Client: Two US-based incubated EdTech startups pioneering AI-driven K–12 education: one focused on high-end private schools, the other on public schools with students needing intervention.

Challenge: Early-stage growth required rapid commercial scale, operational discipline, and financial clarity - without slowing product delivery. With cross-functional teams and evolving go-to-market motions, the organizations needed an operating model that connected strategy to execution across Marketing, Sales, Product, Implementation, and Support.

What we did: 

Coucal’s consultants:

• headed Operations and Finance in the capacity of fractional COO and CFO

• partnered directly with CEOs to scale the business and built AI-first operations and finance foundations: operating cadence, processes, tools, governance, metrics, planning/forecasting, controls, and execution rhythms.

• aligned stakeholders and teams around measurable outcomes

• introduced lightweight automation and tooling for productivity gains

• strengthened cross-functional coordination to improve speed and accountability from strategy through delivery

Outcomes:

• Scaled commercial execution from $0 → $10M+ booked revenue

• Established a combined $35M+ ARR target for 2026 with improved planning and predictability

• Improved cross-functional execution across Marketing, Sales, Product Development, Implementation, and Support through clear cadence and metrics

Capability built:

• AI-first operating model: cadence, governance, decision-making, execution

• Finance and forecasting foundations: planning model, controls, metrics, reporting

• Cross-functional execution system connecting GTM to delivery: handoffs, accountability, automation/tooling