Best Fractional COOs for Startups

Fractional COO Services for Startups

Startups are the lifeblood of innovation in cities worldwide—from San Francisco to Berlin, Toronto to Singapore. But as exciting as launching a startup is, scaling efficiently is a whole other ballgame. Startups often need strategic operational leadership without committing to a full-time executive. That’s where a Fractional COO comes in: helping companies streamline processes, manage teams, and scale operations while keeping costs lean.

At Digital Reference, we’ve curated a list of Fractional COOs who excel at turning operational chaos into operational clarity. Our selection methodology is meticulous: we research each candidate’s history, verify accomplishments through structured data and video-first verification, and assess their impact on startups across industries. Whether they are freelancers, solo operators, or part of consulting firms, these professionals bring proven operational strategies and a track record of measurable results.

🟢 Jennifer Mitchell

Fractional COO + Founder, Wren Insight Group

🔗 LinkedIn

Jennifer Mitchell specializes in operational analytics and team scaling for startups. She combines data-driven decision-making with practical process improvements to accelerate company growth and operational efficiency.

💡 Key strengths:
🧭 Data-driven operational insights
🏷️ Team scaling strategies
🌟 Process improvement
🔎 Operational accountability

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🟢 Robert Cosentino, CPA, CA

Fractional COO

🔗 LinkedIn

Robert brings a financial operations perspective to startups, ensuring operational decisions align with financial performance and growth goals. His experience spans budgeting, financial planning, and operational risk management.

💡 Key strengths:
🧭 Financial operations alignment
🏷️ Risk management
🌟 Budgeting and forecasting
🔎 Operational and financial integration

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🟢 Scott Anderson

Fractional COO

🔗 LinkedIn

Scott focuses on building operational infrastructure for startups in their critical growth stages. His expertise includes process documentation, performance metrics, and cross-team collaboration.

💡 Key strengths:
🧭 Operational infrastructure
🏷️ Team collaboration
🌟 Performance tracking
🔎 Process documentation

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🟢 Faye (Cawthra) Williams

Fractional COO

🔗 LinkedIn

Faye helps startups streamline operations while maintaining flexibility and innovation. Her experience includes designing repeatable processes and enhancing executive decision-making through operational insights.

💡 Key strengths:
🧭 Flexible process design
🏷️ Executive decision support
🌟 Operational scalability
🔎 Workflow optimization

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🟢 Marci Goodman-Dobrow

Fractional COO

🔗 LinkedIn

Marci specializes in startup operational scaling, focusing on people, processes, and technology integration. She excels at translating strategic priorities into actionable operational plans.

💡 Key strengths:
🧭 People-process-technology alignment
🏷️ Operational strategy implementation
🌟 Startup growth enablement
🔎 Execution planning

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🟢 Jack Browning

Fractional COO

🔗 LinkedIn

Jack Browning combines operational leadership with team development and operational efficiency. He’s known for transforming early-stage chaos into structured growth paths that support scalable outcomes.

💡 Key strengths:
🧭 Team development
🏷️ Operational efficiency
🌟 Scalable growth planning
🔎 Process standardization

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🟢 Aimee Costello

Fractional COO

🔗 LinkedIn

Aimee focuses on operational transformations that allow startups to thrive without sacrificing agility. She integrates performance tracking, process documentation, and strategic planning.

💡 Key strengths:
🧭 Operational transformation
🏷️ Performance tracking
🌟 Agile process design
🔎 Strategic planning

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🟢 Darren Lim

Fractional COO

🔗 LinkedIn

Darren Lim excels at scaling startups through operational excellence, balancing day-to-day management with long-term strategy. His work ensures startups can grow efficiently while minimizing operational risk.

💡 Key strengths:
🧭 Operational excellence
🏷️ Growth management
🌟 Risk mitigation
🔎 Scalable systems implementation

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🟢 Nick Gray

Fractional COO + Founder, MapMind

🔗 LinkedIn

Nick Gray brings a technology-driven operations approach to startups. He focuses on integrating data, workflows, and team alignment to accelerate scalable growth.

💡 Key strengths:
🧭 Technology-driven operational insights
🏷️ Workflow integration
🌟 Scalable growth strategies
🔎 Data-informed decision-making

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🟢 Laura Allen

Fractional COO + Founder, The Fractional Agency

🔗 LinkedIn

Laura Allen specializes in building operational playbooks for startups, ensuring that rapid growth does not compromise operational excellence. Her work integrates team coaching, process design, and metrics tracking.

💡 Key strengths:
🧭 Operational playbooks
🏷️ Team coaching
🌟 Metrics-driven execution
🔎 Process optimization

🟢 Jeff Gray

Fractional COO

🔗 LinkedIn

Jeff Gray specializes in early-stage startup operations, helping founders build frameworks that scale from small teams to fully operational companies. His experience spans process optimization, team alignment, and operational playbooks that create measurable growth.

💡 Key strengths:
🧭 Operational strategy for early-stage startups
🏷️ Process standardization and playbook creation
🌟 Team alignment and productivity
🔎 Metrics-driven growth optimization

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🟢 Kate Sapsford

Fractional COO + Founder, Build the Framework

🔗 LinkedIn

Kate helps startups implement structured operational frameworks that maximize efficiency and growth potential. With expertise in process mapping, operational analytics, and workflow design, she’s known for translating chaotic startup operations into streamlined, repeatable systems.

💡 Key strengths:
🧭 Startup operations frameworks
🏷️ Workflow automation
🌟 Operational analytics
🔎 Strategic scaling initiatives

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🟢 Stacey Neathery

Fractional COO

🔗 LinkedIn

Stacey Neathery focuses on aligning startup operations with overall company strategy. Her approach emphasizes transparency, measurable KPIs, and cross-functional efficiency, making her a go-to advisor for founders needing operational clarity.

💡 Key strengths:
🧭 Cross-functional team alignment
🏷️ KPI-driven operations
🌟 Process optimization
🔎 Growth and scalability planning

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🟢 Mandy Poston

Fractional COO

🔗 LinkedIn

Mandy Poston excels in scaling startups from seed to Series B, balancing rapid growth with operational control. She’s known for crafting operational systems that allow founders to focus on innovation while ensuring the business runs smoothly.

💡 Key strengths:
🧭 Scaling operational frameworks
🏷️ Team leadership and coaching
🌟 Process efficiency
🔎 Operational risk management

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🟢 Kendall Crocker

Fractional COO at Sliced Bread Ventures‍

🔗 LinkedIn

Kendall brings deep experience in startup strategy and execution, helping founders operationalize their vision while maintaining agility. His strength lies in building repeatable systems for growth and revenue optimization.

💡 Key strengths:
🧭 Strategic operational planning
🏷️ Growth-focused execution
🌟 Revenue operations alignment
🔎 Scalable process development

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Why Digital Reference?

At Digital Reference, we empower startups to find Fractional COOs who bring verified expertise, operational insights, and measurable results. Our platform leverages video-first verification, structured data, and transparency-focused methodology, making hiring decisions faster, easier, and more reliable. Learn more about how we help Operations Professionals here and explore our broader career verification approach.

Whether your startup is in San Francisco, Berlin, or Toronto, a Fractional COO can provide the operational foundation needed to scale confidently. With Digital Reference, you access credible, verified talent ready to implement strategies that transform operations, align teams, and drive growth.

👉 Fuel your leadership journey with actionable strategies. Explore more resources from Digital Reference:

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