Senior Leadership. Fractional Engagement.

Embedded executive leadership without the full-time hire.

We embed as senior executives and own outcomes — whether that’s leading marketing for a growth-stage company finding its footing, or running a division for a national brand that needs dedicated leadership outside its core team.

What We Do

Executive-level ownership across the functions that drive growth.

I work with companies that need real leadership, not more consultants. Engagements are ongoing, embedded, and built around your specific stage and goals.

Fractional CMO

Full marketing ownership — brand, demand generation, content, paid, partnerships, and team. I’ve led marketing for early-stage startups and managed large-scale digital programs for national brands.

Strategy & Growth

Market positioning, go-to-market planning, and competitive strategy. I work at the intersection of where you are and where you need to be, then build the roadmap to get there.

Business Development

Channel partnerships, distribution, and revenue programs. I’ve built BD functions from scratch and managed strategic partner relationships at the national level.

Division & Program Management

For larger organizations, I run discrete divisions or initiatives end-to-end — owning the P&L, team, and outcomes with full executive accountability.

Partnerships & Channel

Partner identification, deal structure, co-marketing, and ongoing relationship management. I build partnership programs that create compounding value, not one-off deals.

Operations & Execution

Strategy without execution is noise. I bring the team, tools, and discipline to turn plans into measurable outcomes — on time and on budget.

The Practice

THE PRACTICE

Founded by people who’ve built, scaled, and sold.

NEXT Fractional was founded by David Petsolt in 2018. Adam Acosta joined in 2020 — the two having worked together at Clearlink, where both held senior leadership roles. Between them, they bring deep experience in marketing, business development, and strategic partnerships, built at companies ranging from early-stage startups to national brands. Every engagement is led by one of them directly.

David Petsolt

Founder & Principal

David has spent his career building and scaling companies across digital media, performance marketing, and home services. He founded buyCalls in 2009 and grew it into a nationally recognized performance marketing operation before its acquisition by Clearlink in 2016 — giving him firsthand experience on both the operator and exit sides of a business. He holds an MBA from UNC Kenan-Flagler and is based in Barcelona.

Adam Acosta

Co-Founder & Executive Partner

Adam brings deep expertise in strategic partnerships and business development, most recently as SVP of Partner Strategy at Clearlink where he led and grew relationships with the nation’s largest home service and insurance brands. He is based in Salt Lake City.

HOW IT WORKS

How It Works

Direct. Monthly engagements built on outcomes, not hours.

We talk about what you actually need

A short conversation about your stage, goals, and where you’re stuck. No pitch deck, no intake form. We’ll tell you quickly if we’re the right fit.

We embed as your executive

Ongoing, structured engagement — weekly cadence, direct access, and real ownership of outcomes. We work inside your company, not above it.

The team scales with the work

We bring a vetted team of specialists — SEO, creative, development, project management — that scales up or down based on what the engagement requires

WHO IT’S FOR

Built for companies that are ready to move.

We work best with growth-stage companies that have product-market fit and need senior leadership to scale but aren’t ready, or don’t want, a full-time executive hire. We also work with larger organizations managing a specific division, channel, or initiative that needs dedicated ownership outside the core team. Either way, the engagement is serious. We’re not strategists who drop a deck and disappear.

Growth-stage companies scaling past founder-led marketing.

Companies between a junior team and a full-time CMO hire

Larger organizations needing embedded leadership for a specific program or division

Founders who want an executive partner, not another agency

Teams that need strategy and execution, not one or the other

THE TEAM

You get us. You also get everyone we work with.

We lead every engagement directly. Behind us is a vetted, long-tenured team of specialists who execute across every function we touch.

SEO/AIO & Content

Paid Search & Media

Creative & Design

Web Development

Project Management

Analytics & Reporting

Conversion Optimization

Email & Communications

Automation & Al

Ready to talk about what you’re building?

Engagements are ongoing and limited. If the timing is right,  let’s find out quickly.

Every client gets real attention, direct access, and an executive who’s actually in the work. If the fit is right, we move fast.

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