Startup CV '25 | Fractional Talent & Expertise: The Cheat Code to Growth

Startup Chippewa Valley 2025: Becoming Resourceful | November 10–14

Event Series Overview

In a world where technology evolves daily and challenges come faster than ever, resourcefulness is the true advantage. Startup Chippewa Valley celebrates that spirit — the ingenuity, adaptability, and grit it takes to turn an idea into impact.

This year’s theme, “Becoming Resourceful,” explores what it means to build smarter, stronger, and more sustainably in 2025 and beyond. From harnessing the power of AI to mastering time-tested principles of entrepreneurship, each session, workshop, and conversation will equip founders and small business leaders to do more with what they have — and build toward what’s next.

Whether you’re a founder scaling your dream, a future entrepreneur preparing to leap, a small business owner ready to grow, or a community leader or investor supporting innovation in the Valley, this is your week to connect, learn, and celebrate what makes our region thrive.

Fractional Talent & Expertise: The Cheat Code to Growth

Wednesday, November 12 | 11-12:30pm | The Coven Co-Working Space

If you’ve ever felt stuck between needing high-level expertise and not being able to afford a full-time executive, this session is for you.

You’ll learn how growing companies are tapping into fractional talent — experienced professionals who embed directly into your business part-time to deliver big impact without the full-time cost. From marketing and operations to finance and growth strategy, this model gives small businesses access to seasoned leadership that can accelerate progress, close skill gaps, and strengthen foundations for scale.

This isn’t theory. It’s a playbook for running leaner, smarter, and faster—by building a team that fits your size and stage, not the other way around.

Leading the session is John Arms, one of the most recognized voices in the fractional movement. As founder of Voyageur University and the FRAK Conference, and author of Revolt: The Rise of Fractional and the Death of Full-Time, John has helped hundreds of founders and business leaders rethink how they build teams and drive change.

What You'll Learn:

• What fractional leadership really looks like—and why it’s different from hiring consultants.
• How to use fractional talent to accelerate growth and reduce risk.
• Practical examples of companies scaling faster by blending full-time and fractional expertise.
• Steps to start identifying where fractional talent could make the biggest difference in your own business.

In short: this talk will challenge how you think about talent — and show you how to unlock access to the kind of leadership that can change the trajectory of your business.