For PE Operating Partners & Portco CEOs

Fractional COO for
PE-Backed Companies

Your investors are watching. Your operational infrastructure needs to match the valuation you agreed to. I help PE-backed mid-market companies build that infrastructure — fast, without a full-time hire.

Talk to Sekhar See how it works
The PE challenge

What PE firms find when they close a deal

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Reporting that won't pass board scrutiny

KPIs are vague, inconsistent, or missing. The board wants operational metrics — on-time delivery, margin by product line, working capital efficiency. The company can't produce them reliably.

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Systems that can't scale with the investment thesis

The ERP is outdated, disconnected, or non-existent. Orders are managed in spreadsheets. There's no AI roadmap. The technology infrastructure can't support the growth the investment thesis requires.

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A leadership team not built for institutional ownership

The team that built the business to $50M isn't the same team that takes it to $150M under PE ownership. Operating cadence, governance discipline, and investor communication are new muscles.

How KStrat helps PE portfolios

What I do in the first 100 days

Days 1–30

Operational diagnostic

Full audit of operations, systems, leadership, and reporting. I map the current state across 6 capability areas and deliver a prioritized view of what's most broken and what to fix first. You get a clear picture — not a 200-page consultant report.

Days 31–60

Roadmap and quick wins

12-month transformation roadmap built and agreed with the CEO and operating partner. First three quick wins identified and in motion — typically reporting improvement, one operational process fix, and a technology governance structure.

Days 61–100

Execution rhythm established

Weekly operating cadence with CEO and leadership team. Monthly board reporting template live. Year 1 programs staffed and in execution. The company moves from "we have a plan" to "we're executing the plan."

Ongoing

Fractional COO retainer

I stay embedded as your Fractional COO — governing execution, advising the CEO, and providing the operating partner with portfolio-level visibility. Typically 9–18 months until the company's internal leadership is ready to own it.

Why operating partners choose KStrat

The credentials that matter to PE firms

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Fortune 50 governance discipline
17 years at Dell owning $40M portfolios, board-level reporting, and multi-year transformation roadmaps — exactly what PE firms expect.
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CPG & manufacturing depth
Currently embedded at a $9B food processor and a PE-backed packaging manufacturer. Not theoretical — active, current, and directly relevant.
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AI & technology transformation
USPTO patent in ML. Salesforce certified. GenAI deployed in production. ERP modernization governing 16+ business modules.
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Entrepreneur operating instinct
8 companies co-founded. Scaled a manufacturing company from 1 to 400 people with no external funding. I know what founders actually need — not what looks good in a deck.
Sekhar
Engagement tiers

Three ways to engage across your portfolio

Single portco · One-time
From $4,500
One-time · 2 weeks

100-Day Operational Diagnostic with prioritized roadmap. Ideal for pre-acquisition diligence or post-close assessment. Scoped and priced on the call.

Get Started
Single portco · Ongoing
From $8,000/mo
3-month minimum

Full Fractional COO engagement for one portfolio company. 3-month minimum. Most engagements run 9–18 months. A fraction of a full-time COO hire.

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2–3 portcos · Portfolio
From $20,000/mo
6-month minimum · 2–3 portcos

Full engagement across 2–3 portcos with monthly operating partner briefing and portfolio-level visibility. 6-month minimum.

Talk to Sekhar

Pricing is discussed on the strategy call and scoped to portfolio size, engagement depth, and timeline.

PE-specific questions

What operating partners ask

Can you run diligence on an acquisition target before we close?

Yes. The Transformation Diagnostic is well-suited to pre-acquisition operational diligence. I assess operations, systems, leadership, and AI/technology readiness — and give you a clear picture of what's there, what's missing, and what it costs to fix.

Do you work exclusively with one portco or can you cover multiple?

The Portfolio Program is designed for 2–3 portcos simultaneously. I structure my time across companies with dedicated weekly cadences for each — and give you a monthly cross-portfolio briefing.

Will you report to the operating partner or the portco CEO?

Both — with clear lanes. I report operationally to the CEO (that's where execution happens) and provide the operating partner with a monthly portfolio briefing. No crossed wires.

What industries do you cover?

Primary depth in CPG, food processing, packaging, and manufacturing. General operational transformation expertise applicable across any mid-market business. Currently active in both sectors.

Let's talk about your portfolio.

Operating partner or portco CEO — 30 minutes is enough to know if there's a fit.

Book a Strategy Call