Most investors know the uncomfortable truth: writing the check is the easy part. The real challenge begins after the wire transfer clears.
You've backed talented founders with promising ideas. You believe in their vision. But here's what keeps you up at night: Are they actually executing? Do they have the operational foundation to scale? Are they making the same avoidable mistakes you've seen kill other startups?
You want to help—but you're managing 10, 15, maybe 20 portfolio companies. You don't have time to dive deep into each one's operations. You're not sure where to start, even when founders reach out for help.
That's where GNX comes in.
After 30+ years building and scaling technology businesses across multiple continents—from telecom infrastructure to fintech platforms—I've learned one thing: the gap between capital and success is execution. And execution requires hands-on operational support that most angel investors and small funds simply can't provide on their own.
This post outlines exactly how we help investors like you turn portfolio companies from investments into successful businesses.
Overview
GNX provides hands-on operational support for portfolio companies of angel investors, VC funds, syndicate leads, and family offices. We bridge the gap between capital deployment and successful execution—helping your startups build the operational foundation they need to scale.
The Challenge: You've invested in promising founders, but most struggle with operational execution. They need more than capital—they need experienced guidance to structure their business, build processes, and scale effectively.
Our Solution: A fractional operating partner who works directly with your portfolio companies to implement proven operational frameworks, solve critical challenges, and accelerate their path to success.
Who We Serve
Angel Investors
- Managing 10-20 portfolio companies
- Want to provide value beyond capital
- Limited time for hands-on support
- Need portfolio visibility and early warning systems
Emerging VC Funds ($20-75M AUM)
- Building portfolio without full operating team
- Competing with larger funds on value-add
- Need systematic approach to portfolio support
- Want to improve follow-on investment decisions
Syndicate Leads
- Managing deal flow and co-investors
- Responsible for portfolio performance
- Need to demonstrate post-investment value
- Building reputation through portfolio success
Family Offices
- Making direct startup investments
- Lack in-house tech operating expertise
- Need specialized support for portfolio companies
- Want strategic oversight without micromanagement
Service Models
Portfolio Retainer
Best for: Investors with 10-15+ active portfolio companies
What's Included:
- Quarterly health assessments for each portfolio company
- On-call operational support for urgent challenges
- Monthly portfolio reports with key insights and red flags
- Direct access via email/phone for founders and investors
- Facilitation of peer connections within portfolio
- Fundraising readiness reviews
Investment: $5,000-8,000/month Commitment: 6-month minimum engagement
Ideal for investors who want:
- Systematic portfolio oversight
- Early warning system for struggling companies
- Predictable monthly cost structure
- Ongoing relationship and institutional knowledge
Venture/Operating Partner
Best for: Funds seeking embedded operating expertise
What's Included:
- Deep operational engagement with entire portfolio
- Participation in investment decision process
- Due diligence support on operational capabilities
- Board-level insights and strategic guidance
- Monthly office hours for all portfolio founders
- Custom operational playbooks for fund thesis
- Quarterly portfolio performance analysis
- Support for fund LP reporting
Investment: Annual compensation + performance carry Commitment: Multi-year partnership
Ideal for funds that want:
- Dedicated operating partner as competitive advantage
- Institutional operational capabilities
- Enhanced LP value proposition
- Long-term strategic partnership
Project-Based Engagements
Best for: Specific operational challenges
Common Projects:
International Market Entry
- Market assessment and entry strategy
- Local partner identification
- Regulatory navigation
- Go-to-market execution plan
- First 90-days operational roadmap
Duration: 6-10 weeks
Investment: $20,000-35,000
Operational Restructuring
- Process audit and gap analysis
- Organizational design recommendations
- Systems and tools implementation
- Team structure optimization
- Performance metrics framework
Duration: 8-12 weeks
Investment: $25,000-40,000
Fundraising Preparation
- Financial model review and cleanup
- Metrics package development
- Investor materials preparation
- Management presentation coaching
- Due diligence readiness assessment
Duration: 4-8 weeks
Investment: $15,000-30,000
What We Do for Portfolio Companies
Early-Stage Operations (Pre-Seed/Seed)
Foundation Building
- Organizational structure design
- Core process documentation
- Financial planning and metrics setup
- Initial hiring frameworks
- Board reporting templates
Go-to-Market
- Customer acquisition strategy
- Sales process design
- Pricing strategy development
- Early customer success frameworks
- Pilot program structures
Product-Market Fit
- Customer feedback systems
- Iteration frameworks
- Metrics definition and tracking
- Pivot decision frameworks
- Market positioning refinement
Growth Stage Operations (Series A+)
Scaling Infrastructure
- Department structure and roles
- Cross-functional process design
- Communication frameworks
- Decision-making systems
- Operational rhythm (meetings, reviews, planning)
Team Building
- Executive hiring strategy
- Organizational scaling plans
- Performance management systems
- Culture and values operationalization
- Onboarding programs
International Expansion
- Market prioritization frameworks
- Entry strategy development
- Local team setup
- Cross-border operations
- Regulatory compliance navigation
Crisis Management
Turnaround Situations
- Rapid operational assessment
- Critical issue prioritization
- Emergency action plans
- Stakeholder communication
- Path to stability roadmap
Runway Extension
- Burn rate reduction strategies
- Operational efficiency improvements
- Bridge financing preparation
- Strategic pivot evaluation
- Team restructuring guidance
Our Approach
1. Assessment (Week 1-2)
- Stakeholder interviews (founders, key team, investors)
- Operational audit and gap analysis
- Priority identification
- Success metrics definition
- Engagement roadmap creation
2. Strategy Development (Week 2-4)
- Operational framework design
- Process and system recommendations
- Quick wins identification
- Resource requirement planning
- Implementation timeline
3. Implementation (Ongoing)
- Hands-on execution support
- Process deployment and training
- Regular progress reviews
- Adjustment and optimization
- Knowledge transfer to team
4. Transition (Final Phase)
- Internal capability building
- Documentation and playbooks
- Team empowerment
- Ongoing advisory setup
- Success measurement
Areas of Expertise
Fintech & Payments
- Payment system architecture
- Regulatory compliance navigation
- Risk management frameworks
- Banking relationship management
- Transaction processing optimization
B2B SaaS
- Enterprise sales processes
- Customer success operations
- Implementation and onboarding
- Expansion and upsell strategies
- Churn reduction frameworks
International Operations
- Emerging market entry
- European-US expansion
- Cross-border team management
- Multi-currency operations
- Localization strategies
Infrastructure & Platforms
- Marketplace operations
- Two-sided network growth
- Platform economics
- Vendor/partner management
- Operational scalability
Why GNX
30+ Years of Operating Experience
- Built businesses from zero to scale across multiple continents
- Navigated emerging market challenges and opportunities
- Scaled teams from 5 to 500+ employees
- Managed through market crashes, pivots, and rapid growth
- Deep fintech, telecom, and digital services expertise
Operator, Not Consultant
- Been the CEO making tough decisions
- Hired, fired, and built high-performing teams
- Raised capital and managed investor relationships
- Shipped products and closed enterprise deals
- Survived and thrived through real business challenges
Silicon Valley + International Perspective
- Recently relocated to Bay Area to work with cutting-edge startups
- Bridge between US market and international expansion
- Understanding of both resource-constrained and well-funded environments
- Network across multiple geographies and industries
Systematic Methodology
- Structured frameworks, not ad-hoc advice
- Proven playbooks from decades of building
- Data-driven decision making
- Measurable outcomes and clear accountability
- Knowledge transfer, not dependency
Engagement Process
Step 1: Initial Conversation
Free 30-minute consultation
- Understand your portfolio and needs
- Discuss specific challenges
- Assess fit and potential value
- Answer your questions
Step 2: Pilot Proposal
2-3 portfolio companies, 4-6 weeks
- Demonstrate value with real results
- Low-risk way to assess collaboration
- Specific deliverables and outcomes
- Foundation for ongoing relationship
Step 3: Full Engagement
Formalize ongoing partnership
- Signed service agreement
- Clear scope and expectations
- Defined success metrics
- Regular communication cadence
Pricing Summary
| Service Model | Investment Range | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Portfolio Retainer | $8-10K/month | 10-15+ companies, ongoing support |
| Venture Partner | Annual + Carry | Funds wanting an embedded partner |
| Project-Based | $15-40K/project | Specific challenges, time-bound |
Custom packages available for unique situations
Success Indicators
For Investors:
- ✓ Improved portfolio visibility and early problem detection
- ✓ Higher percentage of companies hitting milestones
- ✓ Increased follow-on round success rate
- ✓ Better prepared companies for due diligence
- ✓ Enhanced reputation and deal flow
For Portfolio Companies:
- ✓ Faster time to operational maturity
- ✓ More efficient capital deployment
- ✓ Reduced founder stress and burnout
- ✓ Better team performance and retention
- ✓ Increased probability of next round success
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How is this different from an accelerator?
A: Accelerators work with cohorts for 3 months with structured curriculum. We provide personalized, ongoing support tailored to each company's specific challenges and stage.
Q: Won't founders resist having an "outsider" involved?
A: We're introduced by their trusted investor, positioned as a resource, not oversight. Founders appreciate experienced help when facing real challenges. We earn trust through delivering value.
Q: How do you prioritize time across multiple portfolio companies?
A: Not every company needs intensive support simultaneously. We maintain regular check-ins with all, provide deep support where critical needs arise, and remain available for urgent situations.
Q: What if you've never worked in a specific industry?
A: Operational challenges transcend industry—structure, process, scaling, hiring, fundraising follow similar patterns. We bring pattern recognition from building multiple businesses across diverse sectors, plus deep expertise in fintech, infrastructure, and international operations.
Q: Do you take equity in portfolio companies?
A: Sometimes. For retainer clients, compensation is cash-based. For intensive project work or venture partner roles, equity or carry may be part of the compensation structure, aligned with long-term success.
Q: What's your typical engagement length?
A: Portfolio retainers: 12-24 months average. Project work: 6-12 weeks. Venture partnerships: multi-year. We believe in building long-term relationships, not transactional consulting.
Q: Can you guarantee results?
A: We guarantee effort, expertise, and commitment—not outcomes. Startup success depends on many factors outside our control. We significantly improve odds of success through better execution, but cannot eliminate inherent startup risks.
Ready to Strengthen Your Portfolio?
Let's discuss how GNX can support your portfolio companies' success.
Email directly: vitaly@gnx.vc
Based in the San Francisco Bay Area | Serving investors and portfolio companies globally
