Vetted Chief Operating Officers

“Backend engineer who built and evolved a startup data-processing backend (Express.js/MySQL) handling millions of user data points, with a microservices pipeline integrating multiple social media APIs. Emphasizes reliability and security through comprehensive testing, robust error/retry handling for sequential pagination constraints, and tight IAM/JWT/OAuth-based access controls.”

“Fractional ops/HR leader with 15 years of experience supporting ~40 startups, building internal operations and people infrastructure from scratch (HRIS, recruiting funnels, career pathing, benefits). Recently helped a Series A company ($11M raise) implement headcount budgeting and runway modeling to align young founders on sustainable hiring plans, and uses survey/exit-interview feedback loops to fix leadership communication and retention issues.”

Dewayne DeRozzo

Screened ReferencesStrong rec.

Executive Strategy & Operations Leader specializing in SaaS, AI, and GTM transformation

New York, NY13y exp

“Ops/tech program leader who supported the national rollout of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by building an enterprise OKR system and implementing Asana + real-time dashboards across technology, operations, clinical support, and communications. Has led a 15-person team and repeatedly improves executive productivity through pragmatic tool rollouts (HubSpot, SharePoint/Confluence, Slack/Zoom) and lightweight integrations.”

“Silicon Valley operator with ~30 years of experience as a board member, advisor, VC, founder, and turnaround executive, claiming 50+ venture-backed turnarounds. Has driven outsized outcomes including a $1B Nokia spinout and a 9-figure Jaspersoft exit to TIBCO, and is known for pragmatic, people-and-financials-first operational diagnosis (including CRM forensics) and rapid team scaling via structured hiring pipelines.”

Hadar Bar-zakai

Screened

Executive Chief of Staff specializing in strategic operations for SaaS startups

New York, NY8y exp

“Operations, project management, and QA leader at ColdTrack, a logistics tech company serving the cold chain and perishables industry. Progressed from operations/PM into QA leadership, where they built structured QA and release processes, cut defects by ~80%, and led 15 legacy-to-in-house client migrations with minimal disruption. Strong fit for fast-moving environments that need operational rigor, cross-functional execution, and customer-sensitive delivery.”

Brandon McCarty

Screened

Executive startup founder specializing in SaaS, FinTech, and operations

Raleigh, NC15y exp

“Founder/product leader who built CureMint, an industry-first procure-to-pay platform for dental groups, combining e-commerce UX, spend controls, AP workflows, and AI-driven catalog normalization. He appears strongest in zero-to-one product leadership, domain-driven product strategy, and strategic pivots—ultimately evolving the company toward fintech/payments and helping support its Series A story.”

“Has prior experience working closely with venture capitalists and was instrumental in running a company started by a venture fund. Also has experience with an entertainment company and with companies going through acceleration/growth, and evaluates new ideas using flexible budgeting, financial projections, and operational due diligence.”

“Operator with 10 years of experience helping other businesses grow, now launching their own startup focused on healthy screen time for children ages 2-6. They have completed an initial pitch deck for a brain-friendly kids app and emphasize post-funding execution, scaling, and sustainable systems over capital alone.”

“Talent/Recruiting Operations leader who has run regional and national high-volume recruiting organizations (~40–50 people) and owned the full recruiting operating system end-to-end (ATS/CRM, analytics, workflows, training, and cross-functional governance). Known for rebuilding chaotic multi-state hiring engines into standardized, SLA-driven processes with real-time dashboards—cutting time-to-fill ~30% and boosting recruiter productivity >25%—and for leading major tooling implementations like GoodTime and advanced Lever reporting.”

Mark Eagle

Screened

Executive Technology & Operations Leader (CTO/COO) specializing in scaling SaaS and enterprise software

Denver, Colorado29y exp

“Operations leader and advisor (former COO at College Partnership; also worked with Founders Advisors) who rebuilds and scales early-stage operations using Lean Startup experimentation and KPI-driven execution. Notably centralized a call-center function, implemented scripts/SLAs/metrics, and iterated staffing based on conversion and response-time data while mentoring non-ops founders on MVPs, SMART goals, and tactical operating plans.”

Spenser Mix

Screened

Executive operations leader specializing in EdTech growth and strategy

Los Angeles, CA11y exp

“Founder and COO of Thinking Nation, a 501(c)(3) educational nonprofit, with a standout track record of raising nearly $4M from a private foundation over five years. Brings a mix of Pepperdine MBA training and real-world operator experience, with particular strength in mission-driven fundraising, timing-sensitive strategy, and translating abstract ideas into actionable go-to-market plans.”

“Entrepreneur and turnaround operator who recently sold a patented mobile + connected TV (CTV) technology startup. Took the product from concept and use-case definition through market testing, product planning, and GTM traction, ultimately converting a prospective client presentation to a European regional digital media company into an acquisition; also advises on turnarounds including stalled VC investments.”

Vasilis Chatzigiannis

Screened

Director-level Strategy & Operations leader specializing in FinTech and consulting

Princeton, NJ29y exp

“Cross-functional operations/coordination professional with experience aligning finance (including FP&A), vendor management, and operations through structured communication cadences and tools like Asana. Has supported executive productivity by coordinating executive assistants, prioritizing meeting agendas, and triaging inbound email and meeting requests, and has stepped in to resolve finance-team misalignment by clarifying objectives and delivery expectations.”

“Bootstrapped founder of FAMRO LLC with 15+ years spanning startups and corporate roles, including COO experience at an AI/ML startup that built a retail marketing analytics product using camera feeds. Also worked on a clean-tech venture, EnerIO, which won 1st position from Pakistan and was invited to pitch at the GCIP/GEF event in San Francisco in 2015.”

“Longtime operator who spent 12 years helping build a NYC hair care brand from a tiny manual operation into a broader wholesale and hospitality business with distribution across the US, EU, UK, and China. Currently serves as COO and sole employee of the brand while also acting as Director of Operations for a sister salon business, owning everything from product development and fulfillment to HR, payroll, and Shopify operations.”

“Hospitality operator who has opened and started multiple restaurant and bar concepts, with a structured approach from concept/brand story and mission creation through to operational execution. Emphasizes repeatable standards, margin discipline (inventory, portioning, labor), and coaching founders/executives to build scalable, replicable operations.”