# Who I Work With Not every engagement is a fit, and pretending otherwise wastes your time and mine. --- ## Who this is for I work with founder-led consumer brands between Series Seed and Series C. I work with established nonprofits and victim services organizations where a data mistake is not recoverable. That includes organizations in the [MrBallen Foundation](https://mrballen.foundation/)'s network, where I designed and delivered the Foundation's Tech Education Series. I work with funded teams that know what they want to build and need someone to keep the building from breaking what already works. The best engagements start the same way. A founder arrives skeptical, with a budget, a real problem, and the willingness to hear that the answer might be smaller and cheaper than expected. They want candor more than they want options. And they make decisions. --- ## Who this is not for I do not work with enterprises that have procurement departments. I do not work with companies that lead with cost cutting. And I do not work with clients who want a consultant to validate a decision they have already made. There is a tell for that last one. The first question is "what do other companies like us do" instead of "what should we do." That is a fine question for a committee. It is not a question I am the right person to answer, and I will say so early rather than take the work and disappoint you. --- ## About four of every five inquiries do not become engagements. That is by design, not a shortage of interest. I would rather turn down work that is not a fit than take it and do a version of it I would not be proud of. The ones that do become engagements tend to last years, because they started honest. If a vendor has never told you no, you do not have an advisor. You have a sales rep. --- ## If any of this sounds like you, or pointedly does not, start there. Tell me honestly what you are dealing with. If it is a fit, we will both know quickly. If it is not, I will point you somewhere better. [Start the conversation](/contact)