Why Stage2?

SPARK #1

See the Real Challenges
Every high-potential venture is propelled by more than capital — it’s the alignment of leadership, systems, and narrative that distinguishes the winners.

SPARK #2

Innovate to Change Everything
What got you funded won’t necessarily get you scaling. Predictability, innovative execution, and leverage matter more than effort.

SPARK #3

Drive the Changes
Founders and investors both deserve a partner who can translate ambition into traction — not just inspiration, but measurable progress.

WHO I AM: OPERATOR, BUILDER, PARTNER

I’m Stephen Sopko — entrepreneur, operator, mentor, and guide for visionary founders and growth-minded investors.

Over 20+ years, I’ve worked across Fortune 100s, hypergrowth startups, struggling startups, global tech companies, and industry ecosystems — building, scaling, advising, and executing in environments that demand both rigor and agility.

My journey includes:

Founding Palisade Compliance, which serves ~25% of the Fortune 500, and achieving a successful exit.
Leading global deal structuring, negotiations, and services delivery at Oracle and Dell across multiple continents and compliance regimes.
Mentoring and growing ventures in AI, SaaS, legal tech, and telecom (Myelai, Dendron, Actualization.ai, PacInfinity, VelocityLabs).
Conducting industry analysis for HyperFRAME Research, especially in semiconductors, quantum computiong, and physical AI, giving me deep domain insight.
Supporting early stage ecosystems as a mentor in UCF Business Incubator and Groundswell Startups, helping teams transform from concept to scalable businesses.

MY MISSION AT STAGE 2

To bridge the gap between capital and capability:

Help founders evolve into leaders who can scale without sacrificing vision
Install disciplined revenue, operations, and partnership systems
Translate investor expectations into execution rhythms
Accelerate portfolio company performance toward next valuation inflection

In short: ignite Stage 2 in ventures so growth stops being expensive and starts becoming compounding.

My Operating Model...

My model is neither distant advisory "coach" nor rigid “consultant.” Instead, I embed with your team as a catalyst / integrator, partnering with founders, core executives, key customers, and investor stakeholders.

Here's how I engage:

Discovery & Alignment
Get clarity around business development and operational goals to identify leverage points.

Playbook Design
Architect the Stage 2 (revenue engines, narratives, cadence) for a custom blueprint with metrics & timelines.

Executive Development
Identify strengths and weaknesses in the leadership team, use decades of experience to mentor towards the goals.

Execution
Roll up the sleeves and get my hands dirty along with the team. Real results in 90/180/365 days.

Alliances for Results
Build the network of adjacent companies to deliver accelerated value through unconventional synergy.

Along the way, I blend coaching, mentoring, consulting, and fractional leadership - giving you the insight to see the path, the skills to navigate it, and the leadership to make sure the change takes flight.

WHY PARTNER WITH ME

Operator Credibility — I’ve scaled real businesses with real fortune 100 customers; I understand the pressures founders face under funding and market expectations.
Dual Lens — I speak the language of investors and operators; I align incentives, deliverables, and ROI.
Systems + Story — I don’t just write a GTM strategy, I shape narrative, positioning, and perception so your market catches up.
Hands-On Accountability — I am a contributor, mentor, and accountability partner — not a passive coach or consultant.

"Our team was a mess, the old group ran things but didn't get the new conditions. The new group was powerless to hold off the crash. Stephen developed a comprehensive understanding based on his experience, credibility, and listening skills. The solutions became obvious the way he articulated them."

David S. (Country Managing Director)

"We hadn't gotten anything through the process in weeks. Stephen's approach is based on his own pivot from 'succeed at all costs' leadership to a real understanding of situation, challenges, and the lowest risk approach to finding solutions that really worked for us."