Most portfolio companies lack senior marketing expertise during critical growth phases. Get operator-level marketing leadership that executes investment thesis through proven frameworks and builds exit-ready organizations that scale beyond founder involvement.
The Problem
Portfolio companies lack senior marketing leadership during rapid scaling phases
Growth capital demands accelerated scaling, but companies don't have marketing leaders who've operated at target scale. Without experienced operators, investment thesis execution stalls. Portfolio companies need marketing leadership but cannot justify full-time CMO salaries at their stage
Investment thesis execution stalls without experienced growth operators to implement strategy
PE partners develop growth strategies but can't implement them. Portfolio companies need embedded operators who've executed similar transformations, not more strategy consultants. Operating partners lack marketing-specific expertise to guide portfolio growth strategies
Exit preparation requires marketing sophistication that internal teams haven't developed
Successful exits depend on scalable marketing organizations and proven growth systems. Without institutional marketing capabilities, valuations suffer at exit. Standardized growth playbooks fail because each portfolio company has different market dynamics
How We Help
We don't provide consulting reports. We embed as marketing leadership. Your portfolio company needs someone who's executed investment thesis transformations before — not someone learning on your timeline. We implement embedded marketing leadership that accelerates portfolio company growth through proven frameworks, execute investment thesis through systematic growth marketing implementation, and build exit-ready marketing organizations with scalable systems and leadership development. This isn't about strategy recommendations. It's about execution that delivers fund return targets. We start with your investment thesis, identify execution gaps, and build systematic marketing capabilities that survive leadership transitions and scale beyond founder involvement.
Our approach starts with a thorough assessment of your current growth infrastructure. We review what is working, what is not, and where the highest-impact opportunities are. This diagnostic phase ensures we are solving the right problems before committing resources to execution.
What makes our approach different: embedded leadership model — not external consulting, operator mentality — we own the number, not just the strategy, 90-day sprint approach with clear phase gates. We operate as an extension of your team, not as outside advisors delivering slide decks. The fractional model means you get senior expertise without the overhead of a full-time hire, and the 90-day sprint structure ensures you see measurable progress at every phase.
We build measurement into every engagement from day one. Before we change anything, we establish baseline metrics so progress is tracked against real numbers. Monthly reporting shows what is working, what needs adjustment, and where to invest next. No vanity metrics — only indicators that connect to revenue.
What we deliver
- Embedded marketing leadership that accelerates portfolio company growth by 30-50%
- Investment thesis execution through proven growth marketing frameworks and processes
- Exit-ready marketing organizations with scalable systems and leadership bench
Get operator-level marketing leadership that executes investment thesis through proven frameworks and builds exit-ready organizations that scale beyond founder involvement.
Our Methodology
Our methodology starts with a 90-day sprint designed to create immediate impact while building long-term systems. In the first 30 days, we embed with your leadership team to audit existing marketing infrastructure, review performance data, identify quick wins, and understand the competitive landscape specific to your vertical. We interview key stakeholders, review your analytics stack, and map the customer journey from first touch to closed deal.
Days 30-60 focus on strategy development and early execution. We build a prioritized growth roadmap, restructure team roles where needed, and start implementing the highest-impact changes. This phase includes establishing measurement frameworks so we can track progress against real metrics, not vanity numbers.
Days 60-90 shift to full execution mode. Systems are running, the team is aligned, and we're optimizing based on real data. By the end of the sprint, you have a functioning growth engine with clear ownership and accountability — something that works whether we stay on or not.
How We Work
In the first 30 days, we conduct a full marketing and growth audit. This includes reviewing your analytics stack, interviewing key stakeholders, mapping the customer journey, and identifying the three to five highest-impact opportunities. We establish baseline metrics so we can measure progress against real targets.
During days 30-60, we move into strategy development and early execution. We build a prioritized growth roadmap, begin restructuring team roles where needed, and start implementing quick wins identified in the audit phase. Weekly check-ins keep the team aligned and the leadership team informed.
Days 60-90 are full execution mode. Systems are running, the team knows their roles, and we're optimizing based on real performance data. We provide monthly strategy presentations to the leadership team covering what's working, what's not, and what we're changing.
Most engagements run 3-6 months initially. We work 15-25 hours per week embedded with your team — attending leadership meetings, managing agency relationships, and making resource allocation decisions. The goal is to build systems that outlast the engagement.
- Revenue growth acceleration
- Customer acquisition cost optimization
- Channel strategy and diversification
If your pe/vc portfolio companies company needs fractional cxo leadership, we should talk.
Expand your marketing team output with our experts
Let us take a custom approach to your growth goals by assembling and leading the best-in-class marketing team to support your next stage.
Frequently asked questions
How much does fractional CMO cost for portfolio companies?
Our fractional CXO engagements run $30K-$50K monthly for portfolio companies, with equity participation aligned with fund returns. This includes building marketing organizations, not just providing individual expertise.
What is different about marketing for PE/VC portfolio companies?
Portfolio companies have aggressive growth targets, specific exit timelines, and investment thesis requirements. We build marketing organizations designed to hit fund return targets, not just grow sustainably.
Can you help with investment thesis execution and value creation?
That's exactly what we do. We translate investment thesis into executable marketing strategies, build the organizational capabilities to deliver results, and create documentation for operational partners and boards.
How do you build marketing organizations that survive leadership transitions?
We document all processes, develop internal talent, and build systems that operate independently. The goal is marketing organizations that function effectively whether founders stay or leave.
Do you work with growth equity or buyout portfolio companies?
Both. Growth equity needs marketing acceleration; buyouts need operational transformation. We adapt our approach based on fund strategy and portfolio company needs.
