Your company needs a CEO. You need to stay founder.

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You're drowning in board meetings, investor relations, and strategic planning while your product and team need your attention. Or maybe you're a non-technical founder who needs someone to run operations while you focus on vision and fundraising.

Perhaps you're facing a crisis—lost a co-founder, need interim leadership during transition, or preparing for acquisition and need experienced guidance through the process.

Enter fractional CEOs: proven leaders who've built and scaled companies, navigated complex transitions, and can step in as your strategic partner or interim leader exactly when you need them.

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What a Fractional CEO Actually Does

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Our fractional CEOs aren't consultants giving advice from the sidelines. They're operational leaders who:

• Lead board meetings and investor relations while you focus on product and growth
• Navigate complex business transitions like co-founder departures or leadership changes
• Manage strategic initiatives during mergers, acquisitions, or major pivots
• Build executive teams and implement leadership structures that scale
• Handle crisis management when things go sideways and you need steady leadership
• Mentor founder CEOs who are growing into the role but need guidance
• Lead international and market expansion strategies
• Prepare companies for IPO or major funding rounds requiring experienced leadership
• Bridge founder vision with operational execution in rapidly scaling companies
• Manage stakeholder relationships with investors, board members, and strategic partners

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When You Actually Need a Fractional CEO

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You're ready if:

• You're a technical founder who needs someone to run business operations
• You're preparing for major transitions (fundraising, acquisition, IPO)
• You've lost a co-founder and need interim leadership while you regroup
• Board or investors are pushing for "professional management"
• You're facing a business crisis that requires experienced leadership
• You want to focus on product/vision while someone handles day-to-day operations

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You're not ready if:

• You're pre-product-market fit and need to be close to customers
• Your company is under 20 people and doesn't need complex leadership structures
• You're not willing to share decision-making authority
• Your challenges are technical or product-focused rather than leadership/operational

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What This Actually Costs

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• ‍Typical Engagement: 2-4 days per week, $2,000-$3,000/day depending on experience
• ‍Sweet Spot: $12K-30K monthly vs. $40K+ for a full-time CEO
• ‍ROI Timeline: Strategic impact typically visible within 30-60 days
• vs FTE: A full-time CEO costs $400K-800K+ plus significant equity. Most situations requiring fractional CEO support see immediate value from experienced leadership.

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Real Problems Fractional CEOs Solve

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• ‍"Our board wants 'adult supervision' but I'm not ready to step down" A fractional CEO partners with you, handling board relations and investor management while you maintain founder authority over product and vision.‍
• "We're going through acquisition talks and I'm in over my head" They navigate complex M&A processes, manage due diligence, and negotiate terms while you keep the business running.
• ‍"My co-founder left and I need someone to run operations immediately" They step in as interim operational leader, stabilise the business, and help you rebuild leadership structure.‍
• "We're preparing for Series B and investors want to see 'scalable leadership'" They implement professional management structures, board reporting, and strategic planning that satisfies institutional investors.

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Common Engagement Scenarios

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• ‍The Interim Leadership Crisis (3-12 months): Sudden leadership departure or crisis requiring immediate executive presence. They stabilise operations and manage through transition.
• ‍The Scaling Partnership (6-18 months): Technical founder needs business leadership partner. They handle operations, board relations, and strategic execution while founder focuses on product.
• ‍The Transaction Navigator (6-12 months): Company is going through acquisition, merger, or major funding round. They manage the complex process while you keep building.
• ‍The Professional Management Bridge (12-24 months): Board wants professional CEO but you're not ready to step down. They serve as executive partner, building systems and proving readiness for transition.

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Why Shepherd CEOs Drive Results

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• ‍They've been in the CEO chair before: Our fractional CEOs have run companies through growth, crisis, and transitions—they're not just senior executives learning on your dime.
• ‍They're partnership-focused: They work with founders, not against them, understanding the unique dynamics of founder-led companies.
• ‍They're transition specialists: Many specialise in interim leadership, M&A, fundraising, and other complex business transitions.
• ‍They bring instant credibility: Their experience and track record immediately elevate your company's credibility with investors, board members, and strategic partners.

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Typical Engagement Timeline

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Most engagements run 6-24 months, depending on the transition or challenge being addressed. A typical engagement looks like this: 

• ‍Month 1: Leadership assessment and immediate stabilisation
• ‍Month 2-3: Strategic planning and system implementation
• ‍Month 3-6: Execution of major initiatives and team building
• ‍Month 6+: Strategic leadership and preparation for next phase

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