SproutVest

Why SproutVest?

We’ve helped companies transform cryptography, AI, and distributed systems into trusted, revenue-generating infrastructure.

Our Track Record Includes:

• Launching dcipher.network and raising $3.3M in pre-seed capital to build programmable settlement rails for web3 and AI-agentic payments.
• Leading PMF discovery for Trensant, whose patented graph and text-analytics stack later became a core asset in its acquisition by Interos.ai.
• Unlocking $1.22B in incremental ARR for Google search ads partners by surfacing high-leverage demand signals in sales data.
• Increasing conversion by 8%+ and reducing abandonment by 3% at Angi, driving tens of millions in incremental gross revenue.
• Improving digital adoption, CSAT, and call-reduction metrics (10% / 7% / 6%) for a Fortune 50 health insurer serving 30M+ members.systems.

Case Studies

Protocol Labs → drand → Randamu

Web3 / Venture Studio

Fractional CPO & EIR · 12 months

Challenge: Research cryptography project with no clear commercial path.

Outcome: Spun out Randamu and secured $3.3M pre-seed, creating a repeatable spin-out playbook.

• Venture thesis, brand, and GTM for drand
• Swiss entity + governance & IP transition
• Studio blueprint for future spin-outs

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Google → Search Ads ML

Ad Tech / Enterprise SaaS

Product Strategy Consultant · 6 months

Challenge: Partners needed better demand signals to optimize Google Ads campaigns.

Outcome: Unlocked $1.22B in incremental ARR by surfacing high-leverage signals in sales data.

• ML-powered campaign optimization
• Partner enablement & training
• Data pipeline for demand forecasting

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Angi.com → Mobile Growth

Consumer Marketplace

Growth Product Lead · 18 months

Challenge: Low mobile app conversion and high abandonment in home services funnel.

Outcome: Increased conversion by 8%+ and reduced abandonment by 3%, driving tens of millions in revenue.

• Deep linking & attribution framework
• A/B testing infrastructure
• Cross-platform funnel optimization

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Elevance Health → Medicare Member Portal

Healthcare / Fortune 50

Digital Transformation Lead · 24 months

Challenge: Poor digital adoption and high call center volume for 30M+ members.

Outcome: Improved digital adoption (10%), CSAT (7%), and call reduction (6%) across member portal.

• Auth performance optimization
• Provider data accuracy improvements
• Self-service feature expansion

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Trensant → AI Supply Chain Intel

Enterprise AI / SaaS

Product-Market Fit Advisor · 18 months

Challenge: Patented graph analytics technology seeking commercial validation.

Outcome: Led PMF discovery, culminating in acquisition by Interos.ai for supply chain risk management.

• Market validation & customer discovery
• Graph + text analytics productization
• Acquisition positioning & due diligence

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Microsoft → CodaLab Platform

Open Source / ML Ops

Fractional CPO · 48 months

Challenge: Declining community engagement on open-source ML competition platform.

Outcome: Revitalized platform with sustainable growth strategy and improved community metrics.

• Product roadmap & prioritization
• Community engagement strategy
• Platform scalability improvements

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Randamu → dcipher.network

Web3 / Distributed Computing

Founding Product Lead · 24 months

Challenge: Transform verifiable randomness research into commercial infrastructure platform.

Outcome: Launched dcipher.network, raised $3.3M, and achieved acquisition by blockchain infrastructure firm.

• Programmable settlement rails for web3
• AI-agentic payment infrastructure
• Pre-seed fundraising & investor relations

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Toptal → AI/ML Platforms

Talent Network / SaaS

Fractional CPO · Ongoing

Challenge: Multiple AI/ML products needing senior product leadership without full-time executive.

Outcome: Ongoing fractional engagement providing product strategy for CodaLab and Human Opinion Search.

• Agile product strategy & execution
• Cross-functional team leadership
• AI/ML product roadmap development

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Moodwire → AI Sentiment Analysis

AI / NLP SaaS

Product Development Lead · 20 months

Challenge: Transform NLP research into commercial SaaS product for real-time news intelligence.

Outcome: Led product development from research to commercial platform with enterprise customers.

• Real-time sentiment analysis engine
• News intelligence API platform
• Enterprise SaaS commercialization

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Arizona State University → Pocket Project

EdTech / Blockchain

Technical Documentation Lead · 6 months

Challenge: Blockchain education platform lacking comprehensive developer documentation.

Outcome: Created complete developer documentation enabling platform adoption and ecosystem growth.

• API documentation & integration guides
• Developer onboarding materials
• Technical architecture documentation

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What we do: From Deep Tech to Market Traction

We specialize in helping early-stage ventures turn technical breakthroughs into scalable businesses. Whether you’re building from a research lab or evaluating a frontier investment, SproutVest provides the strategic and operational clarity to move faster and smarter.

Our Core Offerings:

• Fractional Product Leadership — Usually led by Erick Watson as fractional CPO, with SproutVest providing additional PM, design, and PMM capacity as needed.
• Venture Strategy & Commercialization — Engagements often start here as 6–8 week sprints to test commercial narratives and may expand into a 6–12 month embedded role.
• Family Office & Fund Advisory — Focused on diligencing studios, labs, and protocol foundations or accelerating portfolio companies in those categories.

Who We Work With

SproutVest works with:

• Venture Studios: You're building multiple AI / Blockchain ventures, but are thin on leadership.
• Founders: You’ve raised or are raising Seed–Series B, have strong technical talent, but lack senior product / venture strategy without adding a full-time executive.
• Funds & Family Offices: You’re comfortable underwriting market risk, but want someone who can interrogate the technical and product stack before you commit capital.

How To Engage

We offer flexible, outcome-driven partnerships:

• Retained Advisory: Fractional CPO or Strategy Partner (3–6 month minimum).
• Venture Partner / EIR: Studio or fund-based innovation development.
• Due Diligence & Evaluation: Technical assessments for private investors.