Jim Barnish Jr.
Managing Partner at Orchid Black
Tampa, Florida
Overview
Work Experience
Managing Partner
2025 - Current
Value Creation Builders partnering with VCs and their high potential founders to increase portfolio value. A pool of experienced startup to scale-up executives shaping strategy and operations in all product and go-to-market functions from seed stage through Series B: - AI-Driven Strategy - Go-to-Market Strategy - Marketing and Messaging - RevOps and Sales Playbooks - M&A and Investment Strategy - Pricing and Packaging Strategy - Product Launches & Management - Organizational Design & Strategic Planning - Product-Market Fit and Customer Validation - Channel Partners and Direct Sales Management DM me to learn more
Partner & Former Director of Investments
2016
As former Director of Investments, I led the creation of our deal flow, due diligence and supporting business processes. As a current Partner, I support these processes and the relationships with the founders of Florida Funders' portfolio companies, home of the #1 active VC in the state of Florida. My other company, Dragonfly Operating Partners (DragonflyOP) is a Strategic Partner to Florida Funders, working with the fund and its portfolio to increase IRR.
Florida Funders is a hybrid of a venture capital fund and angel investor syndication platform.
Podcast Host
2022
This business podcast is a place where we get down into the depths of a founder's story and expertise. Being an entrepreneur isn't easy; it's painful, it's ugly, it's dirty and it usually entails things that people don't want to hear. This show is meant to bring forward the trials and tribulations that entrepreneurs have encountered and overcome. Listen on Your Favorite Platform: - Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dirt/id1612094562 - Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/16dOKv7C5g1A3ZLIUnE4mT
Founder & Managing Partner
2018 - 2025
* SOLD MAJORITY STAKE TO EXISTING AND NEW STRATEGIC PARTNERS * As Founder and Managing Partner, I built a team of skilled operators serving bootstrapped businesses, Private Equity and Enterprises eyeing carve-outs. I left to connect my roots (VC) and high-growth skillset, starting a similar firm (Dragonfly Operating Partners) down-market focused on seed stage through series B companies, partnering with the VC firms that invested in them to accelerate growth and increase IRR. Orchid Black maximizes your company's value and positions you as a tech-forward business for upcoming liquidity events. We use data-driven analysis led by a team of seasoned growth experts to optimize your product offering, accelerate your revenue, and execute a tailored roadmap to transform companies into the most valuable versions of themselves.
Transforming Companies into the Most Valuable Version of Themselves
Board Member & Director of Exhibitors
2018 - 2024
Synapse Florida is a Non-Profit Organization purpose-built to help Florida's Entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystems thrive.
Synapse is a community that connects entrepreneurs and investors.
CEO / Founder
2016 - 2020
* ACQUIRED BY MORGAN HILL CAPITAL PARTNERS (MHCP) * • Served more than 25 startups in a performance-based equity incentive model to drive successful GROWTH outcomes for early stage technology companies looking to raise capital, evaluate buy/sell M&A opportunities or just plain grow organically via revitalized sales and marketing efforts. • Led an end-to-end direct/channel go-to-market strategy shift for a PE-backed product company. Key deliverables included strategic plan, packaging and pricing of solutions, channel partner program and financial model including a resourcing plan and key performance indicators (KPIs).
Board Advisor
2017 - 2020
USF Digital Marketing Advisory Board AR / VR / Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning / Big Data / Video / Social / Digital / Cloud
Chief Of Staff / COO
2016 - 2017
* ACQUIRED BY DXC TECHNOLOGIES * • Led the turnaround of a Series B cloud migration company: restructure business and GTM strategy, diversify revenue streams through a joint direct/channel revenue strategy combined with SaaS pricing analysis and optimization to gain market share • Accountable for the analysis, systematization and integration of all business solutions, partner relationships, IP technology and potential acquisitions
Racemi helps organizations rapidly migrate workloads to the cloud providing a tech-forward approach to discovery, migration & optimization.
Raised $34,300,000.00 from Paladin Capital Group, Harbert Growth Partners and Activate Venture Partners.
Chief of Staff / Strategy
2016 - 2017
* ACQUIRED BY 360 INSIGHTS * OPERATIONS ☛ MARKETING Strategy Consultant ☛ Chief of Staff • Accountable for evaluation and integration of all new opportunities, reporting to CEO • Managed and led the marketing team (strategy, content, design, biz dev, inside sales) • Drove vendor / partner management, including 7-figure multidimensional relationship with CRN • Facilitated consolidation & packaging of Webinfinity offerings • Optimized Strategic Capability Map ► Identified targets and opportunities to fill any gaps
Corporate Strategy & Initiatives Manager
2014 - 2016
* ACQUIRED BY DXC TECHNOLOGIES * • Accountable for evaluation and integration of all M&A and new opportunities, reporting to CFO • Led analysis of investment proposals & business initiatives ► Delivered to C-Suite • Drove due diligence & evaluations of potential acquisitions and workloads • Managed transition to Agile ► Implemented Kanban strategic tracking mechanism • Facilitated consolidation & packaging of Tribridge offerings • Provided clear communication, training & best practice sharing ► Fixed bottlenecks in processes • Influenced operations, sales, marketing and alliance teams to achieve organization-wide goals • Executed on any special projects for Chief Financial Officer or Chief Executive Officer
Education
Bachelor's Degree
2008 - 2011
Bachelor’s Degree
2006 - 2008