Senior operating power — without the full-time hire.
These are the ongoing tiers of Clearhelm, the operating system you own. After the Operating Diagnostic names your one constraint, this is how it gets cleared and kept running: a senior voice on call, an embedded fractional CTO/COO, or a hands-on build — scoped to your business, never a fixed package. You stay at the helm.
The Operating Diagnostic finds the constraint. These engagements install and run.
Clearhelm is a semi-automated CTO installed into your business — you stay in command, it does the heavy lifting. The Operating Diagnostic is step one, and these are the ongoing tiers that design, install, and run the system to clear your constraint.
Three ways to work together
Start where you need to. Each is scoped to your business and stage — no pressure to buy more than you need.
AI & Technical Advisor on Call
Senior operating, technical, and AI judgment on tap — a steady hand as you build, without a full-time hire.
Best for: a team that ships, but no senior technical voice in the room when the AI, build, and tooling calls get expensive to get wrong.
- Senior technical + AI judgment on call — a few hours a week
- A standing weekly check-in; async between
- Direction on the decisions that are costly to reverse
- A second senior opinion before you commit
How it works · monthly retainer · on-call + weekly check-in
Fractional CTO/COO
Senior technical and operating leadership embedded in your business — the build-and-tooling calls of a CTO with the priorities, systems, and team decisions of a COO. It augments your leadership; it never replaces your judgment.
Best for: the business works but runs on you — growth stalls because everything routes through the founder.
- Embedded CTO + COO — architecture, build & tooling, plus priorities, systems & team
- Install the operating system that clears your constraint
- Reduce founder-dependence — hand you the keys, step back
- Quarterly outcomes; you stay in command throughout
How it works · monthly retainer · embedded cadence · often starts with the Operating Diagnostic
Build & Connect
Custom automations beyond the standard install — connect your tools, set up your data and memory, deploy bespoke AI agents, and train your team to run it.
Best for: you know the workflow to automate, but your tools and data don't talk — and you want it built for you, then owned by your team.
- Bespoke AI agents wired to your real data and workflows
- Your tools connected; your data and memory set up
- Your team trained to run it — so it sticks after I leave
- Fixed-scope project; optional maintenance retainer
How it works · scoped project · design → build → connect → train
Built by an operator who's run it at scale
The system I ran as Director of Engineering at Ask Media Group, an IAC company.
How engaging works
No fixed packages, no self-checkout. We scope it together, then you start.
A 30-minute discovery call
We find the one thing capping you and confirm which tier fits, or whether to start with the Operating Diagnostic.
Right-sized to your business
A short plan: the outcome, the cadence, what I do, and what you own. Priced to your scope, not a package.
You stay in command
We begin on the agreed cadence. The AI does the heavy lifting; every call that matters stays yours.
Questions
What does it cost?
Each engagement is scoped to your business and stage, so pricing follows the scope rather than a fixed package — we agree it on the discovery call. The Operating Diagnostic has a fixed fee, set by the size of your business and confirmed on the call, and the report is yours whether you continue or not.
Is fractional really enough?
You're renting senior judgment you can't yet justify owning full-time — a few days a week of a CTO/COO who's run it at scale. And you own the system when I step back, so you're not dependent on me.
Will my team resist an outsider?
I augment, I don't replace. Your people keep ownership; I install the system and hand you the keys. The goal is that it runs without me — with your team in command.
Where should I start?
If you're not sure which tier fits, start with the Operating Diagnostic. It names your one constraint and scopes exactly what to do next. Or just book a call and we'll figure it out together.
Let's find the one thing capping your growth.
Thirty minutes. We'll pinpoint your constraint and whether Advisory, Augmentation, or a Build is the fastest way to clear it.
Book a discovery call →