I help founders scale ambitious ideas into fundable ventures

Engineer. Founder.
Fractional Operator.

I’m a mechanical engineer, entrepreneur, and strategic operator with deep experience at the intersection of climate tech, agtech, and robotics.

I partner with startups in a fractional capacity to translate their breakthrough technologies into scalable ventures—bridging the gap from technology to product, market, and funding.

With hands-on leadership, deep technical expertise, and decades of entrepreneurial experience, I help visionary teams bring clarity, execution, and growth to their biggest challenges.

$Ben Provan fractional executive pitching and presenting a slide deck$

Learn more about my work

I specialize in translating complex technologies into investor-ready ventures, working side-by-side with founders to clarify strategy, build traction, raise capital, and ultimately go-to-market.

Support where you need it most

Capital Strategy & Fundraising

I help founders raise money, develop investor-focused narratives, and win millions in non-dilutive funding.

Deep Tech Commercialization & GTM

I help translate your technology into a business, shaping the go-to-market strategy, securing key partnerships, and building early customer traction.

Growth & Scaling

I help operationalize your strategy, building the systems, team, and infrastructure needed to scale without losing focus or agility.

Typical Engagement Models

You’re an impact-driven founder solving big problems with limited resources. I bring founder-level business expertise without the overhead—embedding fast, working across functions, and driving what matters most.

Fractional CXO

High-impact leadership without the full-time overhead. Ideal for key strategic initiatives, interim executive roles, or leading mission-critical projects.

Strategic Advisory

Focused guidance to sharpen business models, fundraising strategies, and go-to-market execution, grounded in technical fluency and founder experience.

Project-Based Execution

Hands-on support to drive early traction, validate product-market fit, and accelerate commercialization.

Learn more about how I engage with startups

Who I Work With

From R&D spinouts to venture-backed startups, I bring on-demand leadership to help you tackle mission-critical challenges, without adding headcount.

I help assess the commercial viability of an idea, build a strategic roadmap, understand IP and licensing, apply for non-dilutive funding, and ultimately bridge the gap between technology and business.
I develop a compelling pitch deck, financial projections, and investor-centered narratives to secure angel or early-stage VC funding.
I provide fractional strategy, business development, and leadership support without requiring a co-founder or C-suite level commitment.
With extensive deal-making experience, I implement structured business development strategies to secure early customer commitments, pilots, and strategic partnerships.

Why work with me?

Engineer-turned-entrepreneur, I’ve spent 20+ years building scalable ventures at the intersection of technology, sustainability, and impact—from developing autonomous robots at Cornell University to leading commercialization at a waste-to-biofuels startup.

For ten years, I served as CEO of OpenDoor, a co-living startup I co-founded to address both the urban housing crisis and the loneliness epidemic. We raised $8M in funding and grew OpenDoor to 19 properties and 40 employees in 3 markets (Bay Area, Portland, Seattle). As the first mover in the co-living space, we helped pioneer the industry and popularize the co-living movement more broadly.

I’ve learned entrepreneurship the hard way—through trial, error, and the invaluable lessons of failure. Today, I leverage these hard-won learnings to help founders and business leaders to build impactful ventures, navigate complexity, and scale with clarity and confidence.

What clients are saying

"Ben is one of my first calls as a founder. He is smart, thoughtful, strategic, and experienced—all rolled into one awesome person. He is uniquely savvy at both the technical and business level. You could best describe him as an entrepreneurial Swiss Army knife."

Kyle Triege
CEO & Founder, Storm
"As I began building my business, I sought Ben’s counsel while he was serving as CEO of OpenDoor. When he transitioned out of that role, I brought him on as a consultant to help us evaluate and refine our business operations—his contribution was invaluable. Ben is one of the most agile thinkers I’ve worked with. He’s worn many hats across different sectors and brings a rare ability to cut through complexity and zero in on what matters most. His clarity of thought, adaptability, and breadth of experience make him an exceptional asset in any setting."

Stacy Flynn
CEO & Co-founder, EVRNU
"Ben quickly grasped the core of our technology and helped us communicate it in a way that resonated with climate investors—clear, sharp, and founder-minded."

Rob Creighton
CEO & Co-founder, Windlift
"Ben is the rare consultant who brings both real-world operating experience and systems-level thinking. He’s been in the trenches—sleeves rolled up, solving problems with speed and rigor. He’s helped us streamline our operations, improve our financial processes, and cut costs without sacrificing quality. His engineering mindset shows in the way he breaks down complex decisions, models the options, and consistently points to the right solution. Among all the consultants we’ve worked with, Ben stands out as the most effective and the easiest to trust."

Martin Ditto
CEO & Founder, OSLO Coliving