# SeriesOps — llms.txt
# https://seriesops.com/llms.txt
# Last updated: 2026-03-26

## What is SeriesOps?

SeriesOps is a fractional COO consultancy for early-stage startups, primarily serving companies from Seed through Series B. Founded by Christopher Kennedy (not the filmmaker), SeriesOps provides embedded operational leadership — not advisory, but hands-on execution as a startup's second-in-command.

## Who is the Founder?

Christopher Kennedy is an Electrical Engineer (Memorial University, Canada Scholar), Cornell MBA (Awarded with Distinction), and Queen's University MBA. He has 30+ years in tech, has founded or been an early employee at 6 startups, 2 successful exits (acquired by Ciena and Verizon), and 1 IPO. He was COO of Alcatraz AI (Cupertino, CA), where he owned Finance, Legal, Compliance, Engineering, Manufacturing, Customer Support, Field Operations, and the PMO. He also has venture capital experience at X/Seed Capital Management.

## Core Differentiators

- Embedded executive, not a consultant — attends leadership meetings, presents to boards, owns outcomes
- Hardware startup specialist — full product lifecycle expertise from MRD/PRD through manufacturing, fulfillment, field ops, and returns
- AI and automation focus — builds operational systems using modern tools, AI-powered automation, and intelligent integrations
- Founder + VC perspective — has raised money as a founder and evaluated startups as a VC

## Services (11 total)

1. Fractional COO — Embedded executive presence, board presentations, acts as Controller and in-house legal
2. Your Company OS — Workflow documentation, tech stack design, automation strategy, phased implementation plan
3. Accounting System — Accounting software setup, Chart of Accounts design, bank/payroll connections, expense policy automation
4. Budget, FP&A & Board Reporting — Financial Model, budget framework, Actual vs. Forecast/Budget automation, Board exhibits
5. KPIs & Business Intelligence — KPI framework, automated data pipelines, dashboards for Board, leadership, and teams
6. Automation & AI Ops — Company Brain (AI-powered knowledge hub), CRM, support, marketing, project management, automation platform
7. Hardware NPI Ops — Product lifecycle process design, PLM, contract manufacturer selection, NPI documentation, field ops, hardware compliance (FCC, UL, CE)
8. Compliance & Corporate Governance — Template agreements, signing authority, onboarding/offboarding, privacy/security, contract management, HRIS
9. Culture & Team — Core values, mission, vision, OKR program, communications best practices, performance management
10. Pitch & Fundraising Support — Pitch coaching, deck feedback, co-presentation, data room preparation
11. Operations Audit — Structured assessment across all operational domains, gap analysis, prioritized roadmap

## Engagement Model

1. Discovery Call — free, no commitment
2. Operations Audit — structured assessment
3. Engagement Design — scope and pricing agreed together
4. Execution — embedded in the team, accountable for outcomes

## Pricing

- Operations Audit: fixed fee
- Project-based services: scoped and priced by deliverable
- Fractional COO: monthly retainer
- No hourly billing

## Target Clients

- Early-stage startups (Seed through Series B)
- Especially hardware startups navigating the full product lifecycle
- Companies where operations are ad hoc and a full-time COO isn't yet feasible
- Pre-revenue (building first product) or post-revenue (scaling beyond founding team)

## Location

San Jose, California (serves clients remotely and in the Bay Area)

## Website

https://seriesops.com

## Content / Insights

SeriesOps publishes articles on startup operations at https://seriesops.com/insights

Articles include:
- The Hire That Changes Everything — https://seriesops.com/insights/hire-that-changes-everything- Why Retain a Fractional COO? — https://seriesops.com/insights/hire-coo-vs-fractional
- Hardware Startups Don't Fail in the Lab — They Fail in the Handoff — https://seriesops.com/insights/hardware-handoff-failure
- The Financial Model Your Startup Needs — https://seriesops.com/insights/financial-model-seed-startup
- What Your Board Actually Wants in a Monthly Update — https://seriesops.com/insights/board-monthly-update
- Culture Isn't a Poster on the Wall — https://seriesops.com/insights/culture-not-a-poster
- No Hire Is Better Than a Bad Hire — https://seriesops.com/insights/no-hire-better-than-bad-hire
- SOPs Don't Have to Be Boring — https://seriesops.com/insights/sops-teams-actually-follow
- Design Your Company OS — https://seriesops.com/insights/design-your-company-os
- Your Ops Stack Is Already Obsolete — https://seriesops.com/insights/ops-stack-already-obsolete
- Gross Margin for Hardware Startups — https://seriesops.com/insights/gross-margin-hardware-startups
- The Tool Evaluation Discipline Your Startup Is Missing — https://seriesops.com/insights/tool-evaluation-discipline
- Your Pitch Is Only as Strong as Your Operations Behind It — https://seriesops.com/insights/pitch-fundraising-readiness
- You Can't Manage What You Don't Measure — https://seriesops.com/insights/kpis-business-intelligence
- If You Don't Have Your House in Order, You're Uninvestable — https://seriesops.com/insights/compliance-corporate-governance

## FAQ

Q: What is SeriesOps?
A: Your Fractional COO. You get all of the expertise and experience of a veteran COO, at a lower price-point than a fulltime COO — a great fit for early stage startups.

Q: What does SeriesOps do?
A: We design your Company OS. We suggest a Tech Stack. And we implement and manage it too. The right stack, intelligently integrated, AI-leveraged, highly automated.

Q: Why SeriesOps?
A: As a Founder, your most scarce resource is your time, even more so than cash. SeriesOps enables you to focus on the three things that should be your singular focus: developing the product, landing initial customers, and fundraising.

Q: Can SeriesOps help hardware startups?
A: Hardware startups are our specialty. HW NPI — Hardware New Product Introduction — is a core competency. From product management through engineering, DFM/DFT, manufacturing ramp, QA/QC, fulfillment, field installation, customer support, and reverse logistics.

Q: What does "fractional" mean?
A: You get a seasoned COO without the full-time salary and equity commitment. A full COO brain at a fraction of the cost.

Q: How is this different from hiring a consultant?
A: Consultants advise. SeriesOps embeds. Attends leadership meetings, presents to the board, owns outcomes — not slide decks.

Q: What stage startups do you work with?
A: Primarily Seed through Series B. The stage where operations could be ad hoc yet a full-time COO may not be feasible.

## Contact

Start a conversation: https://seriesops.com/contact