Fractional Product Management FAQ

Q: What is Fractional Product Management?

A: Fractional Product Management gives startups access to senior-level product leadership without the cost of a full-time hire. A Fractional Product Manager, Fractional Head of Product, or Fractional CPO embeds part-time with your team, bringing expertise at a fraction of the commitment.

Fractional PMs aren’t just “part-time product managers.” They’re strategic partners with faster delivery expectations than traditional hires.

Q: Why are more companies hiring Fractional Product Managers?

A: We’re seeing the demand for fractional product management growing rapidly, due to:

  1. Cost efficiency: Founders can hire top talent for specific projects or set durations without paying a six-figure salary or benefits.

  2. Faster onboarding: Our practice is set up to ramp up quickly, and deliver results fast. Years of cross-industry expertise means we’ve solved similar problems elsewhere.

  3. VC & accelerator backing: We’re meeting more and more investors who are now recommending startups hire fractional experts early.

  4. Proven model: Fractional CFOs and CMOs started gaining popularity a decade ago, and now companies are looking for the same benefits and ROI in other functions, including product management.

  5. Team cohesion: The embedded fractional model lets us support your current team and contribute to culture building in a way we couldn’t as consultants.

  6. Pattern recognition: Supporting companies across different growth moments and industries means faster diagnosing of problems within your team and organization.

Q: What’s the ROI of a Fractional Head of Product or Fractional CPO?

A: Hiring a Fractional Head of Product gives startups access to executive-level strategy without the overhead. We help organizations with things like:

  • Aligning founders and teams around a clear product roadmap.

  • Validating product-market fit faster.

  • Improving user experience and retention.

  • Guiding fundraising narratives with compelling product vision.

  • Bringing fresh insights from working across many clients in a range of industries.

Q: How does a fractional engagement work day-to-day?

A: The great thing about fractional is projects can be arranged in whatever way works best for everyone. For engagements with Intentional Ventures, you can expect:

  • Flexible time commitment: Most engagements fall between 10–25 hours per week.

  • Tailored scope: Roles can be advisory, project-based, or ongoing retainers.

  • Zero fluff: We cut unnecessary meetings, prioritizing execution and deep work.

  • Slack support: We aim for fast turnaround of all messages & requests, Monday - Thursday, 9-4pm.

  • Fast onboarding: We’ve done this a lot. We’re ready to ramp up fast and deliver value quickly.

Q: Is a Fractional PM right for my company?

A: Hire a fractional product leader if:

  • You need senior-level product leadership but not full-time.

  • You’re scaling quickly, preparing for a fundraise, or refining product-market fit.

  • You want a flexible expert who can drive results immediately.

Q: Have more questions?

A: Kayla Doan has 14 years of experience leading product teams and has worked as:

  • Fractional Head of Product (4x)

  • Fractional Product Leader (2x)

  • Technical Product Lead (1x)

  • Advisor to dozens of startups

Contact to discuss your product challenges and whether fractional product management is the right fit for your organization.