Manual Override turns operators into independent entrepreneurs
We're a 6-week accelerator that helps experienced operators build income from their expertise: fractional work, agencies, advising, coaching, content, courses — with the systems and AI tools to run it all yourself.
Raised $50M as a VC, now a Fractional COO
PMM at Brex, now a writer, community builder, and fractional
Former Founder, now a Fractional COO and coach
Launching an international online course
Was a Chief of Staff and EA, now a Fractional Chief of Staff
Led TikTok US, now a Fractional COO
Signed her first client, and runs an "AI mini team"
Exited Founder, now selling vibe coded SaaS tools
HR at Snacknation and MedMen, now Fractional CHRO
Did Marketing at Workrise, now building an agency, a paid community, working fractionally
From our previous batches
Joined at the start of her fractional journey; "a ton of value for the investment."
of S26 operators who finished would do it again
“I came in with a lot of burnout as a former founder, and MO helped me get my mojo back.”
self-rated hands-on AI skills — mostly non-technical starts
average recommend score — zero detractors
running a self-built AI operating system daily by week six
“I HAVE a business. I know what I'm building, who I'm building it for, and what I need to do to find clients.”
Rebuilt her outreach and networking practice; calls MO "the bridge into the next chapter."
“On a daily basis, I still use the toolset and mindset that I gained from my time in MO to manage my business, position my work, and connect with others.”
What our alumni are building
Real artifacts, in six weeks. Click any face.
Was first ops hire at YC backed startup.
“Week one, I didn't even have a real positioning statement.”
ELM Strategy is live in the world, bringing AI-forward Finance for Startups.
“I've added AI as a service offering. Before this, I wouldn't have had the knowledge to get here.”
What actually changes in six weeks
By week six, you've shipped an independent revenue stream on a foundation shaped to hold many. You'll put real work in market every week, and layer in streams to your portfolio when you're ready.
“You will go from 'I might have an idea about being a fractional XYZ' to 'This is what I do, how much I charge, and how I run my business with AI' in 6 weeks.”
This is the first generation of solo operators who can run like a team. By week six, you've built the foundation of your own AI-native operating system — hands on the keyboard, not watching from the sidelines — so you're building ahead of the curve instead of falling behind it.
“My operating system is like a mini team for my business. It's the executive assistant that helps me manage my emails and my diary. It's the analyst that does research for me. It's the marketing person that helps draft social and think about positioning. It's the programming team I brainstorm with to get creative and innovative in problem solving.”
Go deep with a tight cohort of high-agency peers who become collaborators, referrers, and first calls long after the program ends. Plus, learn from Harry and Shaina, Mentors, and Guest Speakers — all actively running portfolio careers themselves.
“Everyone involved was so willing to give their time to others and has continued to do so despite the program concluding months ago.”
Is this for you?
You've spent your career building and running things — across ops, finance, people, or GTM. Maybe you've operated inside startups or big tech for years. Maybe you're an ex-founder. Maybe you came up through management consulting or a Big Four firm. Either way, you've been the one running the business — not the one whose name is on it — and you've got the track record to show for it.
Now you want something of your own. For a long time, ambitious work meant one of two things: stay an employee climbing someone else's ladder, or raise venture capital and chase a unicorn. Neither fits you, and the employee path isn't even the safe bet it used to be, with AI chipping away at it by the month. There's a third path: a real business built on the expertise you already have.
What you've got is the expertise. What you need is the structure. MO helps you make work fit your definition of success.
You just left your full-time job and you want to build something of your own — not just find another job.
You've been doing fractional or consulting for a couple of years and you're ready to build your portfolio.
You're an experienced executive or ex-founder ready for your next chapter.
You're hard at work 9–5, and want to layer independent income on your salary — or start plotting for what's next.
How it works
Six weeks of live sessions, each week ending with something real out the door.
Each workshop takes on one core topic: positioning, pricing, sales, operations. You work on your own business in the room, not on case studies or homework. You leave with frameworks you apply the same week, and each topic tees up what you'll build in that week's lab. Six weeks in, you've covered the whole business, end to end.
“You'll come in thinking it's about the business. And it is. But somewhere in the six weeks something shifts that's bigger than the offer statement or the pricing model. You'll remember why you wanted to build something in the first place. You'll find people who make you better just by being in the room with them.”
Meet us before you apply
Our fall 2026 cohort runs October 5 through November 13. Applications are due September 25. Join for a free info session to meet Shaina and Harry, learn more about the 6 weeks, and ask all your questions.
You've got the skills. What you're missing is the system.
Apply by Sept 25 · Runs Oct 5 – Nov 13, 2026