A premier consultancy for organizations seeking a storied operating partner.
● Oem & tier 1 introductions, retail buyer access, go-to-market advisory, startup incubation, talent placement & product development backed by decades of experience
WHAT WE DOWe partner with founders and leadership teams across the automotive and consumer products industries, combining strategic insight, hands-on execution and decades of commercialization experience to accelerate growth. And we open doors: getting you in the room with OEM and Tier 1 decision-makers and with buyers at national retailers like Kroger, Target and Costco.
40+ YEARS
From strategic advisory and product incubation to commercialization—built on four decades of turning new ideas into market leaders.
SERVICESHow we work.
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OEM, Tier 1 & National Retail Meetings
Direct introductions to program and purchasing leads at automotive OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers, and to category buyers at national retail chains. We get you the meeting and help you win it. -
Automotive & Consumer Product Market Entry
Helping companies identify opportunities, develop strategies, and successfully enter competitive markets using decades of Fortune 500 leadership experience. -
Product Innovation & Go-to-Market Strategy
Transforming ideas into market-ready products through consumer insight, product development, launch planning, retail and OEM readiness, and revenue strategy. -
Startup Incubation & OEM Commercialization
Supporting emerging technology companies through incubation, strategic guidance, and introductions that help secure automotive partnerships and pilot programs. -
Automotive Engineering Talent Solutions
Providing specialized engineering resources to support OEM product development programs through experienced contract talent.
WHO WE’RE FOR.
Founders & Growth-Stage Companies
Whether you’re launching a new venture or entering the automotive or retail market, we provide introductions to key decision-makers, strategic advisory, and commercialization expertise to help turn innovative ideas into scalable businesses.
Established Companies
When growth stalls or you need to reach new customers, we open doors to OEM, Tier 1 and national retail decision-makers, and step in as a fractional executive partner to identify opportunities and develop actionable strategies that drive measurable results.
Private Equity & Investment Groups
We support investment teams with growth strategy, operational due diligence, merger and acquisition advisory, and post-acquisition value creation, including introductions that help portfolio companies land key OEM and retail accounts.
30+ STARTUPS INCUBATED
80+ CONSUMER BRANDS LAUNCHED
4 DECADES OF LEGACY-BRAND EXPERIENCE
ABOUT RICK SHARPERick Sharpe has spent over four decades building revenue for iconic American brands — from turning Pepsi into the No. 1 soft drink brand ahead of the Los Angeles Summer Olympics, to growing FTD's product revenue from $25M to $225M, to buying, building and selling his own companies. Today, he applies that same playbook to the automotive & CPG industries’ next generation of technology and talent. [Read Rick's Full Story →]
▸ Ad-Age Marketing Man of the Year Award Recipient
▸ 2x PepsiCo’s Man of the Year Award Recipient
▸ Former Marketing & Intro to Business Associate Professor
▸ BBA, University of Michigan & MBA, Wayne State University
▸ Happily married for 30+ years and father to three beautiful children