural teacher and cares deeply about founder success. He loves taking the marker and going to the whiteboard, and I love when he does that because he is so darn good at making sense of a business model or strategic challenge, breaking it into simple components, and challenging founders on how they are going to become successful. Integral to Tony’s relational gifts is his ability to size up a founder and determine readiness and skillset to take on the necessary steps for success. He has immediate street cred because he has been there....he has started a company from scratch, led it for many years, and then had a successful exit. Founders know that and seek him out. I am a seasoned business executive with decades of strategic leadership successfully operating businesses. And whether evaluating a new applicant or providing coaching and guidance to a founder, there was not a session with Tony in the room that I did not learn something from him.
Steve Lineberger
Founding President Winston Starts, CFO Sneeze, Former President ABT Power Management, President Krispy Kreme, CEO Hanes Brands
I worked with Betsy at Winston Starts. She was instrumental in building the organization from its beginning wearing many hats and demonstrating her skills at mutli-tasking, persuasion, and out-of-the-box thinking. She built relationships across a variety of organizations to support the entrepreneurs recruited to the program. Betsy is dedicated, hard-working and a great motivator for the people she manages.
Jane (Karwoski) McCracken
Advisor & Board Member to
Fast-Growing Companies
When we looked to bring our startup business to the US healthcare market, Betsy was an energetic and mission focused to help guide us through the fundraising process in the US and helped us identify potential investors. She was persistent and driven to make introductions for us and to be our “boots on the ground” in the US market. Betsy was able to help set up offices, connect us to various legal and accounting services as well as make us feel at home in the US.
Jon Friis
Founder & CEO
Miiskin
I've known Betsy for over 3 years now, as the Winston Starts VP, during Point Motion, my startup, residence in the incubator. From the first day we met, I knew Betsy carried an energy that allowed her to build relationships and foster a collaborative ecosystem culture. Betsy is a mover and shaker with expertise in running and scaling grassroots organizations.....Skilled in Public Speaking, as seen moderate, be a panelist or a keynote speaker on different stages· Betsy is a Business/ Woman leader who grows by lifting others and we need to see more women in leadership who carry this skill and nurture it. It was an honor to see her continuous growth mindset throughout the years and looking forward to seeing her future accomplishments.
Imen Marroufi Clark
Inspiring Creative Solutions
for Holistic Wellbeing
Tony is a trusted mentor, investor, advisor and friend. I have worked with him for several years and I have seen his remarkable ability to guide young companies through the overwhelming daily stresses of being a startup while keeping a focus on long term objectives. His ability to listen and process issues, and identify workable solutions, is calculated and deliberate. Tony's best-in-class strategies embraces the benefits and challenges of utilizing technology, maximizing profitability and improving user experience. What sets Tony apart from other mentors and advisors we have worked with in the past is his ability to dissect experiences and pressure points, forecast pitfalls and pursue opportunities in a way that makes his experiences relatable and extremely valuable. Tony's approachability, professionalism, and impeccable communication style creates an ideal mentorship dynamic for young companies.
Nathan Atkinson
President & General Counsel
Village Juice & Kitchen
Betsy's passion and approachability with startup founders made her a well-respected center of influence in the Winston Salem entrepreneurial ecosystem, and her ease of doing business and command of what it takes to run an entrepreneurial support organization caused me to lean in and explore a cross-state partnership. I can't speak highly enough about Betsy's professionalism and overall leadership. Skilled Multi-tasker · Matrix Management · Start-ups · Entrepreneurship Development · Grassroots Fundraising · Public Speaking · Business Development · Sales & Marketing · Strategy
Paul Nolde
Early Stage Investing
and Acceleration
I highly recommend Tony DiBianca as a proven business consultant and coach for anyone ready to listen to a professional with real-world entrepreneurial experience. The first thing you will notice about Tony is he is approachable, a great listener, and passionate about helping others realize their dream. He is diligent about collecting the facts, understanding your vision of success and succinctly framing the path to success in an honest and positive fashion. Tony has always been ahead of the times as his understanding and utilization of sensible technology, even as a start-up, provides the foundation so that as your business scales you can focus on growth and capitalize on your momentum. Helping people achieve success is personal to Tony because he genuinely cares and has lived the journey of building three successful companies and raising a family. He knows how to tap into the inspiration that what you are doing is bigger than yourself. Tony is a consummate and trusted professional as he knows how to put everyone at ease the moment he enters the room. Drawing from his hands-on experience in his own business and as a consultant, he has the ability to see potential challenges and help you prepare in a proactive way. It’s fair to say that Tony will be a trusted guide and champion as you scale your mountain.
Scott Anderson
CEO & Owner
Aliance Sales & Marketing
I had the pleasure of working with Betsy at Winston Starts and consider her a real professional in leading the company in its entrepreneurial development efforts. Betsy is a natural leader and instills confidence in the cohorts with whom she worked. She is savvy and understands business analytics giving her credibility with founders of early stage companies. Betsy is a great speaker and is well respected in Winston Salem. She has helped many companies in their early stages and has a keen eye in identifying characteristics that make founders successful. Betsy is a real pro and I highly recommend her to any company looking for a business professional.
Doug Young
Business Development Specialist and
Corporate Transformation Consultant
I have had both the privilege to be mentored and advised by Tony, and the honor to work alongside him. He brings in a wealth of real-world entrepreneurial experience, packs it in a constructive and easy-to-understand manner, and delivers it in a way that is encouraging and often inspiring. Tony carefully listens to identify the opportunities and roadblocks to scaling up a business, and guides you in a direction that is right for your business and that you are comfortable with. Having Tony as a mentor, coach, friend, advisor, or partner in your corner is an instant value-add to your team, no matter the nature of your business.
Filip Kricka
Entrepreneur
Winston-Salem, NC
I would like to express my sincere appreciation for the invaluable support provided by both Tony and Betsy. Their contributions have been instrumental in driving my startup forward. Betsy's organizational skills proved invaluable in preparing for pitch events and gathering many individuals in a short timeframe, thanks to her extensive connections within the startup community. Tony's wealth of field experience, having successfully operated and eventually selling his own company, is a testament to his expertise. His visionary perspective on potential business directions is unparalleled. Furthermore, Tony is keenly aware of the intricacies that can impact fundraising efforts and engagements with potential customers. Betsy's ability to view the bigger picture and identify the critical questions that need addressing sets her apart. Moreover, Betsy's dedication to conducting research and sourcing individuals for interviews has been crucial in identifying our product-market fit. Notably, both Tony and Betsy believed in our vision when others did not, which has been of immense value. I am confident that their combined expertise will be a significant asset in steering your business towards success. Additionally, Betsy and Tony offered some exceptional ideas for features in our product, which we are planning to implement in the near future. Thank you, Tony and Betsy, for your outstanding contributions to our venture.
Steve Batts
Founder & CEO
ConvoRally
