Helping Founders build Self-Operating Businesses for cleaner, high-value exits.

Prasad Karunakaran helps $1M–$10M founders decouple their personal identity from their operations, transforming the business into a high-performance, transferable asset.

How We Can Work Together

The Thesis

"Build to Sell" isn't a strategy for the end;
It is the discipline of the middle years.

Most business owners are trapped by their own competence. Their business is an extension of their personality rather than an independent asset. This creates a valuation ceiling that no amount of revenue can break.

The fatal mistake in scaling is trading Innovation for Bureaucracy. As organizations grow, they often replace the founder's spark with rigid "rules" that stifle agility. This results in a stable but stagnant business that buyers discount.

My approach is rooted in Systemic Decoupling. We utilize AI-enhanced operational frameworks to institutionalize innovation, not just administration. We transform your business into a high-performance, transferable engine that thrives—and evolves—without you.

The Consultant

Prasad Karunakaran.

With a career spanning 25 years in high-stakes environments—from the precision of robotics and manufacturing to the rigorous compliance of Government Contracting—I provide the objective clarity founders need to scale beyond themselves.

I don't just advise on operations; I architect resilience. By integrating modern AI workflows with foundational leadership principles, I help owners reclaim their time and maximize their company's market exit value.

Ways to Engage

Engagement Models.

Rapid Assessment

A focused 1-2 week deep dive into your company’s strengths and operational bottlenecks. We provide a clear "Value & Friction" report with immediate action items.

Exit Architecture

A roadmap for maximum value. We audit 'sellability' metrics and mitigate the risks that Private Equity and Strategic Buyers use to devalue your life's work.

Fractional COO

Ongoing operational stewardship for founders hitting the scaling plateau. We install the systems, people, and AI-workflows required for the next growth phase.

M&A Advisory

Technical due diligence and negotiation support. We represent the owner's interests during the acquisition cycle to ensure technical and cultural alignment.

The Polymath Project

Cross-Domain Intelligence.

I explore the intersection of AI-enhanced productivity, mindfulness for leadership, and systems-thinking. This breadth allows me to solve problems traditional consultants miss.

Substack

Insight 01

The Hybrid Bridge: Why AI's "Messy Middle" requires human scaffolding to create true substance.

Insight 02

The Logistics of Peace: Lessons on mindfulness, merit, and systems-thinking from the DC Walk for Peace.

Let's discuss the next phase.

I work with a limited number of founders who are serious about operational maturity and eventual exit.

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