The Glide Group · Chicago

Strategic advisory
for complex business initiatives.

Mandate

Glide supports companies, investors, and leadership teams across strategy, partnerships, M&A, capital, talent, and execution.

Operating Model

Glide operates as a focused advisory platform for high-leverage projects that do not fit neatly into a single category.

Independent Strategic Advisory
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A focused set of capabilities, applied to problems that rarely fit a single box.

01

Strategy & Growth

Market positioning, organic and inorganic growth initiatives, business model refinement, and strategic prioritization.

02

M&A & Strategic Transactions

Acquisition strategy, target mapping, deal rationale, negotiations, diligence support, and integration planning.

03

Partnerships & Business Development

Strategic alliances, referral channels, commercial partnerships, and ecosystem development.

04

Capital & Investor Support

Investor narrative, capital raise preparation, strategic investor mapping, and process support.

05

Leadership & Talent

Executive sourcing, leadership role definition, talent market intelligence, and organizational design.

06

Outsourced Strategic Leadership

Project-based or fractional support for initiatives requiring senior judgment, coordination, and execution.

Wrigley Field, Chicago
Wrigley Field · Chicago, IL

Glide is most useful when an important initiative cuts across functions.

These situations are rarely just a strategy project, just a transaction, just a partnership, just a hire, or just an operating issue.

They usually require a mix of judgment, pattern recognition, network access, and practical execution.

Glide helps create structure, momentum, and clarity around those opportunities.

Senior-level judgment, direct engagement, flexible scope.

Glide is led by Gavin Toepke, an entrepreneur, advisor, and operator with more than 25 years of experience working with founder-led, private equity-backed, professional services, and growth-stage businesses.

Gavin's work spans strategic partnerships, healthcare services, capital formation, M&A support, business development, operating projects, executive search and leadership advisory.

Glide's model is intentionally focused: senior-level judgment, direct engagement, flexible scope, and practical execution.

Sectors of Focus
  • Professional services
  • Private equity-backed
  • Growth-stage technology
  • Healthcare services
  • Founder-led businesses

Glide works selectively with a small number of companies, investors, and leadership teams where there is strong strategic fit. The firm is not designed as a high-volume consulting or recruiting platform — engagements are focused on complex initiatives where trust, discretion, and senior-level execution matter.

i.

Trust

Long-horizon relationships with founders, investors, and leadership teams who value discretion.

ii.

Discretion

Sensitive transactions, leadership transitions, and strategic decisions handled with judgment.

iii.

Execution

Senior-level engagement from scoping to outcome, without the overhead of a traditional firm.

Start a conversation.

For strategic advisory, partnership, transaction, capital, or leadership-related inquiries.

gavin@theglidegroup.com
Chicago skyline at night
Chicago, IL