Analysis.
Strategy.
Result.
From first audit to measurable revenue — in 6–12 months.
A typical engagement runs 8–14 months end-to-end.
You maintain the option to stop after any phase.
| Phase | Length | Cost | Team | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Discovery | 2–4 weeks | $20K+ | Lead Strategist + Senior Analyst | Go / No-Go |
| 2. Build & Pilot | 4–8 weeks | $100K+ | 1 telos partner + your team | Scale / Pivot |
| 3. Scale | 6–12 months | $7–25K/mo + % | 2–5 senior operators | Funds in Your Account |
$20K+
2–4 weeks
We run the research, identify the options for reaching your target metrics, pick the ones with the highest expected return, and define the fastest path to get there. We talk to your customers and to the segments that aren't yours yet, analyze data, and build a financial model.
- — A document for the Board (10–15 pages).
- — A financial model with base / bull / bear scenarios.
- — A clear Go/No-Go recommendation based on ROI potential.
- — A 6–8 week roadmap for Phase 2.
Only experts with 10+ years of experience in your field.
$100K+
4–8 weeks
One telos partner embeds with your team to ship the MVP. We take on architecture and the key decisions, your team provides the execution muscle. This lets you keep full control of your product.
- — A pilot live in production.
- — First measured incremental revenue.
- — A scale-up playbook for your team.
$7–25K/mo + success fee · 6–12 months
We bring in 2–5 senior/C-level specialists (strategy, sales, analytics) to scale the lever and reach the revenue target.
Incremental revenue is revenue above the agreed baseline, verified by the metrics framework defined in Phase 2.
A worked example — $500M GMV marketplace, we activate retail media.
Our total fee stays within 5–7% of the revenue we helped ship. The remaining 93–95% stays with you, compounding into your valuation.
Frequently asked questions.
- How is the success fee calculated?
- Success fee is a share of the incremental revenue we help generate — revenue above the baseline agreed at the start of Phase 3. The scale is progressive: 4% on the first $5–10M of incremental revenue, 6% on $10–25M, 8% above $25M. The baseline is signed off by both parties in Phase 2; the share is calculated by the client's finance team, and the calculation method and payout amount are submitted to telos for sign-off before payment is issued.
- What are the stage gates and how do they work?
- A stage gate is a moment where the engagement pauses for a binary decision. Two gates structure every telos project. After Phase 1 Discovery: Go / No-Go — proceed to build, or complete the engagement at Phase 1 based on the financial model and ROI. After Phase 2 Build & Pilot: Scale or Pivot — commit to the 6–12 month scale phase, or course-correct based on measured pilot results. The client retains the option to stop at either gate and pays only for delivered work.
- How long is a typical engagement?
- A full telos engagement runs 8 to 14 months from upfront payment to scaled revenue. Phase 1 Discovery takes 2–4 weeks. Phase 2 Build & Pilot takes 4–8 weeks. Phase 3 Scale takes 6–12 months. The client can exit after any phase; engagements that pass both stage gates typically complete in 10–12 months.
- What does telos deliver in Phase 1?
- Phase 1 Discovery delivers four artifacts in 2–4 weeks for $20K+: a 10–15 page document for the Board of Directors covering current state, revenue lever options, and recommended path; a financial model with base, optimistic and conservative scenarios; a clear Go / No-Go recommendation based on ROI potential; and a 6–8 week roadmap for Phase 2. Regardless of the Go / No-Go decision, all four artifacts become the client's property.
- Who is on the telos team during an engagement?
- The team size grows with the phase. Phase 1 Discovery: a Lead Strategist, a Senior Analyst, and a Field Researcher — key roles with 10+ years of operating experience in the client's industry. Phase 2 Build & Pilot: one telos partner embeds with the client's team to ship the pilot. Phase 3 Scale: 2–5 senior or C-level specialists across strategy, sales and analytics work alongside the client's cross-functional team for the full 6–12 months.
- What is incremental revenue and who measures it?
- Incremental revenue is the revenue earned above the baseline agreed and signed by both parties in Phase 2. The baseline reflects the client's existing growth trajectory — incremental revenue is what comes on top, attributable to the engagement. The measurement framework — which metric, what time window, how to attribute the revenue — is signed off before Phase 3 begins. Verification is performed by the client's finance team; telos has full visibility into the metric definitions and inputs.