For companies
How do you fill a leadership gap without a $50K search or a bad directory bet?
Seat & Signal™ places fractional executives, interim leaders, and board directors with startups, PE-backed companies, and mid-market firms. Each search delivers 2–3 curated candidates at a flat success fee — no retainer to start. Executives contract directly with you at their own rates.
Who this is for
Three buyers, one problem: the seat is open and every month costs you
Startup founders
You need a fractional CFO before the raise, a COO to build the machine, a CMO who's done your stage — senior judgment for the fraction you actually need.
PE operating partners
Interim operators for the value-creation plan, technology leadership for the transformation, audit-committee-ready directors on deal timelines.
Mid-market CEOs
Partner-grade expertise — ex-Big 4 and senior consulting and technology executives — without a partner-firm engagement letter.
Process
What a search looks like
1 · Tell us the seat
A short discovery conversation: the role, the stage, the 90-day definition of success, and your budget reality. No retainer, no exclusivity required to start.
2 · Meet the shortlist
2–3 curated candidates with transparent rates and availability. Every candidate has approved the specific introduction before you see them.
3 · Seat with confidence
You interview, you choose, you contract directly with the executive at their rates. Our flat fee is due on success — terms stated plainly in the engagement agreement.
The landscape
Seat & Signal™ vs. the alternatives
| Option | Typical cost | Speed | The catch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retained executive search | $20–70K+ per role | Months | Built for full-time hires, not fractional or interim work |
| Fractional matching platforms | Flat or one-time fees | Fast | Generalist matching at volume — curation depth varies widely |
| Directories & marketplaces | Low | Fast | Volume without vetting — the diligence burden is yours |
| Your network | Free | Unpredictable | Slow, narrow, and biased toward who you already know |
| Seat & Signal™ | Flat success fee | Days to weeks (fractional/interim); 6–12 weeks (board) | Small by design — we take searches we can serve well |
What's included
Every search includes
- Personal vetting. Every candidate individually reviewed before any introduction.
- Transparent rates. You see each candidate's rate structure up front — no markup, no spread.
- Direct contracts. The executive contracts with you at their rates; we take nothing from their compensation.
- Clear terms. Flat fee on success — the specifics live in a plain-language engagement agreement, not fine print.
Questions
What companies ask us
- What does a search cost?
- A flat success fee, payable only when a placement is made — no retainer to start. Exact fees are quoted per search based on role and scope, and sit well below traditional retained-search pricing.
- How fast can we see candidates?
- Fractional and interim roles: a curated slate in days to a couple of weeks, depending on the role. Board searches: a curated slate within two weeks, a seated director on the board's timeline — typically 6–12 weeks.
- Do the executives pay you anything?
- No. Executives never pay for access to opportunity. You pay the placement fee; the executive contracts directly with you at their own rates, and we take nothing from their compensation.
- How is this different from a directory or matching platform?
- Directories give you volume and leave the vetting to you. Matching platforms make fast generalist introductions. We deliver 2–3 curated candidates per search — people we've personally vetted and would stake the brand on — with rates on the table and direct contracts. Behind every candidate sits a member community and rate-benchmark layer, so they arrive supported and priced to market.