Fractional Services
Senior executive expertise embedded in your team on a part-time basis. The strategic firepower of a full-time hire, without the full-time cost.
The Model
As businesses grow, the challenges shift. What worked before starts to strain, and decisions carry more weight. You need experienced leadership at the table — but a full-time hire isn't the right move yet.
Our fractional operators step into senior roles with real accountability for execution and commercial outcomes. This isn't consulting from the sidelines — we work inside your business as part of the team.
1–3
Days per week
3–12
Month engagements
15+
Years avg. experience
Who This Is For
FUNDRAISING, GROWTH AND COMMERCIAL PARTNERSHIPS
Most advisors hand you a framework and wish you luck. We open the door. Between us we carry decades of relationships across venture capital, development finance, enterprise technology, infrastructure, NGOs, and institutional investors. When you need an introduction, we make it. When you need someone in the room, we are in the room.
We work on a retainer plus success fee structure. Our incentives are aligned with yours from day one.
The network is the differentiator. Not the advice — the access.
CAPITAL
First money in. We help you shape the story, build the deck, structure the cap table, and get in front of the right people. The right people being the operative phrase.
Validation secured. We work on positioning, investor targeting, and the operational readiness that serious seed investors expect — and make the introductions that get you in front of them.
The stakes are higher and the diligence is deeper. We prepare the business, the team, and the narrative — and use the network to open doors that a cold approach never would.
Growth at scale. Commercial and operational infrastructure that gives Series B investors confidence — backed by relationships that make the process move faster.
CUSTOMERS AND ENTERPRISE PARTNERSHIPS
Finding and closing the first paying customers is the hardest commercial problem a founder faces. We work on positioning and the sales process — and introduce you to the people most likely to become your first reference clients.
Large enterprise deals move slowly and die quietly. We help you navigate procurement, build internal champions, and close deals that transform the business. We have closed deals like this ourselves.
The right partnership can open markets and accelerate growth faster than any ad budget. We identify, approach, and structure partnerships that compound — drawing on a network built over two decades across multiple sectors and regions.
“We only win when you win. Retainer plus success fee across all of the above.”
How It Works
We define the role, scope, time commitment, and success metrics together. Typically 2–4 days per month.
A focused two-week onboarding to understand your business, team, and immediate priorities.
We work as part of your team — attending key meetings, leading initiatives, and building capability.
When the time is right, we hire and transition to a full-time leader, leaving strong systems behind.
The Operators
Ben Sheppard
Fractional operator across the full founder journey. Strategy, fundraising, go-to-market, commercial execution, and pivots from concept to exit.
Rob Holmes
Fractional CBO and COO. Partnerships, business development, and the commercial infrastructure that turns strategy into revenue.
Aiza Pradas
Fractional CFO and COO. Finance, operations, admin, and the structural foundations that allow a business to scale without breaking.
Why Inside Startups
Every fractional engagement is led by a consultant with 15+ years of relevant experience. No juniors, no account managers.
We've built and scaled startups ourselves. We understand the constraints, the pace, and the pressure.
We define clear success metrics at the outset. Our engagements are structured around results, not time.
Start with 1 day per week and scale up or down as your needs evolve. No long-term lock-in.
Get Started
Tell us about the gap you're trying to fill. We'll recommend the right operator, scope, and engagement structure for your stage.
Book a Scoping CallTypical Engagement