Question 1

What if the match isn't right?

Accepted Answer

Every SMART Match™ comes with one free re-match. If the intro call doesn't feel right, tell us — we'll go back to the network and find someone better suited. We don't move on until you're confident.

Question 2

How fast can I get an operator?

Accepted Answer

Most clients have a curated match within 3–5 business days and an intro call scheduled within the week. For urgent transitions, we can move faster.

Question 3

Can I hold a specific operator while I finalize approvals?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We offer an operator hold — like a hotel reservation. You pay a hold fee to take them off the market for up to 30 days. If the engagement closes, the hold fee applies to your first invoice.

Question 4

How is Startup Smart different from other platforms?

Accepted Answer

Most platforms are databases with a search bar — you describe the role, filter profiles, and manage the process yourself. We start with your situation, not a job description. Every engagement is scoped before matching begins. Operators are vetted specifically for transition experience. And on our Managed path, we own delivery end-to-end — onboarding, oversight, performance, and re-match guarantee.

Question 5

What does billing look like?

Accepted Answer

All engagements are billed through STARTUP SMART. You receive one clean invoice. We handle operator payments on our end. No complicated arrangements between you and the operator.

Question 6

What types of companies do you work with?

Accepted Answer

We work with companies in transition — whether you're a seed-stage startup scaling fast, a growth-stage company preparing for exit, or an established business restructuring operations. Our operators bring expertise that spans the full company lifecycle.

Question 7

How is pricing structured?

Accepted Answer

We offer three engagement tiers based on the scope of work you need. Specialist (Focused · Deep · Execute) starts at $5,000/mo. Operational (Build · Run · Transition) starts at $6,000/mo. Executive (Lead · Strategize · Transform) starts at $7,500/mo. Every tier includes Light (20 hrs/mo), Standard (40 hrs/mo), and Intensive (60 hrs/mo) options — so you can scale intensity to match what the engagement actually needs. For transactions, M&A integration, turnarounds, and transformation projects that fall outside a retainer structure, we scope Custom Projects with milestone billing. Self-serve SMART Match™ clients receive a 10% discount on retainers and manage the operator relationship directly. Reveal credits apply toward your first month of billing when an engagement starts.

Question 8

What's the difference between Smart Match and Managed?

Accepted Answer

With SMART Match™, we find and connect you with the right operator — you manage from there. With Managed, STARTUP SMART owns the relationship end-to-end: engagement management, performance check-ins, issue resolution, and reporting. Managed is for companies that need a partner, not just a match.

Question 9

What about high-stakes transitions?

Accepted Answer

For companies preparing for sale, restructuring, or navigating M&A, we offer two paths: a Managed retainer engagement with a fractional executive, or a Custom Project scoped around a specific deliverable and timeline. Both paths include dedicated scoping. Book a discovery call to discuss which fits your situation.

Question 10

Do you work with PE firms and M&A advisors?

Accepted Answer

Yes — and we've built a channel partner model specifically for you. If you regularly work with companies that need fractional operators for transition or exit work, let's talk. We offer referral fees and volume arrangements for consistent partners.

Question 11

How does the channel partner model work?

Accepted Answer

We offer referral fees for qualified introductions that convert to engagements, and volume arrangements for partners who send consistent deal flow. You refer companies in transition — we handle the scoping, matching, and delivery. Your clients get vetted operators fast, and you get a revenue share for making the connection. Reach out to discuss terms specific to your portfolio or practice.

Question 12

What about high-stakes transitions like pre-sale or M&A?

Accepted Answer

That's what our Managed path is built for. For companies preparing for sale, navigating M&A, or facing a leadership gap with a deadline, we scope a dedicated engagement within the Managed path. Custom scoping available. Book a discovery call and we'll walk through it.

Question 13

What does curated and vetted actually mean?

Accepted Answer

We're selective — and our people are proven. This isn't an open marketplace where anyone can create a profile. Every operator in the SMART Network has been interviewed by our team, reference-checked, and evaluated for real execution experience in their discipline — not just credentials or years on a resume. Most bring 10+ years of hands-on experience and a track record of delivering inside companies in transition. Availability is confirmed before any match is made, and agreements are already in place. We do that vetting work upfront so operators can step in fast and stay focused on your problem — not paperwork.

Question 14

What kinds of engagements does the SMART Network support?

Accepted Answer

The SMART Network is built around companies in transition — post-raise, scaling, restructuring, M&A, or anywhere the business has outgrown its current team and needs experienced operators fast. We place fractional experts across Sales, GTM, Customer Success, HR/People Ops, Finance, Product, and Engineering. Engagements are scoped to what you actually need — whether that's a specific project, a defined period of coverage, or ongoing fractional support while you build toward full-time. If your company is at an inflection point and you have a gap that's slowing you down, that's exactly what the SMART Network is built for.

Question 15

What kind of support can operators and clients expect during an engagement?

Accepted Answer

We don't disappear after the match. STARTUP SMART stays involved throughout every engagement — available to both operators and clients as a resource, a sounding board, and a backstop if something needs attention. Our operators aren't on their own, and our clients aren't left to manage a fractional relationship without support. We operate values-first in everything we do — servant-leadership, stewardship, trustworthiness, and excellence aren't just words on a page, they're the standard we hold ourselves and our operators to on every engagement. We'd rather do fewer engagements well than scale volume at the expense of quality. That's not a limitation — it's the point.

Frequently Asked Questions