Scaleup Copilot

Scaleup Copilot – a holistic approach to growth management

A successful start-up often begins with a clear idea, a small team, and strong entrepreneurial energy. As the business grows, however, internal capacity may begin to lag behind, creating “growing pains”:

People feel there are not enough hours in the day
People spend too much time "firefighting"
Many people are not clear on what their colleagues are doing
There are too few good managers
People do not understand where the company is going

This often happens when business volume outgrows internal capacity and leadership attention remains focused primarily on market opportunities rather than organizational development.

Scaleup Copilot helps growing companies build the internal capacity they need for the next stage of development.

After nearly 50 years of research into sustainable organizational success, our US partner Management Systems has identified the critical aspects of internal capacity that distinguish industry leaders from less successful or failed competitors:

All four must be implemented by capable leaders.

How does Scaleup Copilot work?

Scaleup Copilot is a structured process. We begin by analyzing the company’s current state and challenges, then design or redesign the four areas above and support implementation.

Our role is to help the leadership team reach a shared understanding of priorities, decisions, and next steps. We ask difficult questions and facilitate focused, productive discussions.

This approach involves the organization’s leaders in developing solutions they own and can implement with confidence.

Scaleup Copilot – phases and results

Planning systems

Phase 1 / Strategic planning
Creating a formal strategic planning process Part 1 / Building a strategic plan

Phase 2 / Operational planning
Cascading the strategic plan into departmental operational plans Structure and performance management

Phase 3 / Structure
List of vacant roles and roles with persistent performance gaps Part 2 / Updated organizational structure Role descriptions based on Key Result Areas, together with a map of current processes

Phase 4 / Performance management
Linking individual work to company strategy and goals Defined and documented performance management process

Phase 5 / Culture
Shaping the values Part 3 / Communication of the values and culture management plan
Scaleup Copilot typically runs for 3–6 months, with an average commitment of 2–3 days per month.

Eligible companies may receive EBRD financing for up to 70% of the project value under the EBRD SME Development Program. Ninety Nine is an approved consultant under the program.