We build businesses. profitable growth. scalable processes. teams. business units. AI tools. cultural shift. .
Large companies hire us to build in-house startups. Startups hire us to become large companies.
Fern is not a venture studio. Fern is not a consulting firm. We're entrepreneurs building businesses together.
“Fern took to market in 2 months what was taking us over 1 year to build. In only 1 week they plugged in curated talent and owned our digital platform. Fern’s speed & tech expertise was a game changer.”
Cristina Ribeiro da Silva
Sr. Manager Value to Market @ Coca-Cola | LatAm
What Makes Us Unique
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We've been there.
Taking startups to scale-ups, navigating IPOs, seed investing, and driving impact across various industries has equipped us to anticipate the next move at inflection points.
Our past journeys enable us to quickly empathize with founders and executives, whether mentoring, coaching, or actively building side by side.
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We get our hands dirty and take ownership, driving teams to outperform.
It's about getting things done, not about perfection or appearances.
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We leverage our extensive network to increase our impact.
In a matter of days we form experienced teams from people who love working with us and know how to get things done.
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CFOs love us.
Our flexible engagement models offer significant savings over full time employment, making us a great fit for any budget-conscious company - from startups to large enterprises.
Founding Team
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Breno Lopes
Breno has led several international teams – within Americas, Europe & Asia – in tech giants, translating strategic insights into actions. His impact reflects a leadership mastery in complex cultural spaces.
As the main decision maker, he spearheaded Ops, Growth, HR, Finance and Strategy teams. By leading diverse & large teams (>2.000 people), he also developed a candid passion for people development, being a professional coach and in-training junguian psychotherapist.
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Joao Barbará
As Uber's first employee in Sao Paulo, JB built the operation into a global reference case – from its inception to becoming the #1 region for Uber globally.
From launching e-scooters in new markets to scaling operations for digital marketplaces, JB has consistently propelled companies to the top of their game internationally. His ability to drive strategy, execution, and leadership, paired with relentless passion and truthseeking has inspired several teams to go above and beyond.
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Nuno Ferreira
Nuno has been piling up successful Growth cases – having built and led offline and online growth teams in start-ups after multiple years in Business, Digital and Product Strategy. From leading +400 ppl sales/growth orgs, from experiencing USD 1Mn to +30Mn revenue. He multiplies.
He is kind but strong, positive but prepared, and he applies a blend of analytical prowess, growth and digital marketing tech & tools, as well as creative thinking to help businesses scale.
Success Stories
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Product Management: Digital Product, from concept to launch
Transformed a 1.5y concept into reality by launching the MVP for restaurants & bars.
➜ Led the product entirely, managing developers, UX and bottlers in LatAm as early adopters. Measurement of KPIs of access, usage and retention -
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Scaling Region: LatAm one-stop-shop e-commerce for restaurants
Led Brazil business as Country Manager, and LatAm online growth and marketing teams.
➜ 9x Revenue growth in 1.5y, reaching ~USD 400Mn GMV yearly, $ 300Mn funding, ~80k restaurants, +20 warehouses. -
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Building & Scaling: Uber Brazil – from launch to #1 region globally
Founding team in Brazil (2014) – launched 50 cities and managed full Sao Paulo operations from 0 to Big Corp' level processes.
➜ From 0 to USD 5.7Bn yearly top line in Brazil in 4 years. -
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Building BU: Fugro, Dutch public company
Hired and blended ecommerce, digital marketing, sales, support, IT architecture, product and development – into a 'start-up’ that works.
➜ 30x more web traffic, 0 to 150k monthly LinkedIn and Google impressions, and 25% more customer downloads in 4 months. -
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Profitability: From exponential growth to right-sizing operations in 1.5y
As early Brazil employees, created and led LatAm strategy & analytics
➜ 5y business plan with Softbank Vision Fund.
➜ +28pp in EBITDA in 6 months of strategic sprints.
➜ managed the downsizing of 1.800 employees.
Our Expertise
Strategy & Data
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Set or rethink your Vision, OKRs, KPIs & Projects. Monitor with dashboards & performance reviews.
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Link the P&L forecast / planning → data sets, dashboards → to daily management cadence
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Expand to new markets, verticals and products. Size up external opportunities, validate launch hypotheses and execute go-to-market plans.
Operations
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Manage supply & demand funnels, engagement and dynamics.
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Process automation, optimization, standardization, documentation, playbooking & SOP creation.
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Warehouse positioning & negotiation, fleet management and route optimization.
People
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Rethink org design, navigate change management and culture
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Set your hiring strategy to reflect your needs and culture. Hire the best talent.
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Level up the leadership team through personalized one-on-one sessions designed to enhance specific skill sets and overcome tough challenges.
Growth
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Manage sales teams, optimize sales productivity with smart commissioning, enablement, portfolio & routing optimization, lead gen experiments
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Optimize digital marketing, acquisition channels, and promotions & campaigns to create a powerful, results-driven powerhouse
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Refine pricing with competitors and customer segments. Create automated algorithms enabling your sales teams to focus on sales.
Product
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Streamline product development and enhance collaboration between teams to accelerate product launches.
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Define product vision and strategies into actionable roadmaps. Align product development with market demands and business objectives.
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Leverage market insights to refine product offerings. Employ user feedback and analytics for continuous iterations.
We also invest our own money in promising ventures we find along the way
SOME OF OUR BETS:
Fintech platform for teens
B2B EdTech | YC S21
Banking for gig economy
Climate tech VC investing
Latin America delivery super-app
Testimonials
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“Fern took to market in 2 months what was taking us over 1 year to build. In only 1 week they plugged in curated talent and owned our digital platform. Fern’s speed & tech expertise was a game changer.”
Cristina Ribeiro da Silva
Sr. Manager Value to Market @ Coca-Cola | LatAm -
“Your sharp thinking, caring heart and pragmatism are what’s keeping the GeoDin’s heart beating. The team loves you.”
Olga Nefedova
Global Director Corporate Strategy @Fugro | Europe -
“They truly made a difference in taking Brazil business from scratch to half the company, while spreading an inspiring culture to Frubana and me personally.”
Andres Sarmiento
Chief Product and Data Science Officer @Frubana | LatAm
FAQ
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1. Project-Based Engagement
We establish goals, scope, and timelines for a project, then get to work.
Typical scenarios include:
- Launches: new product, geo expansion, new business unit, experiment, etc
- Optimizations: refining processes, implementing automations, improving governance structures, etc.
2. Ongoing Engagement (Retainer/Subscription):
We work with you on an ongoing basis, tackling the challenges as they come. Flex our level of engagement up or down, as your business demands.
Typical scenarios include:
- Fractional talent: Company requires seasoned leadership but is constrained by budget for a full-time position. Learn more about the concept of fractional here.
- Interim role: Company needs a temporary solution to fill a critical role while searching for a permanent hire or navigating pivotal moments.
- Exploratory: You recognize areas that need improvement but are uncertain about what needs to be done and how.
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We excel in deep execution experience, in access to global talent to quickly plug & play, and in resourcefulness to build by your side.
Our expertise lies in comprehensively building and scaling businesses. Achieving this requires versatility and resourcefulness across various domains: Strategy, Operations, Data, Growth, People, Product, and Finance.
Over the years, we've cultivated a network of exceptional talent who collaborate with us as fellows. They can be rapidly mobilized for projects, enabling us to offer both depth and breadth in our approach.
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Consulting firms offer significant value, and their expertise cannot be understated. However, we've observed a gap in the market where there is a desire for greater accountability and a more pronounced focus on long-term outcomes.
This is where we stand apart.
We go beyond to also deliver the final outcome, building together. Consider us embedded entrepreneurs, rolling up our sleeves and working alongside you to develop your company. Fast, results-driven and longevity-oriented.
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Although we do invest our own capital in seed rounds, our primary focus is on committing our time, talent, and tenacity to building and scaling businesses.
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We're open to it.
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We're based in US, Netherlands and Brazil, serving clients across the US, Europe and LatAm.
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Absolutely. While we have a vast network of high-caliber talent with whom we've worked over the years, we're always looking for great people to join us. If you're a strong operator and identify with our 4 work pillars (build beyond advice, speed for longevity, tech-bias, & lead from the heart), we invite you to connect with us. Click on “Get In Touch” for us to chat.
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A fern is a flowerless plant that grows in many parts of the world. They're known for their resilience, adaptability, and continuous growth, which serves as a fitting emblem for our ethos.
Also, we just really like them. 🪴
Get In Touch
hello@fernbb.com