How I Helped a Startup Founder Gain Time, Clarity, and Momentum

When I stepped in as a fractional Chief Marketing Officer at PentEdge, the founder already had traction, interest, and a strong vision. What she needed was someone who could take marketing off her plate without slowing things down or watering down her vision.

I owned the go-to-market roadmap, crafted the messaging from scratch, built the brand identity, and translated the company’s value into assets that closed the gap between founder pitch and customer trust. I gave her time back by taking dozens of strategic and executional tasks off her list completely.

From repositioning the product to handling event logistics, I was a one-person marketing engine. Everything I did was focused on making her life easier, her team faster, and her business clearer to customers, partners, and investors.

What Got Done and Why It Mattered

• Defined brand narrative and created clear, repeatable messaging used across sales, investor decks, website, and events
• Soft launched the cold email campaign and refined templates to improve conversion with event planners
• Created all CRM accounts for the sales team, provided access and training, and started outreach directly from the platform
• Built a usable system for sales tracking and deal notes that gave visibility without extra effort from the founder
• Consolidated partner feedback into sales call questions so first conversations had structure and consistency

I handled every piece of the brand’s digital presence. I updated the website to match the messaging. I created full content templates so partners could write in the company voice. I produced blog articles, added case studies, and published downloadable assets that supported the sales process. I created the services page, updated the team bios, linked lead magnets, and added a job listings form.

Everything we said, shared, and published moved in sync.

I Streamlined Marketing So the Founder Could Lead

I revised the pitch deck, created new slide designs, and adjusted content to match product updates. I set up and scheduled blog posts, wrote social media copy, and handled content distribution. I wrote articles that spotlighted the company’s unique value, and built a content engine around the product modules.

I handled physical materials too. I ordered event banners, booklets, business cards, table skirts, branded giveaways, QR codes, landing pages, and signage. I made sure everything the founder needed for conferences, pitches, and partner meetings was packed, printed, shipped, and ready.

Each piece of the marketing system was tied back to real objectives. Every asset was tied to a conversion point or follow-up system. Every update was tracked. Nothing was arbitrary.

What I Created Directly Supported Sales

I designed the one-pagers, added contact info and product summaries, updated formatting, and published them in shared folders for easy access. I added documents like the Signature Solution PDF and transformation case studies, and built out tri-folds and keynote decks.

I created a sales meeting notes template, a cheat sheet for banking events, and internal glossaries to reduce onboarding friction. I researched associations, curated contact lists, and prepared lead lists for credit unions, community banks, and regional event organizers. I even created a milestones document to show the company’s traction across systems, sales, and assets.

The sales team had tools. The founder had space.

I Used AI to Automate Repetitive Work

I built a custom GPT that converted raw call transcripts into partner-ready summaries. It saved hours each week. I used that tool to scale meeting documentation, prep the founder for follow-ups, and help her team close loops faster.

I synced systems, connected emails to the CRM, and built a smoother workflow between marketing and sales. Blog post templates linked back to the site. Articles supported search traffic. Everything pointed toward either interest capture or lead qualification.

Logistics, Launches, and Visibility: Handled

I ran point on vendor coordination, including Vistaprint, conference materials, and digital publishing. I handled LinkedIn content, replied to engagement, and made sure the launch announcement stayed active with follow-ups. I created landing pages, managed CTA links, and added newsletter sign-ups tied to lead magnets.

I published and scheduled the blog batch, linked the whitepaper, added it to the homepage, and turned it into a secondary offer for lead gen. I followed through on every feedback loop from the partners. When they had notes, I made the updates. When they had ideas, I built the first draft.

I created event pages, posted speaking updates, and built landing pages for giveaways. I tracked the warm contact list and shared it. I added team members to the website. I kept the systems moving even when new tasks came in daily.

Everything I Did Created Breathing Room

Task Handled	Direct Outcome for Founder
CRM setup and training	Sales team started faster, no time spent onboarding
Cold email campaign built and launched	Qualified leads without micromanaging outreach
Messaging framework created	Consistent voice across decks, site, and sales
Website redesigned and updated	Credibility improved, sales conversions increased
Keynote deck and blog content produced	Founder focused on strategy, not content
Print and digital materials coordinated	Events executed cleanly with zero last-minute stress
AI tools built and deployed	Hours saved on documentation and meeting prep
Social media and blog distribution system	Increased visibility without daily content tasks

Why It Worked

There was no guesswork. I made sure every task had a reason and a result. The founder didn’t have to wonder what was being done. She could see it.

She got back hours of deep work time. She stopped spinning in task management. She led stronger because everything underneath her was solid.

The business showed up in the market looking bigger, more credible, and more prepared. Not because of headcount. Because of execution.

What She Got Back

• Her time
• Her energy
• A brand that reflected her vision
• A system that didn’t break when things got busy
• Sales tools that closed the gap between idea and action
• And a partner who didn’t just plan, but actually built

I did the work. Every task listed here was completed. Each one took something off her plate, put something into motion, or added something she could use right away.

She didn’t have to hire five people. She hired one. That was enough.