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Project Manager and 0 to 1 Product Manager Entrepreneurial leader with 10+ years of experience managing small to mid size projects from inception to completion. Recognized history of driving results through product innovation and providing project management support to small to midsize cross-functional teams. I have developed and launched award winning products & services across arts & culture, EdTech, and manufacturing industries, and am passionate about supporting entrepreneurial ecosystems and driving innovation. I've consulted stakeholders for local foundations, national small business retailers, and global brands such as Red Bull! View my portfolio at thecreatorc.com/portfolio View my freelance services at imnotyourguru.com As a Project Manager, I can... ✔️Provide end-to-end project management ✔️Gather scope project requirements and prepare budget ✔️Develop a detailed project plan and monitor progress ✔️Develop roadmap (Asana, Monday, Trello) ✔️Complete task and deliver projects on time ensuring quality standards are met ✔️Develop support documentation including risk logs and lessons learned ✔️Identify potential constraints or bottlenecks Startup Consultant 🚀Coaching 🚀Lean Startup and Micro Business Planning (Bootstrapping) 🚀UX Research 🚀Product Strategy 🚀Market Analysis and Research 🚀Hi-fi and Lo-fi prototyping 🚀Launching an MVP 🚀Sourcing and production 🚀Finding makers Specialties ☑️Design Thinking & Human-Centered Design ☑️Strategic Design ☑️Education Innovation ☑️Design Research ☑️Service and Experience Design ☑️Cohort Facilitation ☑️Program Design and Development ☑️Professional Development and Training ☑️Innovation & Entrepreneurship ☑️Consumer Products and Soft Goods Manufacturing It's my pleasure to help you turn your vison into a tangible project, product or service! Do not hesitate to message me if you have any questions before getting started.

Are you looking for a skilled Grant Writer, Business Plan Expert, or Funding Consultant who understands exactly what banks, investors, and grant funders want to see? My name is Ajayi Stephen, a Top Rated professional writer and consultant with over 10 years of experience helping startups, nonprofits, entrepreneurs, and growing businesses secure funding, improve strategy, and launch successfully. I have completed 1,000+ successful projects both on Upwork and offline, delivering high quality work that gets results. I do not deliver generic templates. Every project is customized, research driven, professional, and tailored to your goals. What I Help Clients With Funding & Business Growth Services • Investor Ready Business Plans • SBA Loan Business Plans • Grant Writing & Grant Applications • Nonprofit Grants & Government Funding • Pitch Deck Writing & Investor Presentations • Financial Projections & Forecasting • Market Research & Competitor Analysis • Startup Strategy & Growth Planning • Funding Readiness Review • RFP, RFQ, and RFI Proposal Writing Additional Professional Services • Academic Research Assistance • Business Consultation • Editing & Proofreading • Proposal Review & Refinement • Strategic Planning Why Clients Hire Me • Top Rated Professional on Upwork • Fast Response Time • High Quality Work • Attention to Detail • Strong Business Knowledge • Confidential and Professional Service • Clear Communication • On Time Delivery • Client Satisfaction Focused Results Driven Approach I turn ideas into clear, persuasive, investor ready, and fundable documents that decision makers trust. Whether you need funding, a winning business plan, or expert guidance to grow your business, I am ready to help. Let’s Work Together Send me a message today and let us discuss your project goals. Keywords Grant Writer, Grant Writing, Business Plan Writer, SBA Business Plan, Loan Business Plan, Startup Consultant, Financial Projections, Pitch Deck Writer, Nonprofit Grants, Government Grants, Proposal Writer, RFP Writer, Market Research, Academic Research, Business Consultant, Funding Consultant

You've hit an inflection point. The strategies that got you here founder-led sales, reactive marketing, sheer force of will are no longer enough to get you to the next level. You need a predictable system for growth, but you don't need the risk and overhead of a full-time executive. That's where I come in. I'm not a consultant who delivers a slide deck and disappears. I'm an operator who has been exactly where you are. I've built and sold three B2B companies from the ground up , and I led Go-to-Market strategies at Microsoft that recruited over 15K new partners to the Azure ecosystem. I install the battle-tested growth systems that turn chaos into clarity and revenue into a scalable, exit-ready asset. How I Deliver Results: Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy: I build the roadmap that aligns your product, marketing, and sales, creating a direct path to your ideal customers. Lead Generation & Revenue Operations (RevOps): I architect the full-funnel machine (across LinkedIn, SEO, Paid Media, & Email) that generates a predictable flow of qualified leads and increases close rates. Fractional Leadership: You get the expertise of a seasoned CMO/CRO to lead your team and execute the strategy, without the executive-level cost. My Track Record – By the Numbers: * $0 to $5M: Bootstrapped TechAssist to a successful acquisition over 5 years. * $0 to $4M: Scaled Cloudbearing to a profitable exit in 36 months. * $100M+: Managed a global product portfolio at COMPAREX, generating over $100M in new contract sales. * 15,000+: Recruited over 15,000 software vendors to the Microsoft marketplace with targeted GTM campaigns. Ready to build your predictable growth engine? Click the 'Invite' button to schedule a no-cost, 30-minute GTM diagnostic call. We'll map out your fastest path to scalable revenue.

I help entrepreneurs fast-track their success with real-world strategies that work. I’m a 3x founder, former Fortune 100 strategist, and an award-winning entrepreneur whose business has been featured on the cover of Entrepreneur's Startups magazine, ranked top 20% in the Inc. 5000, and recognized for the Best Marketing Campaign of 2020 – all achieved with minimal marketing budget and instead a meticulously crafted strategy. I've personally raised eight figures in investment capital and generated multiples of that in revenue. My expertise in marketing and fundraising has been profiled in Forbes, and I’ve been featured in and written for Entrepreneur. There are plenty of advisors out there – but very few have actually done what you're trying to do. I have. And now, I help other entrepreneurs because it feels good. How I can help you: - Go-to-Market Strategy – Position your product for growth, adoption, and profitability - Product-Market Fit – Find, engage, and retain your ideal customers - Brand Strategy & Positioning – Differentiate and win in a crowded market - Fundraising & Pitch Decks – Get the attention (and dollars) of investors - Crowdfunding Campaigns – Plan and execute high-converting campaigns - Sales Pitch Strategy – Gain the trust and support of key accounts and decision-makers - Leadership & Execution – Build, manage, and scale high-performing teams rooted in the mission My approach blends corporate strategy expertise (5 years working under McKinsey partners) with real-world startup execution (10+ years of scaling my own business and coaching others). I also know how to take what I've learned and impart it onto others; I’ve taught entrepreneurship at CU Boulder’s Deming Center, a nationally recognized hub for the next generation of business builders, and I co-founded a private members-only network for high-growth CPG leaders. Why work with me? ✔ 10+ years in entrepreneurship – From bootstrapping to raising capital ✔ Inc. 5000 CEO – Built and scaled a national CPG brand ✔ Award-Winning Marketer – Drove millions in revenue with creative, cost-effective campaigns ✔ University Professor – Taught real-world entrepreneurship at a top-ranked business school ✔ Corporate Strategy Expertise – McKinsey-trained at a Fortune 100 company I don’t believe in vague, generic advice. I offer clear, actionable strategies that move the needle. If I’m not the right fit, I’ll refer you to someone in my network who is. Industries I’ve worked in: - Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) - E-Commerce & DTC - Financial Services & Insurance - Automotive - Education - Veteran Non-Profits Let’s talk, first call is free. I offer a complimentary initial consultation to ensure we’re a great fit. I also charge fixed-fee pricing so there are no surprises. Plus, I’m offering 70% off my standard rate for a limited time, as I haven't been on Upwork since launching my business over 10 years ago! If you want real-world strategies from someone who’s actually built and scaled a business, message me now, and let’s get started.

I help established business leaders make their best decisions when they're facing seemingly impossible crossroads. After 25+ years in corporate leadership (marketing, operations, sales, executive support) and 12+ years as an entrepreneur, I've learned that the most powerful business decisions aren't made by choosing between head and heart. They're made by integrating both. THE CHALLENGE MOST LEADERS FACE You're standing at a crossroads: A product launch failed, and you're not sure whether to pivot or double down A key partnership is fracturing, and the cost of staying or leaving both seems too high Market disruption is forcing you to reinvent, but the path forward isn't clear Financial pressure is mounting, and every option feels like a gamble You have to make a call that will define the next chapter of your business The data says one thing. Your gut says another. And everyone's advice conflicts. MY APPROACH: THE G.R.A.S.P. METHOD I work with leaders who refuse to choose between strategic rigor and deeper wisdom. Through the G.R.A.S.P. Method, I help you: -Gather information: Not just data, but context, patterns, and what's really at stake -Reflect on the situation: Beyond the numbers to understand the full picture -Ask for guidance: Integrate counsel from trusted advisors, discernment practices, and wisdom beyond just your own analysis -Strategize wisely: Develop options and pressure-test assumptions -Proceed with confidence: Make the best decision you can with what you know, then move forward This isn't consulting. This isn't coaching. This is strategic advisory for leaders who know that wisdom and strategy aren't opposites. WHO I WORK WITH I maintain a limited roster of established business leaders who are: -Running businesses with $500K–$10M+ in revenue -Facing genuine crossroads moments (not just day-to-day challenges) -Leading with both excellence and integrity -Open to integrating data-driven strategy with discernment -Ready for high-level guidance, not hand-holding HOW WE WORK TOGETHER Fractional Strategic Advisory (Monthly Retainer): -Strategic counsel for pivotal business decisions -G.R.A.S.P. Method implementation for complex situations -Ongoing advisory access during critical decision windows -Integration of data analysis and discernment practices This is second-in-command wisdom. I'm not running your business, but I'm helping you navigate the decisions that will define it. Monthly retainer starting at $5,000. One-time strategic consultations available at $500/hour. BEYOND ADVISORY WORK I'm also the curator of Expect the Impossible, a collaborative book series featuring established business leaders who've navigated seemingly impossible situations with both strategic thinking and uncommon wisdom. Volume 1: Leadership at the Crossroads (launching 2026) features stories of failed launches, financial crises, partnership implosions, and strategic dead ends—and how leaders made it through by refusing to compromise either excellence or integrity. MY PHILOSOPHY Business can be a mission field. Leadership doesn't require you to choose between head and heart. And the impossible moments are often setups for breakthrough—if you're willing to navigate them with both wisdom and courage. Every leader deserves support when facing a crossroads. Not more tactics. Not more motivation. Strategic wisdom. LET'S CONNECT IF: ✓ You're facing a pivotal business decision right now ✓ You value both data and discernment ✓ You lead an established business and need high-level strategic counsel ✓ You have a powerful "impossible to possible" business story and might want to contribute to the book series ✓ You believe business leadership should integrate excellence and integrity