Strategic Advisor for Enterprise Innovation

Helping Fortune 500 Leaders Think Like Founders.

Bringing startup velocity to enterprise strategy.

You need to innovate faster, but your organization moves at enterprise speed. I've built, scaled and exited from multiple companies and advised dozens of Fortune 500 leaders. I know how to bring founder-thinking to corporate environments, without blowing up what works.

Former Goldman Sachs PE Analyst | Wharton MBA | Serial Entrepreneur | Shark Tank Alumnus | Mastercard Advisors-Trained

Book a Strategy Call See How I Help
Ryan Frankel
Trusted By
American Airlines • Citigroup • Navy Federal Credit Union • First Hawaiian Bank • Goldman Sachs • Vivint • Mastercard • 50+ Fortune 500 and High-Growth Companies
Who I Work With

Leaders Who Need to Move Faster

I work with organizations that need entrepreneurial thinking and enterprise scale.

🏢

Fortune 500 Innovation Leaders

You're tasked with building new products, entering new markets, or transforming legacy operations. You need to move like a startup but have to work within enterprise constraints.

Examples: Chief Innovation Officers, SVPs of New Ventures, Corporate Strategy VPs

🚀

Series A-C Founders

You've found product-market fit and raised capital. Now you need to scale beyond founder-mode without losing your edge. You need enterprise discipline without corporate bureaucracy.

Examples: Post-PMF startups, scale-ups preparing for Series B+, founders building go-to-market

💼

PE Portfolio Companies

Post-acquisition, you need to accelerate growth while professionalizing operations. You need someone who understands both the PE playbook and how to execute like a founder.

Examples: Recently acquired companies, platform + add-on integrations, pre-exit value creation

How I Help

Common Engagements

From short-term sprints to long-term partnerships, I adapt my engagement model to your needs. Most clients start with one of these approaches, but we'll design what works best for you.

Innovation Sprints

6-week intensive programs to validate new business ideas, products, or market opportunities inside your organization. We move fast, test assumptions, and get you to a go/no-go decision with real data.

You Get:
  • Validated business model and unit economics
  • Customer discovery with real prospects
  • Go-to-market strategy and launch plan
  • Build vs. buy vs. partner recommendation

Growth Strategy for New Markets

You're entering a new market, launching a new product line, or pursuing M&A. I help you design the strategy and execute the first 90 days with founder-level intensity and enterprise rigor.

You Get:
  • Market entry strategy and competitive positioning
  • Revenue model and financial projections
  • Launch roadmap with 90-day execution plan
  • Team structure and early hiring plan

Digital Transformation Roadmaps

Modernizing legacy businesses requires both technical strategy and organizational change management. I help you build the roadmap and navigate the politics of transformation.

You Get:
  • Technology stack assessment and recommendations
  • Phased implementation roadmap (12-36 months)
  • Change management and stakeholder strategy
  • Build vs. buy vs. partner framework for each workstream

AI Transformation Strategy

Companies are racing to integrate AI but don't know where to start or how to move beyond pilots. I help you identify high-ROI AI opportunities, build implementation roadmaps, and navigate vendor selection—with a focus on actually shipping, not just strategizing.

You Get:
  • AI opportunity assessment across your business
  • Use case prioritization with ROI projections
  • Build vs. buy vs. partner recommendations
  • 90-day implementation roadmap

Go-to-Market Strategy & Execution

You have a product, a market opportunity, or an acquisition that needs to generate revenue fast. I help you design and execute go-to-market strategies that actually work—from positioning and pricing to sales playbooks and channel strategy.

You Get:
  • Market segmentation and ICP definition
  • Positioning, messaging, and competitive differentiation
  • Pricing strategy and packaging
  • Sales playbook and channel strategy
  • 90-day launch plan with success metrics

Post-Acquisition Value Creation

You've made an acquisition. Now you need to integrate operations, capture synergies, and accelerate growth before the next board meeting. I've worked on both sides—as a PE analyst at Goldman and as a founder through acquisition—so I understand both the financial model and the human reality.

You Get:
  • Integration roadmap (first 100 days)
  • Quick-win identification and execution
  • Culture integration strategy
  • Synergy capture plan with tracking metrics

Fractional Leadership

You need C-suite thinking but don't need a full-time hire—or you're between executives and can't afford a gap. I can step in as interim Chief Strategy Officer, Chief Innovation Officer, or Chief Growth Officer while you find the right permanent leader or execute a critical initiative.

You Get:
  • Immediate strategic leadership
  • Day-to-day decision-making authority
  • Team coaching and capability building
  • Smooth transition plan when engagement ends

Something Else in Mind?

Not every challenge fits a template. If you have a specific situation that needs entrepreneurial thinking at enterprise scale, let's talk. I'll tell you honestly if I can help—and if not, I'll point you to someone who can.

What Happens Next:
  • We discuss your specific challenge
  • I share if and how I can help
  • We design a custom engagement structure
  • No cookie-cutter solutions, just honest advice
Background

The Founder-Advisor Edge

I've sat on both sides of the table—as a founder building from zero and as an advisor helping large organizations innovate. This combination is rare.

Current

CEO & Founder

Workup

Building a consumer health and longevity marketplace. Currently raising capital and scaling operations—living the founder experience in real-time.

2018 - Present

Senior Business Consultant

Independent & Mastercard Advisors

30+ engagements with Fortune 500 companies. Mastercard Advisors-trained in data-driven strategy. Deep expertise in financial services, retail, and digital transformation.

2012 - 2018

Founder & CEO

VerbalizeIt (Acquired)

Built and scaled a venture-backed translation technology company from scratch. Appeared on Shark Tank (Season Finale). Raised capital, built team, achieved exit. 2x Techstars alumnus.

2010 - 2012

MBA

The Wharton School

Double major in Finance and Entrepreneurship. Built foundation in both corporate strategy and venture building.

2006 - 2010

Private Equity Analyst

Goldman Sachs - Special Situations Group

Led due diligence on investments and drove operational improvements across portfolio companies. Learned how to evaluate businesses and create value at scale.

Ready to move faster?

Let's have a conversation about your biggest challenge. No pitch, no pressure—just an honest discussion about what's possible.

Book a Strategy Call Connect on LinkedIn
Or email me directly: rvfrankel@gmail.com