M2 Ventures' business management puts an experienced executive in a leadership seat. A fractional executive holds the seat part-time. An interim executive holds it with full management authority for a set period. Initiative leadership puts one leader in charge of one initiative that has to land. Matthew G. Martinez, Founder & CEO, or a senior member of the M2 Ventures team holds the seat.
Who is it for?
Business Management is for growing companies, roughly 20 to 250 employees, with a leadership gap. Some need a senior leader but aren't ready for a full-time hire. Some have a seat that's empty or about to be. Others have a plan and no one senior enough, or free enough, to run it. Owners, boards and investors use it to stabilize a business, bridge a transition or define a role before hiring for it.
When does it fit?
- “The company needs a COO's discipline, but not a full-time COO's salary yet.”
- “A key executive gave notice, and the seat can't sit empty for six months.”
- “We need someone to build the revenue team before we hire a permanent leader.”
- “The board approved the expansion, and nobody inside has time to lead it.”
- “Our founder wants to step back without the company losing momentum.”
Fractional, interim or initiative leadership: which fits?
| Compare | Fractional executive | Interim executive | Initiative leadership |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | A leadership seat held part-time | A leadership seat held with full management authority for a set period | Hands-on leadership of one agreed initiative |
| Best for | Companies that need senior leadership without a full-time hire | An empty seat, a departure or a transition | A plan that has to be delivered |
| Time commitment | An agreed number of days a week | Usually hybrid, with time on site as needed | Embedded in the team for the initiative |
| Typical length | 3 to 12 months | 6 to 12 months | 6 to 12 months |
What's included?
Every engagement covers one leadership seat or one initiative, with its responsibilities, authority and deliverables agreed in writing.
Which seats do we fill?
We fill five seats with fractional and interim leaders:
- Chief Executive Officer (CEO): company strategy, the leadership team, the board and investors.
- Chief Operating Officer (COO): operations, the operating rhythm, systems and the people who run them.
- Chief Revenue Officer (CRO): sales, marketing and the revenue plan.
- Chief Strategy Officer (CSO): strategy, growth initiatives and corporate development.
- Business Development: partnerships, new channels and new markets.
Fractional executives
A fractional executive holds a leadership seat part-time and owns its results for the agreed part of the week. Depending on the seat, the work covers:
- The seat's plan and priorities, with owners and review dates
- The numbers the seat answers for, reported on a set rhythm
- The team that reports to the seat, including hiring where there are gaps
- Reporting to the owner, board or investors
- A documented role, ready to hand to a full-time hire
Interim executives
An interim executive steps into an empty seat or a transition and runs that part of the business with full management authority for a set period. That typically includes:
- An early assessment of the business and an operating plan
- Stabilizing operations and the leadership team
- Board or investor reporting
- Support recruiting the permanent leader
- A planned handover, with an offboarding package for the incoming leader
Initiative leadership
Initiative leadership puts an experienced operator in charge of one agreed initiative, such as a new location, channel, product line, acquisition or regulatory change, and the team that delivers it.
- A plan with owners, milestones and a budget
- Day-to-day leadership of the people and work involved
- Regular reporting to the owner or board
- SOPs and workflows so the work holds up after the engagement ends
How long does it take, and how is it scoped?
- Fractional executive: an agreed number of days a week, typically 3 to 12 months.
- Interim executive: typically 6 to 12 months, usually hybrid, with time on site as needed.
- Initiative leadership: embedded leadership of the initiative, typically 6 to 12 months.
- Performance or transaction fees: for select engagements, part of the fee can be tied to agreed results or to a transaction, by separate written agreement.
Fractional, interim and initiative roles are priced monthly and agreed in writing before work begins. Prices aren't published, because no two seats carry the same scope or responsibility.
Who does the work?
The seat is held by Matthew G. Martinez, Founder & CEO, or by a senior member of the M2 Ventures team, matched to the seat and the situation. The rest of the team can add hands-on capacity, and Matthew reviews every deliverable. All engagements are contracted with M Squared Ventures LLC.
When Matthew holds the seat himself, his fractional executive and interim leadership pages describe how he works.
Which industries do we work in?
We fill seats in manufacturing, the trades, business and finance, transportation, marketing and sales, agriculture and emerging industries, including highly regulated industries. See Industries.
How does an engagement start?
- Book a consultation, or send a short note through the contact page.
- We reply within one business day.
- We meet for a free 30-minute consultation about the seat, the situation and the right leader for it.
- If it's a fit, we send a written scope and proposal, including who will hold the seat.
Frequently asked questions
What is a fractional executive?
A fractional executive is an experienced leader who holds a senior seat, such as CEO, COO or CRO, part-time. Companies use one when they need senior leadership but aren't ready for, or don't yet need, a full-time hire.
What's the difference between a fractional and an interim executive?
A fractional executive holds the seat part-time, for an agreed number of days a week. An interim executive holds the seat with full management authority for a set period, usually while the company fills it permanently or works through a transition.
Who will hold the seat?
Either Matthew G. Martinez, Founder & CEO, or a senior member of the M2 Ventures team. We match the leader to the seat and the situation, and you meet them before the engagement starts.
How long do fractional and interim engagements last?
Fractional engagements typically run 3 to 12 months, and interim engagements typically run 6 to 12 months. Many fractional roles end when the company is ready to hire the seat full-time, and we help with that handover.
Can a fractional executive become full-time?
Sometimes, by separate agreement. More often, the fractional executive defines the role, builds the systems around it and helps the company recruit the right full-time leader.
Do you work on site?
Yes, as the engagement needs. M2 Ventures is based in Pasadena, California, and works with companies across the United States, combining remote work with time on site.