Why Shift to Fractional Marketing?
The traditional hiring model is broken for growth-stage companies. You either overpay for a full-time executive or settle for junior talent.
The Old Way
Inefficient- $250k+ Annual CostSalary, benefits, equity, and severance packages bloat your burn rate.
- Slow OnboardingTakes 3-6 months to find, hire, and ramp up a full-time executive.
- High RiskIf they aren't a culture fit, you're stuck with a difficult exit process.
The Fractional Way
Optimized- Cost-EffectiveGet senior expertise for ~30% of the cost of a full-time hire.
- Immediate ImpactI plug in immediately with proven playbooks. ROI starts Day 1.
- Flexible TermsScale up or down as your business needs change. No golden handcuffs.
2.5x
Faster Execution
Zero
Recruitment Fees
100%
Aligned Incentives
Why Startups Choose Fractional Marketing Over Agencies
Most agencies sell tactics before strategy and rarely own the outcome. Fractional marketing for startups works because you get senior leadership, sharper priorities, and accountability — without bloated retainers or junior teams.
Founder-Direct, No Hand-Offs
You work directly with the person leading strategy — not account managers, juniors, or rotating contractors.
Validation Over Vanity
We prioritise signal, not noise — tying work to pipeline, activation, and revenue instead of clicks.
One Plan, One North Star
Website, messaging, SEO, and acquisition align under one startup growth roadmap with clear focus.
Move Fast, Avoid Waste
Faster decisions, fewer distractions, and a practical rhythm that keeps the startup moving forward.
Operator, Not a Pitch Deck
15+ years building, ranking, and converting websites — focused on traction, not slideware.
Not anti-agency — anti-waste, misalignment, and tactics without clear ownership.
Short call. Clear next steps. No pressure.
When Fractional Marketing for Startups Is the Right Move
I help startup founders who are facing specific growth-stalling challenges.
No Clear Go-To-Market Plan
You’re trying multiple tactics, but there’s no simple plan connecting activity to pipeline and revenue.
Burning Budget Without Signal
You’re spending on ads or agencies, but learnings are unclear and ROI isn’t improving consistently.
Leadership and Direction Gap
You have people executing, but you need senior guidance to prioritise, mentor, and stay focused.
Traction Has Stalled
You’ve hit a plateau and need a sharper startup strategy to unlock the next stage of growth.
What You Actually Get With Fractional Marketing for Startups
Startup marketing isn’t about doing everything. It’s about finding leverage, validating channels, and building simple systems that turn attention into activation, pipeline, and revenue.
Startup Strategy & Prioritisation
A clear plan based on your stage, runway, and goals.
- Channel prioritisation
- Resource allocation
- 90-day startup plan
Positioning, Messaging & Offer
Clarifying what you sell, who it’s for, and why it wins.
- Value proposition refinement
- Offer structure
- Funnel alignment
Channel Validation Experiments
Choosing the right channels — not all channels. (SEO, Web, Paid, Partnerships)
- SEO & content direction
- Website optimisation
- Channel validation
Conversion & Activation Leverage
Turning traffic into signups, demos, and customers reliably.
- Landing page direction
- Funnel improvements
- Conversion bottleneck fixes
Tracking & Accountability
Knowing what’s working and what to fix, quickly.
- KPI definition
- Reporting clarity
- Decision-ready insights
Common deliverables include:
How I Help You Win
Comprehensive marketing support tailored to your growth stage. Choose a full fractional engagement or specialized execution.
Fractional CMO
Strategic leadership to drive marketing efforts and business growth.
Fractional Head of Growth
Data-driven strategies to accelerate customer acquisition and revenue.
Fractional Marketing Strategy
Developing and implementing comprehensive marketing strategies.
Fractional Growth Marketing
Focusing on rapid experimentation and growth hacking techniques.
Fractional SEO Leadership
Leading SEO initiatives to improve organic search visibility and traffic.
Fractional Conversion Optimisation
Optimizing conversion funnels to maximize marketing ROI.
Team Upskilling
Mentoring and upskilling marketing teams for better performance.
Marketing for Startups
Tailored marketing strategies for early-stage startups.
Marketing for Scaleups
Scaling marketing efforts for high-growth businesses.
How Fractional Marketing for Startups Works
A simple, transparent process to get started.
Startup Audit
I review your product, messaging, funnel, current channels, and data to identify quick wins and the best next bets.
90-Day Growth Plan
We build a roadmap that aligns marketing priorities with revenue targets, runway, and realistic resources to execute.
Execution & Experiments
I coordinate the plan, improve tracking, and guide execution with you or your team to validate what works.
Optimise & Build Assets
We improve conversion, reduce CAC, and build compounding assets like SEO and funnels to sustain growth.
Real-World Results From Fractional Marketing for Startups
These are not overnight wins. They’re examples of startup focus, better prioritisation, and consistent execution that builds traction and compounds over time.
Situation:
Early traction existed, but messaging and channel priorities were unclear.
What we changed:
- Clarified ICP and positioning
- Aligned website, SEO, and demand capture
- Built a simple experiment cadence
Outcome:
Cleaner conversion paths, higher-quality leads, and faster pipeline momentum.
Situation:
Paid spend was volatile and organic demand was underdeveloped for growth.
What we changed:
- Built an organic SEO foundation
- Improved product and landing conversion
- Added retention and repeat purchase flows
Outcome:
Increased organic traffic by 150%, improved LTV, and reduced blended CAC.
Situation:
Website existed but wasn’t generating consistent, qualified inbound leads.
What we changed:
- Improved local SEO and GBP performance
- Simplified website calls-to-action
- Added lead follow-up and nurturing
Outcome:
Doubled lead flow within 90 days and improved booking rates.
Results vary based on market, offer, and execution pace.
Don't just take my word for it.
I've helped founders transform their marketing from a cost center into a revenue engine.
"We were burning cash on ads with zero ROI. Within 90 days of bringing him on as a Fractional CMO, we doubled our leads and cut costs by 40%."
Sarah Jenkins
CEO, TechFlow Solutions
"It feels like having a full-time executive partner. The strategy was clear, the execution was flawless, and the results spoke for themselves."
Michael Ross
Founder, Apex Gear
"The flexibility of the fractional model was exactly what our startup needed at Series A. High impact, low overhead."
Elena Rodriguez
COO, Lumina Health
Monthly Revenue
+127% Growth
I build growth engines for founders who want momentum — not marketing noise.
Hi, I'm Shounak Gupte based in Melbourne. I’m not an agency. I’m not a freelancer farming work out to juniors. I embed directly with a handful of companies at a time and take ownership of the plan, the priorities, and the outcomes.
After 15+ years across B2B SaaS and fintech, I’ve learned the pattern: growth isn’t more channels — it’s better focus. When strategy, SEO, website, and conversion are aligned, results compound and CAC stabilises.
My work comes down to three things: profitable acquisition, scalable systems, and transparent measurement. No fluff. No theatre. Just revenue.
15+
Years in Marketing & Growth
3–5
Active Clients Max
90-Day
Growth Cycles
Senior-Only
Strategy & Execution
Let's Discuss Your
Growth Engine
Ready to stop guessing and start scaling? Fill out the form or reach out directly to schedule a discovery call.
Email Me
hello@shounakgupte.comLocation
Melbourne, Australia
(Serving clients globally)
Availability
Response time: Within 24 hours.