This course contains the use of artificial intelligence

A new partnership pipeline needs a route to a first strategic deal.

Put the first 90 days on paper: target partners, shared work, pilot terms and the next commercial conversation.

A calendar full of partner meetings can hide an empty business development function. Promising contacts remain untested, joint plans leave one side's contribution unclear, and a forecast counts the same opportunity twice. Meanwhile, current sales still need attention and every new direction competes for limited time and funding.

The change is a visible chain of decisions: a mandate for new business, a reason to choose a route, a partner worth investigating, a joint plan and a conditional path from pilot to scale. The 90-day horizon organises the first pipeline and attempts to close initial strategic deals. Signing depends on the counterparties, evidence and approvals; it is not guaranteed by completing the course.

Mike is the founder and strategy lead of the academy. He has developed business directions and partnerships involving corporate clients, new markets and languages, and online platforms. His background includes 20 years in HR. That founder perspective connects the course to the practical work of evaluating a new direction, discussing a partner's contribution and deciding what needs to be tested next.

The working toolkit: 65 tools, rounded down to 60+

There are 16 downloadable resources: eight lecture presentations and eight interactive HTML files. The count combines eight working files with 57 distinct working parts inside them. Fifty presentation forms repeat those parts and add nothing to the unique total. Service metadata, export buttons, repeat demonstrations and explained concepts do not increase the count.

• 8 interactive working files: New Revenue Mandate, Market Route Selector, Joint Business Plan Studio, Partnership Portfolio Console.
• 20 templates and records: one-page mandate, partner ICP, partner shortlist, two-sided KPI definitions, partnership portfolio record.
• 14 calculations and forecast views: annual opportunity pool, revenue-share floor, partner ramp, scenario cash-flow sheet, role workload.
• 6 matrices and scoring tools: BD/Sales/Marketing boundary map, segment scoring, route comparison, partner rating sheet, BD role interface map.
• 12 checklists and question sets: growth test questions, partner hard checks, pilot-to-scale gates, exclusivity boundaries, gate readiness record.
• 5 conversation and review guides: partner conversation rehearsal, deal conversation record, forecast commentary, investment review note, director review note.

The HTML files support company aliases, editable notes and the listed numeric inputs within a fixed USD model, period and scope. A different currency, reporting window or data structure needs a separately reconciled model. Local browser saving, copying and print-to-PDF keep the working record together.

Models and methods are explained where useful, including partnership types and entry modes. They are separate from the ready working toolkit and contribute zero additional tools to the total.

Where the tools fit

• Mandate and routes — 17 tools: new revenue mandate, growth bet cards, 30-60-90 checkpoints, route matrix, partner ICP.
• Partnerships and joint planning — 15 tools: hard checks, partner profiles, rating sheet, joint business plan, conversation rehearsal.
• Strategic deals and partner forecast — 19 tools: pilot gates, revenue-share calculation, exclusivity questions, partner ramp, attribution record.
• Investment and BD operations — 14 tools: funding schedule, gate readiness record, cash scenarios, role map, partnership dashboard.

First comes the mandate and the choice between direct and partner routes. Partner selection leads to a joint business plan, then to the commercial structure of a pilot and possible scale. The forecast connects partner activation and attribution to a conditional range. The internal investment case tests the next commitment, and the portfolio console connects the work to roles and a regular review rhythm.

One fictional company connects the examples: Brindlehaven Signal Systems, a US subsidiary of a Dutch industrial group, with Canadian partner opportunities. It supplies warehouse equipment monitoring systems. Every lecture restates its own context and inputs and stands on its own. All example numbers are illustrative, not market benchmarks.

Current workflow references include Salesforce and HubSpot CRM, LinkedIn Sales Navigator, Crunchbase and partner relationship management programmes. The limited Crunchbase and Crossbeam demonstrations are mockups rebuilt from public documentation; the real interface and workflow may differ. This independent course does not imply vendor or association affiliation.

AI prepares a research, plan or forecast draft; the director checks sources, arithmetic and assumptions and makes the decision. Do not send customer data, partner information, deal terms or confidential negotiations to public AI services without an appropriate agreement and company policy. Commercial structures are for discussion; check with your legal team on agreements, exclusivity, competition matters, joint ventures and acquisitions.

What's included

• Eight self-contained video lessons and eight practical assignments.
• Eight presentation PDFs and eight interactive HTML working files with filled fictional examples.
• Editable working parts, browser saving, completeness checks, text copying and print-to-PDF.
• Lifetime access to the course materials through an individual course purchase.
• Instructor support in Q&A.

Every review cycle without a clear next partner test leaves the same questions unresolved. Choose one growth bet, open the mandate and give the next conversation a purpose. Enrol now and start your first lesson today.